KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Knox County has finalized a plan to turn the run-down Oakwood Elementary School building into a private senior living facility.
Work at the site at 232 E. Churchwell Avenue will likely begin soon, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett announced Tuesday. All parties signed the paperwork to close the deal on Monday.
The dilapidated and partially collapsed building has been a concern for residents in the community for quite some time.
The school closed in 1992. Knox Heritage often listed the property in its most endangered properties list called the Fragile 15.
Despite its condition, the school served as the Knox County Teacher
Supply Depot from the mid 1980s until November 2010. It was built in
1914.
The county acquired the property in 2010 from Knox County Schools and issued a request for proposal (RFP) to see if someone could develop the property for private use. Officials only received one proposal that didn't work out.
Mayor Burchett announced in January that he wanted to try again, so another RFP was issued for the property.
"This is great news for the Oakwood community, and I know many of the neighbors in the area are excited to see this historic property revitalized by the private sector," Mayor Burchett said in a press release.
"This has not been easy, but it looks like our work will pay off in the form additional tax revenue, increased property values and safety around this development," he added.
"We are thrilled that Knox County is partnering with a private sector developer to preserve this iconic neighborhood structure and put it back into productive use," said Knox Heritage Executive Director Kim Trent. "We think this is a model to move problematic government-owned properties back onto the tax rolls."
Initial work on the site will begin in the next few days. A formal groundbreaking is planned for mid-September.
Oakwood Elementary School
