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Council reviews potential land swap with Swanson Development for future Fire Station 13; requests options without corner parcel trade
Summary
Staff presented a proposed land swap with Swanson Development LP to acquire a 2.92-acre tract for Fire Station 13 in exchange for smaller city parcels; council asked staff to return with two options, preferring not to trade the prominent corner parcel without further discussion.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — City staff reviewed a proposed land exchange with Swanson Development LP that would give the city a contiguous 2.92-acre site for a future Fire Station 13 on Joby Jackson Parkway in exchange for smaller city parcels, and councilmembers asked staff to return with options that avoid trading a key corner parcel unless necessary.
Staff described properties involved in the proposal: a 0.32-acre city parcel at Northwest Broad and South Church Street valued at $638,500; a 1.31-acre city tract on Joby Jackson Parkway valued at about $798,900 (noted as too small alone for a station); and the developer’s 2.92-acre tract valued at about $1,780,000. Staff said the math produced a roughly $343,000 difference in land value that Swanson would need to cover for a straight swap.
Deputy Chief Bigelow’s earlier station-site recommendations were cited to show station priorities; staff said Station 12 will be at Veterans Park and Station 13 remained a near‑future priority. Michelle Emerson provided a conceptual layout showing the 2.92‑acre site could accommodate Fire Station 13.
Councilmembers expressed concern about trading the corner parcel at Northwest Broad and Church Street, saying the city already owns most corners at that intersection and that corner could be valuable for future public needs. One councilmember asked staff to present two options — purchase the developer tract outright or proceed with a land swap excluding the corner parcel — and to bring back more detailed analysis.
No vote was taken; staff will return with option analyses and draft purchase or transfer agreements. The meeting record noted liens on other properties (a Sazerac development agreement lien) that could affect development and that staff is in ongoing discussions with interested developers.
