South of downtown Franklin, homeowners say their once quiet streets now come with a side of explosions. Repeated blasts from a nearby construction site are shaking houses, rattling nerves, and, according to residents, leaving fresh cracks in drywall and brick.
People living in Newport Crossing and on nearby streets describe loud booms that make windows shudder, send picture frames tilting and even trip home alarm systems. The construction site sits near Battle Ground Academy's Glen Echo campus and other residential pockets off South Berry's Chapel Road, which has parents and neighbors alike on edge.
Residents say they can feel the blasts roll through their homes and claim visible damage has followed the detonations. Carolyn Collins, who lives in Newport Crossing, told reporters the blasting "has left cracks in her home," and other neighbors reported similar issues. As reported by WKRN, News 2 said it contacted the construction company working on the project and was still waiting for a response.
The Franklin Fire Department is urging residents to report any blasting damage or related concerns and is pointing people to official channels instead of just venting on group chats. The city notes that the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office has jurisdiction over the use of explosives in construction and provides local contacts for noise and other non‑emergency complaints. The city's blasting and complaint instructions are available on its dedicated page: City of Franklin.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, which includes the State Fire Marshal's Office, enforces statewide blasting standards and oversees blaster licensing. According to the department, the fire marshal's office will investigate complaints and can suspend or revoke licenses or assess civil penalties when standards are not met, and it also publishes guidance for consumers on how to file complaints and what blasters are required to do. For more on licensing rules and complaint procedures, see the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Public records show the blasting is tied to a small subdivision approved as the Preserve at Sheridan PUD, a roughly 15‑ to 16‑lot residential project off South Berry's Chapel Road, according to the city's development listings. Neighbors say the combination of blasting and grading for the new homesites is behind the recent jolts. The city's 2024 development report lists the Preserve at Sheridan among its recent PUD approvals: City of Franklin.
Residents told WKRN they have started documenting damage with photos and timestamps and say they plan to request inspections of their homes. The station reported it had reached out to the developer for comment and that a response was still pending at the time of publication. Neighbors say they are weighing whether to seek remediation from the developer, go through their insurers or take complaints to state officials.
How to report damage and protect your home
If you suspect blasting has damaged your property, start with basic documentation. Photograph cracks, loose masonry, and any changes you notice, and keep dated notes on when blasts occur and what you experienced. A licensed home inspector or structural engineer can provide a professional assessment if you are worried about structural issues.
To file an official complaint about a blaster or explosives handler, use the consumer complaint portal run by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, which routes complaints and explains next steps. For non‑emergency local concerns involving construction noise or potential property issues, Franklin's Building & Neighborhood Services office can advise on permits and inspections.
What the law requires
Tennessee's Blasting Standards, set out in state law, require licensed blasters, advance notifications in some situations, and monitoring to ensure vibration and air blast levels stay within legal limits. The statute gives the State Fire Marshal authority to investigate complaints and take disciplinary action, and homeowners who can show that negligent blasting caused property damage may have civil remedies. The legal text is contained in the Tennessee Code Annotated.
As of the morning after the initial broadcast report, city officials and the developer had not publicly announced any changes to blasting procedures. This story will be updated if the developer or state investigators respond to requests for comment.
