Friday, October 10, 2008 by Chas Sisk
The Tennessean
Deal for Easter Seals' Green Hills property canceled

The Easter Seals property on Woodmont Boulevard in Nashville has been re-listed for sale.

Easter Seals Tennessee Inc. has hired the Brentwood commercial real estate firm ProVenture LLC to sell the former McWhorter Family Children's Center and the Turner Family Center for an asking price of $6.8 million. The 4.4-acre property sits about one-half mile north of the Mall at Green Hills.

The Tennessee chapter has been struggling with a $9 million debt it took on to build the Green Hills location, which opened in 2003.

The listing comes two days after the Metro Council voted down a zoning change that would have let Easter Seals lease the now-shuttered children's center to the Gardner Schools, a Nashville day care company. A group of neighbors had opposed that plan, which they said would lead to more traffic and commercialization.

The Gardner deal has now been canceled, said Scott Thompson, the company's chief executive. The Gardner Schools, which has locations in Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, is now looking to expand elsewhere.

The listing also includes the family center, whose fitness center and senior programs have remained open throughout the Easter Seals' struggles.

Chas Sisk | csisk@tennessean.com