Stakeholders in the North Central Street streetscaping project, including area residents, business and property owners, staff from the City’s Office of Redevelopment and representatives from landscape architects Hedstrom Design will meet for an Open House 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2019 at All Occasions located at 922 N. Central St.

As the $6.15 million North Central Street streetscaping construction project approaches completion, the City’s Office of Redevelopment invites stakeholders to an open house to consider and provide input on the landscaping project.

At the open house, guests will be able to review plans and renderings for just over one mile of landscaping, including the project’s centerpiece: a linear park planned for a section of North Central Street and Baxter Avenue. Landscape architects with Hedstrom Design have proposed a design and worked with the City’s Urban Forestry and Horticulture staffs to recommend an assortment of plants, shrubs and trees that will suit variables like climate, concrete planters, height and maintenance requirements.

“We want the landscaping to beautify the area with a variety of colors and textures,” says Deputy Director of Redevelopment Anne Wallace. “The ideal mix of plants will satisfy those qualifications while thriving in an urban environment.”

The timing of the end of construction and beginning of landscaping depends on Knoxville’s winter weather.

After the open house and public input, the City will put the contract for plant installation out to bid via its Purchasing website at KnoxvilleTN.gov/bids.

The North Central Street Streetscape Project began in January 2018 and encompasses the 13 blocks between West Depot and Woodland avenues.

As of this week, the concrete curbs, bump outs and driveways on the east side of North Central Street between Anderson and Scott avenues have been poured. In the next two weeks, crews will work on the west side of Central between Scott and Baxter avenues.

Additional project details and updates are available at https://www.northcentralstreet.com.

Anyone needing a disability accommodation to be able to attend the open house or any public meeting should contact Stephanie Cook at [email protected] or 865-215-2034. For an English interpreter, contact Title VI Coordinator Tatia M. Harris at 865-215-2831.