by Emily West, Franklin Home Page
A new apartment development could take over the 5-acre site that hosts Franklin’s hometown radio station WAKM 950.
The 5-acre lot has been the home to the AM station on Mallory Station Road for dozens of years. And while the radio station will have to move if the Avenida of Cool Springs goes through, WAKM officials said by no means does this mean the station will go away. The station, which focuses largely on Williamson County and Franklin, had its start in 1950 with its 5,000-watt signal broadcasting through a large chunk of Middle Tennessee.
Although, where they will relocate still remains a question.
“The outfit that has approached us, there’s only one way they can find out if they can build what they want to build here,” WAKM managing partner Tom Lawrence said. “And that means they have to go through the planning commission procedure. If they can find out what they will build here, we will sell the property.
“We are looking for another place. We’ve known this day would come with everything happening in Cool Springs.”
In replacing the radio tower and small-house like structure, 142 units could arise as a senior living apartment complex. Tenants moving into the apartments would be independent and would have no assisted living component.
Apartments would range from one to two bedrooms with prices not established for rental rates of the unit. Developers would arrange for 180 spaces – 34 garage, 146 surface.
“It’s a very small niche this is targeting,” Wood said. “We feel like this a good fit with [Villages of] Morningside, which has assisted living but it has some independent living. So this is all for active seniors.”
The complex would climb to three stories, making a large square with an enclosed pool and courtyard space in the middle.
The Franklin Municipal Planning Commission and the Board of Mayor and Alderman heard the proposal on Thursday night. The FMPC could vote on the development as early as this summer.
“These folks are professionals at what they do, and it’s up to them to meet all the specifications of the planning commission,” Lawrence said. “And once they do, we will sell them the land. And WAKM will be better than it is now.”
Emily West covers Franklin and Williamson County government and schools for Home Page Media Group. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @emwest22.
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