More Now Know Where Old North Knoxville Is
|
|
By David E. Booker More people now know where Old North Knoxville is. Thanks to the efforts of Tomica Miller and other members of Old North Knoxville, Inc., and the assistance of the Knoxville City Engineering Department, directional signs have been erected around downtown Knoxville directing people to Old North Knoxville. The signs have even made it into the news, appearing on TV stations WBIR (Channel 10) and WATE (Channel 6), and in The Knoxville News-Sentinel. On Saturday, May 12th, Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe and Old North Knoxville, Inc., dedicated the first of 14 directional signs. These signs, placed in strategic locations in Downtown Knoxville, direct visitors to historic Old North Knoxville neighborhood, a roughly triangular area north of downtown formed by Central Ave., Broadway, and Woodland Ave., as well as a rectangular section east of Broadway that includes Grainger, Luttrell, Leonard Place, and Glenwood. You can find some of the closest signs at the intersection of Broadway and Glenwood Ave., the corner of Broadway and Grainger Ave., Woodland Ave. near Central, at the Central and Scott Ave. intersection, and at the intersection of Broadway and Central. Other places where the signs are include James White Fort, Cumberland Ave. and State St., State St. and Summit Hill, Summit Hill and Central, Henley St. and Church St., Church St. and State Ave. Although the signs are meant to guide people to Old North Knoxville, they are also meant to help promote downtown. The cost of the signs was roughly $2,000 dollars, not including the cost of erecting them, which the city absorbed. At the dedication, Mayor Ashe spoke to a crowd of about 35 residents and City representatives – including City Council members Carlene Malone, Raleigh Wynn, Jack Sharp and Larry Cox – about the need for the city to work cooperatively with neighborhoods and to support neighborhood activities. ONK Neighborhood Association President Dave Palmer and his wife Lynne hosted the event as part of National Historic Preservation Week. On behalf of the neighborhood, Dave Palmer thanked those attending and in particular mentioned ONK board member Tomica Miller. Listed as a National Historic District, Old North Knoxville is one of Knoxville’s architectural treasures. ONK was established to preserve, promote and protect the neighborhood, which is a residential and business district built from the 1880s to the 1940s. To learn more about ONK, visit our web site: www.oldnorthknoxville.org. Plans to help further distinguish Old North Knoxville include the beautification of the neighborhood markers and the placement of banners at the major entrances to the neighborhood. (See related story.) |