Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 7, No. 33 – Friday, September 26, 2014
- Cumberland Estates Plans Chili Fest, Holiday Party
- Parkridge Plans Historic Tour of Homes
- MPC to Hold Workshop Monday on Proposed Sign Ordinance
- City Seeks Candidates for Neighborhood Advisory Council
- City Makes Short-Term Construction Loans for Blighted Properties
- Parks & Rec Updates Its Greenways Map
- Pickleball Expands in Knoxville
- Neighborhood and Government Calendar
Published by the City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhoods to report news important to Knoxville’s residential neighborhoods. Deadline for news & calendar items: 9 a.m. Friday
- Cumberland Estates Plans Chili Fest, Holiday Party
Cumberland Estates West Neighborhood Watch will hold its annual Chili Fest from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 9, at the Cumberland Estates Recreation Center, 4529 Silverhill Drive.
The event will include entertainment, the Knoxville Fire Department with a fire engine for children to explore, and officers with the Knoxville Police Department. The organization is asking neighbors and visitors — if they are able — to bring a dish, chili, sides or chili toppings, or desserts.
Meanwhile, via a flier distributed door to door in the neighborhood, the organization informed neighbors that:
** The next neighborhood meeting after Oct. 9 will be a holiday party on Thursday evening, December 4, at the rec center.
** They can visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/northwestcounty to take the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s survey of residents in the Northwest County planning district. Seehttp://www.knoxmpc.org/northwestcounty/index.htm for details.
** They can join the “Cumberland Estates, Knoxville” Facebook group to get neighborhood information and connect with neighbors.
** Announced formation of a volunteering group.
- Parkridge Plans Historic Tour of Homes
Parkridge Community Organization (PCO) has changed the date and widened the scope of its Historic Homes Tour this fall.
To avoid conflict with the Oct. 25 Tennessee-Alabama game in Neyland Stadium, the tour was rescheduled to Sunday, Oct. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m.
The tour will highlight both the Roaring Twenties and the Prohibition Era, which in Knoxville began as early as 1907. There will be 20 houses listed on a walking tour, and another eight homes will be open to the public — five single family houses and three condos at Park Place. Parkridge neighbors have researched the history of the homes, and details will be available for viewing and reading at each tour location. Tour tickets will be $10 each.
For more information on the tour or PCO, contact Susan Koelzer at 809-4190. Watch this space for future details.
- MPC to Hold Workshop Monday on Proposed Sign Ordinance
Members of the Metropolitan Planning Commission have taken the unusual step of holding a workshop on a proposed ordinance before formally considering it.
The workshop will focus on the proposed overhaul to the city’s sign ordinance. It will be held starting at 4:30 p.m. this coming Monday, September 29, at 4:30 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building.
MPC staff will review the proposed reorganization of the regulations, definitions, criteria for measurement, and dimensional standards (e.g. sign height and total area). Other topics will include prohibited signs, signs exempt from permit requirements, signs exempt for the regulations, temporary signs and abandoned signs.
There is no formal provision for a public comment period during MPC workshops. The commissioners themselves can decide whether or not to hear from citizens. At the very least, citizens can attend to hear the debate, and then contact commissioners later prior to a formal vote. The measure is on the agenda for the October 9 MPC meeting.
Here is a copy of the proposed sign ordinance as recommended by MPC staff:
http://agenda.knoxmpc.org/2014/sep2014/10-B-13-OA.pdf
Here is the place to look for MPC’s preliminary and final agendas each month:
http://agenda.knoxmpc.org/index.htm
- City Seeks Candidates for Neighborhood Advisory Council
Do you care about the quality of life in Knoxville’s neighborhoods?
Do you volunteer alongside your neighbors in a neighborhood group such as a neighborhood association, HOA, tenant association or neighborhood watch group?
Do you want to grapple with city-wide issues that impact neighborhoods, and help strengthen neighborhood groups?
If you have answered yes to each of these questions, then you may wish to consider serving on the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC).
There are two vacancies on the 15-member NAC, and the Office of Neighborhoods is seeking expressions of interest from leaders and participants in neighborhood organizations who may want to serve.
Appointed by Mayor Madeline Rogero, the NAC provides insight and advice to the city administration on a wide variety of neighborhood-related issues. These include neighborhood projects, blight, sidewalks, zoning, commercial development, and the various programs and policies of the Office of Neighborhoods.
NAC is composed of two neighborhood leaders from each of the six City Council districts and three at-large members. Appointees to the district seats must live in that particular City Council district, whereas appointees to the at-large seats can live anywhere in the city. Under recently revised NAC procedures, each member can serve one full 3-year term, followed by a second full 3-year term, except that a member has to apply for reappointment.
Two NAC seats are up for appointment to fill unexpired terms:
*** Because she has been named the assistant neighborhood coordinator in the Office of Neighborhoods, Debbie Sharp has resigned Seat 1-A covering the first City Council district. This term expires March 31, 2017.
*** Due to other commitments, Dennis Murphy resigned Seat 6-A covering the sixth City Council district. This term expires March 31, 2015.
Visit http://www.cityofknoxville.org/development/neighborhoods/advisory.asp to learn more about the NAC. To be considered for an appointment, interested persons are asked to fill out an application form which is available from this page:
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/development/neighborhoods/appointments.asp
Applications are due by October 20. To learn more, or to obtain a hard copy of the application form, call David Massey, neighborhood coordinator, at 215-3232.
NAC meets from 4:30-6:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month except December at CAC’s L.T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Avenue.
- City Makes Short-Term Construction Loans for Blighted Properties
The City of Knoxville’s Community Development Department is accepting applications for the Blighted Property Redevelopment Program (BPRP).
The BPRP provides short-term development and construction financing through subsidized loans for the purpose of redeveloping and renovating unoccupied, eligible residential dwelling units or construction of new dwelling units on eligible, vacant properties.
Following renovation, the property may be rented, put up for sale or occupied by the loan recipient. The total amount of funding available at this time is $155,000.
See www.cityofknoxville.org/development/bprp.asp for program details and the application form. Or contact the Community Development Department at 215-2120.
- Parks & Rec Updates Its Greenways Map
The Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department has updated its Greenways map, which is available free of charge.
The map features 86 miles of the City’s greenways and trails and shows photos of destinations that may be viewed from 15 featured greenways. Sites include the Forks of the River sunflower fields, the Fort Dickerson Quarry, the Sunsphere, the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum, wetlands at Cedar Bluff, spectacular views of the Great Smoky Mountains and more.
The 2014 map contains an illustration of the Urban Wilderness South Loop Trail, which just received the National Park Service’s National Trails Designation.
The map was designed by User Friendly Maps and made possible through sponsorships from the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and River Sports Outfitters.
City residents may call 311 to have a copy of the map mailed to their home for free. The map is also available in the Parks and Recreation Department’s main office, the Office of Neighborhoods, public recreation centers, Ijams Nature Center, and local bike/outdoor shops.
Visit www.cityofknoxville.org/greenways for a digital copy of the map and other information.
- Pickleball Expands in Knoxville
Imagine a sport that looks a bit like tennis but with a Ping-Pong-style paddle, a hollow ball that looks more whiffle than anything else, and a playing area smaller than a tennis court, and you have some idea of what pickleball is all about.
The City’s Parks & Recreation Department has been offering pickleball for a while now, but has recently expanded opportunities to play this sport at several area recreation centers. Although especially popular among aging citizens, the sport is enjoyed by all age groups.
The department offers an open gym format where players can come and go as they wish, as well as specific sessions geared for beginners. Typically, people learn the basic skills and are playing against others quickly. No experience is necessary, and all needed equipment is provided.
Pickleball courts are set up at four area recreation centers at various times from Monday through Friday. For more, contact the recreation center nearest you: Christenberry (637-5991), Deane Hill (690-0781), Inskip (687-6321), or Milton Roberts (546-4536).
For more on pickleball plus other adult and youth sports in Knoxville, visitwww.KnoxvilleAthletics.com. For more on pickleball, see www.usapa.org.
- Neighborhood and Government Calendar
Include your neighborhood-related event or meeting in this space. Call 215-3232.
Visit http://www.cityofknoxville.org/calendar/ for a complete list of meetings of various city boards and commissions. See the Community Events Calendar: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/events/events.pdf
If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to attend a public meeting, please contact Stephanie Brewer Cook at 215-2034 or scook@cityofknoxville.org no lessthan 72 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend.
Saturday, September 27 — 9 a.m. until last person is heard
“Coffee with the Councilman”
(Last Saturday of Each Quarter)
Vice Mayor and First District City Council Member Nick Pavlis
Bring your concerns or stop by to chat; open to all city residents.
Roundup Restaurant, 3643 Sevierville Pike
Nick Pavlis, 454-7216
Saturday, September 27 — 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
“Talking ‘Bout Health 100 Youth Health Conference
Free workshops design to assist teens in making better health decisions
Bearden High School
Knox County Health Dept., TENNderCare Program and others
Reservations: 215-5087 or via http://knoxcounty.org/health/tenndercare_info.php
Tuesday, September 30 — 7 p.m.
City Council (Every Other Tuesday)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil
Agenda: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/agenda.pdf
Tuesday, September 30 — 6:30 p.m.
Chilhowee Park Neighborhood Association (Last Tuesdays)
Administration Building, Knoxville Zoo
Paul Ruff, 696-6584
Wednesday, October 1 — Breakfast – 7:30 a.m. Meeting – 8 a.m.
East Towne Area Business & Professional Association (First Wednesday)
Neighborhood Residents and Leaders encouraged to attend
New Harvest Park Community Building
Chair, Justin Sterling, <JSterling@simon.com>
Friday, October 3 — 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
East Tennessee Accessibility Symposium
Designing & creating access for seniors & people with disabilities
Knoxville Civic Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Avenue
Office on Disabilities, City of Knoxville
Register by 9/15: http://www.cityofknoxville.org/accessibilitysymposium/
Stephanie Cook, 215-2034, scook@cityofknoxville.org
Monday, October 6 — 4 p.m.
Love Towers Fellowship Association (First Mondays except holidays)
Love Towers Community Room; 1171 Armstrong St.
Tom Higens, 206-8908
Monday, October 6 — 6:30 p.m.
Parkridge Community Organization (First Mondays except holidays)
Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St.
Jerry Caldwell, 329-9943
Tuesday, October 7 — Late Afternoon and Evening
National Night Out Events
Neighborhood Organizations & Watch Groups
City of Knoxville Police Department
Brenda Hicks, 215-1510 or bhicks@cityofknoxville.org
Tuesday, October 7 — 11:45 a.m.
Agenda Review, Metropolitan Planning Commission
(Tuesday before MPC’s monthly meeting)
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Tuesday, October 7 — 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Norwood Neighborhood Watch – 6 p.m.
Norwood Homeowners Association – 7 p.m.
Monthly on a Tuesday: Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 16
New Hope Presbyterian Church, 1705 Merchants Road
Lynn Redmon, 688-3136
Tuesday, October 7 — 7:30-8:30pm
Public Meeting – Northwest County Sector Plan
http://www.knoxmpc.org/northwestcounty/index.htm
Online Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/northwestcounty
Karns Community Club, 7708 Oak Ridge Hwy
Metropolitan Planning Commission
Liz Albertson, 865-215-3804 liz.albertson@knoxmpc.org
Wednesday, October 8 — 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Food Policy Council
(Second Wednesdays but check website for confirmation)
Knox County Health Department, 140 Dameron Avenue
www.knoxfood.org; info@knoxfood.org
Wednesday, October 8 — 11:30 a.m.
Community Forum (Second Wednesdays)
Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golf Club Road
Sue Mauer, 690-0269
Wednesday, October 8 — 4:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Advisory Council, City of Knoxville
(Second Wednesdays except December)
CAC / L.T. Ross Building, 2247 Western Ave.
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/neighborhoods
David Massey, 215-3232
Thursday, October 9 — 11 a.m.
Montgomery Village Residents Association (Second Thursdays)
4600 Joe Lewis Rd. #175
Ronnie Thompson, 604-6492, or Wendy Cavazos, super1mommie@gmail.com
Thursday, October 9 — 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Planning Commission (Second Thursdays)
Agenda: http://agenda.knoxmpc.org
Thursday, October 9 — 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Cumberland Estates Annual Chili Fest
Cumberland Estates Neighborhood Center, 4529 Silver Hill Drive
Cumberland Estates West Neighborhood Watch
Anna Compton, amcompto@gmail.com.
Thursday, October 9 — 6 p.m.
Lonsdale Homes Resident Association (Second Thursdays)
Community Building, 1956 Goins Dr.
Phyllis Patrick, 323-7224
Thursday, October 9 — 7-8 p.m.
Colonial Village Neighborhood Association (Second Thursdays)
South Knoxville Church of God, 5623 Magazine Road
Terry Caruthers, 579-5702, t_caruthers@hotmail.com
Thursday, October 9 — 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Greenwood Heights Neighborhood Watch (Second Thursdays)
Corner of Buttercup Circle and Sundrop Dr.
Alice Wershing, awershing@aol.com
Friday, October 10 — 6 p.m.
Beaumont Community Organization (Second Fridays)
Community Room, Solid Waste Transfer Station, 1033 Elm St.
Natasha Murphy, 936-0139
Sunday, October 12 — 2 p.m.
Historic Sutherland Heights Neighborhood Association
(Second Sundays, even-numbered months)
Marble City Baptist Church, 2740 Sutherland Avenue
Marlene Taylor, 951-3773, taylor8246@bellsouth.net
Monday, October 13 — 3 p.m.
Northgate Resident Association (Second Mondays)
Social Hall, 4301 Whittle Springs Rd.
David Wildsmith, 219-0417
Monday, October 13 — 5-6 p.m.
Michael Meadowview Neighborhood Watch (Second Mondays)
CAC East Neighborhood Center, 4200 Asheville Hwy.
Marian Bailey, 525-5625
Monday, October 13 — 6 p.m.
Cold Springs Neighborhood Watch (Second Mondays)
Magnolia Ave. Methodist Church, 2700 Magnolia Ave. (Harrison St. Entrance)
Terrell Patrick, 525-4833
Monday, October 13 — 6 p.m.
Lyons View Community Club (Second Mondays)
Lyons View Community Center, 114 Sprankle Ave.
Mary Brewster, 454-2390
Monday, October 13 — 6 p.m.
Vestal Community Organization (Second Mondays)
South Knoxville Community Center, 522 Old Maryville Pike
Newman Seay, 577-4593
Monday, October 13 — 6:30 p.m.
Community Potluck
Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization (Second Mondays)
Central United Methodist Church, 210 Third Ave.
Liz Upchurch, 898-1809, lizupchurch1@gmail.com
Monday, October 13 — 6:30 p.m.
Old North Knoxville (Second Mondays)
St. James Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 1101 N. Broadway
Andie Ray, 548-5221
Monday, October 13 — 7 p.m.
Lake Forest Neighborhood Association
Lake Forest Presbyterian Church, 714 East Lake Forest Drive
Molly Gilbert, 209-1820, mollygilbert@yahoo.com
Monday, October 13 — 7 p.m.
Belle Morris Community Action Group (Second Mondays)
City View Baptist Church, 2311 Fine Ave.
Rick Wilen, 524-5008
Monday, October 13
Fountain City Town Hall (Second Mondays)
Board Meetings: 6 p.m. Monthly
General Membership Meetings: 7 p.m., February, April, September, November
Church of the Good Shepherd, 5337 Jacksboro Pike
Daniel Dunn, 387-6390, daniel.dunn06@yahoo.com
Tuesday, October 14 — 2 p.m.
Western Heights Resident Association (Second Tuesdays)
Building to the right of the mail boxes when you enter Western Heights
Jamesena Nolan, 237-5558
Tuesday, October 14 — 4-5 p.m.
City of Knoxville Greenways Commission
(2nd Tuesdays every two months — October 14, December 9
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/greenways.asp
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
Lori Goerlich, Parks & Recreation Dept., 215-2807
Tuesday, October 14 — 6 p.m.
Brown Avenue Neighborhood Watch (Second Tuesdays)
Hoitt Ave. Baptist Church, 2121 Hoitt Ave.
Jimmy Ramsey, 637-0243
Tuesday, October 14 — 7 p.m.
Mechanicsville Neighborhood Watch Association
(Second Tuesday, First Month of Each Quarter)
Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church, College St.
Rev. Dr. John A. Butler, 617-2603, johnanthonybutler@gmail.com
Wednesday, October 15 — Noon – 1 p.m.
Eastport / Lee Williams Neighborhood Watch (Third Wednesdays)
Lee Williams Senior Center
2240 M. L. King Jr. Avenue
Sylvia Cook, sylviacook5901@comcast.net or 237-6940
Thursday, October 16 — Breakfast – 7:30 a.m. Meeting – 8 a.m.
East Knoxville Business & Professional Association (Third Thursdays)
Open to Neighborhood Residents and Leaders
Meeting location varies
Doug Minter, Dminter@knoxvillechamber.com, Knoxville Chamber, 637-4550
Thursday, October 16 — 8:30 a.m.
Historic Zoning Commission (Third Thursdays)
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/historic.asp
Kaye Graybeal, 215-3795, kaye.graybeal@knoxmpc.org
Thursday, October 16 — 12 p.m.
KUB Board of Commissioners (Third Thursdays, except July)
Historic Miller’s Building, 445 S. Gay St.
See www.kub.org. Click on “About Us” at top of the page.
Thursday, October 16 — 4 p.m.
City Board of Zoning Appeals (Third Thursdays)
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Pre-Agenda Meeting: 3 p.m. in Room 511
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/zoning.asp
Thursday, October 16 — 6:30 p.m.
Oakwood Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association (Third Thursdays)
Community Club House, 916 Shamrock Ave. at Henegar St.
Bill Hutton, 773-5228, s_wlhutton@yahoo.com
Thursday, October 16 — 7 p.m.
Old Sevier Community Group
(Third Thursdays, February-November)
South Knoxville Elementary school library
Gary Deitsch, 573-7355, garyedeitsch@bellsouth.net
Saturday, October 18 — 10 a.m.
South Haven Neighborhood Association (Third Saturdays)
Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 1615 Price Ave.
Pat Harmon, 591-3958
Monday, October 20 — 7 p.m.
Alice Bell Spring Hill Neighborhood Association
(Third Mondays except June, July, December)
All are welcome to attend.
New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane
Ronnie Collins, 637-9630
Monday, October 20 — 7 p.m.
Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization
Board Meeting (Third Mondays except January)
“Birdhouse”/Fourth & Gill Center, 800 North Fourth Avenue
Liz Upchurch, 898-1809, lizupchurch1@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 21 — 6 p.m.
Delrose Drive Neighborhood Watch (Third Tuesdays)
Riverview Baptist Church, 3618 Delrose Dr.
Corina and John Buffalow, 523-0102
Tuesday, October 21 — 6:30 p.m.
Lonsdale United for Change (Third Tuesdays)
Lonsdale Recreation Center, Stonewall Ave.
Steve Ritter, 973-0877
Tuesday, October 21 — 6:30 p.m.
Boright Area Neighborhood Watch (Third Tuesdays, Even Months)
3004 Boright Drive
Lola Alapo, 525-1520, BorightGroup@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 21 — 7 p.m.
Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association (Third Tuesdays, except December)
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
Thursday, October 23 — 9 a.m.
Special Events Community Meeting (Fourth Thursdays, January-October)
“Meet with city services that may assist in planning your event.”
Civic Coliseum Ballroom, Third Floor
Free Parking available at Civic Coliseum Parking Garage
Office of Special Events, 215-4248
Sunday, October 26 — 1-5 p.m.
Parkridge Historic Homes Tour
Parkridge Community Organization
Susan Koelzer, 865-809-4190
Sunday, October 26 — 2 p.m.
Historic Fort Sanders Neighborhood Association Homecoming
James Agee Park
(Rain out location: Laurel Theater)
Monday, October 27 — 1:45 p.m. (zoning at 5 p.m.)
…