by Matt Wright
Approximately 100 Realtors with the Crye-Leike Real Estate company met in Lakeland this morning to learn about everything Lakeland has to offer. The agents represent offices and clients throughout the Mid-South according to Billy Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers, who is the Managing Broker for the Germantown Crye-Leike office, as well as a Lakeland resident, was one of the event organizers. “Neil Hubbard, Managing Broker of our East Memphis Office and Lakeland resident, and I were talking one day. We thought it would be a good idea to have a Lakeland and Arlington tour to show agents in our company what we believe to be two of the largest growth areas in Shelby County,” Mr. Rodgers told Lakeland Currents.
The Lakeland tour began at The Lake District at 9:15 in the morning. Agents heard from Maggie Gallagher, the Director of Development for the $400 million mixed-use development. Ms. Gallagher talked about the excitement of the retailers starting to open up and how more was expected in the coming weeks. Agents also learned about the townhomes that are currently under construction and projected timelines for openings. “We were thrilled to see the Realtors come out this morning to learn about the scope of the project. The enthusiasm was palpable,” said Ms. Gallagher.
Mary Grodsky, a Crye-Leike agent who lives in Collierville, said the word is getting out about The Lake District and Lakeland in general. “Many of my clients are including Lakeland in their searches due to the proximity to modern amenities and interstate access. I love that the commercial center is focused on local businesses, which will help drive the sense of community and increase the overall appeal of the area,” she said. “With the addition of this mixed-use neighborhood, it’s clear that Lakeland is at the top of the list for premier destinations for suburban living.”
Will Ashworth, the President of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce also attended the event at The Lake District. He said the large turnout of agents was a very promising sign for Lakeland. “Today’s Lake District presentation for such a large number of Realtors is a very encouraging sign for the business community in Lakeland,” Mr. Ashworth said.
After learning more about The Lake District, agents traveled to Lakeland Elementary School where they heard from Superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell. Dr. Horrell provided the agents with an overview of Lakeland Schools, including details about the upcoming high school which will open to 9th graders this August. Dr. Horrell made a point to tell Realtors there is a residency requirement to attend Lakeland schools, something unique in Shelby County. According to Commissioner Wesley Wright, who attended the event with agents, this is what sets Lakeland apart. “This provides the city of Lakeland unique opportunities and drives the real estate market values,” Commissioner Wright said. He added, “It was great to see so many gathered with keen interest and curiosity of what Lakeland has to offer.”
After learning about Lakeland schools, the agents finished their time in Lakeland attending some newly built homes in Oakwood Grove. They were also provided an overview of all existing and new neighborhoods under development within the city.
A common topic discussed among the agents was how much Lakeland has to offer. With a new high school about to open, projects like The Lake District underway, beautiful homes under construction, and projects like Blue Oval coming to West Tennessee, the demand will only grow. “Both Lakeland and Arlington have great schools and sewers and should benefit the most from Ford’s new venture in Haywood County,” said Mr. Rodgers. “We thought the field trip would benefit all the agents who attended and hopefully gave them a fresh perspective on all the exciting things going on in each community.”
