Lebanon Pilot Project

Lebanon leaders are working to promote Town Center Revitalization and potential Transit Oriented Development (TOD) investments that will support the Music City Star.  Their joint objectives of enhancing the Historic Town Square and the adjoining business district, creating walkable/bikeable connections between Cumberland University, the Castle Heights campus and surrounding neighborhoods, and more attractive streetscape entrances to the center of Lebanon were the prevailing community call for this Quality Growth Toolbox/AIA 150 BluePrint for America pilot project in the Fall of 2008.  This pilot project also was the first to look at other regional best practice communities of Gallatin, Springfield, Franklin and Columbia for ideas on community design and funding incentives to aid in implementation efforts.  CRT and University of Tennessee Professor TK Davis developed and piloted two additional community reinvestment and design workshops and services for this pilot project.  A four-hour Reinvesting in Community Centers and UTK Spring Design Studio project in 2008 and 2009 that this community can use for strategic implementation.      

CRT thanks CRT Director John McDearman and Lebanon Planning Director for their leadership as Co-Chairs of this pilot project.  We also want to thank AIA Middle Tennessee leaders Carol Pedigo, Cyril Stewart, Buddy Ferguson, Marion Fowlkes and UTK Professor TK Davis for their leadership and support for this and the other AIA 150 Blueprint for America companion projects.  A look at the progress made in Lebanon is as follows:

Collaborative Leadership
  • Lebanon Co-Chairs, John McDearman & Magi Tilton, and 6 Local Partner Groups confirmed for AIA 150 Blueprint for America/Quality Growth Toolbox Pilot Project in June 2007
  • Over 40 citizens and local officials participated in focus groups in preparation of AIA 150 Community Visioning Workshop in July, 2007
  • Lebanon Quality Growth Toolbox Pilot Underway with AIA Visioning Workshop Event, August 9 – 10, 2007
Visioning & Consensus
  • City wide Rollout Event held on November 13, 2007 with 50 community leaders in attendance
  • Quality Growth Toolbox Technical Assistance Services began in January of 2008 through the creation of the Lebanon AIA Advisory Committee.
  • Quality Growth committee reviewed AIA workshop results, participated in one-hour Reinvesting in Towns, City Centers and Communities Toolbox Training and additional steps to examine CRT Region “Best Practices” communities
Program Action
  • Advisory Committee complete Site Visits to Gallatin, Springfield, Franklin and Columbia to research best practices in June and July of 2008
  • Advisory Committee completed four-hour Reinvesting in Towns, City Centers and Communities Project Planning and Design Workshop to develop next step recommendations for implementation activities on August 28, 2008.
Strategic Implementation
  • City and Advisory Committee support confirmed for redevelopment/revitalization district plan development and Spring 2009 UTK Design Studio
  • UT School of Architecture and Design hosts UTK Student Design Studio/Vanderbilt MBA Redevelopment District Design and Finance Project in January, 2009 with results completed in April 2009
Citizen Involvement Totals
  • Six key community leaders agreed to serve as Co-Chairs of AIA 150 Visioning Workshop/Quality Growth Toolbox pilot project
  • Over 40 citizens and local officials participated in focus groups in preparation of AIA 150 Community Visioning Workshop in July, 2007
  • Over 100 citizens and local officials participated in AIA 150 Community Visioning Workshop on August 9 and 10, 2008 at Cumberland University in Lebanon
  • Over 50 citizens and local officials attended the Lebanon Rollout event on November 13, 2008
  • Twenty prominent community leaders appointed to AIA 150 Advisory Committee in January of 2008
  • Over 15 CRT Directors and Regional leaders assisted with hosting Lebanon Committee best practices visits to Gallatin, Springfield, Franklin and Columbia
  • Over 15 Advisory Committee members and 7 architects participated in Reinvesting in Towns, City Centers and Communities Strategies Workshop on August 28, 2008
  • Over 20 Advisory Committee and Local Officials participated in UT Design Studio Kick-Off Reception on January 16, 2009 and continued to meet with Faculty & Students during the 2009 Spring Semester
Total Participation: More than 200 community leaders and citizens