Classes start at Pellissippi State's fifth campus. KNS

Neighbors question hotel plan near Chattanooga's Walnut Street Bridge. Times Free Press

KNS photo/Michael Patrick

Please -- no dead zones.

That's the crux of a message from directors of the Central Business Improvement District to TVA.

At a meeting on Monday board members of the CBID, at the suggestion of Kevin Grimac, agreed to send a letter to the utility, in connection with a proposed parking garage at the corner of Summer Place and Locust Street, across from the fire station.

The message? That CBID strongly advises consideration be given to a garage design which would accommodate retail space on the ground floor of the structure.

Board member Patrick Hunt cited the nearby Market Square parking garage, which has a (non-parking) ground-floor commercial use on only one of its three visible sides. Hunt argued that "You're creating a dead zone -- a vacuum -- over there, and I think it's a big mistake."

Continue reading ...

Razing of Walter P. Taylor Homes begins. KNS

MPC to consider 'pocket neighborhoods'. KNS

Windows on the Park, Holiday Inn restaurant, seeks broader audience. KNS

Groups rally to protect scenic landmark Virgin Falls. KNS

KNS photo/J. Miles Cary

Should the city be giving away $250,000 to help bring Urban Outfitters to downtown Knoxville?

That's the question explored in Carly Harrington's latest column.

Scott West, for one, doesn't like the idea:

Why not incentivize the very businesses that make us unique, instead of the national chains that will make us Anywhere U.S.A.?" he questioned. "To argue a local entrepreneur couldn't be successful in drawing people downtown, that you have to get a national chain, is a bankrupt idea."

For what it's worth, the Arnstein project also was approved for a $300,000 CBID grant and for a TIF incentive.)

George Brown, of Wood Properties, passed along word that the former Judy's site, at the corner of Middlebrook Pike and Weisgarber Road, has been sold for $805,000. Construction of a new Bojangle's will soon begin at the location.

The 1.7-acre site had previously been optioned to a group that planned to develop a strip center, but Brown said in an email that the group couldn't get enough tenants to secure financing. Ben Kenney also represented the seller on the deal.

Opening up Lakeshore Park: Crews demolish old pool, building. KNS

THDA spurns fed funds for housing low-income, disabled. Tom Humphrey

KPD raids music store for alleged pot sales. KNS

4th Street plan wins Urban Design Challenge contest in Chattanooga. Times Free Press

Randy Parham: Brentwood commercial real estate bounces back in big way. Tennessean

KNS photo/J. Miles Cary

Via Megan Boehnke's Campus Connect blog:

The University of Tennessee is planning to build its first new residence hall in about 40 years, slated to open in 2014. The $59 million co-ed hall will be on what is an existing gravel lot on Andy Holt Avenue at the corner of Melrose Avenue and will house 700 students in two-person and four-person suites.

Some rooms will be "super suites," which include not only shared bathrooms but also living rooms and kitchenettes.

Check out the details here.

Rendering courtesy of University of Tennessee

Maryville photographer uses unmanned aerial vehicle technology. KNS

JFG sign: Restored to glory. KNS

Ceramaspeed to invest $3.5 million, create 40 new jobs. KNS

Sevier Commission rejects Tittsworth Springs rezoning. The Mountain Press

Atlanta group seeks to draw more French businesses to the Chattanooga region. Times Free Press

KNS photo/Saul Young

The Scope is working on a story for Thursday's paper about a local entrepreneur who's using a high-tech aerial photography tool.

Click above for a video preview.

From this morning's column:

A Georgia development firm is expanding its apartment presence in East Tennessee.

Greystone Properties is based in Columbus, Ga., and has apartment communities in four states. This month, the company paid just over $2 million for a hilltop site near the intersection of Hardin Valley Road and Pellissippi Parkway, where it plans to build a 178-unit apartment complex called Greystone Vista.

The company already has an apartment community called Greystone Summit off Solway Road, and Will White -- Greystone's managing member -- said Tuesday that the firm had been looking for another site in Knoxville.

Submitted photo

Knoxville Council OKs $250,000 to lure Urban Outfitters to Market Street. KNS

Maryville planners give thumbs-up to new subdivision. The Daily Times

Nashville neighborhoods form The Capitol District to encourage growth. Tennessean

Town center in sight for Ooltewah. Times Free Press

County Mayor Tim Burchett announced Tuesday that a deal to redevelop the former Oakwood Elementary School has been finalized and work will likely begin soon.

""This is great news for the Oakwood community, and I know many of the neighbors in the area are excited to see this historic property revitalized by the private sector," the mayor said in a news release. "This has not been easy, but it looks like our work will pay off in the form additional tax revenue, increased property values and safety around this development."

According to the release, a formal groundbreaking is planned for mid-September, although site work will begin earlier.

Continue reading ...

Chattanooga Airport plans $2.3 million cargo expansion. Times Free Press

City weighs $250,000 grant aimed at securing large retailer. KNS

Chattanooga parking enforcement goes private. Times Free Press

Home construction builds momentum in Middle TN. Tennessean

Weigel's opens 61st convenience store. KNS

TFP photo/Doug Strickland

One of the most prominent undeveloped sites in downtown Knoxville may soon be home to an 11-story hotel building.

Atlanta-based Paramount Hospitality Management has bought a lot at the corner of State Street and Church Avenue for $1.1 million.

Paramount president Nick Lakha said Monday that his firm is planning a 120-room Residence Inn by Marriott on the site.

Lakha said Paramount is currently in the preliminary planning and design phase, but that he expects the structure to include a three-story parking deck that begins on the ground floor. The hotel lobby would also be on the ground level.

Asked if he considered a design that would activate the street level and draw pedestrians, the developer said he liked the fact that Gay Street is pedestrian-friendly and that the hotel lobby will be very incorporated with Church Avenue.

In a follow-up email, Lakha said that "although our initial design plans do not include retail, we will consider incorporating retail space ... based on market needs."

Continue reading ...

UT campus looks to spread more grass, less pavement in future. KNS

Electric car chargers showing up on city turf. KNS

JFG Coffee sign begins to reappear. KNS

Powell business owners not worried about Emory reroute. KNS

UT far exceeds city in parking tickets issued, revenue returned. KNS

Sign up today for free email updates from the Scope.

KNS photo/Michael Patrick

The Back Yard Burgers location on Kingston Pike in Bearden has closed.

A sign on the door read, "Loyal customers who have blessed us these past few years, we thank you for your business. It has been our pleasure to be part of the Bearden community, and it saddens us to let you know that this location has closed."

The sign indicated locations at 10008 Kingston Pike and 1764 W. Broadway, in Maryville, will remain open.

Bottom photo edited with Camera+ Clarity

Knoxville abortion clinic blames closure on new state law. Tennessean

Carly Harrington: Knoxville builds outdoor reputation. KNS

Margaritaville restaurant planned for downtown Gatlinburg. The Mountain Press

Ayres Hall, Tyson House added to National Register. KNS

Knox County names Rebecca Gibson as community development director. KNS

Photo credit/Lisa Morris

Home decor chain Garden Ridge will open a store in the former Turkey Creek Public Market on Outlet Drive.

First Commercial Real Estate announced Thursday that the Houston-based chain had taken possession of the property on Wednesday.

In a news release, First Commercial President Keith Widmer said his firm had assisted Garden Ridge in looking at the Knoxville market since 2011 and the focus was finding a location close to Interstates 40 and 75 with nearby proximity to Turkey Creek.

"The quality of the newly renovated Public Market facility is accommodating to the Garden Ridge business model and concept," the release said. "That, and the future extension and upgrades of Outlet Drive to Campbell Station Road were major factors in their decision."

The announcement marks a rebound for a development group led by Charles Atchley and John Turley, who launched the public market last August after a significant renovation of the former Outlet Mall building. The market struggled to build a following, though, and closed last month.

The county is in the process of extending Outlet Drive from Lovell Road to Campbell Station Road, a project that won't be completed until December.

According to a news release, Garden Ridge has 53 stores in 19 states.

KNS photo/Paul Efird

Bike advocates may be heartened by this month's agenda of the State Building Commission.

On page 49 is a project to install bike storage lockers and racks at 10 state office buildings in Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga "as part of the statewide bicycle project."

The total budget is $130,000, with most of that coming from federal funds.

Stuart News photo/Matthew Ratajczak

As KCDC prepares to start demolition work at the Walter P. Taylor Homes, the Metro Pulse checked in with current residents.

After dinner her neighbors and her daughters, who also live in Walter P. Taylor, like to come over and visit with "Miss Linda." They often sit on her back porch, overlooking a lively courtyard about the time the ice-cream truck comes through. She doesn't want to see this all go.

"If they told you that it's going to look like Mechanicsville, they lied to you," Conners says. "Look what they did to Austin Homes."

Unlike the proposal for Walter P. Taylor, the demolition of Austin Homes was not part of a revitalization project but was simply meant to get rid of blighted and economically unsustainable KCDC properties. KCDC's reassurance that newer and better public housing will replace Walter P. Taylor hasn't convinced Conners that she will be living here--or will want to be living here--in 10 years.

Check out the fully story here.

Photo credit/Shawn Poynter