By Jeremy Z. Young
What used to be a bustling area near downtown Knoxville, is now inspiring leaders to redevelop the area.
The City of Knoxville and Metropolitan Planning Commission, along with Knox Community Development Corporation, held a public meeting July 8 to discuss planned improvements for the Downtown North/I-275 Redevelopment area, aka the Central Ave. corridor.
The two-hour meeting gave the government groups an opportunity to present plans for revitalizing North Central Ave. Some redevelopment efforts will begin this Summer.
“We’re excited about this project,” city director of redevelopment Bob Whetsel said. “This is an area that a lot of people have expressed an interest in living or operating businesses in and the city, in terms of infrastructure and other areas, wants to help this area thrive.”
The corridor spans a section of Central Ave. from Woodland Ave. to Depot Street. and from Depot to Bearden Place on Broadway in North Knoxville.
Whetsel and others from the city gave an overview of the area and various programs available to help with the redevelopment effort. Those include the city’s Facade Improvement Programs, a description of the redevelopment and urban renewal plan, zoning and enforcement, as well as plans for the I-275 Business Park Road and a proposed Downtown North Streetscape Program.
The goal is to make North Central more of a mixed-use zone with offices and some residential and retail elements facing the street. The plan would also make the street more pedestrian friendly.
The City, MPC and KCDC want to rezone the area from commercial to a mixed-use zone. The plan would also reduce North Central to two lanes with turn lanes at intersections with signals. The remaining lanes could be used for public parking.
Comment cards were handed out to the nearly 100 people in attendance. The groups will hold another public meeting at the health department on Dameron Ave. July 22.
Bob Whetsel will also accept comments by e-mail at bwhetsel@cityofknoxville.org throughout the public input stages.
