Scott Broden

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Murfreesboro's Blackman community continues to draw residents who appreciate a rural setting while attracting others drawn to schools and easy interstate access.

And the community will continue to grow, as city leaders have approved the annexation of nearly 400 acres, about a third of which will be used for recreation.

"Growth is good, but at the same time I like to have a rural setting," said Blackman resident Teresa Hemphill, who moved to Shores Road about 18 months ago to raise Chincoteague ponies. "You have to have that growth, but you have to make sure you maintain the community which drew you there in the first place."

Hemphill was among those to speak Thursday against another city annexation plan for nearly a mile of Shores Road. The initial plan would have rerouted Shores Road through the mixed use Westlawn development that will be adding 98 town homes.

The council ultimately deferred a decision to annex Shores Road, asking staff to provide more details about how development plans will be pursued.

Property owner Donald McDonald is also seeking the rezoning of 79 acres of his annexed property for commercial use. He has promised to establish deed restrictions to prevent warehouses or salvage yards and other industrial land uses from being built within view of his home. Plans for that property have been put on hold until McDonald and the city can come to an agreement about what would be acceptable for the area.

Home values on the rise in Blackman

The annexation and rezoning plans for the park area and McDonald property have the backing of the Berkshire Home Owners Association, subdivision representative Mark Nicgorski.

Nicgorski moved from California to Blackman in 2003. He and his wife, Valerie Nicgorski, work for Parks real estate company and have seen great demand for property in the Blackman community.

The Berkshire subdivision has about 750 homes and plans for about 50 more. The neighborhood has seen prices go from $106 per square foot in 2015 to $112 a year later.

"So you saw a 6.3 percent increase in pricing, which is outstanding," Mark Nicgorski said. "Blackman is seeing that kind of increase across the board."

Schools entice many to Blackman

Schools have been a major draw for those looking for homes in the area. The community is served by Rutherford County's Blackman High, Blackman Middle and Blackman Elementary schools, and Murfreesboro City's Overall Creek Elementary.

"All of those schools are sought after, from even outside the state," said Mark Nicgorski, whose 5-year-old grandson will be enrolling at Blackman Elementary.

Neighborhoods west of Interstate 24 lack major recreational opportunities, such as parks and community centers. However, the yet-to-be-named west-side park should enhance that, said Murfreesboro City Councilman Kirt Wade, also a Berkshire resident.

"West Park ... is projected to become the hallmark of this community," Wade said. "There are a number of growing families that are asking for more recreational opportunities that will enhance their active lifestyles."

The park master plan concept includes 13 baseball/softball diamonds, walking trails, a splash pad, two playgrounds and seven picnic pavilions.

Murfreesboro city leaders have approved design and engineering contracts for the park and widening of Burnt Knob Road. The park and road upgrades are expected to be completed by early 2020, including a traffic signal at Burnt Knob and Blackman roads.

The Blackman community, which Mark Nicgorski likes to refer to as "Westboro" among his real estate peers, also attracts families because of access to Interstates 24 and 840, making commutes to Nashville and surrounding counties much easier.

"It’s just a great spot to get to work no matter which direction you have to go in," Mark Nicgorski said.

Blackman residents want more traffic lights

Mark Nicgorski would like to see more traffic lights be added to Veterans Parkway to improve the flow. Taking a left from Blackman Road onto Veterans, for example, can be dangerous, he said.

The city staff hopes to address the traffic by realigning Shores Road from where it ends at Veterans Parkway and make it cut through the Westlawn development, eventually creating a signalized intersection at another part of Veterans. It has been part of the Westlawn development plans the city approved in 2007.

In addition to the 98 town homes approved by the Murfreesboro Planning Commission on Wednesday, Westlawn has plans to complete a subdivision with 254 single-family detached homes and 303,800 square feet of commercial space.

Rural residents see city's growth as encroachment

Denny and Teresa Hemphill moved to Blackman from the Thompson Lane area in north Murfreesboro to avoid traffic congestion and worry what could happen if Shores Road is rerouted.

"I don't want the growth to end up defining the community," Denny Hemphill said.

Others who have lived on Shores Road for much longer, including Mike Tanner, said the annexation plans for Shores Road was a waste of taxpayer money.

"If safety of the general public is a priority, work should begin tomorrow to put a traffic signal at the Shores and Veterans intersection," Tanner said. "It is two years late already."

Tanner worries that the city is planning for growth at the expense of the Shores Road residents.

"Many of us have been there for 20 to 30 years," Tanner said. "Even though small in number, we should not be encroached upon by the city — neither morally or legally."

Although the blend between the rural residents and the new ones moving into the high-density subdivisions can bring growing pains, a strong sense of community defines Blackman, Mark Nicgorski said.

"You just have a sense that people care for each other here," he said.

Reach Scott Broden at 615-278-5158. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden.