Wed
Sep 5 2007
01:45 pm

It appears a new Target is coming to West Knoxville.

A recent rezoning request was submitted that would expand the zoning for property on Kingston Pike ("south of Market Place Blvd., west of N. Cedar Bluff Rd.") to include "Mixed uses - Commercial (40 acres), offices, attached dwellings (apartments) and assisted living facility."

Now, word on the street is that the anchor tenant will be a new Target store, and possibly a large natural food grocery chain store. The Target store is an apparent certainty, and more information should be forthcoming tomorrow.

It's not clear what this means for the Target store near West Town Mall, with yet another Target Superstore already located nearby in Turkey Creek.

The property is already in the Knoxville City limits, so no one-man one-vote annexation will be necessary.

smalc's picture

Word is also on the street

Word is also on the street that a Target is planned for one of the new developments near I-75 in Lenoir City (I can't remember which one, there are two). I find it hard to believe, being so close to Turkey Creek.

There has been recent news that the development backed by Dr. Overholt (the one across from the hospital) is now asking for an infamous TIF. It's reminiscent of west Knoxville happenings. The city paid outright to build a road through the development east of Hwy 321 (a la Turkey Creek) and now the Overholt development is asking for a TIF to proceed (a la Northshore Town Center).

R. Neal's picture

My earlier post incorrectly

My earlier post incorrectly identified the property as the Kaptola McMurry estate property at Cedar Bluff. Apologies for the confusion, the post has been corrected.

Justin's picture

Is this the general area

Is this the general area (use the satellite view...the farmland or the big section of trees?)

smalc's picture

I believe that's it. I

I believe that's it. I thought it was the pasture-like area on either side of Cedar Bluff, but apparently not.

Paul Witt's picture

It's the big section of

It's the big section of trees south of Kingston Pike.

Justin's picture

Thats a fairly large chunk

Thats a fairly large chunk of forest/trees they will have to cut down. Looks like Turkey Creek Jr. Per Google maps it is approx 5.3 mi – about 9 mins from Turkey Creek. Why would Target build another supercenter 9 minutes away from the other one (I assume the Ray Mears Target will be closed down leaving yet another empty Target building in Knoxville)?

smalc's picture

The house on the property

The house on the property appears to be pretty old, I'm not sure if has any historical "significance."

edit: It appears it will be preserved as an office or commercial space. That's the plan at least. Sherrill House, they call it.

R. Neal's picture

The guy who spoke about

The guy who spoke about smart growth and development over in Blount Co. a couple of weeks ago called it the big box retail "shell game".

zoomfactor's picture

Lots of fauna gonna bite the dust here...

It's 104 acres. Links to stories about this in the KNS:
(link...)
(link...)

Aerial view:
(link...)

Paul Witt's picture

I thought it was the

I thought it was the pasture-like area on either side of Cedar Bluff, but apparently not.

That's the one in the nasty dispute over the owner's will.

smalc's picture

Yep, I was confused. It'll

Yep, I was confused. It'll probably be strip-malled soon enough as well.

Paul Witt's picture

Link...

smalc's picture

knox heritage link

knox heritage link

Hayduke's picture

This will ruin West Knox

I'm concerned that a big box store like Target would ruin the unique character of Kingston Pike. Please tell me that they'll at least put up some large lighted signs and integrate a 1/4-mile setback and 12-acre parking lot to blend in with the community aesthetic.

R. Neal's picture

And a Texas Roudhouse. That

And a Texas Roadhouse. That would be nice.

Nelle's picture

That's too funny, Hayduke

You should get up and make that speech when this development appears before MPC.

We can wager beforehand on how many of the commissioners will get the joke.

My guess is it will be the minority.

bizgrrl's picture

I think they need a Target

I think they need a Target store downtown. They have done it before, can't remember where, Chicago maybe. Sort of like when there used to be a Penney's, Millers, Lerner's, etc. downtown.

Nelle's picture

Yes, Chicago

It's in the South Loop, which isn't far from downtown. It's a lot of fun.

It's got one of the shopping cart escalators that Ed McMahon referenced
when he spoke recently in Blount County as a solution to the perceived necessity of one-story strip development.

You can see pictures here.

R. Neal's picture

Justin: go to KnoxGIS

Justin: go to KnoxGIS

(link...)

and search for 9320 Kingston Pike. I believe this is the property, just South of Kinston Pike with the big area of trees as Paul mentioned.

bizgrrl's picture

Yeah, I thought I remembered

Yeah, I thought I remembered correctly. That design would go pretty well with the new Regal cinema downtown Knoxville.

Tess's picture

Careful! You will get those

Careful! You will get those downtowners riled. Some of them don't like anyone suggesting what they need down there, and all.

Don't forget Watson's, Bizgirl. I worked at both Lerners and Watson's when I was a UT student. Enjoyed shopping at Millers, too. They had book signings and fashion shows during the lunch hour sometimes.

Bbeanster's picture

Ahhh, Watson's.My favorite

Ahhh, Watson's.
My favorite store of all time.
I remember playing underneath racks of clothes when my grandmother used to take me there back in the '50s. That was a grand place, with wonderful bargains on stuff you'd never expect to find in Knoxville and sales people I got to know over the years. I remember buying my daughter Rachael a Dolce&Gabanna blouse there before I even knew what Dolce&Gabanna was. The price was, of course, greatly marked down.
And the bargain basement was great fun, with huge tables piled full of stuff to root around in.
One of my most bizarre Watson's memories comes from an incident I witnessed there one lunch hour 25 years or so ago. Anna Sandhu Ray, the courtroom sketch artist who had married James Earl Ray, was flipping through a rack of ladies' read-to-wear, and was greeted by a very nice black woman who worked in the courthouse. She'd evidently lost track of the craziness that had overtaken Anna (in the name of love, of course), and she asked her what she was up to. Anna answered "Well, I got married." The very nice black lady smiled, congratulated her and asked "Anybody I know?" Anna smiled back real big and said "James Earl Ray."
Her friend didn't miss more than half a beat, and said "As long as you're happy..." and Anna assured her that she was.
You just never knew what you were going to find at Watson's. I'm still sitting on my Watson's leather loveseat and will gladly wear the cashmere coat I got there if it ever gets cold enough in this post-global warming climate. It's a fabulous full-length camel-colored beauty that would probably cost $1,000 or more in Atlanta if I were to try to replace it nowadays.
The day Watson's closed was a very sad time for downtown.

Tess's picture

Betty, I rented a house in

Betty, I rented a house in West Knox about 25 years ago that Anna had previously lived in. There were some old photos of her and James Earl in the shed. They were water damaged, and I didn't have enough sense at the time to realize they may have had some historical significance. I just left them where I found them. Story of my life! :)

Remember when Watson's would have the bridal gown sales? They would bring in racks of gowns and sell them for $25 or so. Those were the days, for sure. I liked the housewares and fabric departments at Watson's too.

Bbeanster's picture

Ahhh, the bridal gowns. I

Ahhh, the bridal gowns.
I remember them well -- it was always fun to watch the mothers helping their daughters, who were frantically trying on dresses.
They really had cool stuff there. I can remember when I started seeing silk for sale, and thought it was unimaginably exotic -- I guess that was when the China trade was just beginning to open up. You couldn't get silk around here before that, at least not at any peice I was able/willing to pay.

Was the house Anna had lived in cat-damaged? I remember she became one of those animal collectors who ran into trouble with the humane society for having a gabillion cats (and maybe dogs) in her house a few years back.

R. Neal's picture

My Mom and Dad were close

My Mom and Dad were close friends with someone who worked there for ages, Bonnie Gilbert. I think she actually retired from there. She passed away several years ago.

Tess's picture

The house was indeed cat

The house was indeed cat damaged. We refinished the floors in lieu of part of the rent. It didn't help the mold problem, though.

The guy that came to replenish the oil one winter told me to get out asap when he came up from the cellar. We did pretty soon after. (That was before people were talking about mold-borne illnesses too. So, it must have been really bad down there.) It is a cool old craftsman cottage sitting on five acres on Westland Drive. It is still there, and probably still eaten up with mold. Wonder if those pictures are still in the shed?

Brian A.'s picture

One step closer

Our grand goal of having all green space in West Knoxville paved over is one step closer to completion.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

bizgrrl's picture

I feel for the residents in

I feel for the residents in the neighborhoods surrounding that large plot of land. I hope they are organizing to speak up soon. It can't be stopped, I'm sure, but hopefully it can be managed. Wouldn't it be nice if they tried to work in a lot of the trees instead of just bulldozing everything? Wouldn't it be nice if they actually did some planning to fit into the neighborhoods?

SammySkull's picture

trees

Wouldn't it be nice if they tried to work in a lot of the trees

This is something that bothers me more and more. Why must new development always raze all the trees first? There's some construction I can see from my window that's taken what could have been a nice place to build among the trees and turned it into a big brown scar that will soon have condos and asphalt covering it. I have to wonder, if they'd left a few trees, the condos would be more comfortable, the shade and the wind breaks would have helped their energy usage. But I'm sure it's easier and cheaper for the construction crews if they just shave the earth and plant a bradford pear or two when they're done.

bizgrrl's picture

easier and cheaper Need more

easier and cheaper

Need more be said? If there are no regulations requiring trees and landscaping there will be none.

zoomfactor's picture

Sherrill developers must abide by the City tree ordinance.

There are regulations, because the property is in city limits.

bizgrrl's picture

Yes, there are tree

Yes, there are tree regulations. I do not think they are very detailed. I spoke with someone at Knoxville's Plan Review and Inspection Division regarding the city's arbor requirements.

This is what he said:
8 trees per acre or portion thereof
Trees that mature to a height of 40-50 feet
At planting the trees must be a minimum of 2" caliper at 6" above the ground.
The trees must be maintained for 18 months.
Of course, as with Turkey Creek, there are some "oddball" zones.
If Knoxville has more, I'd like to see what they have.

Check out Atlanta's information
Check out Lake Mary, FL's arbor regulations.
Just to name a few.

zoomfactor's picture

tree protection

If Knoxville has more [tree protection regulations], I'd like to see what they have.

I agree, the tree ordinance for the City of Knoxville is not very detailed, and it is pretty much a joke compared to the ones you cite, but it is better than what Knox County outside the city limits has - zilch (with the exception of the City of Farragut, which has very detailed tree management and protection regulations). MPC worked diligently to try to get an enforcable county-wide tree ordinance, through the Knoxville-Knox County Tree Conservation and Planting Plan, but the Home Builders Assn. made them water the plan down to "recommendations" only. There are many MPC members, Knox County Commissioners (with the exception of "L.L.", who is very vocal in his opposition to protecting hillsides and other areas from being clearcut), and City Council members who are totally on board to slow our county's rapid tree canopy depletion. But for whatever reason - maybe the number one reason being that they are afraid of offending their constituents - they are shouted down by the pro-development-at-any-cost crowd. This final version was approved last June 25.

(edited to put up links)

bizgrrl's picture

Thanks for the links. I

Thanks for the links. I thought I was going a little crazy. I thought they should be links but there was no link.

Was there supposed to be a link with your earlier comment?

zoomfactor's picture

links

bizgrrl's picture

Thanks for the links. I will

Thanks for the links. I will spend some time reviewing the information.

I'm pretty sure developers don't pay attention to "recommendations".

smalc's picture

According an article in

According to an article in yesterday's N-S, the Target is out. I guess the West Knoxville "Targhetto" is safe.

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