Hard Bargain is helping this lifelong resident stay in Franklin. He's not alone.

Chris Gadd, Nashville Tennessean
·3 min read
The Hard Bargain neighborhood is located in Franklin. The Hard Bargain Association is trying to preserve the historic neighborhood by renovating existing homes and building quality affordable housing.
The Hard Bargain neighborhood is located in Franklin. The Hard Bargain Association is trying to preserve the historic neighborhood by renovating existing homes and building quality affordable housing.

Reginald Hodge was born and raised in Franklin.

The blue collar worker lives in the Hard Bargain neighborhood, surrounded by friends and family. But Hodge, at age 48, hasn’t been able to afford his own home in the neighborhood he loves.

Property values and construction costs in Franklin simply haven’t allowed it.

Hodge saw an opportunity with the creation and growth of the Hard Bargain Association over the last 15 years. He applied about four years ago with the nonprofit, which was created largely to preserve the historic neighborhood by renovating existing homes and building quality affordable housing.

“That’s kind of the dream, living (in a home) in my neighborhood,” Hodge said.

Reginald Hodge
Reginald Hodge

Hodge has worked for the Williamson County property management department for five years, trying to improve his situation for a home. Previously he was employed by the Brentwood Family YMCA for more than 20 years.

The Hard Bargain Association has continued to work with the city and county government as well as other nonprofits to create more affordable housing elsewhere in the county. The association's leadership also continues to work toward improving housing in the neighborhood, said Derrick Solomon, the association's executive director.

This fall, the association was able to raise about $40,000 with its 17th annual Celebration Dinner, Solomon said. All the funds help, with an average home cost in Franklin of more than $800,000.

“It feels good that people care, and they’re willing to do something like that for a stranger anyway,” Hodge said.

Solomon said the association plans to build about four homes over the next year and is in the process of acquiring two lots that recently became available.

Hodge felt “disappointed,” said Solomon, because his best option for home ownership has been to move outside of Williamson County, the only home he’s known.

"We are just trying to give people opportunities to live and work and play and be closer to where you need to be,” Solomon said. "You miss the date nights. You miss the nights out with your kid, going to practice or whatever that looks like.”

Hard Bargain Association executive director Derrick Solomon looks out over Hillsboro Road this summer while walking through the downtown Franklin property known as the Hill.
Hard Bargain Association executive director Derrick Solomon looks out over Hillsboro Road this summer while walking through the downtown Franklin property known as the Hill.

Hard Bargain's history

Hard Bargain was created nearly 150 years ago by freed slave Harvey McLemore, who subdivided 15 acres he purchased from his former owner, W.S. McLemore. The area has been predominantly African American and now extends two city blocks and contains 130 houses.

The Hard Bargain Association nonprofit was started in 2006, and three properties were acquired to begin adding homes. David Crane, president of Crane Builders and an HBA board member, served as the builder for the homes. The first was completed in April 2007.

The former Mt. Hope Cemetery caretaker’s house was renovated in 2012 and named in memory Ty Osman II, a Brentwood High School graduate who was killed in a car accident that year. “Ty’s House” is now the association's community center and office.

A prerequisite for homeowners through the association is to take a homebuyer education class.

Rendering of Reginald Hodge's planned new home in the Hard Bargain neighborhood of Franklin.
Rendering of Reginald Hodge's planned new home in the Hard Bargain neighborhood of Franklin.

What’s next?

In addition to more builds in Hard Bargain, more affordable housing is expected next year in the Hill neighborhood, a planned collection of nearly 40 homes in Franklin.

Hard Bargain is one of four organizations comprising the Franklin Hill Project LLC. The others are the Franklin Housing Authority, the Community Housing Partnership of Williamson County, and Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury.

The LLC has also partnered with the city of Franklin. The city-owned lot formerly housed a metal building used for the city's water and fleet management.

More information on the Hard Bargain Association: (615) 591-0504 or hardbargain.org.

Thelma Battle, Williamson County's African American historian, and Mary Pearce speak to McLemore House visitors last year about the process of preserving the house in Franklin.
Thelma Battle, Williamson County's African American historian, and Mary Pearce speak to McLemore House visitors last year about the process of preserving the house in Franklin.

More:Here comes the neighborhood: Last house in Hard Bargain court sold

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Williamson County Hard Bargain helping lifelong resident in Franklin.