Cool Springs Galleria Just Got The Green Light


It's official. Cool Springs is stepping into its next phase.


Franklin's Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved the rezoning of more than 86 acres surrounding CoolSprings Galleria to allow for a large-scale mixed-use redevelopment.


If you grew up here, you don't say "I'm going to the Cool Springs retail corridor."
You say, "I'm going to the mall."


And for more than 30 years, that mall has been the anchor of this side of town. First jobs. Holiday shopping chaos. Running into three people you know before you make it to Nordstrom.


But retail doesn't stand still. And neither does Franklin.


This Isn't a Tear-Down. It's a Level-Up.


The rezoning gives the campus flexibility to evolve into something more layered, something that reflects how people actually live now.


The plan allows for:




  • 600 multifamily residential units

  • A 120-room hotel

  • Over 1.6 million square feet of nonresidential space

  • New restaurant and retail additions

  • Expanded greenspace


Translation? This becomes more than a shopping destination. It becomes a place you live near. Stay at. Meet friends at. Walk through. Spend time in.


Right now, Cool Springs is highly functional. This pushes it toward experiential.


Let's Talk About the Parking Lots


We all know them.


That sea of asphalt that feels endless in July. The holiday loops around the perimeter. The "where did I park?" moments.


Part of this redevelopment includes reducing surplus surface parking and replacing portions of it with structured parking, infill buildings, and more intentional green space. The proposal actually increases usable greenspace across the campus.


That shift matters.


Less concrete.
More connectivity.
More spaces designed for people instead of cars.


And if you've watched what's happened in areas like 12 South or The Gulch, you know walkability changes everything.


Why Cool Springs Can Pull This Off


Step back and look at the fundamentals.


Williamson County consistently ranks among the wealthiest counties in the country. The corridor sits just 15 miles south of downtown Nashville with direct I-65 access. Corporate headquarters surround it. Household incomes are strong. Population growth hasn't slowed.


This isn't redevelopment out of desperation.
It's redevelopment from a position of strength.


The City's long-term Envision Franklin plan designates this corridor as Regional Commerce, intended to serve as a high-intensity hub drawing people from across the region. The vision has always supported structured, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use environments.


Now the zoning matches the vision.


Ownership Is Thinking Long-Term


The property is owned and managed by CBL Properties, and this move is proactive.


Across the country, traditional mall campuses have had to choose: sit tight and hope retail rebounds, or evolve into something more dynamic. The ones adding residential, hospitality, and food + beverage are the ones staying relevant.


Cool Springs is choosing evolution.


The Ripple Effect Around the Corridor


When you introduce 600 residential units and a hotel into an established commercial hub, the rhythm of the area changes.


Morning coffee traffic increases.
Weeknight dinner traffic increases.
Foot traffic becomes more consistent instead of seasonal.


Restaurants gain built-in demand. Retail gets daytime and nighttime flow. Surrounding neighborhoods benefit from renewed energy and infrastructure upgrades.


And in a submarket that's already strong, that added layering reinforces long-term stability rather than starting from scratch.


We're seeing this trend across Middle Tennessee: strong corridors adapting inward instead of pushing outward.


Smart growth instead of sprawl.


What Happens Next


This doesn't mean cranes tomorrow. Large-scale mixed-use redevelopments unfold in phases over years, not months.


But the important part? The framework is in place.


The zoning is approved.
The flexibility exists.
The direction is clear.


Cool Springs isn't losing its identity. It's expanding it.


And if Franklin's growth over the past decade has shown us anything, it's that the areas willing to evolve are the ones that stay ahead.


Cool Springs just made that decision.


Developments like this shape the future of an area, and often influence surrounding home values, demand, and long-term growth.


If you live in or are considering Cool Springs, Brentwood, or Franklin, we're happy to talk through what this could mean for you.


? 615-509-7000


Sources: The Business Journals