A Mt. Juliet senior dog rescue with a huge social media following is looking to buy more property on Nonaville Road with a contract on a landmark log home.
Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary wants to rezone the log home property listed at more than 3,600 square feet on nearly five acres to use for additional administrative space, according to the nonprofit’s Executive Director Zina Goodin.
The animal rescue moved into a newly constructed 18,700-square-foot facility named Pawvillions on the west side of Nonaville Road near the Windtree Trace neighborhood in June 2021.
The log home property is on the east side of Nonaville Road, further north from Pawvillions.
“We are looking to purchase it for administrative purposes such as marketing and fundraising,” Goodin said of the log home. “The only renovation that we would do is to expand parking and put a handicap ramp up to the porch. We would also do some landscaping improvements. No new buildings are planned.”
Old Friends has a contract on the log home property, contingent on getting neighborhood commercial zoning approved for the property, Goodin said.
The rezone request could be reviewed by the Mt. Juliet planning commission in April for a recommendation. The rezone will ultimately need two passing votes by the Mt. Juliet City Commission for approval Mt. Juliet Planning Director Jennifer Hamblen said.
Goodin estimated five to seven people would work at the log home at a time if the rezone is approved.
Old Friends cares for about 100 older dogs, generally ages 10 and over, at its facility.
About 500 more dogs are placed in foster homes with medical care provided. The dogs are rescued from low-kill area shelters.
Husband and wife Zina and Michael Goodin founded Old Friends at their Wilson County home and established it as a nonprofit in 2012.
Old Friends has nearly 1.8 million Facebook followers, which has contributed to national and international support that has helped fund the rescue’s expansion plans.
Old Friends also bought land further south on Nonaville Road in January with plans to create a neighborhood of up to 11 cottages for dogs only to live in full-time.
Architectural drawings for the dog cottages are being finalized. Plans are to remove the existing buildings on the site in the coming weeks, Zina Goodin said.
The cottages would primarily be set up for dogs who outlive their owners or if an owner moves into a senior care facility and is unable to keep or care for the pet.
Parrish Place coming to Lebanon Road
A one-story 5,822-square-foot commercial building is approved on a tract on the south side of Lebanon Road just east of Curd Road.
Parrish Place is the working name of the project that was recently approved by Mt. Juliet planning commissioners.
Landowner Gary Merritt anticipates construction starting in the coming months. Merritt estimates work taking about six months.
Initial plans are for the building to accommodate three users, but that is flexible based on interest, Merritt said. No users are yet confirmed. Different types of commercial and office uses are options, Merritt said.
The parcel is 0.68 acres, according to city documents.
The city will work with the developer so that parking at the building won’t conflict with the future widening planned for that area of Lebanon Road.
New police station moves forward
Mt. Juliet city commissioners have approved a land purchase to build a new police station rather than renovate the current station.
The commission has approved the purchase on about 1.6 acres on Charlie Daniels Parkway in front of the existing police station.
The city allotted $1.1 million to buy the land.
The site will allow the new police station to utilize some of the existing property such as parking in hopes of reducing costs.
Mt. Juliet police moved to its current station, the former home of Joy Church, on Charlie Daniels Parkway in 2014. The station is about 14,500 square feet with three metal sides and a bricked front.
The station’s stability is one concern, especially several weather events in recent years that resulted in significant damage nearby in Mt. Juliet.
Police officials also say the department has simply outgrown its headquarters.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
