|
The Downtown North
Association |
|
By Cynthia Runyan As you may have heard, the City of Knoxville’s Redevelopment Department has dynamic plans for “Downtown North,” the area bordered by I-275 on the West, Woodland to the North, Hall of Fame Dr. to the East, and Depot St. to the South. Some of the changes we may see in coming months include narrowing North Central between Broadway and Woodland Avenue to a two-lane road with wider sidewalks and on-street parking. Façade improvements are already underway along parts of Central, with more to come. A recent article in the Metropulse mentioned that funding is in place for creation of a “streetscape” design. ONK residents are witnessing Downtown North’s assumption of a new identity as a revitalized extension of downtown. Like downtown Knoxville, potential abounds for commercial prosperity and improved residential values. In response to this growth and change, local entrepreneurs and residents have formed a new group, the Downtown North Association. The mission statement of this group is to "Promote and advocate on behalf of Downtown North as a historic and unique neighborhood." Their goals are to encourage responsible development and to engage policy makers, residents, business owners, private investors, and the public at large. Dues are set annually as follows; Merchants, $50; Property owners, $50; and Residents, $25. The group elected board members and officers in August: Chris Buckner, Secretary; Peg Hambright, Treasurer; Daniel Schuh, Vice President (marketing); Grant Rosenberg, Vice President (membership); and Jennifer Montgomery, President. Stay tuned for more on this emerging group's efforts to bring more positive change to our neighborhood. If you are interested in joining this group, contact Jennifer Montgomery at
|