By ALEXIS ZOTOS
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - For the first time, Knoxville city officials gathered developers, bankers and public officials to hear the challenges faced when tackling the problem of blighted properties.
"We can't develop or redevelop these properties if we have blinders on," explained David Massey, the neighborhood coordinator for the City of Knoxville.
Big projects discussed included Oakwood Elementary, the McClung warehouse, and Standard Knitting Mill.
Developers told the city what they need to continue revitalizing the city.
"Now we've reached the stage where we need intervention and help from larger corporates and we need to be promoting and advertising just what Knoxville has to offer" said Jeffery Nash with the Corteland Group, the developer for Keystone Place and Crown and Goose Gastropub.
Developers also said they need the city's help with creating more parking and additional core areas like Market Square to build around.
"Our overall strategy is to build from downtown out," said Massey.
As the city works to expand outside of the immediate downtown area, Central Avenue was an obvious next stop. And developers, bankers and city officials all agree that bringing community spaces, like Three Rivers Market, are key to improving the image of a neighborhood.
"The city has invested money in that area, in façade grants for business, fixed up Broadway and Central and that makes people feel better and investors feel like they can invest in that area, too," said Massey.
But a concern for developers is redeveloping "pockets" instead of entire streets and neighborhoods. Still, all parties believe the changes over the last 10 years have been massive.
"It's a big job. Back then you could count on one hand the number of people who were willing to invest anywhere in the central city," said Massey. "There is a tremendous difference in the way that people think that Knoxville is a jewel of a city and we need to take better care of it."
Oakwood Elementary in North Knoxville is one of the blighted properties developers and officials discussed.
"We can't develop or redevelop these properties if we have blinders on," explained David Massey, the neighborhood coordinator for the City of Knoxville.
