Blog: Safety Complex Updates

Demolition Begins - Kickoff of 2 Year Project

Last week, demolition began on the east wing of the former St. Mary’s Hospital in North Knoxville. That marked the kickoff of a two-year project that will dramatically transform the vacant campus into a new Safety Complex, which will house the Police and Fire Departments, Pension System offices and City Court operations.

City Communications will be providing regular updates to neighbors and stakeholders. Visit this page regularly for the latest official news, photos and videos on the demolition and construction.

The project is a major undertaking that City officials believe will strengthen the neighborhood. Rather than let the property remain vacant and deteriorate, the City is investing $40 million to raze outdated older buildings and to reconstruct medical office space into City offices. Lincoln Memorial University is renovating the Magdalen Clarke Tower to use for its nursing, business and criminal justice schools.

Separately, the City is investing $6.5 million to clear the northern end of the former hospital campus to be used for private redevelopment.

For the next few months, heavy equipment will be taking down the four-story building near St. Mary’s Street and East Oak Hill Avenue to make way for LMU to begin construction of a new lobby and entrance for its building on the campus. No blasting is planned, and the contractor is taking steps to limit noise and is watering down the site as needed to cut down on dust.

More details, including preliminary designs for the Safety Complex, are available at www.knoxvilletn.gov/safetycomplex.

Posted by tmcdonell On 02 March, 2020 at 2:03 PM