Williamson County's growth shows no signs of slowing, with a boutique hotel at The Factory, a $165 million mixed-use district and a sprawling new municipal complex among the major projects reshaping Franklin.
The growth comes as U.S. Census Bureau data shows Williamson County has added 24,335 residents since 2020.
Here is a look at what's coming.
Boutique hotel at The Factory
The Factory Hotel, which will be part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, is expected to break ground near the end of 2026 and open in spring 2028.
The 120-room boutique hotel is part of an expansion at The Factory at Franklin that will include a new parking lot.
Inspired by The Factory's history and character, hotel officials said it will offer guests an experience that blends Southern hospitality with modern
amenities. Plans call for Building 10 to serve as the hotel's main lobby, while Building 9 will be transformed into a pool courtyard.
Additional amenities will include event and meeting space, a full-service restaurant and bar, a private dining room and a fitness center.
Canteen on Carothers
Construction continues on Canteen on Carothers, a mixed-use retail and restaurant development that broke ground in August 2023.
The project features six single-story buildings totaling approximately 28,000 square feet. Developed by Stockbridge Capital Group and leased by Foundry Commercial, the development was designed by TMP to create a pedestrian-friendly destination that combines restaurants, retail and green space.
Located on Crescent Centre Drive east of Interstate 65, the project has attracted tenants including Char Restaurant, PennePazze, Dog Haus Biergarten and barre3 Franklin.
Carter House Visitor Center
The Carter House, the historic farm built in 1830 that became one of the central sites of the Battle of Franklin, is undergoing an $8.5 million expansion with the construction of a new visitor center.
Announced in 2025, the project is funded through $6.5 million approved by state legislators and an additional $2 million from the Tennessee Historical Commission Board.
The existing visitor center has served the site since the early 1980s and will be replaced by a new multi-use building named in honor of Herbert Harper, former executive director of the Tennessee Historical Commission and a Franklin resident.
The completed facility will also feature new interpretive exhibits sponsored by the Battle of Franklin Trust. No completion date has been announced.
Margin District
In late 2024, Beacon Group of Tennessee and Fridrich & Clark Realty unveiled plans for the Margin District, a mixed-use development that aims to complement Franklin's historic character.
The project will include 50,000 square feet of retail space for luxury shops and restaurants, as well as more than 50,000 square feet of Class A+ office space and a dedicated parking garage. Office suites will start at 2,500 square feet.
The $165 million development will also feature 25 luxury residential units priced at more than $2 million each.
Homes will range from approximately 2,000 to just over 3,000 square feet and will include two secure parking spaces in a residents-only gated section of the garage, along with access to a private storage unit.
Retail construction is currently underway, with completion expected in 2027. Tenants for the retail and office spaces have not yet been announced.
McEwen Northside
Franklin's newest mixed-use district continues to expand following the start of a $125 million development phase in 2023.
The 45-acre McEwen Northside project includes a nine-story mixed-use building, a multi-level parking garage and additional restaurant and retail space.
Work is focused on the area known as Block E, which is expected to help bring the district to roughly 80% completion. Current tenants include Vuori and Culinary Dropout, while Hawkers is expected to open in October.
Pearlene M. Bransford Complex
The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted in 2025 to name the city's new 233-acre municipal complex in honor of the late Pearlene M. Bransford, who served Franklin residents for nearly 25 years in elected office.
Plans for the complex include an inclusive playground, football and lacrosse fields, a clean water facility, an educational walking trail along the Harpeth River and other community amenities.
Formerly known as the Southeast Municipal Complex and Robinson Lake project, the site will be officially known as the Pearlene M. Bransford Complex when it opens to the public. A construction timeline has not yet been announced.
Although she had roots in West Tennessee, Bransford lived in Franklin for more than 35 years. At the time of her death in 2020, she was serving as an at-large alderman, a position she had held since 2007. She also served 11 years on the Franklin Special School District Board of Education.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: The major developments reshaping Franklin and Williamson County
