Oh boy---yippee, even more concentration of homeless services coming to a mission district near you:

Link...

Unbelievable....well not really, at a recent meeting regarding Minvilla and the most expensive studio apartments in Knoxville history, I was assured that Knoxville was not unique in its concentration of homeless service providers. After requesting examples, I was given cities such as Portland, Maine and Jacksonville, Florida but after mapping their services it became clear that those cities' providers were several blocks and sometimes many miles apart. When I shared this information with the city employees, I asked them to correct me if I was mistaken...they did not.

Knoxville has a Ten Year Plan so our City hasn't failed to plan, but with no decentralization plan and worse, more over-concentration, it is planning fail.

Oh well,

City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation has teamed up with River Sports to offer bicycle rentals at Volunteer Landing. The grand opening is tomorrow, August 19, at 2PM. The cost is $10 per person for a two-hour rental, or $30 for all day. And here's a nice map of Knoxville's bicycle greenways.

Full press release with more details after the jump...

According to this morning's KNS (Link...) , Minvilla requires even more tax breaks?

~$125k for efficiency apartments originally advertised as "basic, no frills housing".

Oh well,

After much information has been learned about the astonishing cost of the Minvilla project, unanswered questions still remain; the main ones are:

1. Given that the estimated cost of VMC's Minvilla project is now "north of $6,000,000" (according to 6/20 quote from the Ten Year Plan's Housing Coordinator) and has been rising at ~$100k per month, why are not the many and much less expensive alternatives being pursued?

2. How does it make sense to house fragile and recently homeless individuals immediatly adjacent to those who could easily re-enable the activities which may have caused their homelessness in the first place.

According to the same quote from the Ten Year Plan's Housing Coordinator (Link...), the cost "is...kind of a moving target" so we don't actually know what the final cost will be; however, we do know that many more and less expensive options are available now. (Link...)

Much has been made of my ~$200/sq ft calculation of this $6+mm and ~30,000 sq foot project but rather than argue the math...real questions need answering. Why not help more people with more efficient use of funds? Why not help them sooner by using readily available properties? Why not locate them in an area where they are less likely to be tempted or preyed upon?

Last Thursday, Ginny Weatherstone (VMC Executive Director) graciously gave a few folks a tour of the Minvilla structure. Besides myself and Ginny, other attendees included architect Dan Schuh, City employee Robert Finley, Ten Year Plan leader Jon Lawler, nearby resident David Nix and Dept. of Community Services employee Mike Dunthorn. A few key points and/or observations that came from this meeting:

I woke up this mornng with a hankering to get dressed up and go downtown to see a movie tonight, so I look at the paper to see what's playing.
Blech!
I have a choice between:
Hancock
or
Wanted
or
Wall-E
or
Get Smart
or
Love Guru
or
Incredible Hulk
or
Kung Fu Panda
or
Indiana Jones: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Before this theater opened, I did some reading, and discovered that films that get the widest distribution and make the most dough are made for 16-year-old boys. Seems pretty spot-on.
Damn.

A few photos from the festivities last night:

KNS: $135,000 in grants going to downtown properties

Seven downtown properties — including the site of the former S&W Cafeteria — will receive nearly $135,000 in development grants approved today by an organization funded by downtown Knoxville property owners.

Good news for the S&W renovation, we hope.

The article also says Bill Threlkeld was elected to the CBID board. We knew Bill from back in high school (when he was "Billy") and have run into him a couple of times since. He's good people.

local artists featured in gallery event
Saturday June 21 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sun. June 22, 2-4 PM

There will be a bunch of artists showing their work during the Grand Opening of those new condos in that renovated building up the street from Corner Lounge....(Real estate person's details below)

Artists exhibiting:

Lauren Karnitz, Jessica Gregory, Denise Stewart-Sanabria, Rick Whitehead, Alan Finch, Tom McDaniel, T. Michael Martin, Van Walker David Wolff, Brigid oesterland, Hallah John Paul Boltick, Emily Beckett. It should be a cool event. Each artist has "taken over" a condo unit to hang their work in. I think some are bringing wine and snacks, too.

North Central Village offers new construction specifications while preserving aspects of the exterior character of the historic Graystone Apartment Building. The seventeen unit community is located in the context of Old North Knoxville and Fourth & Gill historic neighborhoods and within the burgeoning Downtown North district on the periphery of the downtown. Affordably priced with reasonable fees and deeded, secured parking.

Broadway to 912 N. Central Street

From the City of Knoxville: "The Gay Street Bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on June 17-19, for a routine inspection by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. TDOT inspects the bridge every two years."

Here are some cool storm photos from last night by Brenden Loy. Here's a great lightning photo.

(By way of MKS)

The City of Knoxville wants to remind pedestrians around Market Square to look both ways before crossing.

Starting tomorrow (Tue. June 3) after rush hour, new traffic patterns go into effect. Some streets that were previously one-way will now be two-way streets, specifically sections of Locust and Walnut Streets and Summer Place. Market Street will remain one-way, but in the opposite direction, going North instead of South.

"We want to remind everyone, both walkers and drivers, that these changes are going to become a reality Tuesday," said Madeleine Weil, the city’s deputy director of Policy & Communications. "Folks need to remember to be on their toes until they get used to the change and it becomes a habit to look both ways when crossing what has always been a one-way street."

According to the City of Knoxville, "the goal of the new street circulation plan is to simplify traffic around the Market Square area, making it easier for visitors to find the square and easier for drivers to circulate around it."

Be careful out there!

The City of Knoxville is preparing for repair and reconstruction work on the underground structures supporting the 100 block of Gay St. which was raised about 90 years ago. The project is expected to begin in the fall and will involve "extensive construction work and street closure on the 100 block."

There's a public meeting at 5:30 PM today at the Emporium Building meeting room (Level B2), 100 S. Gay Street. City officials and engineering consultants will be on hand to discuss the project with property and business owners, employees, and residents in the 100 block.

UPDATE: The KNS files this report on the meeting. It sounds like an extensive undertaking, and the finished product should be pretty nice. The City has a web page for the project:

City of Knoxville - Gay Street 100 Block Project

The upcoming construction project will rebuild the support structures, relocate and realign all utilities and replace surface-level streetscape features. While the primary purpose of the construction is to fix old and compromised infrastructure, the project's surface-level design includes cosmetic enhancements like wider sidewalks, street trees, and a sidewalk furnishing zone for features like benches, bike racks, etc. that will significantly improve the aesthetic condition of the block.

Numerous project plans and documents are available at the above link.

The Arts & Culture Alliance concludes its 2008 Members Exhibit Thursday the 29th, the largest annual showcase of local artists in the Greater Knoxville area. You can visit their page on Art Museum Touring.com
(Link...)

Heather Whiteside

The fresh mix of two- and three-dimensional works created within the last two years encompasses a wide variety of media such as oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, pencils, mixed media, photography, fine crafts, beadwork, iron sculpture, stone sculpture, clay, wood-carving, ceramics, jewelry, and more from local artists who are all members of the Arts & Culture Alliance.

Support your local galleries and museums! They are economic engines for your community.

Sherrie

Forever Young: Bob Dylan's Birthday Bash for 2008 is being held Saturday, May 24th at the World's Fair Park Amphitheater in Knoxville. This year's event is a benefit for Community Shares and runs from 7 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. with an admission price of $15. Tickets may be bought in advance at all Tickets Unlimited outlets.

Co-hosts this year are Bob Deck and Todd Steed. Musical acts include the Carawan Family, Todd Steed & the Suns of Phere, the Lonetones, Garage Deluxe, Maggie Longmire, the Detroit Daddies, Dead Flowers, Greg Horne, Steve Horton & his Tres Bien Ensemble, and Steve Dupree.

Each act performs Dylan compositions in 20-30 minute sets, usually with no songs being repeated, in a wide variety of musical styles. This is the fourth year for the event.

For a partial preview of which musicians are doing what Dylan tunes, go to Link... and click on the blog entry entitled "Bob Dylan Birthday Bash." See you Saturday!

Tearing down a downtown interstate and replacing it with a boulevard and an elongated park...now that's just crazy.

Link...

Via KnoxBlab:
North Mississippi All-Stars
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Artvandalay

7-10pm
Thanks to AC Entertainment for not allowing the rain to kill downtown!

Looking for fresh strawberries and/or humanely-raised local meat? If you're interested in learning more about local food (and the people who produce it), the Market Square Farmers' Market is launching a monthly series of farm tours. The "To the Source Farm Tour" series kicks off on Sunday, May 18, with a visit to three farms in Meigs, Rhea, and Monroe counties.

The tour will visit Tidwell's Berry Farm, a family-owned "ready pick" berry farm in Spring City, Tennessee. The next stop on the tour is River Ridge Farm in Ten Mile, Tennessee, to tour the farm where Dave Waters and his family raise beef, pork, chickens, and other goodies. Regulars to the Market Square Farmers' Market are familiar with Dave as the market's "meat guy." The tour will conclude with an opportunity to pick your own strawberries at Strawberry Knob Farm in Madisonville.

"Eleanor" and I will be going as we continue to explore our local food options. Cost of the tour is $20 per person and shuttle vans (provided by CAC) will depart from Market Square at noon on Sunday, 18 May. The shuttles will return approximately 6:30 p.m. Advance registration is required by Wednesday and space is limited. So, contact Charlotte Tolley at the Farmers' Market booth on Market Days (today or Wednesday) or visit the new MSFM web site at www.marketsquarefarmersmarket.org for additional information in the "Special Events and Programs" section. "Eleanor" and I will be manning a booth for the MSFM this morning at the Beardsley Community Farm's Farm Fest and we'll also be signing interested people up. Other volunteers will be at the farm fest booth in the afternoon to get you signed up, also.

See you on the farm!

I was really pleased this morning to find an interview with Julie and Kevin posted on Design Sponge, a fantastic blog that covers artists and designers from around the world.

The Jackson Avenue ramp between State Street and Gay Street will be closed indefinitely today. City of Knoxville engineers made the decision after receiving a recommendation from TDOT inspectors to immediately shut down the ramp because of structural deficiencies. The city is looking at all its options for addressing the situation. The KNS has more.

I spent much of this morning and early afternoon in Market Square with my Fiancee. Wow! We had such a good time. It started around 10 with breakfast at Trio, then a hand-squeezed lemonade. Golden Girl bought a really nice silver iris pendant made from a spoon handle, and we got some homemade dog biscuits for our pooch. One of my favorite parts of the day was an extended conversation with a couple from Kentucky selling mosaic artwork. They were very nice people, and interesting to talk to. But, hey, that's pretty much the story of our entire festival experience. Good food, good times, good people. I love Knoxville!

Downtown accounting firm moving west

Coulter & Justus president Sam Coulter said the firm is out of space at its current home, in Gay Street's Riverview Tower, and that it seemed like a good financial move to own its own building.

Didn't know downtown Knoxville office space was so overbooked. This should help relieve the overcrowding.

Wow!

Smucker, the current owner of White Lily, has decided to close the White Lily plant in downtown Knoxville. Production will move to another facility. Let's hope it is in the U.S.

125 years! Are there any other businesses in Knoxville that have been around that long? Apparently, Mayo's has been around for nearly 130 years. Anything else?

The City of Knoxville's public art task force has forwarded its report to Mayor Haslam. It can be viewed at

Link...

Thanks, Bill Lyons

The parade will begin in Market Square and end at the future site of the city's new downtown dog park on the southeastern corner of Summit Hill Drive and Central Avenue.

Registrants will receive a doggie goody bag and a royal court will be selected for the best dressed. Grooming and vaccination stations will be on site, as well as food vendors (including gourmet dog treats). Participants may purchase Mardi Growl Parade dog shirts or photos of their favorite pets in front of a Mardi Growl background.

Registration is $8. As required by law, all dogs must be leashed and owners are required to clean up any dog waste.

The $78 million mixed use project will be at the old Supreme Court property. WBIR files this report. Here's WATE. And WVLT. And the Knoxville News Sentinel. Mayor Haslam says this is a private project and no city funds are involved.

Sorry to put two announcements here in one day but I know a lot of folks are dog lovers. This new event that is being held in conjunction with the city's planned new downtown dog park. There is a registration form and new logo to be found at...

Link...

January 14, 2008 - Be a part of Knoxville's first ever "Mardi Paws Parade" - a costume parade for dogs and their owners through downtown Knoxville. The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 and will begin in Market Square and end at the future site of the city's new downtown dog park on the southeastern corner of Summit Hill Drive and Central Avenue.

This event is being presented by PetSafe Village and Invisible Fence Brand and produced by the City of Knoxville. It is designed to raise awareness of the city's new downtown dog park and proceeds from the event will go to support animal adoption efforts of the Young-Williams Animal Center.

Registrants will receive a doggie goody bag and a royal court will be selected for the best dressed. Grooming and vaccination stations will be on site, as well as food vendors (including gourmet dog treats). Participants may purchase Mardi Paws Parade dog shirts or photos of their favorite pets in front of a Mardi Paws background.

Early registration is $5 and ends January 26, 2008. Late registration and day of parade registration is $8. As required by law, all dogs must be leashed and owners are required to clean up any dog waste.

The City has inked a deal with Gridiron Burgers to occupy retail space at the new downtown cinema. The City will pay $300,000 to build out the space, and the PBA will lease it to Gridiron for five years. The restaurant hopes to open by summer. Details here.

As most of us remember in addition to the Market Square properties there was other “West” property that were seized by the Fed’s during the money laundering and Drug Sting’s causing the collapse of the (West Market Square Empire). There was James West’s Home Just this side of Asheville, NC a nice 4 BR 3 BA 2 Kitchen Rancher sitting on 2.25 acres purchased April 2004 for 267,000. And there was the close to 100 acres in Hawaii on the BIG Island.

It has come time that both of these properties are now up for auction.
Auction Dates:
North Carolina 176 Ridge Road Candler, NC February 12th
Hawaii Upper Maulua Homestead Road, Ninole, HI Date TBD in March

There will be a meeting Wednesday, November 28, to discuss the development of a dog park in downtown Knoxville.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Annex Community Room of the Emporium Building located at 100 S. Gay Street.

Arf! Arf! Last week at the Mayors' luncheon, Haslam was telling the public he hoped to make Knoxville "the dog friendliest city in this country". This would certainly be a boon for tourists who travel with pupsters and might be seeking a play area. It would also I'm sure be popular with people downtown and close to downtown.