Category Archives: Local Points of Interest

Nashville New Homes: There’s still a future for a lucky old home.

Nashville and Middle Tennessee certainly has its share of historic homes.  Many are open to the public, while others quietly go about maintaining their place in history.   At 4000 Franklin Road in Nashville, huge magnolia trees surround the entrance to one of Nashville’s lesser-known treasures, the Glen Leven Estate.

On the morning of January 23rd, members of neighboring Glen Leven Presbyterian Church heard strange sounds coming from the vicinity of the old home.  Those sounds were smoke detectors, set off from a fire burning inside.

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Here is the initial story:  http://www.newschannel5.com/story/13892819/historic-glen-leven-home-goes-up-in-flames

Although the structure did receive significant damage, all is not lost.  Thank goodness those initial accounts turned out to be exaggerated.  Here is the official statement from the owners, The Tennessee Land Trust:

“The fire was contained to a hallway in the caretaker’s residence at the back of the structure, and the vast majority of the 1857 National Register of Historic Places home was not damaged by fire.”  Read the full story here:

http://www.landtrusttn.org/

Glen Leven was built in 1857 by Thomas & Mary Thompson, whom Thompson Lane is named for.  The home was used as a Federal hospital during the Battle of Nashville and has remained in the family until 2006, when Susan McConnell West passed and left the estate to the Land Trust of Tennessee.  Surrounding this stately home is 65 acres of undisturbed, unexcavated Civil War battlefield.  You can read the full history of Glen Leven here:

http://www.landtrusttn.org/glenleven.html

The next time you are riding down Franklin Road in Oak Hill, slow down for a glimpse of this historical landmark.  In the meantime, you may like to check out these other links of interest on Glen Leven:

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=13892301

http://www.nashvillescene.com/bites/archives/2010/06/23/capitol-grille-stakes-out-its-own-produce-farm-at-historic-glen-leven-estate

http://oakhillgazette.blogspot.com/2008/01/blog-post.html

http://www.landtrusttn.org/glenleven.html

http://www.bonps.org/glen_leven.htm

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, www.OleSouth.com, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: The lights are on & somebody’s home!

Something is different about 882 South Curtiswood Lane.  Very different.   For the past nine years, no one has lived there.  It has been fun driving on Curtiswood without having to watch my speed, because no one was there to care.  There is now! 

The home that has served as the “Executive Residence” for all of Tennessee’s Governors, from 1949 -2002, was all lit up again!  There was even a State Trooper at the main gate flashing his lights for me to slow down!  Welcome to Nashville, Governor Bill Haslam and family!

Tennesseans, especially the family of our new Governor, are greatly indebted to the efforts of former Governor Phil Bredesen and his wife Andrea Conte.  They unselfishly took on the challenge of organizing and executing the first major renovation/restoration of this historic 80-year old home since the state purchased it in 1949.   Of the 18 million dollar project cost, 9 million was raised from private donations. **

(**Politicos – I have not fact-checked the accuracy of these exact figures and am only using those ascertained from media articles on the subject.  Go jump on someone else.)

Also added was an underground facility that will seat 160.  That addition was very controversial, but will prove to be an asset to the state.  As a child, I always knew when the Governor was having a party because there was a huge circus tent on the front lawn, connected to the residence.  Sometimes there were porta-johns too, if my memory serves correctly.   

If you do the math and compile the entire cost of the whole addition and restoration project, the taxpayers are not affected.  The cost of the underground “Conservation Hall” was fully funded by private sources, and the restoration funded by the state, which honestly had let the facility go far too long without performing desparately needed repairs and alterations.   Try letting your home go for 53 years and see how you come out!

Thank you Governor Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte for sacrificing your residency at such a cool place to live for the benefit of future leaders!

Enjoy this overview with former First Lady, Andrea Conte:

Since 1949, there have been a few changes to the Executive Residence over the years.   Perimeter fencing and entrance gates were added in the early 70’s, Lamar Alexander added a swimming pool during his term, at no cost to taxpayers.  (I cannot imagine an estate of that caliber not having a pool in the first place.) 

One Halloween many years ago, after a successful visit to Minnie Pearl’s house, a group of us decided we would head next-door to “Trick-or-Treat” at the Governor’s Mansion too.  As we approached the gates, they suddenly opened…without us saying a word.   A voice came over the intercom…. “BOO!  Come on up!”   And we did.

We arrived at the back door of the mansion to be greeted by First Lady Betty Dunn.  She invited us in, the whole time apologizing for not having any halloween candy on hand.  No one had ever “trick-or-treated” at the Governor’s Mansion before. 

She served us cookies and refreshments and then took time to show us around the place.  What a gracious and charming lady!   Then, and now.    And for those that may be asking….. No, we did not roll the yard when we left.  (Not that one anyway!)  

Here are some interesting links regarding this historic Tennessee home:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Governor’s_Mansion

Here is an aerial view of the property.  http://wikimapia.org/4168812/Tennessee-Governor-039-s-Mansion

And here are a few scenes of the residence that all Tennesseans can now be very proud of:

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Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, www.OleSouth.com, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: Santa is coming to town.

Actually, Santa recently passed through Nashville.   And he brought a lot of great things to the Greater Nashville area with him!   And not to worry, he will be back again… very soon!

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Nashville now celebrates the opening of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in the downtown business district.  Everyone knows that Margaritavilles only locate in the most popular of tourist destinations!  Here you can learn more about this new iconic venue from the Nashville Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2010/11/22/margaritaville-opens-in-downtown.html

And another spectacular event happened earlier this month, the re-opening of Opryland Hotel – transformed from $200 million in flood damage to a collection of over 2 million Christmas lights! 

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40197429/ns/travel-news/

Another holiday spectacular you will not want to miss is the Season of Celebration, at Nashville’s Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.  The Arts are alive in well in Nashville, Tennessee!

http://www.cheekwood.org/Art/Season_of_Celebration.aspx

These events are just a few of the many things that Santa has brought to Nashville this year.   Back in 1986, he brought Ole South Properties to Middle Tennessee and we have been building the very best new home values in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill ever since!   From 89,990 to $299,990, we have a brand new home to meet your needs.

Santa can’t bring a new home down your chimney, but he certainly can point you in the right direction to find one – www.OleSouth.com.   Join us on Facebook too!  www.facebook.com/olesouthproperties

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee

Nashville New Homes: What are YOU waiting for?

It is another fine fall day in Nashville.  Why not fill your day doing some fun things for a change?  Before you hit the streets to search for your new Ole South home, start out with Sunday Brunch at The Black Pearl Restaurant on Old Hickory Lake.  The atmosphere is incredible, the food is great, and prices are affordable too!  Check out their website www.blackjackcove.com.  

No, I am not there today, but many of my friends are.  I am consuming a bowl of raisin bran before someone buys new home today.  I am here:

But, I will be at The Black Pearl after 5:00!  OK, enough about eating, drinking, and being merry…let’s talk about new homes!   If you do not own your home, right now go look in the mirror and ask yourself “WHY NOT?”  Now, if Sandra Bullock is still insisting that you move in with her, you would be stupid to buy your own home.  Very stupid.

Home affordability is at a peak right now.  Fixed interest rates are at a 59-year low.  This is not snake oil folks, this is real.  It says so right here:  http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/fre_mortgage-rates-at-59-year-low-1230803.html.  Another great reason to buy NOW is that prices are low and will soon start to rise.  I can tell you factually that building material costs are rising, but have not been passed on to the consumer YET.   Change your financial future and BUY NOW.  And buy from OleSouth.com.  What are YOU waiting for?

We had a company dinner this past Thursday evening at our owner’s home.  As I walked down the driveway, I quickly realized that this was not going to be an evening  where I wish I was a horse so I could sleep standing up.   Here is what I saw when I arrived:

And FUN it was!  The food was incredible.  Anyone that is familiar with Ole South knows that we are the best at what we do – and that is building the best value into every home we build.  The coming year will be no exception because the “best” is getting even “better.”   Visit any of our 20+ Nashville area neighborhoods and see for yourself.  With new homes in Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill, you will find the perfect home for your needs.   If you cannot get out today, start with a visit to our website, www.OleSouth.com.

Have a great day!

Trey Lewis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Tennessee with Ole South Realty, 615.896.0019  direct 615.593.6340.  Specializing in new home sales in the Greater Nashville area to include Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.