VICTORY STATION: A subdivision for Christians only, please.

[Bluebear]

"Of course we'll have some restaurant locations here, but no bars. No massage parlors. Nothing like that that would be damaging to people's character, as part of our restrictions."


MURFREESBORO, TN -- Joe Swanson's office looks like a minister's office -- dark wood furniture on red carpet -- and in a gentle voice he talks about God and Christianity, usually smiling as he does so. But he isn't a minister. He's a developer.

Swanson grew up in a Christian home, raised his children the same way, and when he talks about how blessed he is, there's something so genuine in his tone that you'll probably nod in agreement, whether you agree or not. So he's decided to spread his faith, but instead of standing at a pulpit preaching to a congregation, he's found a more subtle way to introduce Christianity into society — by building mixed-use developments. Swanson is not the only one who's found that, when it comes to real estate, faith can be an amenity.

His company, Swanson Developments, has three such projects going up in Rutherford County, TN with names like Victory Station, Kingdom Ridge and Providence Pointe.

"We just wanted to do it," he said. "It's just a family thing. We feel we're blessed."

The entrance to Kingdom Ridge looks like the entrance to a church, with white pillars set in stone. These markers stand just off Highway 96, where Covenant Street begins. A few rocks and clumps of dirt cover the road from the continuing construction, but it leads to an image of small-town America with $130,000-$250,000 brick and vinyl homes grouped together. "When we started Victory Station, we named some of the streets there with biblical names," he said. "It's just, 'why not? Why call it Cherry Street?'" Swanson said people of other faiths might not want to live in a neighborhood with a Christian name.


http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/usworld/news-article.aspx?storyid=64454

[bluerum]

1. "We feel we're blessed."

Ya.

Must be on the manic side of the cycle.

[TlalocW]

2. I will do everything in my power

To convince Hooters to open up a restaurant on the edge of these developments. :)

TlalocW

[Bluebear]

3. It will probably do land office business. nt

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. I can just imagine: Sinful Suburbs

A nudie bar across the street from Hooters, a number of bars, and a GLBT community center at the end of the main street leading into the development. :hi:

[KamaAina]

33. How about "Satan's Suburb"?

Watch the Flanders clones get confused as they cruise down Beelzebub Blvd. looking for their favorite house of ill repute -- and then cruise back up, and back down, because all the house numbers are 666... :evilgrin:

No worries about endangered fish in the lake, either -- the molten brimstone took care of that! :-)

[ForeverWinter]

9. Yes!

That's hilarious. And I even hate Hooters.

What kind of nonsense was the "No massage parlors" comment. If he meant "massage parlors" as a euphemism for "houses of prostitution", well, that would be restricted already BY STATE LAW, so his restricting it is moot. And if he meant it as legitimate places where people go to get a massage, how exactly is that damaging anybody's character?
Typical.

[IntravenousDemilo]

10. They need some gay bars, too.

They'll be sorely needed for the recreation of the obviously closeted male population. After all, have you seen some of their women?

[Irreverend IX]

24. You won't need to.

Titty bars and liquor stores will spring up as close to this subdivision as they can get and make loads of money. Drug dealers will also have a fertile market once the community's children reach middle school age.

[Turbineguy]

4. If they called it Cherry Street....

well, they'd just have to have a massage parlor!

[ComerPerro]

5. They will go somewhere else to get plastered and have their naughty bits

touched and manipulated.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Heaven knows, they don't get their naughty bits touched at home

Good Christian men don't treat there wives with such disrespect. That's why God created strippers and prostitutes.

[ComerPerro]

7. Isn't it illegal to refuse housing to people based on

religion, age (except for retirement communities), race, or sex?

[lonestarnot]

12. Yes it most certainly is against federal housing act, probably

state law there too. Some various types of religious people should be making some recorded phone calls.

[ComerPerro]

16. they are probably hoping to get sued on these grounds,

so they can feel oppressed by evil non-Christians.

[lonestarnot]

17. SCOTUS will probably strike down discrimination in housing

laws, antidiscrimination laws ADA, Rehab Act and Title 7 are slowly loosing ground.

[Ilsa]

13. I think it is illegal to refuse to lend them the money, and

to rent, but I'm not certain about hte rental one.

[Bluebear]

21. 'people of other faiths might not want to live in a neighborhood...

with a Christian theme'...

Years ago people would say "Well of course we don't discriminate, everyone is welcome, it's just that colored folk might not feel as COMFORTABLE living here."

[MissB]

29. Yep.

Exactly right.

[Niche]

11. Like to see where this ends up in 10 years.

"Abstinence only" has lead to sodomy and a surge in STDs among teens. Christian community... hmm.... hope it is exactly what these home buyers hope for and it doesn't back fire on them.

[Niche]

14. There's such a racket in "religion" these guys are gettin' rich...

developers now? Stickers, books, clothes... buy now!

[Ilsa]

15. What if a family gives up their Christianity after a few years?

What if they convert to something else? Do they have to sell and leave?

Why can't people learn to get along better and live as neighbors?

[tenshi816]

23. Living cheek by jowl

with a bunch of self-righteous, sanctimonious ninnies would be enough to put me off the idea, that's for sure.

[Obamarama]

18. I knew eventually someone would build fucking Pleasantville for real...

This is just bizarre...truly, truly bizzare. Sounds like a posh David Koresh compound if you ask me.

[shadowknows69]

32. I was thinking the same thing

Maybe they should have a Koresh Blvd.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tenshi816]

25. LOL!

Edited to add: Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Bluebear]

35. hehehee

[johnaries]

20. I went to college in Murfreesboro - great magic mushrooms there!

MTSU is a big party school. Then again, Rutherford county is the fastest growing county in TN. Plenty of development going on there. Sooner or later there dad to be a couple of whackos trying to cash in.

[SoCalDem]

22. I guess there's already a Jonestown in Tennessee n/t

[annabanana]

26. Wasn't there a Florida attempt at this stuff, not long ago?

I remember something about a radical Catholic conservative (ala Gisbon) talking about starting a town for his sect, and he ran afoul of anti-discrimination statutes..

[Bluebear]

28. "Ave Maria" is the name of the town

The DOmino's pizza guy founded it and as far as I know it is still being built.

[tenshi816]

27. And why not, I say. It's a good idea to have all

the fundies in one place. It makes it easier to identify the places where you don't want to live.

[warrens]

30. The Simpsons episode where Ned Flanders moves to a town like this

And eventually gets kicked out because he has a moustache (Devil's Toothbrush, Hippie Liphair, etc) really nailed idiots like this.

[Catherine Vincent]

31. And I'll bet a lot of their residence will visit those type of

establishments (bars, massage parlors etc.). Hypocrites.

[Catherine Vincent]

36. residence should be residents.

:)

[mnhtnbb]

34. How about Self-Righteous and Holy Park?