The City of Knoxville is set to begin construction on a new state-of-the-art fire station and concurrent streetscape improvements in the Burlington area later this year, with a slated completion date by the end of 2026. The forthcoming Burlington Fire Station No. 6 comes with an $8.6 million price tag and will occupy a new plot just a block from its 88-year-old predecessor. Knoxville officials anticipate that the modern facility will feature two bays for fire engines and accommodate seven firefighters destined to address approximately 1,600 emergency service calls annually, as WVLT reported.
In tandem with the fire station, a $5.1 million initiative known as the Burlington Streetscapes Project aims to transform aging sidewalks into broad, ADA-compliant pathways framed by trees. The overhaul spans Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, from Kirkwood to Shelby streets, and extends to Prosser Road up to Holston Drive. According to WBIR, the enhancements will encompass smoother sidewalks, new traffic signals, updated signage, and strategically placed streetlights, complemented by on-street parking. All overhead utility lines are set for burial or relocation to streamline the streets' aesthetics.
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon has expressed, “The city is priming the pump for redevelopment and collaborative private reinvestment along the entire Magnolia Avenue corridor – and Burlington is a focal point,” according to a statement obtained by WBIR. This hope stems from successfully sparked private investments in other districts following public projects.
The existing fire station, reportedly one of the city's oldest, temporarily shut down in May 2023 due to structural issues but reopened later that year in December. Captain Chris Hinkle of Engine Six reminisced about the station's legacy, stating, "The station opened in 1937, so there’s been a lot of great firefighters come out of this station," in an interview with WATE. Despite the sentiment attached to the historical site, there is an anticipation for improved facilities and more space. The Public Building Authority is managing these projects with Johnson & Galyon Construction at the helm as the construction manager.
The community engagement in these projects was evident as city staff and the project design and construction teams recently met with Burlington residents and business leaders to showcase renderings of the new fire station and streetscape improvements.
