This is a much balleyooed project of KUB and the answers should come from the top, not some spin shop hired to trick the local media into missing what a screw up they made on this deal, all the way around. None of the engineers should bear the brunt of the public criticism associated with this eyesore.

Another classic example of the developers greasing all the wheels from KUB to MPC and this crap happens in full view of downtown, the university, the emerging riverfront development.

Looks like a big alien has landed on Cherokee Bluff.

Anyone beside me find it ironic that the community which so many people didn't want, which was built on an old civil war fort, now has a visual reminder to the entire city that the developers won?

Btw, if you have never seen them, there are (were?) several hand dug quarries in that area which contributed stone to much of early Knoxville.

I wonder if they will seal up the cave as they further develop the waterfront. Ah, no wondering there. They'll close it in the name of safety. Poor bubble wrapped society.

Doug McCaughan
(link...)

The new watertank does kind of look like the War of the World monsters.

Anyone beside me find it ironic that the community which so many people didn't want, which was built on an old civil war fort, now has a visual reminder to the entire city that the developers won?

Yes!

I'm just waiting for them to paint it orange and put a big "T" on it.

Yes, again!

Bottom line, it's critical that the community outrage over this water tower be converted into a strict and meaningful ordinance (city and county) protecting our ridges and views.

Our ridges define our community. Without a strict ridgetop protection ordinance, we'll be having this same conversation about another water tower, or another development, on another ridge in the not too distant future.

a strict and meaningful ordinance

It's too bad someone somewhere doesn't just use common sense. Who approved the building of the tower? Did they not think about the ridiculousness of the location? Who approved all of the apartments on Cherokee Trail without first thinking they would need water? Can't they use pumps to get water to the apartments?

Yes, an ordinance is needed. I just wish they could develop an ordinance for planning commission and developer stupidity.

No soup for you!

"another water tower, or another development, on another ridge in the not too distant future"

Not too distant location actually. There are or have been ridgetop towers planned for the ridges both north and east of this site.

I'd say the "market conditions" will have more of an influence than City Council.

____________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

They could paint it gold and call it the South Knox Sunsphere.

What's interesting about this sort of thing, is if you look deep into the futre, in 50 or 75 years as part of a plan to revitalize and update the South Waterfront neighborhood, a proposal will be made to to take this tower down. The historic preservationists of the future will be up in arms in their zeal to protect this disticntive, iconic element of the South Knoxville skyline. Mark my words. Pack yourself in a timecapsule and when you come out, that'll be the headline.

They could paint it gold and call it the South Knox Sunsphere.

Excellent.

I was also thinking they could wrap it in one of those digital billboards and advertise for Peanut's Bail Bonds. Or at least the Roundup.

"just blighting and defiling the view"

now that we have blight, maybe the county should draw up a redevelopment zone for the area and seize the apartments for development as luxury condos. they know exactly how to do that ..