Business owners speak out on Green Hills construction

Construction of a 17-story building in Green Hills has come to a halt, affecting the business of nearby shops and restaurants.  Southern Land Company has suspended work on the $100 million development after a lawsuit against the project. The project, named 4000 Hillsboro, is located on the corner of Richard Jones Road and Hillsboro Pike. Construction first began in July and came to a halt right before Thanksgiving. Richard Fedock, owner of Lenny’s Sub Shop located on Hillsboro Pike, said he hopes the construction is completed soon, as it will drive in customers. “It would mean a great deal to increase traffic and business for me at this location, which is actually what I’m hoping for, this project does get going sooner rather than later,” Fedock said. “Because of all the construction people that would be coming for lunch [over] the next two years. Once you have retail space [that] will bring some extra traffic.” Fedock said 67,000 square feet of office space and several stories of high-end apartments will boost business during the evening hours. “You know, people – they’re going to want to walk downstairs to go to dinner if they don’t want to fight the traffic out here on Hillsboro Road,” Fedock said. “So for me, it would be a very plus to my business.” But for Emad Eshak, manager of Sam’s Discount Tobacco & Beer located on Hillsboro Pike, the construction is not much of a plus. Eshak said that two-way lanes near his business were turned into a one-way lane, which increased traffic and derailed tobacco consumers. “It stops our business for me, because my customer [says] ‘No, I...

Green Hills prepares for new building project

Southern Land Company is in the process of adding a 22-story building that will make Green Hills look quite different in the years to come. The Green Hills Action Partners hosted a public forum at the United Methodist Church for over a hundred people to learn and discuss the project and the future for Green Hills on Monday, Sept. 9. The designated location is the intersection of Richard Jones Rd. and Hillsboro Pike. This may be a familiar location to Lipscomb students, as the new upcoming coffeehouse, The Well, is one of the many businesses that are being forced to relocate. At 240 feet tall, this new attraction would be the tallest building in Green Hills. Currently the 14-story Green Hills Apartments for Retired Teachers is the tallest. Southern Land Company’s future intentions for the building would have multiple uses such as: residential apartments, office space for business, restaurants, and shopping. Southern Land Co. is excited to see this project almost ready to launch. Southern Land Co. CEO Tim Downey sees this project as an opportunity for college students to enjoy the area a little more. “It will have a lot of things Greens Hills doesn’t have right now,” Downey said. “And for Lipscomb students, it will have restaurants, out door seating, and of course we will have the apartments as well.” The building’s implications sound great for students who are new to the area, but for those who have lived in Green Hills for years it just means that traffic will become too much to bare. 11-year Green Hills resident Charlotte Cooper, has watched the city grow, and she...