La Vergne Residents Bristle at Idea of Hundreds of New Homes

LA VERGNE, TN — A proposed rezoning to open up 25 acres to the possibility of hundreds of townhomes has neighbors bristling in La Vergne.

Developer Amnon Shreibman is asking the City of La Vergne to rezone the property — which is in a still undeveloped part of the rapidly-growing city near Stones River Road and backing up to Lake Forest, Tennessee's largest subdivision — to allow for higher-density building. He said he plans to build between 250 and 300 townhomes on the tract, priced between $125,000 to $200,000. In addition, he plans to build 65 single-family homes on property nearby at Hollandale Road and Stones River Road.

But, neighbors told News 2, they've had enough, citing crime, infrastructure concerns and school overcrowding. Debbie Ewing, a real estate agent, said she's against it, even though she could stand to make some money off the project.

“As a realtor, you would think I’ll be jumping up and down all happy to have about 300 townhomes right in my back yard to sell all of them and make some money, but I’m not because I know what a terrible impact it’s going to have on me, my neighbors, and everyone in La Vergne,” Ewing told La Vergne's city council earlier this month.

Ultimately, the council deferred rezoning the 24.5 acres until February and the opposition plans a meeting January 31 at 6:30 p.m at the La Vergne Library.

Shreibman made news in 2012 after filing what was believed to be one of the largest Chapter 11 cases in Middle Tennessee history with more than $50 million in debt.

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