Knoxville could welcome a major change to its skyline now that a proposed 18-story apartment building is moving ahead following three months of back-and-forth discussion on the design, mostly about how the blank back side of the building would benefit pedestrians.
The Design Review Board, part of Knoxville-Knox County Planning, unanimously approved the updated design by Atlanta-based Brock Hudgins Architects on June 20. The architects are working with South Carolina-based developer Woodfield Development on the project, named Hill & Locust.
The developers still have more regulatory hurdles to clear before construction can begin.
Neighbors have until June 27 to appeal the Design Review Board’s vote. No appeal would allow developers to move forward as long as they submit final plans. Developers could then apply for permits.
The property is bordered by Locust Street to the east, West Hill Avenue to the north, Front Avenue to the south and the Henley Street Bridge to the west. If you’re having trouble picturing the site, Front Avenue runs parallel and is at the same height as Neyland Drive, which is just a few feet from the property line.
Nearby residents for months have shared concerns at public meetings about how the proposal wouldn’t mesh with surrounding buildings and how the multi-story garage facing the Tennessee River wouldn’t promote pedestrian activity along the underdeveloped Neyland Drive.
In the updated design, the project team added a new interior space at the corner of the building near the intersection of Front Avenue and Locust Street to create a more pedestrian- and public-focused experience. This interior area would be used as an artist studio, bike room and pet space until the neighborhood becomes more viable for retail near the Tennessee River.
This project has been on Knoxville’s radar since at least 2018, when the original vision was announced as “The T at Riverfront.” Ideas were scrapped, shifted and rearranged until Hill & Locust was revealed as the next promising plan for the property. Knox News first wrote about the new concept in April.
More changes shared for Hill & Locust in downtown Knoxville
At the June 20 meeting, the project team shared new renderings showing how trees would be incorporated and how developers plan to build new sidewalks along Locust Street and Front Avenue. The team also included a proposed crosswalk on Locust Street connecting to a path leading to the pedestrian bridge over Neyland Drive.
The board’s approval is dependent on the team submitting mechanical, landscaping and final site plans, as well as returning to the board with a separate application for exterior signs.
These are some of the latest updates from Woodfield Development:
- Reduced building size along Henley Street: The facade closest to the Henley Street bridge has been pushed back 10 feet from the bridge. A partial penthouse floor has been added after two stories were removed, making this portion of the building 15 stories.
- New penthouse floors: The West Hill Avenue building has increased to seven stories, with a new penthouse floor. The top floor on the Locust Street side of the high rise has been replaced with a penthouse, giving the whole project a new roofline with added dimension.
- New garage screening: The parking garage, a major point of criticism in the original design, now features white, vertical metal fins to hide the garage’s structure, keep natural ventilation and match the design of the off-white residential buildings above.
The back courtyard section remains at 16 stories high, with the highest point reaching 18 stories.
Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
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