Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC) representatives and other elected officials cut a ribbon to dedicate "Juanita Cannon Street" honoring long-time KCDC Commissioner Juanita Cannon at a ceremony at Paul Hogue Park on May 20.

"Juanita Cannon has been a huge asset to KCDC and to our board and has been instrumental in shaping and supporting the staff through KCDC's long-term strategic plan," said Culver Schmid, KCDC board of commissioners' chairman. "For many years, Juanita has been a guiding force and a mentor for the KCDC board."

During her 18-year tenure on the KCDC board, Cannon helped bring about many changes in Knoxville public housing and saw many neighborhoods restored, including the HOPE VI revitalization project in the Mechanicsville neighborhood.

"Juanita has a heart for this community and has been shaping the future of this city for decades," said Rogero. "As mayor of Knoxville, I am thrilled to honor Juanita Cannon for her work in transforming the neighborhoods in this community."

In recent years, Five Points has been a focus of KCDC and the City of Knoxville. Cannon and her fellow board members approved plans for the Residences at Eastport, an 85-unit senior housing development in the area, and 17 family-style duplex housing units located on the street which will now bear her name. The board also approved the removal of 183 units of Walter P. Taylor Homes in 2012.

The new family-style duplexes housing six two-bedroom units in two separate buildings will be located on Juanita Cannon Street. A total of 17 family-style housing units have been constructed in four different sites to replace blighted properties in Five Points. The current street behind the park, Curie Place, will be removed, allowing the city to expand Paul Hogue Park.

"The six new families moving into this facility in the fall will get their mail delivered to Juanita Cannon Street and have a great recreational park for their children to play in immediately adjacent to the property," Schmid said.

In addition to her work at KCDC, Cannon was a Knox County school teacher for 40 years. Cannon left the KCDC Board of Commissioners in August 2012.

Since 1936, KCDC has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Knoxville. KCDC's mission is to improve and transform neighborhoods and communities by providing quality affordable housing, advancing development initiatives and fostering self-sufficiency. For more information, call 865-403-1100 or visit http://www.kcdc.org.