Attention motorists with a penchant for parking on Downtown North roads: come June 1, you'll need to take a hike – at least for your vehicles. The City is calling for a complete removal of all parked cars on sections of North Central Street and surrounding areas for a full-on cleaning and maintenance blitz. If you're parked on Irwin Street, Bearden Place, Pruett Place, Wray Street, or along Bernard and Dameron avenues after the witching hour of 6 a.m. that Saturday, expect to return to an empty spot – and a towed car to boot. City officials are anticipating the rejuvenated streets to be back open for business by the evening, 6 p.m. to be exact.
While street crews labor over lines, signs, and other urban grime, traffic is supposed to keep on rolling with no major interruptions, as per the brass at the City's parking command center. That is, except for when workers need to shut down a stretch here and there for what they're calling "safety protocols". Vehicles left behind despite the warning, you've been told: they will be towed, leaving owners not just carless but likely feeling a touch foolish and lighter in their pockets.
Those familiar with the annual Fort Sanders roundup should recognize the drill. "We want to thank residents and business owners, in advance, for their patience as we work on this project," said City Parking Manager Mark Elliott in anticipation of the inevitable disruption, as reported by the City of Knoxville. No-parking signs will be going up sooner rather than later, and the social media savvy can look forward to plenty of digital nudges to keep their vehicles clear of the soon-to-be-scrubbed streets.
Given that Mother Nature can be testy, there's a backup plan for June 2 if the skies decide to rain on this parade. Stay sharp and keep an eye on the City’s social media for any last-minute shift in plans due to bad weather. For those with cars in the targeted areas, better to play it safe than sorry – or towed, in this case.
