I wonder what locating some high quality transit oriented residential development around the Mall would do for retail traffic?

MPC talked about doing this as part of their sustainability plan. Now if they had a school there, regular in addition to alternative, I would think you could have the basis for a nice community center to develop.

See what Chattanooga did with a failing mall:
(link...)

After hearing from the neighborhoods that they are concerned about this proposal getting so far without any input from folks in the district, Dr. McIntyre is hosting a work session at 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 1st. Representatives from the Simon Youth Foundation will be on hand to discuss a proposal to establish an Education Resource Center in the Simon Knoxville Center Mall. The meeting will be in the Boardroom on the first floor of the Andrew Johnson Building.

I'd encourage anyone who has questions or concerns about the proposed school to attend.

I think you guys are missing the bigger issue here... Many of the students who currently attend the alternative and adult programs at the Old Knoxville High facility have limited transportation opportunities, and many of them live close to the downtown area. Moving the school so far out will create yet another barrier for those seeking to complete their education.

It's a bad idea all the way round... not to mention that it appears to be little more than a bailout for a struggling commercial real estate company.

Though important,I've gotten a bit carried away with the lease deal.

We know there are no panaceas but for most folks,in alternative schools,this is their best hope to get headed in the right direction.

I've heard General Nichols say,over & over,that education is the key to whether an individual goes to jail or to work.

I can't quote statistics but I've always been told it cost more to incarcerate an individual..than educate an individual.

And I've also heard,over & over,from the Sheriff,we are always just a bed or two short,in the jail,of not being in compliance with federal law.

IMO,in the debate concerning an alternative school @ Knoxville Center,the Sheriff & the General should be consulted.

If the Board can show real savings,in bricks & mortar,by putting an alternative school @ Knoxville Center,the Board could go to the funding body,County Commission,& argue:

We have saved this much money,on capital outlay,for an alternative school @ Knoxville Center & if the Commission would belly up a matching amount..specfically for alternative education..we could add more alternative school teachers..

And the Sheriff & the General argue that more alternative school teachers are cheaper than being under a federal mandate to build more beds in the jail.

And I remind you that..in 6 short months,it will only take 6 votes,not 10,to get something passeed on Commission.

And if I'm trying to get 6 votes on Commission..no better allies than the Sheriff & the General.

Like the Chair,I too will "reserve judgement until I know more."

But,in conclusion,it never hurts to have a game plan:

1.Have a retailer look over the lease agreement.

2.Get the Sheriff & the General as allies.

3.Counting to 6 on the Commission.

Thank you all for your indulgence as I try to get my mind around the proposed alternative school @ Knoxville Center.

Does "The General" come to work these days?
Onliest person I ever see is John Gill.

The point of this thread concerns an alternative school @ Knoxville Center.

And I have commented on the coalition of alternative school education & the prospects of those pupils vis a' vis incarceration & employment.

IMO,General Nichols understands the coalition of alternative school education vis a' vis incarceration & employment as well as anyone I know.

And the point is..is an Alternative School @ Knoxville Center a good idea for Knox County?

The issues raised here are all valid, but the discussion the neighborhood wants to have is how will putting another alternative school in this area impact the retail center and the surrounding neighborhoods? There's already an alternative center (Richard Yoakley) right down the street. Will it end up closing? How will this impact the rest of the mall tenants? Will older people be afraid of coming to the mall? Will the perception become that this part of town is where the "bad kids" go to school? People are pretty upset that discussion has gotten this far without any input from the neighborhood groups who are working hard to dispel the idea that the schools here aren't as good as the ones out West.

I have not been in Knoxville Center Mall in years..maybe even a decade.So I don't know how many shops remain.Heard a rumor that there could be an new anchor tenent..I guess in the old Dillards location.But as I've posted..don't see an alternative school impacting if the mall survives or not.I admit I've not thought about if an alternative school is placed in the mall if that would adversly effect traffic.

WVLT: Alt-school proposal will be on April school board agenda.

Story has more info about the financial arrangement...

I watched the the meeting on tv.

As I've traveled this road from my first comments on the earlier thread..to my frontpage post & comments on this thread..I've come to the conclusion that the educational concept is a good one.

But even though the Knoxville Center Mall's manager stated there was exciting things coming to the Mall..if the traffic's not there..regardless of what is coming..
the Mall will not survive.

The mall manager will always be upbeat..until the day
the mall manager is told the mall will be closed.

First..concerns:

Didn't much like the security deal.Not real keen on Mall security vs KPD or Sheriffs Dept.And I thought it a bit odd on students role in warning Mall security of problems.

Don't buy the million dollar free rent arguement.IMO,throwing out the million dollar free rent figure is a pie in the sky arguement.Sounds awesome to educators..but may not match the retail reality.Retail does not survive on free rent..it survives on ringing cash registers.

What happens if the Mall closes?

Was not impressed with the Superentindent's answers on 2
fronts:

1.Transportation for students not on KAT bus lines.

How do we get students in the county to the Mall School
& back home if public transportation is not an option.

2.State dollars per student.

Why the Superentindent..who seams to be for the Mall School,
had not done his due dilgence to explore avenues to aquire state funding is beyond me.

Not to hip on allowing other counties to participate.

Is it a done deal to get 75K from private funds for the
build out?

Parents..many of these kids problems are what is happening at home.Would not want to hinder an at risk kid's shot at a high school diploma..because the parents aren't..there.

Heard Carson-Newman is interested..why not Knoxville College?

What I liked:

The 75K of county outlay for the build out is great.
And everything to do with utilites..ect..is great.

The the outreach to 250-280 at risk Knox County students.

Working with UT & Pell State.

If the concerns I have are addressed between now & the April meeting.

It's worth a try.

I didn't see the meeting, Bill, so what do you mean "transportation for students not on KAT bus lines?"

Do you mean that KAT no longer runs busses to the mall? Or do you mean that KAT does run busses, but that KCS would instead offer its own bus service (that would seem difficult, given that the school would operate both daytime and evening programs)?

Yes Bizgirrl is correct concerning KAT.

Betty Bean in Metro Pulse:

Despite Promise, Proposed School for Knoxville Center Raises Skepticism