Monday, 07/24/06 By CHAS SISK Staff Writer
The Tennessean
Developer's $6.9 million deal paves way for subdivision

A Murfreesboro developer has paid $6.9 million for land in Hendersonville that it plans to turn into a cluster of shops and homes.

ParksTrust Development, a company controlled by Murfreesboro realty agent Bob Parks, bought 243 acres from the Comer family, in a deal that closed late last month. Hendersonville officials have already approved ParksTrust's plans for the property, which call for building a 650-lot subdivision.

Construction on Willowbrooke is set to begin within the next 12 months. The neighborhood will be the city's second to feature a "new urbanism" design that combines shopping centers, office and homes in a single development.

The first, Wynbrooke, lies just to the north. It is being developed by Southeastern Building Corp.

Willowbrooke will have 21 acres of retail and a 100-bed assisted-living facility on grounds that include a seven-acre pond.

The development also includes several stands of trees and topographical features that make it ideal for a mixed-use development, said Rick Helton, co-manager of ProVenture Commercial Real Estate, which represented the sellers.

"We got nine offers on the property," Helton said.