Tue
Feb 22 2022
04:38 pm
SmartFix40 update
By: michael kaplan

When I-40 was doubled in width as it passed through downtown and the inner neighborhoods, a budget was designated for planting the berms that support the highway. Those woods have become shelter for homeless encampments. Two weeks ago, the city broke through the chain link fence that encloses the berms on Magnolia (opposite the Greyhound station) and demolished an encampment. The vegetation - what was supposed to be an 'urban forest' - has been clear cut. Smart fix.

preview_I-40defoliation.jpg

Topics:
Treehouse's picture

Better

Submitted by Treehouse on Tue, 2022/02/22 - 5:05pm.

I understand the need to do this and it's better than the long patch of earth scraping that took place in front of the billboard near I-640 from I-40 eastbound. No excuse for that ugliness.

michael kaplan's picture

was that 'scraping' due to

Submitted by michael kaplan on Tue, 2022/02/22 - 8:05pm.
(in reply to Treehouse)

was that 'scraping' due to homeless living in the woods?

Treehouse's picture

I don't think so

Submitted by Treehouse on Wed, 2022/02/23 - 10:15am.

I think it was solely for the billboard. It's on a steep side and other vegetation hasn't been cleared.

DCROSS1968's picture

Homeless

Submitted by DCROSS1968 on Sun, 2022/02/27 - 5:20pm.

Go down 5th Ave sometime. Behind KARM on the rail road tracks looks like a 3rd world country. I hate to be insensitive but if your wanting to attract people downtown that's not the way to do it. I have seen several instances of the homeless literally stopping traffic asking for money at 5th and Broadway. The problem is only going to get worse.

michael kaplan's picture

You're right, it's getting

Submitted by michael kaplan on Mon, 2022/03/07 - 8:14pm.
(in reply to DCROSS1968)

You're right, it's getting worse. One KPD officer involved in the ‘clean-up’ operations estimated in 2019 that there were “at least 5,000” homeless in the area. (Note that the KPD 'area,' through annexations, stretches out to Emory Road in the north, Strawberry Plains in the east, to John Sevier Highway in the south, and past Pellissippi Parkway in the west.) And since Mayor Haslam’s Ten-Year Plan" and “housing first” intitiative, I’m not seeing any comprehensive plan to deal with the problem on a large scale. Of course, Knoxville is not alone - this is a problem throughout the country.

fischbobber's picture

You are correct.

Submitted by fischbobber on Mon, 2022/03/07 - 9:49pm.
(in reply to michael kaplan)

Homelessness is now a county wide situation. As a result, due to it being a broadening issue, it's getting harder and harder to define as a moral issue. And don't forget, these folks pay taxes. As a percentage of their income, many pay at ten times the rate property tax owners do. We are at a crossroads in America. Homelessness will develop into lifestyle unless permanent opportunity is offered and accepted. Given what I know about the nuts and bolts of living this way, and considering what other options society offers mean to different people, homelessness may become more of a preferred lifestyle, rather than one sprung of need. Perhaps we should start looking at this issue in terms of fundamental human respect rather than a condescending approach of blanket solutions to personal problems. Countywide access to clean showers and bathroom facilities would help.

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