H.G. Hill Realty Company team members gathered alongside elected officials and community members to celebrate the opening of Phase I and ground breaking on Phase II of the Hill Center Brentwood. Just prior to the ribbon cutting and ground breaking ceremonies, H.G. Hill Realty Company presented a check for $10,000 to the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF).
GBBF President Theresa Carl was thrilled to accept the generous gift at the celebratory event. “Thank you to H.G. Realty Company,” said Carl. “This support is integral to our efforts of promoting early childhood literacy by making sure all preschool children are enrolled in Tennessee’s Imagination Library.”
“We are pleased to support early childhood literacy efforts with a donation to the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation,” said Jimmy Granbery, chairman and CEO, H.G. Hill Realty Company during the check presentation.
Phase I of the Hill Center at Brentwood is a mixed-use development. Phase II will continue the creation of a walkable, connected mixed-use development with a variety of Class A office space alongside retail and restaurants.
H.G. Hill Realty is a family-owned company with an appreciation of nature and the outdoors. In honor of this passion, the event also included the unveiling of a book that ties in the bronze statues located in the center’s plaza. Created by Stuart, Florida-based Sculptor Geoffrey Smith, the statues include a boy reading a book sitting next to the fountain and two herons within the fountain. The company, which wanted to add additional statues while also providing a creative and fun way for children to explore and learn about native Tennessee wildlife, produced a coloring book, “Outside All Around, A Wildlife Seek and Find.” The coloring book begins at the statue of the boy reading a book and tells the story of his love of nature and exploring the outdoors. His story takes readers along on his journey around the center’s plaza to discover six additional hidden statues.
Nashville-based children’s book illustrator Mary Reaves Uhles created the art for the book and local children’s book author and musician Layne Ihde is the author. “I was delighted to be asked to develop the narrative for the children’s book and scavenger hunt,” said Ihde. “H.G. Hill Realty Company demonstrates that it is possible to weave in nature and artistic sensibilities into man-made spaces. It was a joy to write and I encourage everyone, adults and children alike, to read the book.”
“The book turned out so well that we published a limited run of full color hardcover versions dedicated to Frances Hill Caldwell Jackson, a beloved family member that passed away last year,” said Granbery. Wentworth Caldwell Jr., chairman, H.G. Hill Company, shared the dedication of the book to attendees and also revealed the dedication of the herons statue to another beloved family member, Anne Parsons. A commemorative plaque is installed in her honor.
Copies of the hard cover book will be provided to the Brentwood Library and a printable version of the coloring book may be found online at hillcenterbrentwood.com. Restaurant tenants will also have copies.
Read more about the celebration in this article from the Williamson Source.
