Council adopts amended road‑abandonment plan to advance Lincoln Homes redevelopment

The Clarksville City Council on Tuesday adopted an amended resolution allowing abandonment of portions of Howard Street, Lincoln Drive and Ernest Shelton Drive to support the Lincoln Homes redevelopment — but only if the developer meets a short financing and timeline test.

Councilman Marquis offered an amendment that conditions the abandonment on the developer providing proof that its financing contracts are closed by June 13; the amendment sets May 1 as the planned abandonment date, requires notice of closed financing prior to June 13, and states construction would commence June 15 with a completion deadline of Nov. 15, 2027 to preserve tax credits. If the developer fails to provide required proof, the abandonment would vacate and the roads would revert to city control.

The amendment passed 11‑2, and the resolution as amended passed 8‑5. Supporters said the timeline balances the city's interest in protecting public assets with the region's need to move a long‑delayed redevelopment forward. Councilmember Deanna McLaughlin — who said she supports Lincoln Homes’ redevelopment but wanted more outreach — asked that deadlines and performance conditions be clear in the amendment.

Council members asked for clarity that the amendment did not remove the mayor's consultant from the project; legal staff confirmed the consultant's contract is with a development authority and not the housing authority board. The council also requested confirmation of the construction and close‑of‑finance schedule in follow‑up communications.

Next steps: city staff will expect the required notice of closed financing by the June 13 date in the amendment and will return the roads to city control automatically if the condition is not met, with the council scheduled to review the project status in subsequent sessions.