More on the Biddle Farms project....

 


Regarding the Biddle Farms at Farragut Town Center, a false, convoluted, negative narrative filled with innuendo and insinuations of wrongdoing continues to be purveyed.  If in fact someone believes they have proof of wrongdoing, they should consult with the proper authorities to pursue their claim. There is no proof because nothing illegal, improper or untoward occurred regarding Biddle Farms at Farragut Town Center.  

The following details the facts regarding the Biddle Farms project.

As most know, the Town of Farragut does not have a municipal property tax and relies primarily on business generated revenue to operate. The Shop Farragut program (originally the “Buy in Farragut” program) was established years ago to help businesses in the Town of Farragut gain more visibility in the market place. 

The Farragut Business Alliance (FBA) currently operates the Town of Farragut’s Shop Farragut program.  The FBA has one employee, the executive director.  For the past 6+ years, the FBA has focused its efforts primarily on hosting community events which include opportunities for sponsorship and vendor participation. 

The FBA executive director and board played no role in recruiting Budd Cullom for Biddle Farms at Farragut Town Center.  The people who continue to repeat this false narrative have received all the minutes from the FBA meetings.  These minutes demonstrate that the FBA board has in fact been involved in community event planning and no discussion ever occurred regarding Budd Cullom or the Biddle Farms project.

Just for clarity, I had not met or otherwise communicated with Budd Cullom or his associates until he began presenting the Biddle Farms mixed use project to the Town of Farragut in public meetings. The first time I ever laid eyes on Mr. Cullom was during the June, 2020 staff/developer meeting, when we briefly returned to in-person meetings during COVID. I played no role in recruiting Budd Cullom.  

David Purvis was a founding member of the FBA and an FBA board member until his death in December, 2020.  However, David Purvis did NOT seek, request, nor did he need, approval from the FBA Board to recruit businesses and development to the Town of Farragut. When he reached out to Budd Cullom, he did so under his own volition and independent of the FBA board.  Budd Cullom was recruited by David Purvis, he was not recruited by the FBA board. Additionally, David Purvis did not disclose to the Board any of his recruitment efforts. The minutes of the FBA board meetings bear this out. 

(Because the FBA minutes do not back up the false, convoluted, negative narrative being pushed out, a new accusation has been made that the meeting minutes from this timeframe have been altered/fabricated.  AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE, another accusation of wrongdoing is made. Altering or fabricating meeting minutes is a very serious charge which should not be made flippantly and without any proof to substantiate it.)

David had attended many ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) annual conferences and was very familiar with the development process.  Regarding the Biddle property, David had a professional relationship with the property owners, as he owned a business that was located in the old Kroger building which was locted on the Biddle’s property. 

David Purvis, a private citizen, reached out to Budd Cullom, a private business owner, to discuss a potential opportunity with a private property owner.  Budd Cullom was recruited by David Purvis, he was not recruited by the FBA board. The minutes of the FBA board meetings reflect that the FBA Board played no role in the recruitment of Budd Cullom.  There was never a discussion or a vote of the FBA board or membership regarding the Biddle Farm mixed use project.


 


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