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Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 8, No. 41 – Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015

 

PDF Version: http://bit.ly/NeighborhoodAdvisory2015-12-01

 

1. Public Meeting Tonight on Brownfield Clean-up
2. Holiday Events Include Home Tours, Decorating Contest, Parties
3. Nominate Your Neighbor for the 2016 Good Neighbor of the Year Award
4. Edgewood Park, Pond Gap Elect Officers
5. City Council Meeting Date Changed
6. Better Building Board Meets Thursday
7. Testify on Blighted Properties at Meeting This Week
8. Learn about Sevier Avenue Design Plans This Week
9.  City Sells Parcel for Lonsdale Garden
10. 10.  Neighborhood and Government Calendar

 

Published by the City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhoods to report news important to Knoxville’s residential neighborhoods. News & calendar deadline: 5 p.m. Mondays.

 

1. Public Meeting Tonight on Brownfield Clean-up

 

The City of Knoxville will conduct a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. this evening (Tuesday, Dec. 1) at All Occasions Catering, 922 N. Central Street, to review the City’s brownfield cleanup grant applications to the Environmental Protection Agency for properties on Jackson Avenue and Broadway.

 

The applications seek up to $200,000 for the former McClung Warehouses and associated properties on West Jackson Avenue between Gay Street and Broadway, as well as the former Sanitary Laundry Property at  625 N. Broadway.

 

The presentations will include a brief overview of the properties, the environmental issues associated with each property, the plan for cleanup activities and the grant application.

 

2. Holiday Events Include Home Tours, Decorating Contest, Parties

 

Neighborhood and community-based organizations across the city are planning a variety of festive events and service projects this holiday season.

 

Providing opportunities for neighbors to meet and get to know one another is a top priority for successful neighborhood organizations. A strong social bond among neighbors allows an organization to take on tasks and work through controversial issues that might otherwise seem impossible.

 

The Fire Street Lofts Homeowners Association raised $125 and purchased a Honey Baked ham and all the trimmings to give to the firefighters at the downtown station. “Our residents are super grateful for the Fire Department’s service to the city and their willingness to work holidays when others are enjoying family and friends!” noted Ginger Kielarowski. The Fire Street lofts are located on West Jackson Avenue.

 

RiverHill Gateway Neighborhood Association will meet at the Marriott from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in collaboration with the Global Day of Giving. Music, snacks and beverages will be provided.

 

Five Points Up, a community-based group organized to beautify and unify Five Points and East Knoxville, is hosting its Winter Wonderland event on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Hardy Park and Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2137 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. The event is free to the public and will include vendors, caroling, and holiday treats, as well as holiday lights and décor all around. For more, contact Sarah Bounse at the Knox County Health Department at 215-5187.

 

Historic Old North Knoxville will host its 27^th Annual Victorian Holiday Tour of Homes this weekend, and the general public is invited. The Candlelight Tour will occur from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, followed by an Afternoon Tour onSunday December 6, 12:30-5 p.m. The event showcases nine Victorian and Craftsman style homes plus one historic church decorated for the holidays.

 

Home Tour tickets are now on sale at 15 area Kroger stores and at PayPal via  www.oldnorthknoxville.com. Advance tickets are $10 until midnight on Friday Dec. 4. Day-of-event tickets cost $15 but $10 for seniors. Children under 12 are free with an adult. Pick up programs and ride a shuttle from the ONK ticket booth at the Tennova/St. Mary’s Hospital parking lot on Woodland Avenue.

 

Guests should allow themselves two to three hours to enjoy the event. Some walking is necessary, and some houses have steps. Details and a preview of the homes can be found at www.oldnorthknoxville.com  orwww.facebook.com/ONKhometour.

 

Chilhowee Park Neighborhood Association has announced its Second Annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest, which is free and open to all CPNA residents. Residences that are decorated and with lights turned on will be judged on Tuesday, Dec. 22, from 6-8 p.m. when judges (who are not residents of the neighborhood) make the rounds. Exterior decorations will be judged on originality, theme, and overall curb appeal. Winners will be recognized on the CPNA website, Facebook, and possibly the local newspaper. Feel free to drive through the neighborhood and around Chilhowee Park to check out all the festive lights!

 

Fairmont-Emoriland Neighborhood Association in North Knoxville and Forest Heights Homeowners Associationin West Knoxville will each conduct a holiday homes tour and social gathering for neighborhood residents this coming weekend.

 

The Timbercrest Neighborhood Association will hold its second annual Christmas Party and Tree Lighting at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 (rescheduled from Nov. 29) at the corner of Timber Pass and Timbercrest Trail. There will be music, cookies and hot chocolate. Lights will be turned on at 6 p.m.

 

Also on Dec. 6 (also rescheduled from Nov. 29), Bearden Council will conduct its first ever Bearden tree lighting at the new Everly Brothers Park at the corner of Kingston Pike and North Forest Park Blvd. Friends will gather starting at 5:30 p.m. Santa will attend, the West High School chorus will perform, and the tree lights will be turned on at 6 p.m.

 

Candoro Arts and Heritage Center will hold its annual holiday open house from 4:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the center, 4450 Candora Drive. There will be refreshments, drawings, music by the Jazzphonics, an art display, and a brief program at 6 p.m. honoring Trudy Monaco, founder of CAHC.

 

Historic Sutherland Heights is holding its usual cookies-and-cake Christmas celebration at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 13, at Marble City Baptist Church, 2738 Sutherland Avenue.

 

Wesley Neighbors Community Association is holding its annual Holiday Dinner at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at Calhoun’s on Bearden Hill.  Friends and neighbors are welcome. The cost is $20. Mary Pom Claiborne of Knox County Public Library is the guest speaker.  RSVP to [email protected] or 297-7045.

 

Alpine Meadow Homeowners Association is having a potluck party for residents on Sunday, Dec. 13, and the group is asking guests to bring a gift or donation for the Tennessee Humane Society. A representative of the Office of Neighborhoods will speak.

 

At its regular monthly meeting at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 16, the Eastport/Lee Williams Neighborhood Watch will celebrate the holiday with gift bags of fruit, nuts, candy, and prizes for adults — and candy, coloring books, surprises, and Teddy Bears for neighboring children.

 

South Knoxville Neighborhood and Business Coalition — composed of representatives of neighborhood organizations and the South Knoxville Alliance — once again is planning a holiday party at a member’s home.

 

3. Nominate Your Neighbor for the 2016 Good Neighbor of the Year Award

 

What makes a good neighbor?

 

Is it just someone who keeps up his property and minds his own business? Or is it that outgoing person who takes time to chat and offers you a tomato from her summer garden? Is it the person who drives an elderly neighbor to and from the doctor’s office — or perhaps the neighbor who always shows up at neighborhood cleanup events?

 

Good neighbors are friendly and helpful, respect the privacy of others, drive at a reasonable speed through the neighborhood, take responsibility for their children and pets, pitch in when needed, and watch out for others.

 

In Knoxville, we celebrate good neighbors with the Diana Conn Neighbor of the Year Award.

 

Nominations are now being accepted for this award, which is presented annually to a City of Knoxville resident who — in the spirit of cooperation and with commitment to inclusive community — has devoted time and talent in service to his or her neighbors and neighborhood.

 

A committee made up of Neighborhood Advisory Council members will select the winner, who (along with other finalists) will be announced at the 2016 Neighborhood Awards and Networking Luncheon on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at the Knoxville Convention Center.

 

Who in your neighborhood deserves this award?

 

To learn more, visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/neighborhoods and click on Good Neighbor of the Year Award. Or justdownload the form. The form is easy to fill out. Just use your own words to describe the person you wish to honor.

 

The deadline for nominations is Friday, Dec. 18, at 4:30 p.m.  The nominations can be sent to Debbie Sharp by email to [email protected] or by mail to Office of Neighborhoods – Room 528, City of Knoxville, P.O. Box 1631, Knoxville, TN 37901. Or call Debbie to receive a hard copy of the form in the mail.

 

The award was named for the late Diana Conn and was presented to her posthumously at the 2013 Neighborhood Conference. The next two winners were Betty Jo Mahan in 2014 and Rita Schwartz in 2015.

 

4. Edgewood Park, Pond Gap Elect Officers

 

The Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association held annual elections at its November 17 meeting.  Pete Pallesen will continue as president. Michael Duerr was elected vice-president; Julie Taylor was re-elected corresponding and recording secretary; and Carol Zimmerman was re-elected treasurer.

 

Pond Gap Neighborhood Association elected new officers for the next two-year term, 2016-2017. The president will remain David Williams; the vice president will be Jill McKenzie, who replaces Pete Waggoner; and the Secretary will be Betty Williams, who replaces Susan Waggoner. Russell Hall and Jackie Bonvin will be co-chairs of the Beautification Committee.

 

5. City Council Meeting Date Changed

 

Due to the winter holidays, Knoxville City Council has rescheduled its Dec. 22 meeting to Thursday, Dec. 17. Council’sDec. 8 and Dec. 17 meetings will be the last ones for the year. See http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_council to review the Council members, meeting schedule, current and past agendas, and other Council information.

 

6. Better Building Board Meets Thursday

 

Two properties are on the agenda for this week’s Better Building Board (BBB) meeting at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, December 3, in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building.

 

The City’s Community Development Department is recommending that the properties at 507 Hickory Drive including accessory structure (Parcel ID 068J-C-027) and 3738 Speedway Circle (Parcel ID 082D-D-030) be determined blighted.

 

Neighbors affected by these properties may wish to be present to testify on their impact on the neighborhood.

 

For a full copy of the December BBB agenda, with details and owner information on each property, visithttp://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions and click on the Better Building Board.

 

Under the city’s Chronic Problem Properties ordinance, a property first determined and then later certified by the BBB to be blighted can eventually be acquired by the City, using its eminent domain powers, if the owner fails to take corrective action.

 

Blighted properties acquired by the city are listed for sale through Community Development’s Homemaker’s Program. See:

http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/community_development/homemaker_program/

 

7. Testify on Blighted Properties at Meeting This Week

 

Twenty-one properties are on the agenda for the City’s next Public Officer Hearing at 9:30 a.m. Friday, December 4.

 

The Public Officer — David Brace, senior director of public works — will hear testimony on buildings that inspectors contend are in violation of the city’s building codes. Testimony can also be made by the property owners, neighbors, neighborhood groups, and other stakeholders, such as lien holders.

 

The Public Officer then decides whether to issue an order requiring that the violations be addressed within a certain period of time. Failure by the owner to cure the problem may result in the boarding or demolition of a structure, or the cleanup of a dirty or overgrown lot, with costs billed to the owner. A property owner may appeal the Public Officer’s decision to the Better Building Board and, ultimately, to Chancery Court.

 

The properties to be heard for repair/demolition orders are: 121 East Caldwell Avenue (including accessory structure), 1404 Chicago Avenue, 1025 Durmast Drive (including accessory structure), 2038 East Fifth Avenue, 1606 East Glenwood Avenue, 2513 Harvey Street a/k/a accessory structure at 432/434 East Morelia Avenue, 1248 Iredell Avenue (including accessory structure), 1111 Louisiana Avenue, 2128 Mississippi Avenue (including accessory structure, 1405 Rickard Drive (including accessory structure), 2208 Southside Drive, 3738 Speedway Circle, 1615 Sterchi Street (including accessory structure), 1217 University Avenue, 708 Washburn Road a/k/a 704 Washburn Road, and 2721 White Oak Lane (including accessory structure).

 

The structures at 2111 Citrus Street, 2115 Citrus Street, 141 South Cruze Street, 2005 Forest Avenue, and 205 Green Road (including accessory structure) will be considered for confirmation of previously issued emergency repair/demolition orders.

 

If any of these properties are in your neighborhood, then you or a representative of your organization may wish to attend the meeting to submit testimony about the impact of the property on the neighborhood.

 

The full December 4 agenda, with details on each property, can be found at http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/UserFile/Servers/Server_109478/File/Boards/betterbuilding/agenda_poh.pdf.

 

8. Learn about Sevier Avenue Design Plans Next Week

 

Representatives from the City of Knoxville’s Office of Redevelopment and Engineering Department along with consultant Vaughn and Melton will hold a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, to review final design plans for the Sevier Avenue Streetscapes Improvement Project. The meeting will be held at South Knoxville Elementary School.

 

Proposed improvements for Sevier Avenue include a new two-lane streetscape with bike lanes, improved sidewalks, street lighting, on-street parking and a new roundabout at the Sevier Avenue, Island Home Avenue and Foggy Bottom Street intersections.

 

Streetscape improvements are also planned for Barber and Foggy Bottom streets and will provide connectivity to the new Waterfront Drive and Suttree Landing Park.

 

Improvements are also planned for Davenport Road and Phillips Avenue in the vicinity of South Knoxville Elementary to provide better traffic circulation and pedestrian connections to the school.

 

There will be a two-week public comment period after the Dec. 10 meeting.

 

9. City Sells Parcel for Lonsdale Garden

 

A nonprofit group is creating a community garden in Lonsdale that will offer plots to local families, as well as fruit trees and berry bushes that will provide produce for the whole community.

 

City Council on Oct. 27 approved the sale of a parcel at 1229 Louisiana Ave. to Thrive Lonsdale, a nonprofit organization that serves children in the neighborhood. The organization plans to convert the parcel of land into a community garden.

 

“We are so excited to be working with the City’s urban agriculture initiative and to be providing the Lonsdale community with a place to steward their gifts,” said Beth Aaser, Thrive Lonsdale’s garden director.

 

The lot was sold to Thrive Lonsdale through the City Community Development Department’s Homemaker Program, which makes vacant, often dilapidated properties available for sale to nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, private developers and individuals with the stipulation that the owner rehabilitates the existing structure, builds a new dwelling or maintains the vacant lot.

 

“In this case, the parcel is unbuildable, so a neighborhood garden is a perfect use for this vacant lot,” said Becky Wade, City Community Development Director.

 

Aaser added: “Our desire is to see an abandoned lot turned into a beautiful and welcoming space. Functionally, this garden will house raised garden beds for 20 local families along with communal fruit trees and berry bushes.”

 

The garden is centrally located in the middle of Lonsdale, directly across from Lonsdale Elementary School. Some citizens had requested that the lot be used for overflow parking for the elementary school, but neither the zoning nor the Homemakers Program guidelines would have allowed that use.

 

For more information or to find out how to donate money, materials or labor, visit www.thrivelonsdale.com.

 

10. Neighborhood and Government Calendar

 

Include your neighborhood-related event or meeting in this space. Call 215-4382.

 

Visit http://knoxvilletn.gov/calendar for a complete list of meetings of various city boards and commissions.

 

If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to attend a City of Knoxville public meeting, please contact Stephanie Brewer Cook at scook@knoxvilletn.gov or 215-2034 no lessthan 72 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend. For an English interpreter, contact Joshalyn Hundley, Title VI Coordinator, at 865.215.3867 or at [email protected].

 

Tuesday, December 1 — 4:30 p.m.

Dandridge Avenue Neighborhood Watch (First Tuesdays)

Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Ave.

Lawrence Washington, 524-4498

 

Tuesday, December 1 — 6 p.m.

            Mechanicsville Community Association (First Tuesdays)

Fairview Recreation Center, 1628 Dora St.

Charles Wright, 637-1802

 

Wednesday, December 2 — Breakfast – 7:30 a.m.  Meeting – 8 a.m.

East Towne Area Business & Professional Association (First Wednesdays)

Neighborhood Residents and Leaders encouraged to attend

New Harvest Park Community Building

Chair, Justin Sterling, [email protected]

 

Wednesday, December 2 — 5 p.m.

Knox County Board of Education – Regular Session (First Wednesdays)

First Floor Board Room, Andrew Johnson Building, 912 South Gay St.

For agenda, work sessions, and other items:

Visit http://knoxschools.org. Click on “Board of Education.”

 

Thursday, December 3 — 3:30 p.m.

Better Building Board

(Last Thursday, January-October. First Thursday, December)

Small Assembly Room, City-County Building

http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/better_building_board/

Cheri Hollifield, 215-2119, [email protected]

 

Thursday, December 3 — 6-7:30 p.m.

Winter Wonderland Celebration

Caroling, holiday treats, Christmas lights, and vendors. Free to the public.

Five PointsUp

Tabernacle Baptist Church and Hardy Park, 2137 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

Terrell Patrick, 525-4833

 

Friday, December 4 — 9:30 a.m.

Public Officer Hearing – Neighborhood Codes Enforcement

(Usually held on the Friday following Better Building Board meetings)

The PO considers action on violations of city’s building codes.

Small Assembly Room, City County Building

http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/better_building_board/

Cheri Hollifield, 215-2119, [email protected]

 

Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6

Historic Old North Knoxville Victorian Holiday Home Tour

Saturday Dec. 5: 4-9 p.m. (Candlelight Tour)

Sunday Dec. 6:  12:30-5 p.m. (Afternoon Tour)

Tickets $10 in advanced or $15 day of event – can be purchased online or at Kroger

Lauren Rider, 964-3905, http://www.victorianholidayhometour.com/

 

Sunday, December 6 – 5 p.m.

2^nd Annual Timbercrest Christmas Party and Tree Lighting

Corner of Timber Pass and Timbercrest Trail

Music, cookies, hot chocolate — and tree lighting at 6 p.m.

Timbercrest Neighborhood Association

Jen Leadbetter, [email protected], 292-3437

 

Sunday, December 6 — 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Tree Lighting in Everly Brothers Park

Santa, West High School Chorus, and tree lighting at 6 p.m.

Kingston Pike at N. Forest Park Blvd.

Bearden Council

Terry Faulkner, [email protected], 584-3659

We’re upgrading and have a well-loved, but still in very good shape Reebok RL-545 Elliptical Trainer we are looking to give away (rather than just have it hauled away).  If you’re interested, call us at 865-247-7040 and make arrangements to pick it up.  It can be semi-disassembled for easier moving.

This is a good machine for indoor exercising over the winter!  It has a battery operated console to track time, distance, calories, etc. as well as a built in fan and heart rate tracker in the handles.  You can increase resistance for a tough workout or go easy.  There are several pre-programmed workouts as well.

Here is a link to the user manual (couldn’t find a link to the machine itself).  https://www.manualowl.com/m/Reebok/Rl545-Elliptical/Manual/345380

Laura Ward

 

We have had a medium sized dog (lab mix) in our neighborhood for about three weeks.  Yesterday, I was able to approach it.  It’s very hungry.  It’s black, medium hair length, wavy, grey muzzle, collar with box for electronic fence (Pet stop).  The dog is well trained – can sit and stay on command but obviously lost or dumped..

Please call me (Karen Hughes 974-6387 or 851-9155) or send an e-mail ([email protected])  if you know where this dog belongs.  I will have to take it to the shelter pretty soon if it’s not claimed.

 

Karen Hughes

I checked with Andy’s list and did not find any listing for generator service. I seem to remember some email threads about that subject from several members of the form. I have used a generator service for some period of time, but I’m no longer sure they are available. Would like some recommendations from those of you who have generators, in particular,whole house or similar thanks, David

It is that special time of the year again, a time to pull our decorations out of the attic and the basement and create a beautiful festive neighborhood atmosphere during the holiday season. The Beautification Committee has been working to help in this effort.

Several neighbors have met together to make lovely bows to adorn all the street signs. They will be hung this coming weekend for your month long enjoyment. There will also be additional decorations in various parts of the neighborhood.

Again this year, a selection committee will drive the streets during the week of December 7-14 to choose three residences that are especially festive. The selections will be made, announced and signs placed in the yards on Monday, December 14.

We encourage everyone to contribute to the festivity making this a special Holiday destination for friends and family. This has been a wonderful year and it is nice to celebrate by lighting a tree or a candle. I know we are all grateful to be living on “the quiet side of the river.”

Happy Thanksgiving from the Beautification Committee!

 

 

My daughter needs an exercise bike for rehab after hip surgery. After giving one away less than a month ago, we need the use of one for a few weeks. Does anyone have one to spare?

Forrest Orr

865-679-1970

There are a few bags of pecans remaining after our best pecan year yet. Thanks to those of you who ordered. If your order has not been delivered yet, a garden club member is on her way to you. The crop was especially delicious this year. One pound bags of pecan halves or of pieces are now $15 each. Call Mary Cartwright at 579-5617 and get your pecans before Thanksgiving.

I retrieved a tube from the river. It’s large yellow 2 person type. Call or text 406-3934 if it is yours.

Neighbors-

Medium/Large sized dog seen wandering along Maloney.  Invisible fence collar?  Maybe broke out of yard.  No ID.  Black head/shoulders with sort of spotted grey body.  First seen Maloney & Lakecrest, next seen Maloney & Circle Lake.

The daytime garden club in our neighborhood has been working with a landscape architect to develop gardens on two pieces of Knox County Highway Dept. property within Lakemoor Hills.  One is the 1/10th mile median strip along Bluff Point and the other is the circular property in the cut-de-sac at the end of  Circle Lake.  These two designs will be on display at the LHHA meeting on Nov. 17 at 7 PM at Lake Hills Church.  The gardens are designed to be demonstration areas using plants that are native to our area and attract birds and butterflies.  They also incorporate rain garden designs that will help mitigate storm water issues along certain properties.  Knox County Stormwater Department has worked with us to develop the ideas and is providing some of the funding through a grant program for the plant acquisition and installation.  There will be seating areas, walking paths, a small gathering area for music or storytelling, and beauty for all seasons.  Development of the gardens will happen over a period of time and there will be many opportunities for neighbors to become involved.  Come Tuesday night to see the designs and hear more about our plans.