Forest Park.

Many communities in Florida have golf cart trails -- very handy for moving from home to shopping. Seems in Knox County even when TDOT builds sidewalks, like on Emory Road, the sidewalks are too narrow for even two people to walk side-by-side. And the trade-off for sidewalks is no shoulders for bikes, etc.

The broadway shopping center is pretty accessible - though topography is an issue across the street you do see elders making the trek. There's a grade level connection to 1st creek greenway now, as that expands it will connect more neighborhoods.

There's a back entrance to the office depot/ food city/ K mart shopping center from the Fairmont / Emoriland neighborhood. Not all sidewalked but pretty low traffic. Then you've got restaurants and more shopping on broadway. Low traffic connection to the library.

I agree with Bubba that Forest Park / Sutherland is the best. There aren't sidewalks everywhere but they are there where you need them.

Interesting, two good and very old communities mentioned. They don't build them like that anymore.

Whatever development occurs on the St. Mary's site could be an opportunity for a community designed to meet the criteria of 'livable.'

Residents worked hard to get crosswalks at Forest hills/park blvd. (I lived on Forest Hills for 20 years and was very involved) and to get the greenway along Sutherland, which was funded many years before it was built. It was finally installed after a public meeting was held at West a High to pressure Haslam. The Sutherland greenway branches down Forest Hills to K.P., by way of a widened sidewalk. It would be a short jump over to Homberg and the historic Bearden neighborhood (behind Buddy's) via easements bordering Cherokee CC and one massive church at Northshore Westland/Lyons View. This would extend access to huge numbers of pedestrians, scooters, cyclists. CCC and the aforementioned church are opposed, but public easements don't belong to them. Enough public pressure could make it happen.

WORKSHOP TO EXPLORE WHAT MAKES A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD

The Office of Neighborhoods and the Knox County Health Department are partnering to host a community workshop on what makes a great and healthy neighborhood. The workshop is open to everyone and will be held Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cansler YMCA, 616 Jessamine St.

During the workshop, residents will learn about strategies to advance these efforts and brainstorm together to come up with innovative ideas of their own. Presenters will include Sarah Bounse, Public Health Educator from the Knox County Health Department, and Susan Shin, AmeriCorps member at the City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhoods.

In addition, community leaders will learn how to work with available resources to create places of beauty and pride in their own neighborhoods.

Please RSVP by contacting Susan Shin at 865-215-3077 or sshin@knoxvilletn.gov. Light refreshments will be provided.

In Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, edition of the KNS:

Marshall Stair: Commercial Zoning Code needs update for mixed-use living

For most of my life I have seen significant growth in Knoxville along Kingston Pike, Broadway and other commercial corridors. Unfortunately, I would describe most of the commercial development as unimaginative suburban sprawl — things like strip malls, fast food restaurants, box stores, etc. Most of this commercial development came with tremendous amounts a parking, big, ugly signs, little to no landscaping and little access via alternative transportation.

I used to blame developers, assuming they themselves had no imagination and could profit only from cookie-cutter projects they had built in any other suburb in America. However, after four years on the Knoxville City Council, I have realized it is not the developers who are the problem; it is the Commercial Zoning Code itself.

I don't necessarily believe that every multi-story building with condos, apartments, residential living needs to have retail/restaurants on the first floor. I do like the idea of a mix of retail/restaurants and residential in communities.

Having parking in whole or part, underneath and/or on top of a building, instead of around the edge on the same level seems like a better use of land.

For example. That might be a desirable requirement on the South Waterfront developments. That way what is currently considered parking area for a facility could be more park like space.