ICYMI, Amazon has signed a lease with plans to open a new delivery station in Knoxville in 2022. Complementing Amazon's four current delivery stations in Tennessee, the company's decision to invest here will speed up deliveries for customers in the region.
 
More importantly, this will create hundreds of new jobs in Knoxville. (Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 25,000 full- and part-time jobs in Tennessee.)
 
Even better, Amazon will be bringing back into reuse a large vacant site - the closed Knoxville Center mall in East Knoxville. This quick repurposing of the unused mall property means it won't be at risk of slipping into disrepair and blight, which happens if commercial properties sit idle for decades.
 
Amazon sought no financial assistance from the City. But nonetheless, the company and the City - along with nearby residents and business owners - will be dialoguing and partnering to make transit and infrastructure improvements in the area in the coming years.
 
For example, KAT, the City and Amazon will be looking for ways to make it easier for employees to choose transit - the Millertown Pike Route 23 - as their means to get to their jobs at Amazon. Since the mall closed, the transit stop there was relocated. 
 
Significant long-term infrastructure improvements are planned for Millertown Pike and Washington Pike. Look for public meetings to be announced, where residents and business stakeholders will have opportunities to share their ideas.