August 28, 2014 - Knoxville's Community Development Corp. (KCDC), acting on behalf of the City of Knoxville and City Council, is seeking public input on a proposal to establish a redevelopment area around Cumberland Avenue as a step toward financing public infrastructure.

The public meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 at UT Federal Credit Union, 2100 White Ave.

City officials are exploring with KCDC the option of creating a redevelopment area - generally bounded by White Avenue, 17th Street, Lake Avenue and West Volunteer Boulevard - that would benefit from the new tax increment generated by projects in the area.

In this plan, revenue would not go toward private project financing; rather, as the area redevelops and property taxes rise, the increase in revenue would go toward infrastructure improvements in the area.

One need that's been identified by both planners and City officials: public parking.

Currently, about 25 percent of the redevelopment area is used for parking. But, according to a draft of a proposal for the redevelopment area, parking around Cumberland Avenue "will need to evolve beyond single-purpose reserved parking that is uncoordinated and fragmented." City officials have said a public garage is needed to support commercial and residential growth along the Cumberland Avenue Corridor.

Anyone needing a disability accommodation in order to attend the meeting should contact City ADA Coordinator Stephanie Brewer Cook in advance of the meeting at 865-215-2034, or email her at [email protected].