stay multiple days,” she explains. As Winchester’s growth continues, the city is also keen to ensure its population numbers accurately reflect its development. Rhoton explains that Winchester is conducting a special census, a move prompted by the shortcomings of the 2020 U.S. Census, which took Rhoton explains that the newly approved land use plan, developed with KCI, serves as a roadmap for Winchester’s future. “We just got that approved by the city council in June,” she notes. The plan is designed to guide the city’s growth for the next 20 years, outlining where expansion is most feasible and beneficial. “It really helps our planning commission see where we want to be in the future,” she adds, pointing out that while the plan is long-term, it remains flexible. Mayor Crabtree shares this vision.“We’ve experienced a lot of growth, and the goal is to make it intentional,” he says. Winchester is focusing on growth across all sectors—industrial, commercial, residential, and multifamily—ensuring that each area develops to support the town’s broader objectives. However, Crabtree remains exceptionally committed to encouraging commercial activity in downtown Winchester, which he calls “the heart of the city.” Efforts to recruit new businesses are a top priority as Winchester positions itself as a hub of commerce for the city and county. The City’s valued design architects have also collaborated on the overall urban vision. Since 2010, Smith Gee Studio in Nashville, TN has continued serving the Winchester Downtown Program as Urban Designers, Architects, and Interior Designers. SGS has assisted the Program implement the Winchester Downtown Master Plan through creation of Design Guidelines, designing an architectural Facade Improvement Program for existing buildings, and designing an adaptive reuse for the Winchester Livery venue and an in-progress adaptive reuse project for a Downtown Tap Room. Rhoton expands on one of the city’s key initiatives in the commercial sector: attracting a hotel to the downtown area. “We just recently, this spring, did a hotel feasibility study,” she says. The need for a hotel, particularly one located near downtown for easy walkability, is clear. Winchester’s extensive park system and proximity to Tims Ford Lake make it an attractive destination for outdoor enthusiasts and tourists, but the lack of nearby lodging has been a barrier. “We have the facilities to host big sporting events, but we don’t have the housing for people to 313 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 11 WINCHESTER, TN
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