FRANKLIN
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The coronavirus won’t stop a plan to turn Cool Springs into a quasi-urban, walkable business district BY MAT T B LO I S
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early a quarter century ago, crops covered an adjacent field as construction started on the Carothers Building, the first major office in Cool Springs. At that time, most of the surrounding land was agricultural and the internet was brand new. A few years later, the dot-com crash slowed down the U.S. economy, but a few more offices popped up in Cool Springs. The real boom started in 2005 when the Japanese carmaker Nissan decided to build its North American headquarters on Carothers Parkway, paving the way for a string of major corporate headquarters.
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Nissan finished its offices in 2008. That year, the financial crisis devastated the global economy. By 2009, unemployment in the county hit 7.5%. However, development in Cool Springs exploded over the next decade. The finance company Jackson National Life Insurance, Dave Ramsey’s financial advice company, the energy management company Schneider Electric, and the pet food manufacturer Mars Petcare all opened or expanded offices. In the 12 months leading up to the coronavirus pandemic, the medical device manufacturer Medacta, the carmaker Mitsubishi and Spirit Airlines all announced major office projects.
Now Cool Springs is entering its third recession since transforming into a regional office hub, but developers say the area is poised to weather this one just as it has previously. The pandemic is pushing back construction timelines, but the pandemic could even make the area even more attractive, as urban companies and employees look for more space in the suburbs. In the midst of the virus outbreak, several developers are moving forward with projects that promise to change Cool Springs into a quasi-urban, walkable business district filled with restaurants, shops and other amenities. Glenn McGehee, president of the Franklin developer SouthStar, estimates the coro-
