Developments in Franklin Series
If you’ve driven south from Five Points along Columbia Avenue recently, you’ve probably noticed something significant taking shape.
It’s called The Margin District, and it could quietly change the way locals think about the boundaries of Downtown Franklin.
Located along the 700 and 800 blocks of Columbia Avenue, just south of Franklin’s historic core, the $165 million mixed-use development is bringing new restaurants, shops, offices, luxury residences, and gathering spaces to an area that has traditionally felt more like the edge of downtown than part of the destination itself.
And that’s exactly where the name comes from.
The Margin District sits on the margin of Franklin’s historic downtown, and its developers envision it becoming a natural extension of it.
First, Where Exactly Is The Margin District?
The Margin District is being developed along Columbia Avenue near the intersection of Margin Street, approximately one block south of Five Points.
For locals, an easy landmark is the former Handy Hardware property at 805 Columbia Avenue (which they will preserve and restore in the new build).
Rather than creating a separate destination elsewhere in Franklin, the project is being designed to extend the walkable energy already found along Main Street farther south.
Once complete, plans call for approximately 180,000 square feet of mixed-use development, including:
• More than 50,000 square feet of street-level retail and dining
• Approximately 50,000 square feet of executive office space
• 25 luxury residences
• Lower-level parking
• Outdoor gathering spaces and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes
The project officially broke ground in 2025, with construction now underway.
A Piece of Franklin History Is Staying
One of the more interesting details about The Margin District is what’s not being demolished.
The development incorporates the former Handy Hardware building, preserving a recognizable piece of Columbia Avenue’s history within the larger project.
That’s important because The Margin District technically sits outside Franklin’s Historic Preservation Overlay District.
Even so, its architecture has been intentionally designed to reference the character of historic Franklin rather than introduce something completely disconnected from its surroundings.
Expect details like stepped rooflines, gabled and dormered upper floors, locally inspired millwork, antiqued brass, and traditional materials.
It’s a very Franklin approach to development: build something new, but make sure it understands where it is.
What Will You Actually Be Able to Do There?
This is where The Margin District becomes especially interesting for residents.
The ground floor is planned around approximately 45,000 to 50,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, hospitality concepts, and other curated experiences.
The vision isn’t simply a row of storefronts.
Plans include plazas, breezeways, gathering spaces, and streetscapes intended to encourage people to walk through, meet friends, grab coffee, stay for dinner, or continue their evening toward Main Street.
Retail and restaurant leasing is currently underway, so many of the specific businesses have not yet been announced.
That’s something we’ll be watching closely.
Current plans call for retail spaces to be delivered in late summer 2027, with a larger grand opening currently targeted for March 2028.
There Will Be Offices, Too
Above the shops and restaurants will be approximately 50,000 square feet of Class A+ executive office space.
Rather than targeting enormous corporate campuses, the offices are being positioned toward smaller professional firms looking for highly designed spaces within walking distance of Downtown Franklin.
Suites are expected to range from less than approximately 2,000 square feet to around 8,000 square feet.
Office occupancy is currently anticipated to begin in December 2027.
It’s another interesting evolution for downtown: the ability to live, work, meet for lunch, shop, and have dinner within essentially the same walkable district.
And Yes, You Can Live There
Perhaps the biggest departure from what currently exists along this stretch of Columbia Avenue is the residential component.
The Residences at The Margin District will include just 25 luxury homes positioned above the commercial spaces.
Initial reservations began at just over $2 million, with residences designed around a true lock-and-leave lifestyle.
Plans include private outdoor terraces, luxury kitchens, natural stone fireplaces, secured storage, resident-only gated parking, direct elevator access to the residential level, and secure package delivery.
For buyers who love Downtown Franklin but don’t necessarily want the maintenance of a traditional home, this introduces an entirely different way to live in the heart of the city.
Why The Margin District Matters More Than It Might Seem
Twenty-five residences and a collection of new shops might not sound transformative compared with some of the enormous developments happening throughout Middle Tennessee.
But location changes the equation.
The Margin District isn’t being built on the outskirts of Franklin.
It’s being built one block from Five Points.
That means its real impact may be extending the downtown experience itself.
Instead of Main Street activity ending around Five Points, residents and visitors could eventually continue south along Columbia Avenue for restaurants, shopping, offices, and gathering spaces.
In other words, Downtown Franklin may effectively become a little bigger without moving its historic center at all.
It’s Part of a Much Bigger Moment for Downtown Franklin
The Margin District also isn’t happening in isolation.
Downtown Franklin is currently experiencing several significant investments and redevelopment projects.
The new Franklin City Hall is expected to open in 2027 and will bring an expanded public plaza, a new one-acre park, commercial spaces, wider sidewalks, streetscape improvements, and additional underground parking to the downtown square.
Meanwhile, continued investment at The Factory at Franklin is creating another major dining, shopping, entertainment, and hospitality destination nearby.
Put those pieces together and Franklin’s downtown experience is beginning to expand in multiple directions.
The historic square remains the heart.
But the areas surrounding it are becoming increasingly important parts of how people live, work, dine, shop, and gather in Franklin.
What We’re Watching Next
There are still several pieces of The Margin District story that haven’t been revealed.
Most notably:
• Which restaurants will sign leases?
• Which retailers will be coming?
• How will the new district connect with pedestrian traffic from Main Street?
• What will Columbia Avenue feel like once the project is fully open?
• How will this development influence future investment immediately south of downtown?
Those announcements will ultimately determine whether The Margin District becomes somewhere residents occasionally visit—or somewhere that genuinely becomes part of their weekly routine.
Final Thought
The most interesting thing about The Margin District may not be what’s being built.
It’s where it’s being built.
For generations, Five Points has felt like one of the natural edges of Downtown Franklin.
The Margin District is challenging that boundary.
By preserving a piece of Columbia Avenue’s history while introducing new places to live, work, shop, dine, and gather, the project represents the balancing act Franklin continues to navigate as it grows.
Preserve what makes Franklin feel like Franklin.
But leave room for its next chapter.
And over the next few years, Columbia Avenue may be one of the most interesting places to watch that happen.
If you’re considering a move to Franklin, Brentwood, College Grove, or anywhere throughout Williamson County, we’d love to help you understand not only today’s neighborhoods, but the developments and investments shaping what life here may look like tomorrow.
At The Jernigan Group, staying ahead of what’s happening throughout Middle Tennessee is an important part of helping our clients make informed real estate decisions.
📞 615.594.1990
📧 info@thejernigangroup.com