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Task force recommends $175,000 to extend HG Hill option while it completes due diligence
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Summary
The Williamson County Courthouse Task Force voted April 27 to recommend that the county commission authorize $175,000 to make earnest money "go hard" and secure a 180‑day extension on the HG Hill (Columbia Avenue) property option so the task force can complete site analysis and preliminary design work.
A Williamson County Courthouse Task Force member moved April 27 that the task force recommend the county commission authorize $175,000 to extend the option on the HG Hill (Columbia Avenue) property for 180 days, and the motion carried by voice vote.
The motion, offered during a discussion of property options and timelines, asked the commission to authorize using $175,000 of earnest money that would “go hard” if the owner required it in order to hold the option through September. The motion was seconded and the chair announced, “Ayes carry.” The task force did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript.
Why it matters: The HG Hill site is the only property the task force identified as currently on the market and large enough (about five acres) to meet the program parameters discussed. Task‑force members said they need more time and limited pre‑design funding to test whether the site — or alternatives — meet courthouse program needs, security requirements and downtown compatibility.
Background and what the task force heard: Jim Cross, who presented the initial update on the Hill property and comparable courthouse projects, told the group the existing option had been extended to May 12 and that the owner had offered a further 180‑day amendment requiring $175,000 of earnest money to become nonrefundable. Cross also described recent courthouse projects in nearby counties (Murray, Rutherford and Sumner), noting large variations in size and cost and that structured parking can materially increase total project budgets. Cross said the design‑to‑completion timeline for a new courthouse is often about 36 months.
City zoning and next steps: Emily Wright, planning director for the City of Franklin, told the task force the Columbia Avenue/HG Hill site sits in a neighborhood mixed‑use design concept under Envision Franklin. That plan allows institutional uses under certain conditions but generally expects buildings to be street‑facing with rear parking and a historic‑edge treatment because of nearby National Register properties. Wright offered to coordinate the city’s parking study and to provide a list of downtown parcels the city recommends for further consideration.
What the recommendation means procedurally: The task force is not purchasing the property; it recommended that the county commission authorize funding to extend the option while the task force completes due diligence, including site analysis and limited design work. Task‑force members said the written motion will be prepared and the chair can present the task‑force update and recommendation to the county commission at its May meeting.
What comes next: The county commission will consider the resolution in May. The task force plans to meet again before the next commission meeting to review any additional candidate parcels (county staff reported about 494 acres county‑owned inside Franklin) and to follow up on program verification, security implications and preliminary cost estimates.
