Friends of Franklin Parks seek 15-year lease for two restored worker houses at Harlinsdale Farm

City staff presented Contract 2024‑0324, a proposed lease between the City of Franklin and Friends of Franklin Parks to restore and operate two worker houses on the Harlinsdale Farm campus. Tori Barnhill, identified in the meeting as executive director of Friends of Franklin Parks, described the project as a public‑private partnership that would preserve historic structures and provide interpretive programming and short‑term rental use during special events.

Staff said the lease structure mirrors past arrangements (the Hayes House) and would encompass a construction-phase lease followed by a longer operational term. "The lease term is 15 years and then two additional five years," staff said. The city would pay to extend infrastructure and utilities to the houses; capital and restoration costs would be a 50/50 match with Friends of Franklin Parks. City staff described one house as likely to be refurbished into a small meeting or bridal space (about 600–1,000 square feet), and the other house would retain kitchen and restroom facilities for programming and staff use.

Board members asked about subleasing and whether individual renters or organizations need to be formal entities; staff said the houses would be open to the general public and available for rental during events and that subleases would be allowed but handled through the city's special‑event permit process. Staff confirmed the houses are restorable and that work will follow requirements tied to the National Register of Historic Places and the Tennessee Historical Commission.

No formal vote was recorded during the work session; staff and Friends of Franklin Parks will return the lease agreement for final action on an upcoming agenda after further review of design and historic‑preservation approvals.