On October 26, 2023, Mayor Kincannon and other City leaders officially cut the ribbon on the new
Public Safety Complex.
The multi-year reconstruction project transformed the vacated St. Mary’s hospital in North Knoxville, into a new vibrant space with endless opportunities.
The Public Safety Complex consists of three repurposed former St. Mary's Hospital office buildings between St. Mary Street and Huron Street, near Woodland Avenue, just west of Fulton High School.
The cluster of buildings now brings together the City’s Police and Fire Departments, the E911 backup system, Pension System offices and City Court operations.
Next door, at the former Magdalen Clarke Tower, Lincoln Memorial University has invested nearly $40 million and opened a Nursing School and a Dental School.
On the south side of the site, the City, Knox County and McNabb Center are partnering to convert the 25,000-square-foot former St. Mary's Ambulatory Surgery Center into an urgent care and behavioral health facility.
There are also redevelopment opportunities on both ends of campus.
At the ribbon-cutting Mayor Kincannon said, “This is a massive investment in North Knoxville, but what resonates most to me about this project are the lives that will continue to be impacted because of the work being done here. So often, Mayors initiate or support projects, but are no longer in office to see the outcome or the community benefit come to life. I am getting to see it first hand!”
The Mayor, along with KFD Chief Stan Sharp and KPD Chief Paul Noel, went on to praise the new partnership with Fulton High School that was born out of the Public Safety Project.
High schoolers are now getting real-life, one-on-one mentoring in public safety fields, while the City is increasing the opportunity to recruit first responders from the North Knoxville community.
The Mayor wrapped up her remarks by reflecting on her State of the City luncheon, that was on the Public Safety Complex grounds a year and half ago, by saying “ We were right up there on the lawn overlooking a bustling construction site. The theme was celebrating the history of St. Mary’s—-while also looking to the future. Well today, I am happy to say that future is here!"
Learn more about the Public Safety Complex at
www.KnoxvilleTN.gov/SafetyComplex and check out this event video below from City Videographer Shawn Davis.