Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 9, No. 8 – Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 9, No. 8 – Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 9, No. 8 – Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016
PDF Version: http://bit.ly/NeighborhoodAdvisory2016-02-23
- No Issue Next Week
- Last Day to Register: Monday, February 29
- Pastor Daryl Arnold to Keynote Luncheon on March 5
- Free KAT Ride, Free Parking for Neighborhood Luncheon
- O’Connor Center to Hold Pancake Fest
- Knoxville Clean-up Event Planned for March 12
- Better Building Board Meets Thursday
- Testify on Blighted Properties at Meeting Thursday
- 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: 9 a.m. Tuesdays.
- No Issue Next Week
This newsletter will not be published next week as staff prepares for the Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon. The next issue will be published on Thursday, March 10. Articles and calendar items are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 9.
- Last Day to Register: Monday, February 29
Less than one week is now left to sign up for the Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon, which will be held Saturday, March 5, at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Over 300 individuals have now registered for this event.
Advance registrations will be accepted through next Monday, Feb. 29, at this website. Be sure to fill out all pages of the form and click DONE at the end. For information or to register by phone, call the Office of Neighborhoods at 215-2113.
There is no charge for this event, including lunch, but you must register in advance so that a lunch ticket can be reserved in your name. Registration at the door will be possible, but you may or may not get a lunch ticket. Also, name tags are printed based on the advance registrations.
- Pastor Daryl Arnold to Keynote Luncheon on March 5
Pastor Daryl Arnold of Overcoming Believers Church will keynote the Neighborhood Awards and Networking Luncheon on Saturday, March 5, at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Arnold is active in the community-wide Save Our Sons initiative that was launched by Mayor Madeline Rogero in 2014 and which seeks to put a halt to violence among African American men and boys. At the Luncheon, he will provide his perspective on this violence and offer ideas for individuals and neighborhoods to mount a meaningful response.
A native of Chattanooga, Arnold holds a B.S. degree in business management and marketing from Knoxville College. He served in various ministerial roles in Knoxville and Chattanooga before returning to Knoxville in 2003 to found Overcoming Believers Church, which now is located on Harriet Tubman Street with a membership of approximately 2,500 members.
Following Arnold’s presentation, Mayor Rogero and members of the Neighborhood Advisory Council will present the Neighborhood Achievement Awards and the Diana Conn Good Neighbor of the Year Award.
The luncheon event — beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at about 2 p.m. — also features entertainment by the Old City Buskers; information booths; and an opportunity to meet Mayor Madeline Rogero, members of City Council, and several department heads and senior staff members.
Don’t miss the “Bringing It All Back Home” Community Showcase, with eight groups presenting slide shows of innovative neighborhood and community projects.
Other features include a Pixels-in-the-Hood Photo Booth and drawings for over 50 door prizes. More detail can be found on the Luncheon web page and this Facebook event page.
- Free KAT Ride, Free Parking for Neighborhood Luncheon
Anyone attending the Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon on Saturday, March 5, can ride KAT for free to and from the Knoxville Convention Center.
KAT buses will run a regular Saturday schedule on Saturday, March 5. If you are headed for the Neighborhood Luncheon, just tell the driver, and you will ride for free.
Some bus routes go by the Convention Center. If not, you can ride to the Knoxville Station and then transfer to a free trolley to the Convention Center. See the KAT website — http://katbus.com/ADA/schedules.php — for routes and schedules.
Once you are at the Luncheon, stop by the KAT booth to get your free bus pass for the ride home. Be sure to stop by their booth before 12:15 p.m., when all booths will close.
For those traveling by car, free parking will be available at the Poplar Street parking lot across Cumberland Avenue from the Convention Center and at the Locust Street Garage.
- O’Connor Center to Hold Pancake Fest
O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona Street, will hold its annual “All You Can Eat” Pancake Fest on Friday, March 4, from 7 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
There will be an abundance of pancakes, sausage, orange juice, milk and coffee. The admission is $5.00, so bring a friend and enjoy other activities at the Center as well. For more information, or for orders to go, contact the O’Connor Center at 523-1153.
- Knoxville Clean-up Event Planned for March 12
Five Points Up, a community group that promotes quality of life initiatives in East Knoxville, will hold its second annual community-wide clean up on Saturday, March 12, from 9:00 a.m. until noon.
The group is urging neighborhood organizations, churches, businesses and other nonprofits, as well as individuals, to participate.
Bring a friend and meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the Harvest Center Plaza, 2410 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Gloves, bags, tools, and safety equipment will be provided.
Partners for this event include CAC East Neighborhood Center, The Village of Knoxville, Smoke-Free Knoxville, Save Our Sons, AmeriCorps, 5PointsUp, Project Grad Knoxville, Knox County Health Department, and East Knoxville Business and Professional Association.
A planning meeting for this event will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at the CAC East Neighborhood Center, 4200 Asheville Highway. For more, call Sarah Bounse at 215-5187 or CAC East Neighborhood Center at 526-5125.
- Better Building Board Meets Thursday
One property is on the agenda for this week’s Better Building Board (BBB) meeting at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, February 25, in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building.
The property at 1404 Chicago Avenue is on the agenda for appeal of an order by the Public Officer. Neighbors affected by this property may wish to be present to testify on its impact on the neighborhood.
For a full copy of the February BBB agenda, with details and owner information on each property, visit http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions and click on the Better Building Board.
- Testify on Blighted Properties at Meeting Thursday
Eighteen properties are on the agenda for the City’s next Public Officer Hearing, which will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, February 25, rather than the usual time.
This time and date is for February only. All other 2016 POH meetings will stay on schedule (the Friday following the BBB meeting on the fourth Thursday).
The Public Officer — Public Works Director David Brace — 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: 910 Camp Avenue (including accessory structure), 218 Chickamauga Avenue (including accessory structure), 5501 Foxwood Road (including accessory structure), 3030 Hackman Street (including trailer), 704 Hollywood Drive including retaining wall, 2229 Mississippi Avenue, 827 West Oak Hill Avenue, 128 Pickering Street (deck and retaining wall only), 138 Pickering Street, 922 Vermont Avenue, 612 Washburn Road (including accessory structure), 3240 Wilson Avenue, 925 West Woodland Avenue (including accessory structure).
The properties at 1000 May Avenue (including accessory structure), 209 West Moody Avenue, 435 East Morelia Avenue, 5133 Sevierville Pike (Accessory structure only), and 315 East Quincy Avenue will be considered for confirmation of a previously issued emergency repair/demolition order.
If any of these properties are in your neighborhood, 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 February 25 agenda, with details on each property, can be found here on the city website.
- 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 less than 72 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend. For an English interpreter, contact David Massey at 215-3232 or [email protected].
Today – Monday, February 29
Final Days to Register for the Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon
Event to be held 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5
Register Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016Luncheon
Or Call the Office of Neighborhoods, 215-2113
Today — Tuesday, February 23
2016 Knox County Primary Election
Early Voting Period
http://www.knoxcounty.org/election/index.php
Tuesday, February 23 — 6 p.m.
Inskip Community Association / Asociación Comunidad Inskip (ACI)
(Fourth Tuesdays)
Inskip Baptist Church, 4810 Rowan Rd
Betty Jo Mahan, 679-2748
Tuesday, February 23 — 6 p.m.
Public Meeting
One Year Plan Update for South Sector
Flenniken Landing, 115 Flenniken Avenue
Metropolitan Planning Commission
Current Plan: http://archive.knoxmpc.org/plans/oneyear.htm
Michael Brusseau, 215-2500, [email protected]
Tuesday, February 23 — 6:30 p.m.
Chilhowee Park Neighborhood Association (Last Tuesdays)
Chilhowee Park Office, 3301 Magnolia at Beaman Street
Enter park at Beaman & E. Fifth Ave. Park at picnic shelter.
Take sidewalk to upper entrance of the Chilhowee Park office.
Paul Ruff, 696-6584
Wednesday, February 24 — 9 a.m.
Infill Housing Design Review Committee (Fourth Wednesdays)
Re: infill housing in central city neighborhoods with IH-1 overlay
http://www.knoxmpc.org/zoning/infill.htm
Jeff Archer, 215-3821, [email protected]
Wednesday, February 24 — 9 a.m.
Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Executive Committee
(Fourth Wednesdays, Jan.-Oct., and Third Wednesdays, Nov.-Dec.)
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Agenda: http://www.knoxtrans.org/meetings/execagen.htm
Dori Caron, 215-2694, [email protected]
Wednesday, February 24 — 5:30 p.m.
Public Meeting
Updates to Fort Dickerson Park
Flenniken Landing, 115 Flenniken Avenue
City of Knoxville and the Aslan Foundation
Thursday, February 25 — 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
Thursday, February 25 — 10 a.m.-Noon
Hiring Event
Meet with human resource managers who are now hiring; onsite interviews
Knoxville Area Urban League and staffing agency Randstad
For more, call 524-5511 or visit the KAUL Website.
Thursday, February 25 — 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, February 25 — 4:00 p.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]
Thursday, February 25 — 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Community Schools Celebration
South Knoxville Elementary School
801 Sevier Ave.
Register for the event here
Monday, February 29 — 5 p.m.
Knox County Board of Education—Work Session
(Usually held on the Monday before the regular meeting and
third Mondays, except holidays or holiday weeks.)
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.”
Monday, February 29 — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Five Points Master Plan Update Meeting
Topics: Final Renderings of senior housing at Bethel & McConnell streets
and next phases of the Five Points Master Plan
Pizza and beverages provided
Walter P. Taylor Boys and Girls Club, 317 McConnell St.
Knoxville’s Community Development Corp. (KCDC)
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
ELECTION DAY
2016 Knox County Primary Election
http://www.knoxcounty.org/election/index.php
Tuesday, March 1 — 4:30 p.m.
Dandridge Avenue Neighborhood Watch (First Tuesdays)
Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Ave.
Lawrence Washington, 524-4498
Tuesday, March 1 — 6 p.m.
Mechanicsville Community Association (First Tuesdays)
Fairview Recreation Center, 1628 Dora St.
Charles Wright, 637-1802
Tuesday, March 1 — 7 p.m.
City Council (every other Tuesday)
Main Assembly Room, City County Building
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/citycouncil
Agenda: http://knoxvillecitytn.iqm2.com
Wednesday, March 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, March 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.”
Saturday March 5, 2016 — 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon
Knoxville Convention Center
Debbie Sharp, 215-4382, [email protected]
Saturday, March 5 — 1-4 p.m.
“Eat, Live and Dine Healthy” Expo
Healthy recipe ideas, cooking demonstrations, free health screenings,
and “Ask a Pharmacist” booth
Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Hwy
Alliance House Community of Knoxville, University of Tennessee
De’Ossie Dingus of Alliance House Community, 332-2677
Monday, March 7 — 1 p.m.
East Knoxville Community Meeting (First Mondays)
Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Highway
Michael Covington, 274-7958, [email protected]
Monday, March 7 — 4 p.m.
Love Towers Fellowship Association (First Mondays except holidays)
Love Towers Community Room; 1171 Armstrong St.
Bill Jackson, 221-4402
Monday, March 7 — 6 p.m.
Holston Meadows Neighborhood Watch
Milton Roberts Recreation Center, 5900 Asheville Hwy
Beverly Adkins, 523-6343 or Vivian Williams, 385-7074
Monday, March 7 — 6:30 p.m.
Parkridge Community Organization (First Mondays except holidays)
Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St.
David Anderson, (803) 259-6289, [email protected]
Monday, March 7 — 7 p.m.
Oakwood Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association (First Mondays)
Community Club House, 916 Shamrock Ave. at Henegar St.
Bill Hutton, 773-5228, [email protected]
Tuesday, March 8 — 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
MPC Agenda Review (Second Tuesdays)
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Tuesday, March 8 — 6 p.m.
Brown Avenue Neighborhood Watch (Second Tuesdays)
Hoitt Ave. Baptist Church, 2121 Hoitt Ave.
Jimmy Ramsey, 637-0243
Wednesday, March 9 — 11:30 a.m.
Community Forum (Second Wednesdays)
Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golf Club Road
Sue Mauer, 690-0269
Wednesday, March 9 — 4:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Advisory Council, City of Knoxville
(Second Wednesdays except December)
Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St.
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/neighborhoods
David Massey, 215-3232
Thursday, March 10 — 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Planning Commission (Second Thursdays)
Large Assembly Room, City County Building
Agenda: http://agenda.knoxmpc.org
Thursday, March 10 — 6 p.m.
Lonsdale Homes Resident Association (Second Thursdays)
Community Building, 1956 Goins Dr.
Phyllis Patrick, 323-7224
Thursday, March 10 — 7-8 p.m.
Colonial Village Neighborhood Association
(Second Thursdays except December and January)
South Knoxville Church of God, 5623 Magazine Road
Terry Caruthers, 579-5702, [email protected]
Friday, March 11 — 7:45 a.m. and 8 a.m.
North Knoxville Business & Professional Association (Second Fridays)
Breakfast at 7:45 am, Meeting at 8 a.m.
Open to North Knoxville Residents, Neighborhood Groups, Business Owners
Meeting location varies. Check Website for location. http://northknoxvillebpa.org/
Becky Dodson, [email protected], 545-6750.
Friday, March 11 — 6 p.m.
Beaumont Community Organization (Second Fridays)
Community Room, Solid Waste Transfer Station, 1033 Elm St.
Natasha Murphy, 936-0139
Monday, March 14 — 1:30 p.m.
Montgomery Village Residents Association (Second Mondays)
4600 Joe Lewis Rd. #175
Ronnie Thompson, 583-9221
Monday, March 14 — 3 p.m.
Northgate Resident Association (Second Mondays)
Social Hall, 4301 Whittle Springs Rd.
David Wildsmith, 219-0417
Monday, March 14 — 5-6 p.m.
Cold Springs Neighborhood Watch (Second Mondays)
Michael Meadowview Neighborhood Watch (Second Mondays)
CAC East Neighborhood Center, 4200 Asheville Hwy.
Michael Meadowview: Marian Bailey, 525-5625
Cold Springs: Terrell Patrick, 525-4833
Monday, March 14 — 6 p.m.
Fountain City Town Hall Board Meeting (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
Jamie Rowe, 688-9525, [email protected]
Monday, March 14 — 6 p.m.
Lyons View Community Club (Second Mondays)
Lyons View Community Center, 114 Sprankle Ave.
Mary Brewster, 454-2390
Monday, March 14 — 6 p.m.
Vestal Community Organization (Second Mondays)
South Knoxville Community Center, 522 Old Maryville Pike
Katherine Russell, 566-1198
Monday, March 14 — 6:30 p.m.
Community Potluck
Historic Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization (Second Mondays)
Central United Methodist Church, 210 Third Ave.
Liz Upchurch, 898-1809, [email protected]
Monday, March 14 — 6:30 p.m.
Historic Old North Knoxville (Second Mondays)
St. James Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 1101 N. Broadway
Donna Spencer, [email protected], 304-673-9697
Monday, March 14 — 7 p.m.
Belle Morris Community Action Group (Second Mondays)
City View Baptist Church, 2311 Fine Ave.
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Belle_Morris
Rick Wilen, 524-5008
Monday, March 14 — 7 p.m.
Town Hall East
(Second Mondays in September, November, January, March and May)
Fellowship Hall, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 409 Asheville Highway
Eston Williams, 406-5412
Tuesday, March 15 — 6 p.m.
Delrose Drive Neighborhood Watch
(Third Tuesdays in January, March, May, July, September and November)
Riverview Baptist Church, 3618 Delrose Dr. Corina and John Buffalow, 523-0102
Tuesday, March 15 — 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Women’s Pay Equity Forum: Why It Matters to You
Panel Discussion
Sponsors: American Assn. of University Women, League of Women Voters,
YWCA of Knoxville, and East Tenn. Women’s Leadership Council
Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike
Anne Loy, [email protected], 865-281-9689, or
Linda Murawski, [email protected], 865-607-8032
Tuesday, March 15 — 7 p.m.
Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association (Third Tuesdays, except December)
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
Peter Pallesen, 200-8311, http://edgewoodpark.us/
Tuesday, March 15 — 7 p.m.
City Council (every other Tuesday)
Main Assembly Room, City County Building
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/citycouncil
Agenda: http://knoxvillecitytn.iqm2.com
Wednesday, March 16 — 12 Noon
Eastport/Lee Williams Neighborhood Watch (Third Wednesdays)
Appreciation Ceremony for Emergency Services Personnel
Lee Williams Senior Center, 2240 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
Sylvia Cook, 206-3433, [email protected]
Wednesday, March 16 — 6:30 p.m.
Lindbergh Forest Neighborhood Association (Third Wednesdays)
Graystone Presbyterian Church, 139 Woodlawn Pike
Kelley DeLuca, 660-4728, [email protected]
Thursday, March 17 — 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, [email protected], Knoxville Chamber, 637-4550
Thursday, March 17 — 8:30 a.m.
Historic Zoning Commission (Third Thursdays)
http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/historic_zoning_commission/ Kaye Graybeal, 215-3795, [email protected]
Thursday, March 17 — 12 noon
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, March 17 — 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://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/board_of_zoning_appeals/
Thursday, March 17 — 4:30 p.m.
Pond Gap Area Neighborhood Association (Third Thursdays)
Coop Café, 3701 Sutherland Ave.
David Williams, [email protected]
Thursday, March 17 — 4:30 p.m.
RiverHill Gateway Neighborhood Association (Third Thursdays)
Outdoor Knoxville, 900 Volunteer Landing
Kaye Bultemeier, 504-940-8952, [email protected]
Thursday, March 17 — 7 p.m.
Old Sevier Community Group
(Third Thursdays, January-November)
South Knoxville Elementary School Library, 801 Sevier Avenue
Gary Deitsch, 573-7355, [email protected]
Saturday, March 19 — 10 a.m.
South Haven Neighborhood Association (Third Saturdays)
Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 1615 Price Ave.
Linda Rust, 679-9924, [email protected]
Monday, March 21 — 6:30 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, [email protected]
Monday, March 21 — 7 p.m.
Alice Bell Spring Hill Neighborhood Association
(Third Mondays except June, July, December)
All are welcome to attend.
Alice Bell Baptist Church, 3305 Alice Bell Road (during early voting only)
Ronnie Collins, 637-9630
Wednesday, March 23 — 5 p.m.
Knox County Board of Education— Mid-month Work Session
(Usually held on the Monday before the regular meeting and
third Mondays, except holidays or holiday weeks.)
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.”
Saturday, March 26 — 9 a.m. until last person is heard
“Coffee with the Councilman”
(Usually the Last Saturday of Each Quarter)
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, 851-6671
Monday, March 28 — 11:30 a.m.
Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Board Meeting
Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square
http://www.downtownknoxville.org/about/cbid-meetings/
Michele Hummel, 246-2654, [email protected]
Monday, March 28 — 5 p.m.
Broadway Corridor Task Force (Fourth Mondays except December)
Focusing on enhancements to the corridor south of I-640
KCDC, 901 North Broadway<
…
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 9, No. 7 – Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 9, No. 7 – Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016
PDF Version: http://bit.ly/NeighborhoodAdvisory2016-02-16
- Luncheon to Feature “Bringing It All Back Home” Presentations
- Ride KAT for Free to the Luncheon
- 50 Neighborhoods Now Signed up for March 5 Luncheon
- Luncheon Offers Rich Variety for Neighborhood Advocates
- Next Week: Get the Skinny on Fort Dickerson Park
- KCDC to Provide Update on Five Points Master Plan
- BZA Decisions Can Impact Your Neighborhood
- More Roads? Safer Roads? Expand transit? More Bike Lanes?
- Urban League to Hold Job Fair Next Week
- Alliance House Partners with UT on Healthy Living
- 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: 9 a.m. Tuesdays.
- Luncheon to Feature “Bringing It All Back Home” Presentations
Members of the Neighborhood Advisory Council have come up with some inspiring ideas for the “Bringing It All Back Home” presentations at the Neighborhood Awards and Networking Luncheon on Saturday, March 5, at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Six to eight organizations will present slide shows of innovative projects around the city — and demonstrate that some solutions aren’t as difficult as one might think.
There are often problems or opportunities in our neighborhoods where solutions, funding, partners and resources do not seem to be readily at hand. These presentations are meant to inspire neighborhood groups to identify possible community-building programs and improvement projects in their own neighborhoods.
What do we want you to take back home from the March 5 Luncheon? Even a single story, idea, or “how-we-did-it” anecdote might inspire you and your neighbors into action.
*** Learn how a single caring neighbor started out with a plan to clean up trash on her street — and reaped benefits she did not envision.
*** See how a group of young people responded to very difficult problems in their community by organizing a youth-led, youth-run summit.
*** Gain insight into how a business alliance conducts micro-fundraising events that provide financial support to worthy community projects.
These presentations are just one part of the March 5 luncheon. For details, see article below.
- Ride KAT for Free to the Luncheon
Need a Ride to the Neighborhood Luncheon?
There are several options for folks to get to the Knoxville Convention Center at 701 Henley Street on Saturday, March 5.
First, if you can get to a bus line, you can ride KAT for no charge. KAT buses will run a regular Saturday schedule on Saturday, March 5. Just tell the driver you are going to the Neighborhood Awards Luncheon, and you will ride for free.
Some bus routes go by the Convention Center. If not, you can ride to the Knoxville Station and then transfer to a free trolley to the Convention Center. See the KAT website — http://katbus.com/ADA/schedules.php — for routes and schedules.
Once you are at the Luncheon, stop by the KAT booth to get your free bus pass for the ride home. Be sure to stop by their booth before 12:15 p.m. when booths close.
If you know several neighbors going to the Luncheon, think about setting up your own carpool. Include neighbors who might not otherwise feel comfortable driving or parking downtown. You can drop them off at the Ballroom Circle on Cumberland Avenue before you park.
It’s all about being neighborly and helping to get folks to a great event. Questions may be directed to Debbie Sharp at 215-4382 or [email protected].
Parking will be available free of charge at both the Poplar Street parking lot across Cumberland Avenue from the Convention Center and at the Locust Street Garage.
- 50 Neighborhoods Now Signed up for March 5 Luncheon
To date, over 180 individuals representing more than 50 neighborhoods and neighborhood organizations have registered to attend the Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon, to be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Knoxville Convention Center.
The registration deadline is now just two weeks away. Register on this website no later than Feb. 29. Registration takes less than five minutes. At the end, be sure to click DONE to submit your information. Those needing a hard copy registration form can call the Office of Neighborhoods at 215-2113, and a form will be mailed to you.
There is no charge for this event, including lunch, but you must register in advance so that a lunch ticket can be reserved in your name. Registration at the door will be possible, but you may or may not get a lunch ticket.
Listed below are the neighborhoods now represented by individuals who have registered for the Luncheon. Make sure your neighborhood is fully represented at this gathering! Register today!
The neighborhoods are Alice Bell Spring Hill, Amberleigh, Anteelah, Brittany Place, Chenoweth, Chilhowee Hills, Colonial Village, Crest Haven, Cumberland Estates, Dandridge Avenue, Downtown, Eastport/Lee Williams, Edgewood Park,
Fountain City, Forest Heights, Fourth & Gill, Glenview, Hidden Hills, Holston Hills (both Town Hall East and HH Community Club), Inskip, Island Home Park, Kingston Pike Sequoyah Hills, Lake Forest, Lonsdale Homes, Mechanicsville, Moss Creek, North Hills, Oakwood Lincoln Park, Old North Knoxville, Parkridge, Pond Gap,
RiverHill Gateway, Rocky Hill, Sevier Heights, Silver Leaf, South Haven, South Woodlawn, South Doyle, Sterchi Village, Sutherland Heights, Timbercrest, Villa Gardens, Wesley Neighbors, West Haven Village, West Hills, West View, and Westwood.
- Luncheon Offers Rich Variety for Neighborhood Advocates
If you carve out the middle of your Saturday, March 5, for the Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon, you will not be disappointed. Here are the many things going on from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Knoxville Convention Center.
*** Entertainment: Throughout the day, the Old City Buskers will provide upbeat and energizing music.
*** Meet-and-Greet: Starting at 10 a.m., neighborhood leaders and other city residents can meet one another, talk with Mayor Madeline Rogero and members of City Council, and interact with city department heads.
*** Meet-and-Learn: Obtain valuable information on services offered to city residents by city and county agencies.
*** Community Slide Show: From 11 a.m. until noon, the “Bringing It All Back Home” Community Showcase will feature six to eight slide show presentations of neighborhood, community and city-wide projects that address issues, concerns and opportunities in Knoxville.
*** Luncheon Program: A free entrée salad will be served starting at noon. The program will include a keynote speech by Pastor Daryl Arnold of Overcoming Believers Church, followed by the presentation of the Neighborhood Achievement and Good Neighbor of the Year Awards.
*** Door Prizes: After the Luncheon program, there will be drawings for over 50 door prizes. You will receive door prize tickets when you register.
*** Pixels-in-the-Hood Photo Booth: Gather with your neighbors to have your picture taken and posted on the Office of Neighborhoods Facebook Page.
*** Map Yourself: Pinpoint (literally) your residence or neighborhood on the city-wide map. Let’s cover every neighborhood in the city!
More detail can be found on the Luncheon web page and this Facebook event page.
- Next Week: Get the Skinny on Fort Dickerson Park
Mayor Madeline Rogero, City Councilman Nick Pavlis, city officials and the Aslan Foundation will hold a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, to discuss the recent road realignment of Fort Dickerson Park’s entrance and future improvements to the park. The meeting will take place at Flenniken Landing, 115 Flenniken Ave.
Last year, the City completed the $1.4 million Fort Dickerson Roadway Realignment Project that included the addition of a much-needed traffic signal for the park’s main entrance off of Chapman Highway. Fort Dickerson Road was realigned with Woodlawn Pike and now includes approximately 475 feet of a new two-lane road complete with sidewalk access.
City officials are now preparing to move forward with construction of the park’s entrance improvements, which include landscaping, signage, a new transit stop and a decorative veneer for the 30-foot-high retaining wall. Carol R. Johnson Associates Inc. is the project’s design contractor.
In 2015, the Aslan Foundation acquired and then donated the former G & R Automotive property to the City, and City Council approved the contract with Bell & Associates to demolish the building on the property. The donated property is located adjacent to Fort Dickerson Park’s Chapman Highway entrance and is part of the landscaping improvement project.
Additionally, City Parks and Recreation has $275,000 in funding to improve access to the quarry lake and the overlook. City officials will be seeking input on the entrance and park improvements and provide an update on management of the quarry lake this spring.
Fort Dickerson Park includes 85 acres of green space and hiking and mountain biking trails, the quarry lake and a historic Civil War fort. For more information on Fort Dickerson Park, please visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/parks.
- KCDC to Provide Update on Five Points Master Plan
Knoxville’s Community Development Corp. (KCDC), the public housing agency for Knoxville, will hold a “Five Points Master Plan Update Meeting” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29, at the Walter P. Taylor Boys and Girls Club, 317 McConnell Street.
“The Five Points Master Planning Team will present final renderings of the senior housing development being constructed at the corner of Bethel Avenue and McConnell Street.” KCDC reports. “The team also will continue the discussion about the next phases of the Five Points Master Plan.”
Pizza and beverages will be provided.
- BZA Decisions Can Impact Your Neighborhood
Nine properties are on the agenda for this week’s meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
Established by city ordinance, BZA hears appeals of denials of building permits by the city’s Building Inspections Department. The board, consisting of five citizens appointed by the Mayor, meets on the third Thursday of each month.
BZA meets at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building. Addresses on the agenda include 2308 Forest Avenue, 220 Carrick Street, 203 N. Seven Oaks Drive, 835 N. Central Avenue, 1239 Forest Brook Road, 2701 Sevier Avenue, 200 Jennings Avenue, 1045 Maryville Pike, and 5820 Clinton Highway.
Variance requests on these properties include reduction of the minimum number of required parking spaces, doubling the number of signs permitted, reduction of minimum required rear yard setback, and reduction of setback required for a detached on-premise sign.
Keep up with how the BZA might impact your neighborhood. Watch for the black and white signs indicating that there is a pending decision on a particular piece of property. Most signs are for Metropolitan Planning Commission issues — which are also important — but signs with the word “variance” are BZA items.
The BZA agenda is posted on the city website. Browse to www.knoxvilletn.gov/boards and click on Board of Zoning Appeals. The agenda is posted no later than the Monday prior to the BZA meeting each month.
A neighborhood group that keeps track of BZA will call the Plans Review & Inspections Department at 215-3669 to request and study the paperwork on a particular appeal, decide whether to take a position on the appeal, and then attend the BZA meeting to voice the group’s support or objections. A group can also request a postponement to allow time to meet with the applicant.
Decisions of the BZA can be appealed within 15 days of the BZA decision to Knoxville City Council. Appeals of a City Council decision are made to Chancery Court within 60 days of a City Council decision related to BZA.
- More Roads? Safer Roads? Expand transit? More Bike Lanes?
The Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is asking citizens to take a brief, online survey, the results of which will aid in the update of the Long Range Regional Mobility Plan 2040 for the Knoxville Region.
According to TPO, this plan “is the big picture for how we should invest federal dollars in our transportation system over the next 20 plus years. Not only does it describe our vision for the future, it also lists all projects that we anticipate our region will undertake in the coming decades.”
Moreover, TPO says, “The project list is one of the critical elements of the plan. Local transportation projects cannot use federal funding unless they are on this list. We also cannot spend more money than we expect to receive. For this reason, how we select projects is critical.”
TPO compiles a list of factors to consider when selecting projects — “criteria that best reflect our community’s needs and vision for the future.” The survey is designed to gather public sentiment for these criteria.
For example, respondents are asked to rank these eights types of projects, from most important to least important: 1) build new roads, 2) expand transit to areas currently without service, 3) increase transit service where it already exists, 4) maintenance of roads and bridges, 5) neighborhood traffic safety, 6) sidewalks, greenways and bicycle lanes, 7) technology to improve traffic flow, and 8) widened roads to reduce congestion.
Take the survey. It takes about five minutes. If you do not have Internet access, you can make arrangements to take the survey by calling Dori Canon at 215-2694.
- Urban League to Hold Job Fair Next Week
The Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL)
is partnering with the Knoxville office of the worldwide staffing agency Randstad to conduct a “hiring event” from 10 a.m. until noon on Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Urban League building, 1514 East Fifth Avenue.
Visitors will be able to meet with human resources staff who are now hiring, and on-site interviews will be conducted.
Available positions include executive assistant, administrative assistant, customer service, inside and outside sales, accounting clerks (accounts receivable, accounts payable, bookkeeper), call center, medical billing, and human resources.
KAUL has a wide variety of programs covering youth, housing, workforce development and job training, business loans and workshops, and entrepreneurship and business development. For more, call 524-5511 or visit the KAUL Website.
- Alliance House Partners with UT on Healthy Living
The Alliance House Community of Knoxville is partnering with the University of Tennessee and the Knox County Public Library to hold a “healthy eating” expo from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Hwy.
This will be an interactive expo where the focus will be to “Eat, Live, and Dine Healthy.”
The UT College of Pharmacy will operate an “Ask a Pharmacist” booth. The UT Medical Center‘s Healthy Living Kitchen will offer free cooking demonstrations and provide free, quick and healthy recipe ideas. Finally, the UT College of Nursing will give free health screenings such as blood pressure checks.
Questions can be directed to the Burlington Branch Library at 525-5431 or De’Ossie Dingus of Alliance House Community at 332-2677.
- 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 less than 72 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend. For an English interpreter, contact David Massey at 215-3232 or [email protected].
Today – Monday, February 29
Final Days to Register for the Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon
Event to be held 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5
Register Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016Luncheon
Or Call the Office of Neighborhoods, 215-2113
Today — Tuesday, February 23
2016 Knox County Primary Election
Early Voting Period
http://www.knoxcounty.org/election/index.php
Tuesday, February 16 — 6 p.m.
Public Meeting
One Year Plan Update for West and Northwest Sectors
Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church, 7234 Middlebrook Pike
Metropolitan Planning Commission
Current Plan: http://archive.knoxmpc.org/plans/oneyear.htm
Michael Brusseau, 215-2500, [email protected]
Tuesday, February 16 — 7 p.m.
Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association (Third Tuesdays, except December)
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
Peter Pallesen, 200-8311, http://edgewoodpark.us/
Tuesday, February 16 — 7 p.m.
City Council (every other Tuesday)
Main Assembly Room, City County Building
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/citycouncil
Agenda: http://knoxvillecitytn.iqm2.com
Wednesday, February 17 — 12 Noon
Eastport/Lee Williams Neighborhood Watch (Third Wednesdays)
Appreciation Ceremony for Emergency Services Personnel
Lee Williams Senior Center, 2240 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
Sylvia Cook, 206-3433, [email protected]
Wednesday, February 17 — 5 p.m.
Knox County Board of Education— Mid-month Work Session
(Usually held on the Monday before the regular meeting and
third Mondays, except holidays or holiday weeks.)
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.”
Wednesday, February 17 — 6:30 p.m.
Lindbergh Forest Neighborhood Association (Third Wednesdays)
Graystone Presbyterian Church, 139 Woodlawn Pike
Kelley DeLuca, 660-4728, [email protected]
Thursday, February 18 — 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, [email protected], Knoxville Chamber, 637-4550
Thursday, February 18 — 8:30 a.m.
Food Policy Council
Knox County Health Department, 140 Dameron Avenue (Second Floor Classroom)
http://www.knoxfood.org; [email protected]
Thursday, February 18 — 8:30 a.m.
Historic Zoning Commission (Third Thursdays)
http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/historic_zoning_commission/ Kaye Graybeal, 215-3795, [email protected]
Thursday, February 18 — 12 noon
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, February 18 — 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://knoxvilletn.gov/government/boards_commissions/board_of_zoning_appeals/
Thursday, February 18 — 4:30 p.m.
Pond Gap Area Neighborhood Association (Third Thursdays)
Coop Café, 3701 Sutherland Ave.
David Williams, [email protected]
Thursday, February 18 — 4:30 p.m.
RiverHill Gateway Neighborhood Association (Third Thursdays)
Outdoor Knoxville, 900 Volunteer Landing
Kaye Bultemeier, 504-940-8952, [email protected]
Thursday, February 18 — 7 p.m.
Old Sevier Community Group
(Third Thursdays, January-November)
South Knoxville Elementary School Library, 801 Sevier Avenue
Gary Deitsch, 573-7355, [email protected]
Saturday, February 20 — 10 a.m.
South Haven Neighborhood Association (Third Saturdays)
Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 1615 Price Ave.
Linda Rust, 679-9924, [email protected]
Monday, February 22 — 11:30 a.m.
Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Board Meeting
Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square
http://www.downtownknoxville.org/about/cbid-meetings/
Michele Hummel, 246-2654, [email protected]
Monday, February 22 — 5 p.m.
Broadway Corridor Task Force (Fourth Mondays except December)
Focusing on enhancements to the corridor south of I-640
KCDC, 901 North Broadway
Lauren Rider, 964-3905, [email protected]
Monday, February 22 — 5 p.m. (zoning matters heard beginning at 7 p.m.)
Knox County Commission
(Fourth Mondays, January-October. Third Mondays, November-December)
Agenda: Click on “Information” and then “Commission Agendas”
Public Forum held at start & end of meeting
Tuesday, February 23 — 6 p.m.
Inskip Community Association / Asociación Comunidad Inskip (ACI)
(Fourth Tuesdays)
Inskip Baptist Church, 4810 Rowan Rd
Betty Jo Mahan, 679-2748
Tuesday, February 23 — 6 p.m.
Public Meeting
One Year Plan Update for South Sector
Flenniken Landing, 115 Flenniken Avenue
Metropolitan Planning Commission
Current Plan: http://archive.knoxmpc.org/plans/oneyear.htm
Michael Brusseau, 215-2500, [email protected]
Tuesday, February 23 — 6:30 p.m.
Chilhowee Park Neighborhood Association (Last Tuesdays)
Chilhowee Park Office, 3301 Magnolia at Beaman Street
Enter park at Beaman & E. Fifth Ave. Park at picnic shelter.
Take sidewalk to upper entrance of the Chilhowee Park office.
Paul Ruff, 696-6584
Wednesday, February 24 — 9 a.m.
Infill Housing Design Review Committee (Fourth Wednesdays)
Re: infill housing in central city neighborhoods with IH-1 overlay
http://www.knoxmpc.org/zoning/infill.htm
Jeff Archer, 215-3821, [email protected]
Wednesday, February 24 — 9 a.m.
Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Executive Committee
(Fourth Wednesdays, Jan.-Oct., and Third Wednesdays, Nov.-Dec.)
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Agenda: http://www.knoxtrans.org/meetings/execagen.htm
Dori Caron, 215-2694, [email protected]
Wednesday, February 24 — 5:30 p.m.
Public Meeting
Updates to Fort Dickerson Park
Flenniken Landing, 115 Flenniken Avenue
City of Knoxville and the Aslan Foundation
Thursday, February 25 — 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
Thursday, February 25 — 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, February 25 — 4:30 p.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]
Thursday, February 25 — 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Community Schools Celebration
South Knoxville Elementary School
801 Sevier Ave.
Register for the event here
Monday, February 29 — 5 p.m.
Knox County Board of Education—Work Session
(Usually held on the Monday before the regular meeting and
third Mondays, except holidays or holiday weeks.)
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.”
Monday, February 29 — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Five Points Master Plan Update Meeting
Topics: Final Renderings of senior housing at Bethel & McConnell streets
and next phases of the Five Points Master Plan
Pizza and beverages provided
Walter P. Taylor Boys and Girls Club, 317 McConnell St.
Knoxville’s Community Development Corp. (KCDC)
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
ELECTION DAY
2016 Knox County Primary Election
http://www.knoxcounty.org/election/index.php
Tuesday, March 1 — 4:30 p.m.
Dandridge Avenue Neighborhood Watch (First Tuesdays)
Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Ave.
Lawrence Washington, 524-4498
Tuesday, March 1 — 6 p.m.
Mechanicsville Community Association (First Tuesdays)
Fairview Recreation Center, 1628 Dora St.
Charles Wright, 637-1802
Tuesday, March 1 — 7 p.m.
City Council (every other Tuesday)
Main Assembly Room, City County Building
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/citycouncil
Agenda: http://knoxvillecitytn.iqm2.com
Wednesday, March 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, March 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.”
Saturday March 5, 2016 — 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Neighborhood Awards & Networking Luncheon
Knoxville Convention Center
Debbie Sharp, 215-4382, [email protected]
Saturday, March 5 — 1-4 p.m.
“Eat, Live and Dine Healthy” Expo
Healthy recipe ideas, cooking demonstrations, free health screenings,
and “Ask a Pharmacist” booth
Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Hwy
Alliance House Community of Knoxville, University of Tennessee
De’Ossie Dingus of Alliance House Community, 332-2677
Monday, March 7 — 1 p.m.
East Knoxville Community Meeting (First Mondays)
Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Highway
Michael Covington, 274-7958, [email protected]
Monday, March 7 — 4 p.m.
Love Towers Fellowship Association (First Mondays except holidays)
Love Towers Community Room; 1171 Armstrong St.
Bill Jackson, 221-4402
Monday, March 7 — 6 p.m.
Holston Meadows Neighborhood Watch
Milton Roberts Recreation Center, 5900 Asheville Hwy
Beverly Adkins, 523-6343 or Vivian Williams, 385-7074
Monday, March 7 — 6:30 p.m.
Parkridge Community Organization (First Mondays except holidays)
Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St.
David Anderson, (803) 259-6289, [email protected]
Monday, March 7 — 7 p.m.
Oakwood Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association (First Mondays)
Community Club House, 916 Shamrock Ave. at Henegar St.
Bill Hutton, 773-5228, [email protected]
Tuesday, March 8 — 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
MPC Agenda Review (Second Tuesdays)
Small Assembly Room, City County Building
Tuesday, March 8 — 6 p.m.
Brown Avenue Neighborhood Watch (Second Tuesdays)
Hoitt Ave. Baptist Church, 2121 Hoitt Ave.
Jimmy Ramsey, 637-0243
Wednesday, March 9 — 11:30 a.m.
Community Forum (Second Wednesdays)
Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golf Club Road
Sue Mauer, 690-0269
Wednesday, March 9 — 4:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Advisory Council, City of Knoxville
(Second Wednesdays except December)
Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St.
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/neighborhoods
David Massey, 215-3232
Thursday, March 10 — 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Planning Commission (Second Thursdays)
Large Assembly Room, City County Building
Agenda: http://agenda.knoxmpc.org
Thursday, March 10 — 6 p.m.
Lonsdale Homes Resident Association (Second Thursdays)
Community Building, 1956 Goins Dr.
Phyllis Patrick, 323-7224
Thursday, March 10 — 7-8 p.m.
Colonial Village Neighborhood Association
(Second Thursdays except December and January)
South Knoxville Church of God, 5623 Magazine Road
Terry Caruthers, 579-5702, [email protected]
Friday, March 11 — 7:45 a.m. and 8 a.m.
North Knoxville Business & Professional Association (Second Fridays)
Breakfast at 7:45 am, Meeting at 8 a.m.
Open to North Knoxville Residents, Neighborhood Groups, Business Owners
Meeting location varies. Check Website for location. http://northknoxvillebpa.org/
Becky Dodson, [email protected], 545-6750.
Friday, March 11 — 6 p.m.
Beaumont Community Organization (Second Fridays)
Community Room, Solid Waste Transfer Station, 1033 Elm St.
Natasha Murphy, 936-0139
Monday, March 14 — 1:30 p.m.
Montgomery Village Residents Association (Second Mondays)
4600 Joe Lewis Rd. #175
Ronnie Thompson, 583-9221
Monday, March 14 — 3 p.m.
Northgate Resident Association (Second Mondays)
Social Hall, 4301 Whittle Springs Rd.
David Wildsmith, 219-0417
Monday, March 14 — 5-6 p.m.
Cold Springs Neighborhood Watch (Second Mondays)
Michael Meadowview Neighborhood Watch (Second Mondays)
CAC East Neighborhood Center, 4200 Asheville Hwy.
Michael Meadowview: Marian Bailey, 525-5625
Cold Springs: Terrell Patrick, 525-4833
Monday, March 14 — 6 p.m.
Social Committee Events
Breaking news!
The LHHA Social Committee has some exciting events planned for 2016. Please get out your calendar and mark the following dates:
Sunday, March 6 at 6:00 p.m., Lake Hills Presbyterian Church is having a “Breakfast and Blue Grass” get-together and everyone in the neighborhood is invited to this fun evening of delicious food and toe-tapping music. All you need to do is to bring a breakfast item to share.
Saturday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m., Lake Hills Presbyterian Church is having an Easter Egg Hunt at the Church and invites all children in the neighborhood to attend.
Saturday, May 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. LHHA is having our annual neighborhood picnic. More information will follow, but for now “SAVE THE DATE” for this fun filled event.
We look forward to enjoying lots of good food and great fellowship with all of you.
Happy New Year from your Social Committee Co-Chairs, Suzan Bowman and Diane deRopp
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 9, No. 2 – Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016
PDF Version: http://bit.ly/NeighborhoodAdvisory2016-01-12
- Eastport / Lee Williams to Honor Police, Fire Fighters
- 2. ONK Names Spencer Interim President
- To Apply for Grant Funding, You Must Attend a Workshop
- Networking Luncheon Will Connect City Neighborhoods
- Consider Donating Door Prize for Neighborhood Luncheon
- MPC to Ponder Senior Living Facility in South Knoxville
- Meeting This Thursday: Future of Civic Auditorium and Coliseum
- Apply for Free Weatherization
- Magnolia Avenue Streetscape Designs to be Unveiled Next Week
- BZA Decisions Can Impact Your Neighborhood
- Bring Police Concerns to PARC Next Week
- 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: 9 a.m. Tuesdays.
- Eastport / Lee Williams to Honor Police, Fire Fighters
“Who has never needed to call 911?”
Sylvia Cook, president to Eastport / Lee Williams Neighborhood Watch, posed this question to the members of her organization one day last year. When no hands were raised, she proceeded with, “And, didn’t they always come?” Everyone nodded.
“They never say, ‘Oh, so-and-so lives at that address so we just won’t go’, she continued. There was more nodding. “So don’t you think it is a good idea to show the folks who take care of us that we appreciate them?” All were in agreement. This started a tradition of honoring the police and fire fighters who serve the Eastport / Lee Williams community in East Knoxville.
Eastport / Lee Williams will devote its January meeting to celebrate the Knoxville police and fire departments. The group will meet at the Lee Williams Community Center at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, January 20. Homemade chili and cider will be served. All available emergency personnel are invited to attend.
For more, contact Sylvia Cook at [email protected] or 206-3433.
- ONK Names Spencer Interim President
Old North Knoxville, Inc. has selected Donna Spencer to serve as interim president, succeeding the late Andie Ray, who passed away in December. Elections for new officers will be held later this quarter.
- To Apply for Grant Funding, You Must Attend a Workshop
City neighborhood organizations that wish to apply for funding under the Neighborhood Small Grants Program must send a representative to either one of two mandatory pre-application workshops scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, January 14, and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 20, at the Cansler Family YMCA, 616 Jessamine Street.
Applications are due March 14, and awards will be announced in May for projects starting in July. The City is allocating up to $43,000 for the grants program this year.
Neighborhood groups can apply for grants ranging from $500 to $3,000. To enhance the impact of the city’s funding, grants must be matched with donations of goods and services, volunteer labor and other financial support for the project.
The grant guidelines and the application form are available on the city’s website.
Please note that many questions can be answered by reading the guidelines and looking over the application. Both the guidelines and application will be reviewed at the workshops.
Grant funds can be used for projects and programs developed by resident-led, resident-controlled neighborhood associations, tenant associations, homeowners associations, and neighborhood watch groups that serve neighborhoods inside city limits. Start-up neighborhood groups may also apply.
Questions? Call David Massey at 215-3232.
- Networking Luncheon Will Connect City Neighborhoods
In the cold of winter, those who loyally attend neighborhood meetings and invest their time in neighborhood improvement might understandably feel isolated and few in number.
In fact, hundreds of Knoxville citizens work tirelessly to strengthen their neighborhoods, either through their neighborhood organizations or in individual acts of neighborliness.
And all of them — all of you — will have a chance to meet and learn from one another at the City of Knoxville Neighborhood Awards and Networking Luncheon, which will be held Saturday, March 5, at the Knoxville Convention Center.
This is a heads up. Mark your calendars now. Registration will begin soon.
Doors will open at 10 a.m. for coffee and informal conversation with Mayor Madeline Rogero, city department heads, and neighborhood leaders from across the city. Information booths will offer a wealth of information on city services. A special program — more about this later — will take place from 11 a.m. until noon, followed by the awards luncheon.
Mayor Rogero will present the Diana Conn Good Neighbor of the Year Award and Neighborhood Achievement Awards. Nominations for the Good Neighbor award have now closed, but neighborhood organizations can still apply for an achievement award. (See this page or call David Massey at 215-3232.)
The event will close with drawings for door prizes beginning at 1:30 p.m. The “quirky” and popular local music group, the Old City Buskers, will provide the entertainment for the entire event.
This event will be useful to anyone interested in the health and vitality of Knoxville’s residential neighborhoods, especially members and leaders of Knoxville’s 120-plus neighborhood groups. The event will feature opportunities for sharing ideas and making cross-neighborhood connections.
- Consider Donating Door Prize for Neighborhood Luncheon
Neighborhood organizations, businesses and nonprofits are urged to consider donating a door prize for the 2016 Neighborhood Awards and Networking Luncheon on March 5 at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Donors will be recognized in this newsletter, on the Office of Neighborhoods website and at the luncheon itself.
Donations are needed by Friday, Feb. 12, but a commitment sooner would be greatly appreciated. Contact Rebecca McIver at[email protected] or 215-3456.
The following local businesses have already donated or committed to donating a prize for the luncheon: Bailey Fiber Art Studio, Billy Lush Board Shop, Bluetique, Bula, Central Flats & Taps, Happy Envelope, Good Golly Tamale, Knox Whisky Works, Lox Old City Salon, Pioneer House, SugarBuzz, Sweet P’s BBQ, Tennessee Theater and Visit Knoxville.
So far, the donated door prizes include gift certificates, gift baskets, printed posters, private tours, and even jewelry and Parisian macarons.
- MPC to Ponder Senior Living Facility in South Knoxville
The Metropolitan Planning Commission — meeting at 1:30 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 14 — will consider whether to grant a use-on-review to transform the vacant and deteriorating Giffin School building, 1834 Beech Street, into a senior living facility.
Proposed by Giffin Senior Community Partners LLC, the facility would include nine independent living units, 50 assisted living units, adult day care and a clinic. The use-on-review would be subject to nine conditions. For details, see the MPC agenda at http://agenda.knoxmpc.org/agenda.pdf and click on agenda item 43.
Meanwhile, MPC staff is recommending that a proposal for a mixed use zone in the Bearden area be postponed until the March meeting “to ensure adequate time for public review and input.”
Other city items are on the January agenda. Neighborhood organizations are urged to keep up with the MPC agenda to watch out for rezonings and other changes that might impact their neighborhoods. To receive MPC notifications by email, visit www.knoxmpc.org and click on the email icon at the bottom of the home page.
- Meeting This Thursday: Future of Civic Auditorium and Coliseum
The City of Knoxville will hold a public meeting at the Civic Auditorium, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave., at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, to discuss the recently completed feasibility study for the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum (KCAC). Free parking will be provided in the Coliseum garage.
Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and City staff will be joined by representatives of the consulting firm Conventions, Sports and Leisure International. The consultant’s study — which is available on the City’s website at www.knoxvilletn.gov/kcacstudy — outlines three options and presents the pros and cons of each option. These are:
1) Retain existing KCAC with minimum upgrades – basically a “status quo maintenance.”
2) Major Renovation / redevelopment of KCAC (make major upgrades to the auditorium and build a new coliseum at that site)
3) Full Replacement (tear all down and build new — either at that site or elsewhere).
Cost estimates for various options within those alternatives range from $26 million to $279.5 million. The study also estimates the direct and indirect economic benefits of each of the scenarios.
“We look forward to a good discussion,” Mayor Rogero wrote in a recent email. “No decision has been made at this point, and it is important that the community hears the options, the costs, and the opportunities, and then shares their feedback with us.”
KCAC opened in 1961 and consists of the 6,540-seat Coliseum (4,790 seats for hockey or ice shows), the 2,500-seat Auditorium, a 4,800-square foot ballroom, 10,000 square feet of exhibit space and an outdoor plaza with a capacity of 10,000. There are 2,500 parking spaces among three connected/adjacent garages.
For anyone unable to attend the public meeting, comments can be submitted via email to [email protected].
- Apply for Free Weatherization
If you have not yet applied to the Knoxville Extreme Energy Makeover weatherization program (KEEM) yet, now is your chance.
KEEM will be holding special after-hours application sessions on Saturday, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 23, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at CAC’s Housing and Energy Office, 2247 Western Ave. Before attending, visit www.KEEMteam.com to view program eligibility information or call the CAC at 244-3080.
KEEM is a two-year, TVA-funded program that will provide energy efficiency and weatherization retrofits to over 1,200 low- and moderate-income homes in Knoxville. Eligible homes will receive upgrades that increase in-home comfort and reduce electricity consumption by an estimated 25 percent.
The KEEM Team is led by the Knoxville-Knox County CAC in partnership with the City of Knoxville, Knoxville Utilities Board, and the Alliance to Save Energy. KEEM supports the Smarter Cities Partnership, a coalition of more than 20 community organizations seeking to improve the quality, comfort, and affordability of Knoxville homes through energy efficiency.
- Magnolia Avenue Streetscape Designs to be Unveiled Next Week
The City of Knoxville will present the design details for Magnolia Avenue streetscape improvements at a public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the John T. O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona St.
Staff from the city’s Office of Redevelopment and Engineering Department, along with design consultants from Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon, will present final designs for streetscape improvements to a six-block section of Magnolia Avenue between Jessamine Street and North Bertrand Street. Public comment will follow.
Proposed improvements include raised medians to replace the center left-turn lane; bike lanes; improved sidewalks; bus pull-offs; and streetscape amenities that include street lighting, benches and bike racks. Traffic signals will be upgraded, and pedestrian signals and crosswalks will be improved. Left-turn lanes will be provided at major intersections.
In addition, there will be a two-week public comment period following the Jan. 21 meeting. After Thursday, the proposed design can be viewed on the city website at http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/Redevelopment or in person at the Redevelopment office, Room 655, City County Building, 400 Main Street, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Comment cards will be available.
Ideas and comments also can be sent to Redevelopment Director Dawn Michelle Foster at [email protected].
- BZA Decisions Can Impact Your Neighborhood
Fifteen properties are on the agenda for next week’s meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
Established by city ordinance, BZA hears appeals of denials of building permits by the city’s Building Inspections Department. The board, consisting of five citizens appointed by the Mayor, meets at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building.
BZA meets next Thursday, January 21. Addresses on the agenda include 2701 Spence Place, 322 Barrar Avenue, 2308 Forest Avenue, 1612 Elm Street, 2613 Adair Drive, 1132 N. Sixth Avenue, 220 Carrick Street, 2714 Chapman Highway, 205 W. Depot Avenue, 310 Ogden Street, 203 N. Seven Oaks Drive, 300 E. Depot Avenue, 4315 Kingston Pike, 151 E. Blount Avenue, and 708 Morgan Street.
Keep up with how the BZA might impact your neighborhood. Watch for the black and white signs indicating that there is a pending decision on a particular piece of property. Most signs are for Metropolitan Planning Commission issues — which are also important — but signs with the word “variance” are BZA items.
The BZA agenda is posted on the city website. Browse to www.knoxvilletn.gov/boards and click on Board of Zoning Appeals. The agenda contains more detail on each variance request.
A neighborhood group that keeps track of BZA will call the Plans Review & Inspections Department at 215-3669 to request and study the paperwork on a particular appeal, decide whether to take a position on the appeal, and then attend the BZA meeting to voice the group’s support or objections. A group can also request a postponement to allow time to meet with the applicant.
Decisions of the BZA can be appealed within 15 days of the BZA decision to Knoxville City Council. Appeals of a City Council decision are made to Chancery Court within 60 days of a City Council decision related to BZA.
- Bring Police Concerns to PARC Next Week
The Police Advisory and Review Committee (PARC) is a civilian oversight committee that audits the discipline process and the policies and procedures of the Knoxville Police Department (KPD).
The purpose is to strengthen the relationship between the citizens of the City of Knoxville and the KPD; to assure timely, fair and objective review of citizen complaints while protecting the individual rights of police officers; and to make recommendations concerning citizen complaints to the Chief of Police and to the Mayor.
By making sure citizen concerns are addressed by an independent body, PARC aims to improve the relationship between members of KPD and the citizens they serve.
PARC meets quarterly, and its next meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, January 21, at New Friendship Baptist Church, 1933 Texas Avenue in Lonsdale. For more, contact Lisa Chambers at 215-3966 or visit http://www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/parc.
- 12. 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 less than 72 hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend. For an English interpreter, contact David Massey at 215-3232 or [email protected].
Tuesday, January 12 through Monday, January 18
King Week 2016
Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission
http://www.mlkknoxville.com/2016-events/
Tuesday, January 12 — 5 p.m.
Public Forum
Proposed Plans Review and Permit Fees Increase
Small Assembly Room, CCB
215-2999
Tuesday, January 12 — 5:30 p.m.
Public Meeting
City of Knoxville Community Development Department
Annual Action Plan Update for Use of Federal Funds in 2016-2017
O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona Street
Linda Rust, [email protected], 215-2120
Tuesday, January 12 — 6 p.m.
Brown Avenue Neighborhood Watch (Second Tuesdays)
Hoitt Ave. Baptist Church, 2121 Hoitt Ave.
Jimmy Ramsey, 637-0243
Wednesday, January 13 — 10-11:30 a.m.
Food Policy Council
(Second Wednesdays but check website for confirmation)
Knox County Health Department, 140 Dameron Avenue
http://www.knoxfood.org; [email protected]
Wednesday, January 13 — 11:30 a.m.
Community Forum (Second Wednesdays)
Bearden Branch Library, 100 Golf Club Road
Sue Mauer, 690-0269
Wednesday, January 13 — 4:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Advisory Council, City of Knoxville
(Second Wednesdays except December)
Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St.
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/neighborhoods
David Massey, 215-3232
Thursday, January 14 — 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Planning Commission (Second Thursdays)
Large Assembly Room, City County Building
Agenda: http://agenda.knoxmpc.org
Thursday, January 14 — 5:30 p.m.
Grants Workshop (first of two identical workshops)
Neighborhood Small Grants Program
Office of Neighborhoods
Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine Street
Debbie Sharp, 215-5382, or David Massey, 215-3232
Thursday, January 14 — 6 p.m.
Lonsdale Homes Resident Association (Second Thursdays)
Community Building, 1956 Goins Dr.
Phyllis Patrick, 323-7224
Thursday, January 14 — 6 p.m.
Public Meeting: Future of Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum
Presentation on Study Results and Public Discussion
Civic Auditorium, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave. (Free parking)
Thursday, January 14 — 6:30 p.m.
“Savings in the House” Workshop
Tips on how to reduce your KUB bill
Knoxville Area Transit Center, 301 E. Church Ave.
244-3080 or www.KEEMTeam.com
Saturday, January 16 — 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Apply for Energy Efficiency Upgrades to Your Home
CAC Housing and Energy, 2247 Western Avenue
Check your eligibility at 244-3080 or www.KEEMteam.com
Saturday, January 16 — 10 a.m.
South Haven Neighborhood Association (Third Saturdays)
Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 1615 Price Ave.
Linda Rust, 679-9924, [email protected]
Monday, January 18
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
City Offices Closed
Monday, January 18 — 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
MLK Parade and Tribute Service
Parade starts at 10 a.m. from YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center, 124 S. Cruze Street and runs to Greater Warner Tabernacle Church, 3800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, for the Tribute Service
Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission, [email protected].
Monday, January 18 — 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
Tuesday, January 19 — 5 p.m.
Knox Country Board of Education— Mid-month Work Session
(Usually held on the Monday before the regular meeting and
third Mondays, except holidays or holiday weeks.)
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.”
Tuesday, January 19 — 6 p.m.
Delrose Drive Neighborhood Watch
(Third Tuesdays in January, March, May, July, September and November)
Riverview Baptist Church, 3618 Delrose Dr.
Corina and John Buffalow, 523-0102
Tuesday, January 19 — 7 p.m.
Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association (Third Tuesdays, except December)
Larry Cox Senior Center, 3109 Ocoee Trail
Peter Pallesen, 200-8311, http://edgewoodpark.us/
Tuesday, January 19 — 7 p.m.
City Council (every other Tuesday)
Main Assembly Room, City County Building
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/citycouncil
Agenda: http://knoxvillecitytn.iqm2.com
Thanks to the city of Knoxville
Please join me in thanking the city on their quick action cleaning up our entrance. There were deer parts, a stove, bags of trash and scattered trash. One e-mail and it was handled the same day. The people behind the work were David Brace, [email protected], Chad Weth, [email protected], and Sheryl Ely, [email protected]. And of course, it wouldn’t hurt to pass along your thanks to Mayor Rogero, [email protected]
Separate issue: Rene Montalvo, 200-0938, and Angel Garcia, (201)423-3699, did a great job cleaning our entrance garden and putting it to bed for the winter. If you need help indoors, outdoors, hauling away trash, whatever, give them a call.
Mary Cartwright
Chipper/Shredder for loan?
Might anyone have a heavy duty chipper/shredder that is in need of activity this weekend. We have amassed quite the a pile of “clearings” over the last 2 years and would like to turn it into future mulch.
Kristin & David Bianconi
Circle Lake Lane
Lost/stray cat found
We have had a lost or stray cat hanging around our yard (mostly under our bird feeder) for the last 5 days or so on Tall Pine Lane. She is a small, very young calico colored short hair cat. She is very friendly and used to being around people and houses, which make us suspect she is just lost. I have attached a few pictures. We have been providing her some food and shelter the last few cold nights, but if this is your cat or you know who it may belong to, please contact us so we can get you reunited. Our phone is 247-4891.
Thanks,
Scott Engel
Lakemoor Hills Art Club
Happy New Year!
Weekly meetings resume this evening (Monday, January 4, 2016) 5-7pm at Lake Hills Church near the corner of Montlake and Maloney.
All are welcome. We are artists of all media and levels, from beginners to advanced. Just come when you can, as often as you can, and bring what you’re working on. Informal, open discussion and good fellowship.
Any questions? Call or text Kenneth Pace at 865-919-4357.
Dumping Increasing at Entry to Lakemoor Hills
Entering the subdivision yesterday I noticed that there was a large amount of debris adjacent to the parking area just west of the triangle at Alcoa Hwy. The more I thought about it the madder I got so today I went by to see if the bags of trash included identification that could tie it back to the owner. I took these photos when I realized the extent of the debris – bags of trash, a blue plastic tub and many, many quart beer bottles. When I peered into the blue tub, there was an animal leg (with hoof), and the bag closest to the tub seems to be filled with more decaying animal parts – perhaps deer (?). I cannot believe that anyone who actually lives within our neighborhood would do this and I ask all of you to be vigilant to speak out to anyone that you see contributing to this disgrace. Does anyone know if the city or county will help remove these animal parts as it certainly may be a health issue?
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory
Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory – Vol. 8, No. 44 – Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015
PDF Version: http://bit.ly/NeighborhoodAdvisory2015-12-29
- Good Neighbor Nominations Are Due Monday
- Andie Ray: Neighborhood Leader, City Light
- Zaevion Dobson: Greater Love Hath No Man
- City Offices Closed Friday; Garbage and Recyclables Will be Collected
- Two Blocks of Cumberland Avenue Closed for Electric Work
- Citizens Invited to Annual Legislative Breakfast
- Grants Enable Botanical Garden to Proceed with Food Center
- Need Funding? Art Exposure? Alliance Seeks Ideas for Micro-Funding Event
- 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: 9 a.m. Tuesdays.
- Good Neighbor Nominations Are Due Monday
Nominations for the Diana Conn Good Neighbor of the Year Award are due no later than Monday, January 4.
The award is presented annually to a City of Knoxville resident who — in a spirit of cooperation and with commitment to inclusive community — has devoted time and talent in service to his or her neighbors and neighborhood.
The winner and other finalists will be announced at the 2016 Neighborhood Awards and Networking Luncheon on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at the Knoxville Convention Center.
To learn more, visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/neighborhoods and click on Good Neighbor of the Year Award. Or just download the form. The form is easy to fill out. Just use your own words to describe the person you wish to honor.
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 at 215-4382 to receive a hard copy of the form in the mail.
- Andie Ray: Neighborhood Leader, City Light
Good neighbors give their time and talent to community improvement, and this week Knoxville is remembering the many contributions of Andie Ray, who died Dec. 18 after a brief illness.
As others have noted, Andie was active in every neighborhood she lived in — from Maplehurst and Market Square to Old North Knoxville. As Jack Neely points out in last week’s Knoxville Mercury, she first lived on Market Square and then opened her women’s clothing store, Vagabodia, on the square in 2004. A tireless advocate for downtown renovation, she was active in Knox Heritage, City People, and the Market Square District Association.
Later she and her husband Noel Hudson moved to Old North. At the time of her passing she was president of the neighborhood association, Old North Knoxville. She was an ONK representative to the Broadway Corridor Task Force and a member of the Historic Zoning Commission.
“Andie really liked to connect with her community and her neighbors,” recalled Lauren Rider, her friend and colleague in Old North. “She adopted the neighborhoods she was in. There is barely a neighbor who walked past her house who did not know who she was. She made a point of talking to everybody, including everybody, and sharing her enthusiasm for the community.”
She will be missed.
- Zaevion Dobson: Greater Love Hath No Man
Our city this month is also mourning the death and celebrating the life and selfless sacrifice of Zaevion Dobson, the 15-year-old Fulton High School student who was shot and killed Dec. 17 shielding others from a spray of bullets fired by as-yet-unnamed assailants onto a porch in the Lonsdale community.
Zaevion was a member of Martin Chapel United Methodist Church and a sophomore at Fulton High School, where he played linebacker on the football team. He was well regarded by teammates and classmates, many of whom who wore his jersey number, 24, at his funeral services last weekend.
But Zaevion was much more than a young man enthralled with football, according to André Canty who, as a member of 100 Black Men of Knoxville, mentored the young student. “Being an athlete was only a part of his being,” Canty said. “He was always there. He was involved (in efforts) to stop the violence.”
Zaevion was part of what Canty calls the “Save Our Sons Brain Trust,” a group of young people who helped plan and identify the discussion topics for the “Son’s Summit” last June which in turn was part of a local “Save Our Sons” initiative to address violence among African American men and boys.
Moreover, having benefitted from the mentoring provided by Canty and 100 Black Men, Zaevion was himself helping youth at Emerald Youth Foundation programs in which he participated. “He did not wait until he was an adult,” Canty said. “He said, ‘I’m not going to wait. I’ve learned some lessons I can tell other kids.’ That’s powerful. That’s commendable. He took time out to mentor other kids.”
He was doing all of that while he was attending football practice,” Canty noted. “He was already involved in the community. He was around others who tried to show him the way. He learned lessons from his Mom, us, his coaches. He built up a sense of selflessness in himself.”
What Zaevion did on the night of December 17 “wasn’t just a quick reaction but a manifestation of all the lessons he had learned. If you see someone in need, you be there for that person. He went the extra mile and sacrificed his life.”
Canty, who is now president of 100 Black Men, notes that 23-year-old Brandon Perry also lost his life on Dec. 17, and his funeral was held on the same day as Zaevion’s service.
Because it is believed that Perry was involved in the retaliatory gang violence that took Zaevion’s life, “people may have demonized him,” Canty said. “Even if he did it, there is a culture of violence that made him the way he was. In a sense, that makes him a victim, too. I am not apologizing for what he did, but there is a family grieving on his side, too.”
Canty said the community’s effort to stop violence focuses, in part, on youth who have already lost their way, who have reacted negatively to pain and trauma, who have been bred for war as if they live in a third world country. “No child should be bred for war,” he lamented.
Canty and many others in the African American community in Knoxville have lost loved ones or friends or acquaintances to this violence. But Zaevion “did everything right and he was still taken away,” sharpening the grief, Canty said.
Zaevion’s courage and character have been praised all the way from Lonsdale to the White House. “Zaevion Dobson died saving three friends from getting shot,” President Obama tweeted two days after the shooting. “He was a hero at 15. What’s our excuse for not acting?”
See www.knoxvilletn.gov/saveoursons for more on the City’s Save Our Sons initiative.
Meanwhile, Overcoming Believers Church, 211 Harriet Tubman Street, will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, “to develop strategies for saving our youth.”
- City Offices Closed Friday; Garbage and Recyclables Will be Collected
City of Knoxville offices will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, but the city’s garbage and recycling contractor, Waste Connections, will run its regular trash and recycling routes this week, so pickups of trash and recyclables WILL occur on Friday despite the holiday.
Downtown trash and recycling will also run on the regular schedule on Friday. The city’s recycling centers will be open for recycling use, but the Goodwill attendant will not be available for household goods donations on Friday. The city’s Solid Waste Management Facility, 1033 Elm Street, will be closed both Friday and Saturday.
- Two Blocks of Cumberland Avenue Closed for Electric Work
Two blocks of Cumberland Avenue between 17th and 19th streets will be closed to through traffic beginning Tuesday, Dec. 29, until Tuesday, Jan. 5, to allow for the installation of an underground electrical line.
Local traffic and pedestrian access to businesses along Cumberland Avenue will be maintained.
The electrical line will carry power from a Knoxville Utilities Board substation at Dale Avenue to the Cumberland Avenue area and beyond. It will allow the removal of overhead power lines along Cumberland Avenue, part of the City’s overall $17 million reconstruction of the corridor.
The Cumberland Avenue project, scheduled to be completed in August 2017, will change the existing four-lane street on the eastern end of the corridor to a three-lane cross section with a raised median and left-turn lanes at intersections between 22nd Street and 17th Street.
Phase I work on the western end of Cumberland, between the Alcoa Highway ramps and 22nd Street, is coming to an end — on time and on budget. Phase II is underway.
More information about the project is available at www.CumberlandConnect.com , from which you can access the Cumberland Connect Facebook page and the Cumberland Connect phone app.
- Citizens Invited to Annual Legislative Breakfast
The League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County (LWVKKC) is inviting Knox County citizens to participate in its annual Legislative Breakfast from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Knox Room of the Knoxville News Sentinel building, 2332 News Sentinel Drive. A continental breakfast will be served.
State Senators Richard Briggs, Becky Massey and Randy McNally have been invited to participate in a question and answer session regarding legislation of the 109th Tennessee General Assembly, which convenes the following week.
Key legislation includes the reallocation of surplus revenues and the regulation of marijuana and handgun permits. Other likely topics are healthcare and the proposed outsourcing of management of state facilities.
The News Sentinel is co-sponsoring the event. The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
- Grants Enable Botanical Garden to Proceed with Food Center
Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum (KBGA), 2743 Wimpole Avenue, has now received all of the funding necessary to proceed with the $370,000 conversion of an existing structure, known as the Mule Barn, to an indoor food market, community meeting space and education kitchen.
Construction likely will begin by early spring, according to Robert Hodge, who heads KBGA’s Center for Urban Agriculture. “This initiative will be a model for permaculture and sustainable living practices that will provide both economic and ecological benefits to our city and its residents,” Hodge said recently.
Mayor Madeline Rogero and City Council allocated $250,000 for this facility in the City of Knoxville’s FY 2015 budget. This investment leveraged two more recent donations — $50,000 from the Siddiqi Charitable Foundation and another $70,000 from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
The Center is already leasing plots of land for family and market gardens. Since food is grown on site, gardeners will be able to sell their produce locally at the new facility. Area farmers can also use the facility to sell their goods. Hodge noted that the 47-acre KGBA site is located in East Knoxville, where access to fresh, healthy and affordable foods is limited.
When not used for produce sales, the space can be leased by art and theatre groups, along with other cultural activities, for special events, Hodge added.
The kitchen “will be used by our gardeners and also will be rented out to entrepreneurs,” Hodge explained. “We are excited about the job creation that comes from having a rentable commercial kitchen available to people wanting to make money through food. This will be a jobs and business incubator.”
Finally, the kitchen will host culinary and canning classes. Hodge noted that the Center is already in discussion with community-based organizations that are working to improve access to and knowledge of healthy foods.
These groups include Nourish Knoxville, publisher of a local food guide and organizer of the Market Square Farmers’ Market; Slow Food Tennessee Valley, which stages the annual Pesto Festo; and the Knoxville Chapter of National Women in Agriculture, which addresses needs of women without access to healthy food.
Hodge projects that the space for the produce market will be open by late spring, and the kitchen will be ready by late summer. While there is a small waiting list for the 4×12 family garden plots, an even larger plot is available for someone who wishes to market the produce. For more, contact Hodge at [email protected] or 591-8677.
- Need Funding? Art Exposure? Alliance Seeks Ideas for Micro-Funding Event
The South Knoxville Alliance is now accepting proposals for community projects and featured artists for its next Knoxville SOUP dinner, which will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, January 7, at Vestal United Methodist Church, 115 Ogle Ave., with a suggested donation of $5 per person.
Proposal deadline has been extended to Sunday, January 3, 2016.
Knoxville SOUP is a dinner and micro-funding event designed to raise money for creative projects and to give exposure to local artists who display their art.
Project Proposals and Featured Artist Proposals are accepted from all over Knoxville, not just South Knoxville. Click here to apply for your project ideas. Click here to apply for the next featured artist slot.
“The exposure for the projects goes beyond the dinner,” said Debra Bradshaw, chair of the South Knoxville Alliance, which brought SOUP dinners to Knoxville. “One of the projects presented at our last dinner was funded in full by a private donation. The project funding need would not have been known if it had not been for the great press Knoxville SOUP received.” The last event dinner raised over $500 for the Joe Hill Roadshow.
Knoxville SOUP events are held quarterly. Proposal deadlines are always one week prior to the dinner. The next few proposal due dates are March 31, June 30, and October 29, all in 2016. See www.KnoxvilleSOUP.org for more information.
South Knoxville Alliance is a group of businesses and community leaders who promote growth and improvement in the South Knoxville area.
- 9. 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 less than 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].
Wednesday, December 30 — 6 p.m.
Heal the Land Knoxville
“Community gathering to develop strategies for saving our youth”
Overcoming Believers Church, 211 Harriett Tubman Street
Monday, January 4 — 1 p.m.
East Knoxville Community Meeting (First Mondays)
Burlington Branch Library, 4614 Asheville Highway
Michael Covington, 274-7958, [email protected]
Monday, January 4 — 4 p.m.
Love Towers Fellowship Association (First Mondays except holidays)
Love Towers Community Room; 1171 Armstrong St.
Bill Jackson, 221-4402
Monday, January 4 — 5 p.m.
Knox Country Board of Education—Work Session
(Usually held on the Monday before the regular meeting and
third Mondays, except holidays or holiday weeks.)
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.”
Monday, January 4 — 6:30 p.m.
Parkridge Community Organization (First Mondays except holidays)
Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St.
David Anderson, (803) 259-6289, [email protected]
Monday, January 4 — 7 p.m.
Oakwood Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association (First Mondays)
Community Club House, 916 Shamrock Ave. at Henegar St.
Bill Hutton, 773-5228, [email protected]
Monday, January 4
Deadline for Nominations
Diana Conn Good Neighbor of the Year Award
Office of Neighborhoods, www.knoxvilletn.gov/neighborhoods
Debbie Sharp, 215-4382