Tue
Oct 27 2009
08:07 am
City wants to swap Lakeshore site for 68 acres in county on French Broad
By: jbr

Interesting turn of events.

A special-called Knoxville City Council meeting is set for 5 p.m. Wednesday to vote on Mayor Bill Haslam's request for $35,000 to extend the city's current option on the 68-acre tract along the French Broad River, outside the city limits.

So they are buying it before they know if they can use it?

Although still subject to environmental tests, the Knox County land, east of the Forks of the River Industrial Park, could offer another 50 to 60 years worth of expansion, he said.

The NS article...
Tess's picture

Link?

Submitted by Tess on Tue, 2009/10/27 - 9:44am.

It may not be in the online News Sentinel, but do you have a link? What do you mean "swap" Lakeshore for the other property? Are they planning to sell Lakeshore to developers? Yikes!

michael kaplan's picture

this has to be pretty

Submitted by michael kaplan on Tue, 2009/10/27 - 9:48am.

this has to be pretty important to call a special meeting of city council on a wednesday ....

R. Neal's picture

Link fixed. I believe the

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2009/10/27 - 9:49am.

Link fixed. I believe the purpose of this is to expand the Veteran's Cemetery. Here's a press release from yesterday:

What: A special called Knoxville City Council Meeting
When: 5 p.m., Wednesday, October 28
Where: Small Assembly Room in the City County Building

Who: City officials will present a resolution asking Council to authorize the mayor to spend $35,000 as the first phase of a sales agreement that would ultimately allow the city to purchase a 68 acre tract of land for 1.4 million dollars at 4328 Old French Road in South Knox County.

This option to purchase, pending determination of suitability, is for a potential land swap with the State of Tennessee. This swap could involve the property at Old French Road for 17.2-acres in Lakeshore Park and a release from substantial financial obligations and other considerations the City has with the State of Tennessee at Lakeshore. The final agreement would be subject to City Council approval.

The state’s plan is to use the land for the expansion of the Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery for East Tennessee. The state had planned to use the 17.2 acres in Lakeshore Park for the expansion but has determined that the space may not be sufficient for its long-term needs.

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