Residential development for Alley

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett this morning announced plans for a multi-million dollar residential development on the Marble Alley property in downtown Knoxville. And once again, I called it. Thank you, thanks, whatever.

Artist rendering of what to expect

The plan calls for developer Buzz Gross, along with TDK Construction, to begin phase one - a 200,000-square foot residential development - within the next eight to 12 months, once the property transfers from the county to the developer. Phase one calls for a 200,000-square foot residential development.

 The three-to-five story facility is a $15 million to $20 million planned investment, according to county communications guru Michael "Big Sexy" Grider. It will include 238 units, a 350-space parking garage, resort-style pool and fitness and lounge facilities.

If there is no security, I will be leaping the fence and hanging at the pool once this sucker is complete.

Other development phases call for some retail

The announcement was made during a rpess conference this morning. Burchett was joined by city Mayor Madeline Rogero, county Commissioner Sam McKenzie and Gross.

South Knox businesses to get help

Looks like the city side of the Knox County Death Star has taken some initiative to help South Knoxville. Yesterday, city Mayor Madeline Rogero and Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis said the city and county will each contribute up to $20,000 to support marketing efforts for the area.

The announcement was made during an afternoon press conference in front of the Disc Exchange n Chapman Highway. Ed Marcum with the story right smack here.

This is great news for the town's red-headed stepchild, although I'm not sure why they need to spend $40,000 on marketing when the city already pays (at least) roughly $300,000 in salaries and benefits for a PR and marketing team/communication department, and the county has the one-man team of Michael Big Sexy" Grider.

There's probably an answer. I'm sure they're super busy. Heh.

They'll hire anyone at the Death Star

What the deuce? Quit taking my picture

People have long joked that there's more than a few skunks working out of the Knox County Death Star. Well, heh . . . check it out. They weren't kidding.

KNS photographer Miles Cary took a couple shots of our own Pepe Le Pew. Miles said he spotted the skunk around 8 a.m. Wednesday on Hill Avenue between the garage door by the Sheriff's Office where deputies pull the bus in for prisoners and the west end of the building.

I'm outta here!

Miles noted that the skunk was last seen headed west on Hill Avenue and into the Death Star's parking garage.

After telling a top ranking county official about the skunk, he joked to me that the critter was just going to visit his parents.

Something's up for Marble Alley site

I'll tell ya, Knox County Mayor Tim Buchett is on a press conference roll. His spin team of Michael "Big Sexy" Grider and The Kid just issued a release, saying that the mayor will make an announcement "concerning the future of downtown's Marble Alley site" tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at State Street between Commerce and Union Avenue.

(Hampton Inn & Suites will provide refreshments.)

Anyhoo, Josh Flory speculated a little bit about this, right smack here.

Personally, I'm guessing that someone is about to develop some residential stuff, mostly likely apartments, but possibly condos.

In the meantime, the mayor on Monday also held a press conference to tout SouthFest, a two-day long cash mob-like event.

Not that it's a big deal, but Burchett really doesn't call these things all that often. Usually he fields questions or makes announcements on the go.

POW/MIA flag ceremony on Wednesday

The East Tennessee Rolling Thunder, Inc. Tennessee Chapter 3 and Knox County Mayor Tim Buchett will host a POW/MIA flag ceremony outside the Death Star tomorrow at 9:30 tomorrow morning.

In November, the mayor announced that the POW/MIA flag would be flown at all county executive branch facilities (right smack here for the county's story).

Burchett announces 'SouthFest' event

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett

Well, I guess I was right. This afternoon, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett announced his latest cash mob event - a two-day "festival-like event" throughout South Knoxville dubbed "SouthFest."

It will be held on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13, and is "intended to encourage people to shop, eat and have a good time at local businesses south of the river."

“There’s a perception in other parts of the county that it’s just too hard to get to South Knoxville because of the extended bridge closure,” the mayor said in a released statement. “We want to bring people out south for this event so they’ll realize the detour is not hard to navigate.”

Now, Burchett is certainly to be commended on this. I dig that he's trying to help South Knoxville. Particularly when other local leaders have ignored it. 

But, like many things in the Burchett administration, this announcement seems half-butted (can't say a$$ anymore) and done by the seat of his pants.

The spin release clearly states that "details about the event will trickle out over the enxt few weeks via press release and on Twitter."

In other words: "Right now, we got nothing. Heck, we don't even have  Queensryche." (Thank God.)

However, the mayor did note that the event will feature live music, family friendly activities, a car show and "circus-style entertainment from the Shriners." 

That's certainly a start.

Commish Smith mulling another office?

R. Larry Smith

There's been some talk recently that Knox County Commissioner R. Larry Smith (or as he's sometimes called: AAAAARRRRRRHHH Larry) will run against incumbent Sherry Witt for the Register of Deeds gig.

Course about a year ago, folks said he was angling for the Trustee's job and that kind of died down.

Sooooo, I figured I'd ask him, since I had him on the line about an unrelated story.

His response?

“Every day, there's not a day that goes by that someone doesn't ask me: 'Larry, I think you should do this or that, or you should run for this, or maybe do that.' Everything is open next year from school board races to the judges so let's see what's available.”

Judge Larry?????!!!!

Anyhoo, I asked him again about the Register of Deeds deal, but he wouldn't commit.

“I enjoy public service, I really do,” said Smith, who is term-limited on the commission. “I enjoy trying to help people with issues that they have. I've always been that way. I just enjoy giving back to the community.”

Burchett to again help South Knox

Being all cryptic, like Bigfoot or something, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett's spin team of only Michael "Big Sexy" Grider just sent out a release, saying that the mayor will make a "South Knox announcement" at 5 p.m. today (presumably so he can be on TV) at Emery's 5 & 10 on Chapman Highway.

Commissioner Mike Brown and a number of local business owners will be there for the "exciting announcement about an upcoming event."

My guess is that they're going to hold a larger than usual cash mob throughout the South Knoxville area sometime soon.

No word on whether the city's administration will attend. They got all cagey when former Mayor Victor Ashe asked them about throwing some support toward South Knoxville for his weekly column in the Shopper-News.

Vote for next Knox Cash Mob location

Oh well. According to the last spin release from Michael “Big Sexy” Grider, my yard sale came in a distant 6^th place in the nomination pool for where to hold the next Knox Cash Mob.

Haha. Good one, Grider.

Anyhoo, the county tallied the nominations and now it's time for the community to vote for the next location, which will be in South Knoxville this time around.

Click right smack here to vote for either:

• Colonial Village Shopping Center (Colonial Hardware, Kay's Ice Cream and the Village Bakery)
• Mclemore Florist
• Myrtle's Mess
• Sally's Alley
• Tea & Treasures

Voting runs from 5 p.m. today through 5 p.m. next Wednesday, March 6. The county will announce the winner on Friday, March 8.

Knox County Mayor Tim Buchett said residents often give him suggestions for where to hold these things, so he felt that “this is a good way to get them involved in the selection process.”

Last week, the county took nominations.

“We had a lot of people go online and nominate their favorite South Knox business, which goes to show that our community cares about local business and wants to help,” the mayor said. “That's the goal of cash mobs.”

Despite protestations from Emperor Dean Rice, the mayor went ahead and started holding these events. Dean has since been banned from them. Heh.

No elected superintendents for Knox?

Frank Niceley

So, I was talking to state Sen. Frank Niceley this morning about his bill that could again lead to local counties electing school superintendents. (Right smack here for that bad boy.)

The Strawberry Plains Republican said that state Rep. Harry Brooks, R-Knoxville, is about to introduce an amendment to the bill that he thinks will be somewhat of a compromise for those who are against it, and also help it move along through the state General Assembly.

Niceley said if Brooks' amendment is approved, then counties where the school system meets its AMO (annual measurable objectives), will NOT be allowed to vote on whether to go back to elected school superintendents.

That means Knox County (cause despite what some knuckleheads believe, we do have good teachers here).

“Clearly, if the system is not making its goals then the parents should be able to try something different,” said Niceley, adding that our school system was “developed under three elected supervisors for its first 50 years and it has a great school system.”

Hmmmmm. Is that irony? The elected superintendents were so good, they're not coming back? Or something. I don't know. Just figured I'd pass this along.

Help the kids: Donate to Charlie D.

Alright, slackers, ante up.

As noted last month, right smack here, my main man Charlie Daniel will represent the Sentinel at this year's Dancing with the Knoxville Stars event. At 83, I'm gessing the dude can still bring it.

His editorial cartoons certainly are still awesome.

Sooooooo, click right smack here to donate some folding paper. Come on. Five bucks ain't gonna kill ya.

If you don't, then you hate children.

Pick a car, any car, and steal a gun

Heh.

That ol' Second Amendment strikes again. Cause ya just never know when the British are a coming back.

State Republicans, in their no-doubt continuing effort to give every little piece of their soul to the NRA, approved the guns-in-parking-lots bill. Click right smack here for at bad boy.

You know. I actually had to ask a co-worker today if Tennessee had a waiting period before purchasing a handgun. No, really, I did. Cause if any state didn't have one . . . .

In the meantime, I guess I'm in the minority here, thinking that the guns-in-parking-lots thing is a bad idea. Don't get me wrong, I like to shoot things, break things, stab things and, generally, mess up things. I'm all for the death penalty, torture and public executions in front of minors, if only so they can learn a lesson.

Seriously, I have no problems with guns, gun ownership, etc.

But the reason there's a waiting period before you can purchase one is because it's actually a "cooling off" period. You know, don't get mad at someone, and get a gun and shoot them.

Soooooo, let's hope someone, who would really need that cooling off period, doesn't get mad at their boss. Cause that gun will now only be a parking lot away.

In the meantime, here's to bringing back that bill that would let folks bring their guns into bars.

I mean, it just sounds like a great idea. Second Amendment and all. Plus, alcohol and guns are awesome together.

UPDATE: One wise reader reminded me that the Intelligencia already approved guns in bars unless business owners object. So . . . . never mind.