While there are many events of note that took place in Rutherford County in 2024, here are 15 events that will have, and have had, a profound effect on the area. These events include organizations that have touched the lives of many for the better, people whose lives have made a big difference on the community, and projects that have brought and will bring changes to shape of the area well into the future.
Leaf Production to be Moved to England. In January 2024, Nissan announced that the manufacture of the Leaf, inaugurated at the company’s plant in Smyrna, Tennessee 11 years ago, will be moved to Sunderland, England, where the battery plant has already been moved.
Greenhouse Celebrates. Greenhouse Ministries celebrated 25 years of service to the Rutherford County community on January 26, 2024. The organization has been a ray of light for many who have found themselves in need. In need of food. In need of clothing. In need of education. Actually, just about anyone in need of anything can come to their center on Academy Street, talk to one of their counselors, and receive a hand up.
New MTSU Tennis Complex. On Thursday, February 1, Middle Tennessee State University cut the ribbon on their brand-new $7.1 million outdoor tennis complex. The new complex is part of the university’s “Build Blue” campaign to update the facilities and infrastructure of all 17 of its athletic programs to championship level.
Clari Park Project Breaks Ground on Medical Parkway. Hines, a prominent real estate development firm, broke ground on their fresh concept in Murfreesboro. Called Clari Park, once completed it will offer 11.4-acres of living, dining, shopping and entertainment.
Stewart’s Landing Breaks Ground in Smyrna. Stewart’s Landing is a nearly $200 million project that will offer the Town of Smyrna a mixed-use 44-acre development offering retail, dining, living, and office space.
Announcement of New Downtown Murfreesboro Project. Project Keystone is hopeful to move the City of Murfreesboro’s downtown’s development forward since One East College has gone nowhere. This project, proposed by Brentwood-based developer HRP Residential, will makeover a large section of land owned by the city that runs along Broad from Church to Vine. City officials hope that this development will spur additional development in the Historic Bottom area of downtown. It will offer about 100 condominiums, more than 200 apartments, at least 80 boutique hotel rooms, office space, about 40,000 feet of retail space, and more than 700 parking spaces.
Daylighting of Town Creek. Located across Broad Street from the Keystone Project will be the new daylighted creek park that is also being developed by the city. Plans to develop the Historic Bottoms area, where Cannonsburgh is located, have been on the drawing board since the completion of the Historic Bottoms Area Study in 2017. The first phase of that development, the daylighting of Town Creek, will begin in early 2025 and will be completed by early 2026.
Bye Bye Notes Live. The Murfreesboro City Council took back the 20-acres they gave to the developers of the Notes Live (VENU) project after developers made significant changes to their initial proposal and the deal was cancelled.
Darren Gore Appointed as New Murfreesboro City Manager. Appointed as the new city manager of Murfreesboro in June of 2024, Gore is a licensed professional engineer who began working in 2005 for the City of Murfreesboro. He grew up in Smyrna, then received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Georgia Tech. Darren was the Director of the Murfreesboro Water Resources Department from 2012 to 2024, and Assistant City Manager from 2018 to 2024. Prior to working for the City of Murfreesboro, Gore worked for more than 10 years as a civil and environmental engineering consultant.
John Black Announced Retirement from Smyrna Airport. Long-time Smyrna Airport Executive Director John Black announced his retirement at the end of 2024. Black started his career with the airport in 1991. Many improvements were made to the airport during his tenure, including building a new flight center. It is the fourth busiest airport in Tennessee for flight operations.
New Smyrna City Manager. After the retirement of Brian Hercules, David Santucci was announced as the next Smyrna Town Manager in August. Previously, Santucci served as the city manager for Deerfield Beach, Florida beginning in 2011.
New Murfreesboro Transit Center. Murfreesboro has a long history of providing public transportation that goes as far back as a street railway system in 1892. Then back in the late 1930s and 1940s, the city had five bus routes. During that time, A.L Smith Drug Store on the square served as what today would be called a transit center. Much like the current one on the corner of Burton and Walnut Streets, and the new one being built on New Salem Highway.
Gordon Ferguson Announced His Retirement from Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. After more than two decades of dedicated service, Gordon B. Ferguson, FACHE, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, announced his decision to retire, effective at the end of June 2025. This marks the conclusion of a 26-year career at the hospital, 19 of which he served as president and CEO.
Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Turned 75. From its inception in 1949, the physicians and staff of Murfreesboro Medical clinic have created a true healthcare community in Rutherford County providing their patients with a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to everyday wellness. Doctors Carl Adams and S.C Garrison founded the clinic with the goal of providing convenient, quality care to all Rutherford County residents. Something MMC continues to do.
200th Habitat Home Built. On December 19, Rutherford County Habitat for Humanities dedicated their 200th home. Since being founded in the county in 1989, the organization has been dedicated to building affordable homes here. This home will be the 35th in Legacy Pointe, an 18-acre subdivision that was the brain-child of their current Executive Director, Terri Shultz. Legacy Pointe has come to represent the very essence of Habitat, a community of homes being built by the community.
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