Mon
Apr 6 2015
10:29 am
Utility work set for Island Home Avenue project
By: jbr

That looks better than the 220 unit structure I thought they were building. Although Island Home arguably may be the coolest neighborhood in Knoxville. Would of extending it further west been a possibility?

from Knoxnews.com ...

Utility work along Island Home Avenue could start as early as next week as Knoxville prepares for road improvements and a new 134-unit apartment building being constructed on the waterfront.

“We do not feel that this development is in keeping with the character and scale of the single family neighborhood as called for in the vision plan of the south waterfront,” Chris Field, a member of the Island Home Neighborhood Association, told City Council members in November.

Utility work set for Island Home Avenue project

Dominion Development Group

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Rachel's picture

I have one comment on this.

Submitted by Rachel on Mon, 2015/04/06 - 1:03pm.

I have two comments on this.

Chris Field was NOT speaking for the neighborhood association at this meeting. He gave that impression, which he shouldn't have. He was speaking only for himself. Although there are definitely folks in the neighborhood who don't like this project, the neighborhood association itself has taken no position.

As for the Vision Plan, as you guys know, I was deeply involved in that effort. This development is EXACTLY the kind of development that was envisioned for this site; single-family was NEVER in the mix. And after a lot of wrangling and do-overs with the City, it also meets the form-based code.

Again, I have neighbors who hate the whole project. There are others, like me, who would like to see changes in certain elements. But we need to be careful about who is speaking and whether their information is correct.

Chris Field's picture

Rachel, I think you may be

Submitted by Chris Field (not verified) on Mon, 2015/04/06 - 4:49pm.
(in reply to Rachel)

Rachel, I think you may be mis-remembering. I expressly separated the board position, which I identified as such and read verbatim, from my own personal comments. You even acknowledged this in an email the following day:

"Let me add that the second speaker from our neighborhood clearly identified the board position and then added his own comments, clearly stating he was speaking for himself. He in no way implied he was speaking for the neighborhood. That’s the way to do it. Good job, Chris.

Rachel"

Rachel's picture

I'm so sorry, Chris. I did

Submitted by Rachel on Mon, 2015/04/06 - 5:02pm.
(in reply to Chris Field)

I'm so sorry, Chris. I did indeed misremember. It was another speaker who did what I described (initials MR). And his comments were much more extreme than yours. I deeply and sincerely apologize to you for getting it wrong.

I stand by my statement that the neighborhood association never took a vote on this issue, so therefore has not taken a position.

I also stand by my statement about the coming development, the Vision Plan, and the code.

jbr's picture

Road of uncertainty: Island Home fret avenue closure, apartments

Submitted by jbr on Mon, 2015/04/06 - 11:53pm.

from Knoxnews.com ...

The road closure is necessary to build storm water runoff pipes and other utility lines for River's Edge apartments, said Chuck Guidali, senior construction manager for Empire Construction, the contracting company building River's Edge. The addition of the new 134-unit, five-building complex will raise the property values of nearby Island Home Park houses, he said.

Some residents disagreed, saying such estimates are made by outsiders who do not understand the uniqueness of the Island Home Park neighborhood.

"Island Home Park neighborhood has been a stable neighborhood, with steadily rising property values," said Nancy Campbell, artist and self-described troublemaker. "That apartment complex is not going to enhance our values in any way that I can foresee."

Road of uncertainty: Island Home residents fret avenue closure, apartments

bizgrrl's picture

The addition of the new

Submitted by bizgrrl on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 5:08am.
(in reply to jbr)

The addition of the new 134-unit, five-building complex will raise the property values of nearby Island Home Park houses, he said.

That's almost funny. The majority of the houses in the Island Home Park neighborhood already have pretty high property values. The thing is not many houses come up for sale.

Rachel's picture

Just my opinion - the new

Submitted by Rachel on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 1:16pm.
(in reply to bizgrrl)

Just my opinion - the new development will have a minimal impact on our property values. Some of my neighbors think that an apartment complex next to us will hurt, but the site was an abandoned, overgrown tank farm for as long as I've lived here, and that didn't seem to harm property values.

I don't expect the impact to be discernable in either direction.

jbr's picture

Seems like it would depend on

Submitted by jbr on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 1:37pm.
(in reply to Rachel)

Seems like it would depend on the apartment complex …

Potential negatives …
Nearest homes could be affected due to the view and noise
Increased late night traffic
College students or low income housing
Increased risk of crime, real or perceived. Either will hurt home values

Or it could be a particularly nice development that doesn't have most of the above. And could possibly positively impact the area.

Although I guess it is certain to significantly increase traffic. But that is what they are addressing.

What kind of air quality impact does a big development have in the immediate area?

It could be a good thing. I hope it is. The waterfront could really change Knoxville in some very good ways.

Looks like we will find out.

Rachel's picture

The complex is far enough

Submitted by Rachel on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 2:28pm.
(in reply to jbr)

The complex is far enough away from neighborhood houses to be out of sight and noise except for a handful of houses.
The traffic won't be coming through the neighborhood. Its occupants will have little reason to drive through here since it won't be on their way to or from anywhere.
It's not section 8 housing.
It may well house some college students, but it's not being built as student housing (e.g., the floor plans are not what you see in typical student housing)
As Randy pointed out, the road improvements and riverwalk are a plus.

Again, I don't expect impact to property values either way.

Somebody's picture

limits

Submitted by Somebody on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 2:34pm.
(in reply to jbr)

It never ceases to amaze me how in the abstract, progressives will fight the Man and stand up for the rights of the poor. When reality sets in, though, and the prospect of the poor moving in next door is raised, then we start hearing about the problems of low-income housing, section 8, crime, and property values.

Power to the people! (So long as they keep their distance.)

Rachel's picture

Actually, it wouldn't bother

Submitted by Rachel on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 2:38pm.
(in reply to Somebody)

Actually, it wouldn't bother me if some of the housing WAS affordable housing. I believe in housing diversity. One thing I like about IHP is that while we have some very large homes, there are also more modest homes and some small cottages. I personally have zero beef with the apartments (except for a few design elements); certainly not with the fact that they ARE apartments.

I've just been speaking strictly to property values.

fischbobber's picture

You think that's tough.......

Submitted by fischbobber on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 9:26pm.
(in reply to Somebody)

Try standing up for sidewalks, or greenway access, or decent building codes, or fixing drainage issues, or traffic calming devices, or covered bus stops for public transportation, or access to grocery stores and investment in recreational infrastructure around the proposed affordable housing projects. God forbid THOSE PEOPLE have a pool. What did they do to deserve such luxury? When these projects are built for housing for the wealthy these amenities seem to always be included. For the poor, not so much.

You get it from both sides by the way, but, right is right. Just because someone is poor doesn't mean you have to strip their dignity and destroy their quality of life. If people are going to spread out affordable housing, then the housing should be at a standard that blends, rather than stands out from, the area in which it is being built.

R. Neal's picture

Like JBR said, it's hard to

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 1:41pm.

Like JBR said, it's hard to say how the apartments will affect property values until they are built and you see who they are marketing to.

If it's young professionals and starter families who get involved in the community it could be a good thing. If it turns into student or section 8 housing or something, then not so much.

Either way, there should be a positive impact from the public improvements and amenities along the riverfront that the apartments are, I believe, at least partially paying for through increased tax revenues.

Up Goose Creek's picture

"walkability"

Submitted by Up Goose Creek on Tue, 2015/04/07 - 3:31pm.

One thing that helps property values is having a restaurant or commercial district to walk to. By this I mean a well designed store and not a mini-mart with floodlights.

It the past we were told that commercial was the most valuable use, but due to fire and building codes, we aren't seeing it in new developments. Will new residents revitalize Sevier Ave or is it too distant? Will Jim's bar morph into a hipster haven or yuppie retreat?

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