WRS Inc. has reached an agreement to buy the vacant 435,667-square-foot Standard Knitting Mill building in East Knoxville from another private owner. 

On Thursday, Dec. 12, at 2:30 p.m., representatives of the South Carolina-based developer and its local partners will join City officials in briefing residents on plans for converting the blighted property into a mixed-use development. The briefing will be held at the Pellissippi State Community College Magnolia Avenue campus.

While the company will be investing tens of millions of dollars into the redevelopment, the City is being asked to commit to building public infrastructure in the area and for Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) assistance. The PILOT would close the up-front financial gap and make the project financially feasible.

Attending the neighborhood briefing will be Mayor Madeline Rogero, Mayor-elect Indya Kincannon, members of City Council and City staff.

WRS, which is currently redeveloping the Underground Atlanta shopping and entertainment district, as well as building malls, retail centers and mixed-use projects across the Southeast, has been represented locally by Justin Cazana, principal with Avison Young.

The building, constructed in the 1940s, is the only remaining structure associated with Standard Knitting Mill. At one time, the operation employed more than 4,000 Knoxvillians and produced 1 million garments a week.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or LEP (Limited English Proficient) and want to request interpretation services, please contact Title VI Coordinator Tatia M. Harris at [email protected] or 865-215-2831. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation to attend the meeting, contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Brewer Cook, at 865-215-2034 or [email protected].