Retail Phase of Gateway Village Set to Take Shape
Residents of Franklin Road development eager for town center lifestyle

By Rachel Stults and Harriet Vaughan
July 15, 2008

Copyright Tennessean. To view article with pictures, as included, click here.

FRANKLIN — A European-style village is taking shape at the corner of Franklin Road and Lynnwood Way.

It's the result of years of planning to create a new retail, office and residential district in Gateway Village — what developers hope will become a landmark that signifies the gateway between Franklin and Brentwood.

Since 2006, residents have been living in the old-world brick and cast iron town- homes and condominiums of Gateway Village. Thirteen residential buildings lining the old colonial-style streets are complete. But the concept for a pedestrian-friendly town center is coming into fruition.

Construction on Camden Commons at Gateway Village, phase two of the development, began July 7. The town center will combine 130,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and office spaces with 245 residential lofts atop the retail buildings. The first part of the project is set to be completed by spring 2009 and will front Franklin Road. A medical office, a daycare and bank also will be in the town center.

"It's going to be a very quaint and attractive corner, and it will be a destination because that intersection is so identifiable," said Lynn Ellsworth, president of CODA Development, which is developing the property. "If you say Franklin Road and Moores Lane, everybody in Middle Tennessee knows exactly where it is."

No tenants have been announced, but Ellsworth said CODA aims to bring a mix of shops, restaurants, salons and spas and other retail tenants that can't be found elsewhere in the Nashville area.

The convenience of the town center concept is what brought Sunghoon Kim and his family to Gateway Village. Kim, his wife and 2-year-old daughter moved from Korea four years ago.

They lived in downtown Franklin before buying a home in Gateway Village a year ago.

"The advantage this subdivision has is that it's convenient to I-65 and to shops. We're very close to Cool Springs, but we're looking forward to the stores coming in that we can walk to," said Kim.

Just over 12,500 square feet of the commercial space will be devoted to restaurants, Ellsworth said. Other spaces could include a boutique hotel, sporting and outdoor store, organic market, cigar and specialty store and fitness center.

Ellsworth says some of the retail tenants are making arrangements with sales associates to live in the complex.

Meanwhile, neighboring business owners are taking notice.

After 13 years of business at the corner of Franklin Road and Lynnwood Way, Len Rossi can't help but notice the changes that are coming his way.

With space for 400 residents in Gateway Village and visitors who will patronize the new businesses and restaurants in Camden Commons, Rossi said he anticipates business will boom at his health food and holistic healing store.

"I think we'll complement them as much as they complement us," Rossi said.

"I'm looking forward to them increasing traffic, for people who see the shops here to say, 'Oh my goodness, I didn't even know that was there."

For more information on Camden Commons at Gateway Village see www.gatewayvillageTN.com. To view examples of Coda Development’s work go to www.codacorp.net.