Urban Development

PURPOSE AND INTENT

Clarksville, Tennessee, the county seat of Montgomery County and its only incorporated area was founded in 1785 and served the region for over 150 years as a transportation hub for the profitable tobacco trade which has created a rich cultural legacy. Clarksville continues to thrive and grow in economic strength and population that consistently outpaces national averages. Ft. Campbell and Austin Peay State University are two of its most important assets in addition to many viable industries.

This growth, however, has not followed in the downtown and river district (“District”) areas. Suburban shopping centers and the relocation of many governmental agencies, both city and county, have weakened the District’s health. Growth and renewal in the District has not kept pace with the balance of the community. The tornado of 1999 and the Flood of 2010, while creating opportunities have, on balance, also weakened the fabric and viability.

Responding to this, the Downtown District Partnership and the River District Commission proposed a merger in 2008 to combine the strengths of the organizations hoping to achieve a synergy that is greater than the sum of the parts, resulting in the formation of the Two Rivers Company (now the Central Business Improvement District or CBID).