Fri
Sep 29 2006
08:42 am
Pinkston Promises Gazebo Action - by the County
By: bizgrrl

A developer of condos off Maloney Road in South Knoxville agreed to provide a boat ramp dock and gazebo (or picnic shelter) in exchange for Knox County park land to build a necessary sewer pumping station for the condos.

It has been almost two years. The dock has been provided but the gazebo has not.

In a July 10th, 2006 Knoxville News Sentinel article, "Nearly two years later, the boat dock is in place at the Maloney Road Park, but the shelter hasn't materialized. Last month, the county sent the developer a letter threatening to build the shelter and bill the contractor for the cost.

"While we understand that construction has taken much longer than expected, certainly a year and a half is more than adequate for this construction," states the June 22 letter from the Knox County Law Department to the developer.

The article quotes Knox County Commissioner Paul Pinkston saying, "I'm not concerned whatsoever about Mr. Weaver coming through with the gazebo. He's a local boy and a man of his word."

(The News Sentinel article link is no longer working.)

In a phone call to Mr. Pinkston Wednesday, Sept. 27th, to determine the status of the gazebo, Mr. Pinkston stated he is still not concerned because it is now up to Knox County to build the promised gazebo. According to Pinkston, apparently the developer is having a bit of trouble, unexpected cost increases [due to Katrina], unexpected costs for site preparation, etc. The developer may have some materials already purchased for the gazebo. The developer may be able to pay the County's costs for the County to build the gazebo. The Knox County Parks & Recreation Department is now in control of building the promised gazebo with or without contributions from the developer.

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Rachel's picture

It must be nice to be as

Submitted by Rachel on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 8:54am.

It must be nice to be as free from "concern" as Commissioner Pinkston.

Factchecker's picture

Oops

Submitted by Factchecker on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 11:50am.

Thanks for taking my advice to call him.  Sorry it's not going well.  Wonder what the P & R Dept would say.  At least the plans to expand Alcoa Hwy have seem to have fallen through (and unfortunately the greenway that would have come with it).

bizgrrl's picture

At least the plans to expand

Submitted by bizgrrl on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 12:07pm.

Thanks for the suggestion. 

RE: At least the plans to expand Alcoa Hwy have seem to have fallen through (and unfortunately the greenway that would have come with it).

Could you expound on this? Does this mean there will not be a flyover/clover leaf at either Montlake or Maloney on Alcoa Hwy? If this is true I could not be happier. Where can I get more info on this?

Factchecker's picture

Yup

Submitted by Factchecker on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 4:53pm.

Does this mean there will not be a flyover/clover leaf at either Montlake or Maloney on Alcoa Hwy?

That's my understanding.  There are several residents in our 'hood who would be and already have been severely impacted.  They even took several houses, mostly from Barber Hill.  A prominent neighbor called a couple weeks ago and said that most of the businesses in the area (Food City, etc.) received notices that the whole deal is not going to happen for the foreseeable future.  I'm just going by what I was told 2nd or 3rd hand.

If this is true I could not be happier.

Me too, except for the dream of a contiguous greenway... 

Where can I get more info on this?

Maybe TDOT.  Might try calling the office over there on Straw Plains.  If I find anything more, I'll post it.

mpower1952's picture

 bizgrrl- Is Pinkston

Submitted by mpower1952 on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 4:35pm.

 bizgrrl- Is Pinkston saying that although the developer was given land for a sewage pumping station in exchange for a boat ramp and gazeebo built at his cost, now KC Parks & Rec has to build it with or w/o contributions from the developer?

What gives? 

 

Be a blessing to someone today.

R. Neal's picture

Yes, pretty much.

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 4:49pm.

Yes, pretty much. Apparently, there was no written agreement. This was a "handshake" deal.

Also, when bizgrrl asked why they didn't put the sewer pumping station on their own property, Pinkston said that was on KUB. He said KUB said it had to go either right up on Maloney Rd. (not clear if on the developer's property or not) or on this green space right in the middle of the park. Those were supposedly the only two spots that would work.

Apparently there is also some question as to the developer's ability to pay (according to Pinkston), even if the county does the work and bills them. (Pinkston said maybe they will be able to pay if they sell a condo or two, which apparently hasn't occurred yet.)

So because there is no written agreement, being a handshake deal and all, it's probably safe to surmise that there's a good chance Knox County taxpayers will pay for it if it's ever built. It doesn't sound like there is any obligation on the county's part to do so, however, this being a handshake deal and all.

Stick Thrower's picture

Bad Deals

Submitted by Stick Thrower on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 8:27pm.
 
If the park property was off the table for the pump station as it should have been, then--based on terrain--the other logical spot for it would be at 3512 Maloney, the site of the new clubhouse and pool at the curve to the northwest.
 

Talk to the Maxey's, who are sandwiched in the middle of that debacle of a development, about how good Dennis Weaver's "word" is. Actually, you don't even have to talk to them, just look at what Weaver has done around their property.  And, at the next open house at "The Gazebo-less," go take a look at the million dollar view (of the marina structure roof) from those new condos. That will give you a clue about why Weaver can't afford to uphold his end of the gazebo bargain. No one is buying overpriced, poorly-conceived properties on a mud-filled inlet. Rumor has it, he's a tad overextended financially.

 
Not content to fail on just the lakefront though, Weaver also bought property at 3443 and 3441 Ginn and is pressuring the folks on the corner to sell... to fulfill some fantasy about building several rows of million dollar condos from the top of the hill down to the lake. I'm curious about what kinds of handshake deals Pinkston will arrange for Ginn Road. Will the property be annexed by the city? Ginn is practically a one-lane road--will it be widened to accommodate the new development?
 
Factchecker's picture

'ere ye' go!

Submitted by Factchecker on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 9:52pm.

...Dennis Weaver's "word"...

I wondered what happened to him since McCloud and The H Squares. 

redmondkr's picture

I wondered what happened to

Submitted by redmondkr on Fri, 2006/09/29 - 10:16pm.

I wondered what happened to him since McCloud and The H Squares.

That Dennis Weaver died of cancer last February. 

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