The old Sevier Heights Baptist Church is about to be redeveloped into a mixed-use center that backers hope will be a gateway to the 1,000-acre Knoxville Urban Wilderness. Jim Gaines, USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
The Knoxville City Council approved $544,153 in Historic Preservation grant dollars Tuesday night, clearing the way for six projects to receive city funding.
The fund is intended to help fill financing gaps for renovation of historic properties within city limits and requires at least a 35 percent match from the recipients. The funding is secured by a deed of trust on the properties.
Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero created the fund from $500,000 allocated from the 2014-15 budget. An additional $500,000 has been funded by City Council each year since. Applications get ranked on need and community benefit, among other items.
“Most of these buildings that we’ve invested in, especially the commercial ones, have been vacant, so once our money joins the big investment that they’re putting into it, it creates an opportunity for businesses to come in, creates jobs (and) it takes something vacant and dilapidated and turns it around,” said Becky Wade, director of the city's Community Development office.
Ken McMahon, economic development manager for the office, agreed.
“When you have a 200-plus year old city, it’s nice to have some buildings that represent that history,” he said.
Properties
Sanctuary Building at the former Sevier Heights Baptist Church – Baker Creek Bottoms LLC, $150,000
Baker Creek Bottoms will redevelop the five-building, 80,000-square-foot Sevier Heights Baptist Church complex, on a 4-acre tract at 3700 Lancaster Drive.
This same project was awarded $150,000 in last year’s round of Historic Preservation grants for the chapel, which will be a restaurant when Baker Creek Bottoms opens.
This year’s $150,000 will go toward the sanctuary, which is being transformed into an event and performing center.
1520 Washington Ave – Parkridge Group LLC, $100,000
The East Knoxville property used to house the Martin & Warwick Grocery story when it was built in 1920, before it housed a different grocery store and a printing shop at some point, McMahon said.
“They have three office-type businesses that are moving in there. They hope to have this piece in place and then do some other, adjacent properties,” he said.
Mabry’s Hill exterior restoration projects – Hazen Historical Museum Foundation Inc., $27,770.60
The Mabry-Hazen House served as headquarters for both Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War. Three generations of the Mabry and Hazen families lived in it. When Evelyn Hazen — granddaughter of Joseph Mabry, who built the home — died in 1987, her will stipulated that the home serve as a museum. It has since 1992.
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The funds will go to helping keep up the property and the Meek Cottage in the form of renovations to the windows, siding and porch repair so it will continue to be a place for the community to visit.
The Dempster Building – Twofold Purchase, GP, $200,000
The property was Dempster Dumpsters were manufactured decades ago, Wade said. The property consists of two lots that span Central and Broadway Streets.
The building has sat empty for years. Plans call for mixed-use development with residential units situated on top of commercial units on the lower level.
“I mean the conceptional drawings I’ve seen are just amazing. It will be the kind of space you drool over when you visit other cities,” McMahon said.
Blount Mansion window restoration – William Blount Mansion Association, $21,383
Blount Mansion is the former home of William Blount, a pioneer and politician who lived from 1749-1800. The home was built in 1792. It would serve as both the Blount family home and as the territorial capital. The first Tennessee State Constitution was drafted there. Blount Mansion is Knoxville's only National Historic Landmark.
Blount was the first and only governor of the Southwest Territory. He signed the Treaty of Holston, was a signer of the United States Constitution and was one of Tennessee's first two senators.
The money from the city will provide funding for a restoration project on the house's windows.
30 Market Square – Ambrose Reality, $45,000
The building is sandwiched between Scruffy City Hall and Preservation Pub and is surrounded by foot traffic and the nightlife that draws people to Market Square, but is currently empty. The money from the city will be put towards structural repairs.
“We hope (the money) will help solve the vacancy problem and the owner will be able to lease the space on the ground floor,” Wade said.
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