Page 13 - Mar-Apr19 Vol36 No7

opened in 2016 as Knoxville’s first major park in more than a 6 5
decade. 7
Above: The Public Building
Phase 1 was a $3.4 million investment in construction and Authority is currently working
included a 2,000-foot-long riverwalk, a large festival lawn, river with the City of Knoxville on the
overlooks and an accessible playground. The new eight-acre Suttree Landing Pavilion and
park was named after Cormac McCarthy’s novel about river life Kayak Launch, which will include
in Knoxville. accessible public restrooms.
At this point, officials are
Phase 2 was the construction of the $3.2 million Waterfront negotiating project terms with
Drive. The road development is a two-lane tree-lined street that Blaine Construction, the company
offers on-street parking in addition to the park’s parking lot. contracted to begin construction
in 2019.
Knoxville Utilities Board is currently making significant
upgrades to an outdated sewer system along the waterfront Top left: 700 Sevier Ave. – This
park. Those $2.2 million improvements are scheduled to be vacant building experienced a
completed in late spring/early summer of 2019. transformation, including the
6 - OLD SEVIER COMMUNITY FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS façade improvement, and now
houses Honeybee Coffee and
The City of Knoxville’s Community Development Echelon Bicycles.
Department has invested an estimated $252,000 along
the South Waterfront through the Commercial Façade Left: A rendering of the proposed
Improvement Program. Through the program, building owners roundabout for the Sevier Avenue
in targeted redevelopment areas can apply for matching Streetscapes Project
funding to repair and renovate their buildings’ exteriors. In
many cases, these are vacant buildings being brought back
into productive use. The City of Knoxville funding helps new
businesses come to the area, along with associated job creation,
by supporting owner investment in older structures.

The investment in the Old Sevier neighborhood has
stimulated economic growth along Sevier Avenue and helped
transform several properties, including:
• 700 Sevier Ave. - Honeybee Coffee is now frequently buzzing

with visitors who seek out the cafe on the south side of the
river. Echelon Bicycles operates out of the property’s smaller
side structure, offering bike repairs and rentals for Urban
Wilderness enthusiasts.
• 605 Sevier Ave. - Computer Systems Plus is a longstanding
anchor on Sevier Avenue, and the façade improvement has
enhanced the business front and added to the charm of the
South Knoxville street.
• 2018 Davenport Road - Advance Metals, a custom metalwork
shop, is a long-time South Knoxville business and renovated
the front of its building with façade program assistance.
• 1120 Sevier Ave. - A once-vacant building is now home of
Alliance Brewing Co. and soon-to-be Simpl Restaurant.
Outdoor patio dining and on-street parking are two new
amenities that replace an unused concrete drive.
• 1147 Sevier Ave. - The Landing House offers a cozy dining
experience and a large, open patio lawn that had previously
been surrounded with a chain-linked fence topped with
barbed wire. The outdoor fire pit has become a local social
hangout.
The City of Knoxville is currently working with two
properties, one on Sevier Avenue and the other on Blount
Avenue, that are expected to be under contract soon for façade
improvements. If all goes as planned, there will be a local
grocery store, a restaurant and bar, and a sound production
studio suite in South Knoxville’s near future.
7 - SEVIER AVENUE STREETSCAPES PROJECT
This project is currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase
with construction expected to begin in fall 2019. The goal of
the streetscapes improvement is to enhance the Old Sevier

View online at tnpublicworks.com 13