The Murfreesboro City Council approved several rezoning requests Thursday, including one property that was to become a $146 million mixed use million development in better economic times.

The 2005 proposal for Manson Pike Crossing was a sign of Rutherford County's explosive growth but suffered in a major economic downturn that saw increased mortgage defaults and decline in jobs as the nation entered a deep recession starting in 2007.

The major retail and housing development was a precursor to the now built Avenue on Medical Center Parkway and promised 700 housing units with lifestyle shopping on 130 acres in Murfreesboro's Gateway district.

City Planning maps shared at the meeting show current road projects in the area obliterating the once sprawling Manson Pike development by needed road realignments.

Charlie Wait with Puckett Creek Station, a partnership who requested the rezoning change to residential multi-family, said a lot has changed since then but sees his future in Murfreesboro.

"If approved I pledged to bring high quality retail options within the gateway corridor," said Wait.

The city also heard several renovation and upgrade proposals from City Parks and Recreation, including funding approval for needed renovations for Kidsí Castle Playground and Old Fort Ag Center.

In August, the city approved plans to apply for a $200,000 matching grant to renovate the park. The Kids' Castle was originally built 15 years ago by volunteers. Over the years, Parks and Recreation has been boarding up sections in need of repair or removing them all together.

The council approved putting out for bid a $693,850 renovation of the Old Fort Ag Center. The city had budgeted $756,000. Parks and Recreation Director Lanny Goodwin told the council they desperately need the space.

"We've been there for almost 11 years now. We need space. We've had people using closets for office space," said Goodwin.

One of the most contentious moments of the council meeting came over a proposal by the general contractor for upgrades to the SportsCOM pool to pay far less for delays than contracts allow. A delay caused by a supplier of a large bucket water feature was described as outside the control of the general contractor, something council members weren't buying.

Johnson and Bailey Architects wanted to add a 28 day extension to the contract from May 26 to June 23. Because they feel the supplier's failure to provide the part in a timely manner to a subcontractor with a contract with the general contractor's contract with the city, the firm proposed paying $2,000 a day to the city for only 7 days of the delay.

"They were 35 days over, and they agreed to pay 7?" Mayor Bragg asked rhetorically. "We can send the council back or refuse to accept and make them pay."

A motion to accept the offer from Councilman David Young was not seconded. A motion to defer to legal counsel and staff was seconded and unanimously approved but only after members made their points about contractors taking responsibility with city contracts and subcontractors.

"The contract doesn't have teeth in it if we don't stand make it stand for something," said Vice Mayor Chris Bratcher.

Night court comes to 'Boro
The city also announced the addition of night court dates for citizens who find it difficult to make court dates during the day. The move also coincides with the city moving to electronic citations.

Judicial Department Judge Ewing Sellers told the council the move will also help save the city money by allowing police officers to know whether they need to stay on the clock to face accused citizens in court.

"The notices that citizens receive will include a statement that they need to contact court clerk's office if they want to attest the citation to free up police officers from having to show up to court," said Ewing.

The additional evening court dates will run on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at City Hall.