A violin maker wants the city’s help turning a long-vacant Old North Knoxville market into a storefront for his business. Kelvin Scott, owner of Kelvin Scott Violins, is seeking $50,000 in city funding for the project. Knoxville City Council is scheduled to vote on his funding request Tuesday, Nov. 10.
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Scott has lived and worked in Knoxville for roughly 30 years. The market building dates to the 1930s and spans about 1,100 square feet.
Knox County records show Scott bought the property for $40,000 in October 2025, the newspaper reports. The renovation itself is expected to run considerably higher, with the project pegged at $260,000 to $350,000. That gap is why Scott is turning to the city's Facade Improvement Program, which he hopes will cover a $50,000 slice of the cost.
How the City's Facade Program Works
The Facade Improvement Program is designed to help property owners fix up the exteriors of commercial buildings in lower-income areas to spur economic development, per the Sentinel's reporting. The program's 2023 guide, posted by the City of Knoxville, lays out the math: eligible buildings can draw up to $20 per square foot, capped at $50,000 per property, and applicants must put up a match worth at least 20% of whatever the city awards.
The guide describes the award as a loan that gets forgiven over a five-year period so long as the owner keeps the property, maintains the facade, and stays current on taxes and insurance.
A Shop With Room for Apprentices and Concerts
If the money comes through and the project proceeds as planned, construction would begin in early 2027 and wrap up that July, according to the Sentinel's reporting. Scott plans to use the renovated building for his violin business.
Scott's website says he once worked out of his home and later had an opportunity to buy a building to house all aspects of his shop.
For now, the market's fate rests with the City Council vote scheduled for Tuesday. Council will decide whether to approve Scott's $50,000 request.
