Knoxville's skyline might soon be rising higher with the proposal of a new high-rise apartment building downtown. Despite the ambitious plans laid out by South Carolina-based company Woodfield Development, the local Design Review Board has hit the pause button, demanding more details particularly focused on pedestrian safety and overall design conformity with city standards. According to a report by WBIR, the decision indefinitely delays the vote on the 17-story structure, which aims to not only house Knoxville residents but also to reshape the city's architectural identity.
The plot at the heart of this urban reshuffle lies crouched between the hems of W. Hill Avenue, Locust Street, and Front Avenue, near the scenic Henley Street Bridge. "Hill and Locust" is poised to potentially introduce hundreds of new Knoxvillians into a bustling downtown setting, complete with a pool terrace, fitness amenities, a club room, and even a cafe—adding a slice of modern living to the area. But the not-so-small detail that local residents and design aficionados alike have come to sharply contest is the building's rear, which, as Knox News outlines, faces the Tennessee River and is branded more prominent—and less engaging—than its front counterpart. A redesign is now on the table to try to graciously also integrate this façade into the urban tapestry.
But designs and aesthetic values aside, the very soul of Knoxville rests in the balance, as the initiative titled 'Keep Knoxville Charming' gains traction. Spearheaded by University of Tennessee Business Professor Tom Goldsby, the movement has, according to WVLT News, garnered nearly 600 signatures opposing the project. "What we're going to introduce is a lot more cars, and pedestrian traffic," declared Goldsby. "It's hazardous frankly as it is. And so now, we're going to introduce even more congestion activity to that corner of the city. We simply don't think it's a good idea."
As the epicenter for this development drama waits for its refined blueprint, Woodfield Development remains tight-lipped, declining to comment to WVLT News. The Design Review Board counts on Brock Hudgins Architects to rethink, and more importantly, to visibly uplift, the rear of "Hill and Locust" so it may better harmonize with the surrounding landscape. This task holds paramount importance as the board's recommendations have yet to fully metamorphose into tangible design modifications capable of winning their favor. Until then, the proposal remains just that—a possibility suspended in the limbo of Knoxville's urban future.
