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Building
a Stronger Economy
Business
Park and Industrial Redevelopment Opportunities
Three general areas are identified for business park and industrial
redevelopment, including Center City Business Park, the I-40/75 Corridor
and the Center City “East” Business Park. These are among the oldest
industrial areas in Knoxville and include a high proportion of vacant
land, vacant buildings and buildings in poor condition. On the positive
side, the areas have rail access, water, sewer, and gas utilities, and
good proximity (although occasionally convoluted access) to the interstate
system. There are various issues to address in their redevelopment including:
- Infrastructure
improvements, particularly road connections to and within the areas
- Consolidation
of small parcels into larger tracts that can meet modern manufacturing
needs
- Reuse
of residential areas, including potential relocation programs
- Environmental
protection, including conservation of natural assets like the area’s
creeks and potential cleanup programs for contaminated sites
Road
improvements like those to Proctor Street are needed in each of the
industrial redevelopment areas.
Specific
concerns regarding each of the areas are outlined below:
The
I-40/275 Corridor
- Truck
circulation: access from North Central Street to Woodland Avenue,
Woodland Avenue to Baxter Avenue, and Baxter Avenue to Dale Avenue
needs to be addressed
- A
continuous truck route from Dale Avenue to Woodland Avenue should
be explored
- Protection
of the adjacent neighborhoods, including Oakwood and Old North Knoxville
- Creation
of a Second Creek Greenway, providing stream protection and a recreation
asset through this future business park area
Center
City Business Park
- Design
standards, particularly for the areas near Westview and Mechanicsville
Commons, so that new development will complement neighborhood renewal
- Connection
from Sutherland Avenue through the former Glazer Steel area (Ailor
Road) and returning to Concord Street
- Reuse
of small residential areas and relocation programs for area residents
Central
City East Business Park
- Linkages
to the new Sixth Avenue connector that would run parallel to the
railroad and extend to Cherry Street
- Reuse
of residential properties and relocation provisions in the area
north of I-40
- As
an alternative to industrial redevelopment west of Caswell Park,
the reuse of the mill and warehouse buildings for residential purposes
is an appropriate consideration
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