Wed
Aug 28 2013
06:47 am
TDOT v. Urban Wilderness
By: R. Neal

tdotjwpgreen3.jpg
TDOT "Modified Green Alternative", Urban Wilderness expansion area shaded in red (approximate, not to scale). Click image for bigger.

Although it wasn't mentioned during the announcement yesterday, the 100 acre Urban Wilderness expansion is directly in the path of all three proposed routes for the controversial James White Parkway extension.

Vice Mayor and First District Councilman Nick Pavlis told us that the Urban Wilderness expansion has been in the works for a while and emphasized that it wasn't a "power grab" by the City to block the JWP extension. But, he said it would certainly affect TDOTs plans. He also said the announcement marked an exciting and important addition to South Knoxville's growing Urban Wilderness project, and that it was a day to honor the Wood family's generous donation of land that made it possible. We asked about the possibility of a "bulletproof" conservation easement for the land, and he wasn't sure about that.

Mayor Rogero's office told WBIR that the state could in fact still acquire right of way through the property by eminent domain. Judging from the nearly unanimous opposition in the community, however, my guess is that bulldozers would be met by angry South Knoxville residents bearing pitchforks and torches.

TDOT told WBIR that they were not advised of the Urban Wilderness expansion prior to the announcement and had no comment. Legacy Parks Executive Director Carol Evans told WATE they are committed to working on the Urban Wilderness project regardless, and they support the "no build" option. Mayor Rogero told WBIR that the expansion is a "bold statement" about the desire of people in Knoxville and the region to preserve urban wilderness.

Meanwhile, in his News Sentinel column today (subscription required), Greg Johnson says he wants the JWP extension as his own personal thruway to shave five minutes off his commute to Knoxville. He also quotes State Rep. Dale Carr (R-Sevierville), who is on the House Transportation Committee, as supporting the project. (Coincidentally, Carr received a 2012 campaign contribution from the Tennessee Highway Contractors PAC. Sevier County is also home to a major East Tennessee road building company.) Johnson and Carr are advancing TDOT's new "regional project" spin as a way to neutralize opposition by local residents and elected officials.

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JaHu's picture

Checkmate!

Submitted by JaHu on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 7:51am.

Checkmate!

JaHu's picture

You can be assured of that.

Submitted by JaHu on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 8:14am.
(in reply to metulj)

You can be assured of that.

They will probably pave all of south Knoxville over.

Average Guy's picture

Likely little on State level,

Submitted by Average Guy on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 10:26am.
(in reply to metulj)

but Rogero's position could help her standing on a regional level.

TDOT can do what they want, they've proven that. Even if they're delayed, they've also proven they can wait out both politicians and public sentiment.

Rogero has nothing to lose. She won't be liked any more or less by Republican politicians if she gets "in line" on the JWP, but I do believe maintaining her current position will help her get votes for whatever she does down the road.

Elwood Aspermonte's picture

Looks like SouthDoyle Middle School is in the way as well

Submitted by Elwood Aspermonte (not verified) on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 9:20am.

Not sure how the county is going to allow a rather large state highway that close to a Knox County education facility, but stranger things have happened.

ArtWagner's picture

Socio-political motives confirmed

Submitted by ArtWagner on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 9:40am.

With the resurrected interest by TDOT in running this highway through the middle of South Knoxville's asset, I had always suspected that there had to be some kind of other socio-political motives involved from somewhere. It just didn't make sense, but now it does. With Johnson's column today and the subsequent mention of Carr, my suspicions are confirmed. As I suspected, this is about Sevier County conservative politicians doing as much damage as they can to Knoxville and the progressive government and the progressive mayor they loath and fear.

It is clear that those like Schroer, Carr, and Johnson will stop at nothing to damage Knoxville and will stoop to any means to build the highway through South Knoxville. Those of us who oppose the highway must understand that the upcoming "public comment" sessions are apt to be loaded with Sevier County and TDOT roadbuilder ringers. Consequently, we must be resolute and vocal or those political forces will indeed shove the project down our throats, Urban Wilderness notwithstanding.

yellowdog's picture

Same song, different verse

Submitted by yellowdog on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 10:19am.

Greg Johnson represents the people who choose to live in Sevier County and want to be able to get to Knoxville a few minutes faster. That makes the JWP of "regional significance" so it does not have to be a good thing for whatever and whomever is in the path of the JWP.

TDOT's current reason for building the Pellissippi Parkway Extension in Blount County is the same...to make it a few minutes faster to get to Walland (and Blackberry Farm and homes of Lamar Alexander and Don Sundquist).

It used to be about tourists in both cases, but tourists now have lots of ways to get to the SMNP without either of these highways.

So it reverts to convenience for people who could move closer to where they want to go. They cannot really talk about political obligations to the Pavers, but it is hard to hide them.

R. Neal's picture

Same for the Alcoa Highway

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 10:24am.
(in reply to yellowdog)

Same for the Alcoa Highway bypass. Get people from Maryville to West Knoxville a few minutes quicker.

Mike Cohen's picture

JWP

Submitted by Mike Cohen on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 10:22am.

I am against the JWP extension and strongly support the no-build option.

That said, I don't believe the people who want it built in Sevier County (or some in Knox) are stupid, evil or corrupt. They just have a different point of view.

Can we stop demonizing people?

Average Guy's picture

Someone who publicly lauds a

Submitted by Average Guy on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 10:37am.
(in reply to Mike Cohen)

Someone who publicly lauds a $100million+ public expense, destruction of a desired wilderness area and what would be a death nail to current Chapman merchants for their own personal 5 minute gain doesn't make them a demon.

It makes them a jerk.

WhitesCreek's picture

So...Just so I know I understand you correctly...

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Sun, 2013/09/01 - 8:53pm.
(in reply to metulj)

Stated another way...Greg Johnson is the puscule sore, not the smallpox.

SnM's picture

From Metro Pulse twitter

Submitted by SnM on Wed, 2013/08/28 - 10:38am.

Metro Pulse ‏@metropulse

BREAKING: The James White Parkway extension is DEAD. For good. Story coming soon.

DavidAllanHoward's picture

Shrewd move...

Submitted by DavidAllanHoward on Sun, 2013/09/01 - 5:52pm.

The Wood family has sub-contracted the raping of that acreage since at least 2010, and it was reported that several NOV's were issued as a result of that questionable logging activity.

Now, they've donated that land. Hm...

I suspect the charitable (over-inflated?) tax-deduction will far exceed anything TDOT would have offered but let us not question the true motivations of the Wood Family since it undermines the left-extreme agenda.

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