University of the South Taps Chattanooga Developer to Begin Work on Sewanee Village Project
Thursday, February 28, 2019
The University of the South has named Chattanooga-based BP Construction to serve as the lead development partner for the university’s Sewanee Village project.
Sewanee Village is a mixed-use concept created to provide more residential and commercial/retail options for the university’s faculty, staff and students as well as full-time residents of Sewanee and adjoining communities. BP Construction will oversee all development, construction and marketing activity within the Village in coordination with university leadership and Nashville-based Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative, which master-planned the Village.
“The Sewanee Village project is an important component of the University’s growth as it relates to enriching the overall student and faculty experience,” said John M. McCardell Jr., vice-chancellor of the University of the South. “We have spent significant time developing a plan that balances the traditional and existing aspects of our downtown, and we are excited to have a development partner in place that fully understands our concept and shares our vision.”
With more than 30 years of development and contracting experience, BP Construction’s current Chattanooga projects include Cambridge Square in Ooltewah, Tenn., and the West Village, a downtown Chattanooga revitalization project that includes the newly designed Westin Hotel and streetscape remediation and improvement along the Chestnut and Pine Street corridors. Specific to the Sewanee area, BP Vice President of Construction Jeff Garner (who will oversee the Sewanee Village activity) served as the project manager for the construction of the Templeton Library. Additional BP clients include the Honors Golf Course, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Hamilton County, Tennessee schools.
Phase one of the Village project will include mult-family units and ground level commercial and retail spaces. In addition, the university is considering locations for small pockets of for-sale residential homes. Architectural designs are underway for the initial commercial building, with the anticipation that site work will commence in the spring of 2019.
While the vision for the Village was initiated by the university, part of the overall strategy is to position this portion of the Cumberland Plateau as a destination for travelers seeking activities along the I-24 corridor between Nashville and Chattanooga. Part of BP Construction’s marketing approach will involve reaching out to local brands within the larger region to recruit their involvement in economic development and tourism initiatives.
“We are thrilled to be involved with this project,” said Jim Cheney, VP of Marketing for BP Construction. “The University of the South is a prestigious institution and their vision for a vibrant village has tremendous potential. When you consider the natural beauty and amenities of the location and the historical and cultural impact of the university, you have the makings of something special. We are honored to have been selected as their development partner and look forward to getting started.”