Plan Adds Parking, Green Space and Traffic Fixes Project Traces Back to a $3.2 Million Parking Lot Purchase
(UCBJ) – The Cookeville City Council has officially approved the Master Plan for the city’s $20 million 39 Depot project.
Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the milestone is the result of a collaborative process and represents continued progress toward a vision the City Council established for downtown Cookeville.
“… This is a major milestone that outlines a long-term design for the future of downtown Cookeville,” Wheaton said.
Here is what you need to know about the plan and what comes next.
The master plan is officially approved
Last week, the Cookeville City Council approved the project’s 2050 Master Plan on its final reading.
“This is a vision our council began together, and I’m incredibly excited to see it take another significant step forward. This transformational, legacy project will continue revitalizing our WestSide while creating opportunities for future generations,” Wheaton said.
The plan covers parking, green space and pedestrian improvements
The plan includes:
- Adding 365 new parking spaces
- Expanded community green space
- Traffic-calming measures
- More pedestrian-friendly streets
The project has been described as a framework, not a design set in stone. As time goes on, things may change, but Wheaton has said the plan is set for now, with research done through studies and public hearings with locals and business owners.
The project grew out of a parking lot purchase
For years, the tract of land sat as a parking lot owned by HCA Healthcare before the city decided to buy the land for $3.2 million and repurpose it once it went up for sale.
From a report by WBIR.
"We went into basically attack mode in figuring out how we can preserve this area for the West Side?" Wheaton said. "And figured out that this was an opportunity to provide that area with needed parking, reworking traffic, adding some amenities for that area and so it's really blossomed into this huge, you know, project that we really said first we just needed parking and then it's become this amazing thing."
The project is the beginning of a 10-acre master plan for the WestSide. Officials say the Master Plan will guide future council and planning commission decisions.
The city expects to spend more than $20 million downtown
The project is expected to cost more than $20 million. Officials say the parking spots should be completed by this time next year, with the green space and social gathering area to follow. The timeline is fluid, and the project is awesome for the community, according to officials, benefiting neighbors, tourists and businesses alike.
“There will be some use changes as time goes along, and some design features are just potential ideas as of now, but all of this was carefully created through multiple traffic and engineering studies as well as 11 public hearing meetings with our local businesses and citizens,” Wheaton said. “… I’m proud of the collaboration that made this possible, and I can’t wait to see this vision come to life over the years ahead,” Wheaton said.
Check back for further updates.
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