Preservation Task Force Update

As many of you know, Mayor Victor Ashe, in October of 1999, appointed a group of citizens to study the state of historic preservation in Knoxville, and to make recommendations that could strengthen preservation efforts.  This Task Force spent six months examining programs in other cities and looking at programs at work in this city.  Their report and recommendations are now public (click here to see the report - webmaster)  The Task Force consisted of twenty prominent city residents, chaired by Duane Grieve.  There was a good mix of people on the board with the historic neighborhoods well represented by people such as Rob Frost from Fourth and Gill, Randall DeFord from Fort Sanders, and our own Chester Kilgore among the participants.  The Task Force was backed by a five-person staff including Ann Bennett.  The full report is available on the City of Knoxville's web site at http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/newsrel/2000/histpresv.htm, the Mayor's office and the Reference Room of the Lawson-McGhee Library.  We are now in the midst of a 60-day public comment period, after which the task force will evaluate the public input and then release a final report.  You can register your comments several ways including e-mail to YourComments@ci.Knoxville.tn.us, snail mail to Metropolitan Planning Commission, 400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN  37902, or by phone at 215-2500.

Some of the recommendation highlights from the report include:

  • Establish a voluntary designation program for the year 2000.  The program would waive the filing fee for individuals or districts that are eligible and wish to seek H-1 or NC-1 designation.


  • Preservation groups should cooperate with the Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau to develop a program of heritage tourism marketing that includes tours, brochures, promotional ads and other information.


  • Historic neighborhoods should form a council of preservation-oriented neighborhood groups.


  • The City's Department of Development should complete its ongoing study to consider the need of devising a building code for historic buildings.


  • Knoxville's Department of Development should train and assign a building code inspector to specialize in historic overlay districts.


  • The City should develop a "demolition by neglect" ordinance which prevents the continued lack of maintenance that endangers a neighborhood's revitalization.


These are just some of the recommendations from the Task Force.  This is an important issue for every resident of Old North neighborhood.  I urge you to obtain a copy of the report, read it, and voice your comments.  As Mayor Ashe said: "The task force has made a set of preliminary recommendations dealing with designation, education and marketing, organizations and coordination, legislation and funding.  Now, we want to hear what the citizens think of these recommendations."

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