Responding to recommendations from an expert advisory panel, City of Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero intends to move forward with the redevelopment of two crucial pieces of downtown property: the West Jackson Avenue sites of the former McClung Warehouses, and the former State Supreme Court site on Henley Street. 

The City's Office of Redevelopment announced the proposals at a meeting Monday night, March 30, to discuss the final report from an Urban Land Institute advisory panel that visited Knoxville in October 2014. The City hired the ULI panel to study and make recommendations on five sites: West Jackson Avenue; the State Supreme Court property; World's Fair Park; the Henley Street corridor; and the Civic Auditorium/Coliseum complex. 

After studying the ULI panel's recommendations, Mayor Rogero and Redevelopment officials presented these initial responses: 

* State Supreme Court: The City intends to purchase the property from the State of Tennessee, to ensure local control of development. Funding for this recommendation will be requested by the Mayor in this year's Capital Budget and will require City Council approval. There will be a public process prior to development of the site.

* West Jackson Avenue: Concurs with the ULI recommendation to designate a "master developer" for the City-owned properties, to manage the redevelopment. This could be done through one comprehensive development or several individual parcels. The City will be examining different "master developer" models and options.

* World's Fair Park: As the ULI panel recommended, the City plans to preserve the Park's green spaces and look for ways to encourage complementary cultural amenities along its edges.

* Henley Street: The City intends to focus on better connectivity across Henley Street, via the renovated pedestrian overpass at Clinch Avenue. Any potential changes to traffic patterns would have to be coordinated with the state Department of Transportation.

* Civic Auditorium and Coliseum: The City is awaiting the results of a feasibility study on the physical state of the Auditorium/Coliseum complex and its potential for renovation to meet current performance and technology standards. No decisions on the future of the buildings or the site will be made without extensive study and public discussion.

Click here to view the March 30 meeting presentation.

Click here to view the full ULI report.