The Nashville-area real estate world is grieving, shocked by the tragic loss of the son of Jarron Springer, the CEO of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, and reeling from the death of Jimmy Pilkerton after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Young Hayes Springer was injured in a traffic accident and died later that afternoon just days prior to his eighth birthday. Hayes was a splendid, budding athlete and devoutly spiritual for a person of his years.

The community joined in a unified display of support for the family as thousands flocked to the church for the service. Mayor Megan Barry and other dignitaries were in attendance in order to pay their respect to the family.

In January, the beloved Jimmy Pilkerton, president of Pilkerton Realtors, was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive pancreatic cancer. Saturday night, he succumbed to the ravages of the disease.

Pilkerton possessed brilliant business acumen and ran his business with insightful aplomb.

A student and teacher of the philosophy of mindfulness, his company meetings were more Zen than Ziglar and followed more along the lines of the teachings of Gandhi over Tony Robbins. Compassionate and kind, yet stern and demanding, he was a true leader.

Pilkerton

Realizing that his ability to manage the affairs of his company were diminished, Pilkerton appointed Price Lechleiter, a family member, to the role of principal broker of the Green Hills office, which had been dutifully run by Jimmy Pilkerton for years. His father, Fred Pilkerton, managed it before him.

Jim Terrell has managed the Williamson County office for years and has provided additional support and guidance to the firm during these past difficult months.

He leaves an enormous void, not only in the real estate community but in the Nashville charitable world, as well.

Pilkerton was generous with this time, contributing to such organizations as mobile Loaves and Fishes and serving on the boards of the Connally-Bryan School of Hope, the Tennessee Special Olympics and the Susan Gray School. Additionally, he taught mindfulness at the Kennedy Center.

Sale of the Week

For years, as travelers drove on the stretch of I-40 that connects to I-440 near the Murphy road exit, they noticed some interesting, unfinished box-type houses located atop the hillside near a mysterious place that many curiosity seekers tried to find, many to no avail.

Then, in 2006, a developer was able to locate the homes, one of which had experienced significant fire damage, and purchased the properties and began developing the area. In these pre-Recession days, the sales were brisk and the units, each with its own full lot, sold for the unheard prices of over $225 per square foot.

As the years have passed, the area is now known as Sylvan Summit, a good name at that.

Last week, a home located at 3316 A Felicia sold for $524,900. With 2,283 square feet, that’s $229 per square foot.

Now, however, the builders are getting two houses per lot, so the profit is there and the once-curious architectural style is now the norm for the area. In fact, that contemporary container-style home is the norm for the whole city.

This well-designed home effortlessly fits three bedrooms and three full baths onto the footage that houses “pro-style appliances,” according to listing agent David Binkley, a self-described “Urban Housefitter” who hails from Village Real Estate Services.

The design, he adds, is “dramatic, but tasteful.” He also notes there is a luxurious master and a “roof-top deck.”

The rooftop decks have come into vogue in new construction around Nashville and add solid outdoor living space to the vertical homes.

Atop Sylvan Summit, there are spectacular panoramic views from these decks.

Mary Carolyn Roberts of Metro Council fame is a real estate agent by days and council member during the other 24 hours.

Mary Carolyn represented the buyer along with Elaine Reed of Worth Properties.

This home was built by Troy Stackhouse of Odyssey Construction who is well-versed in this construction and has more on the way.

The path has been beaten to the Summit now and the buyers are headed for the higher ground.

Richard Courtney is a real estate broker with Christianson, Patterson, Courtney, and Associates and can be reached at [email protected].