Exciting Changes Coming to Downtown Knoxville!
Just when you thought downtown Knoxville couldn’t get any more vibrant, here comes some fantastic news! The city is on the verge of welcoming a brand new residential project, aptly named City Summit, nestled on a hill bounded by Vine, Locust, and Cafego Place. That’s right! The former Carpenter’s Union Building has been taken down, and it’s all systems go for construction to begin soon!
Meet the Team Behind City Summit
We had a chance to catch up with Joe Petre from LawlerWood, the development team bringing City Summit to life. As he explained, getting a project like this off the ground involves a ton of behind-the-scenes work before you even see a bulldozer in action. “The pre-construction phase is where the magic happens,” Joe said. “We had to navigate through obtaining permits, which meant presenting to the Design Review Board a couple of times. But we’re past that hurdle now!”
On October 15th, City Council approved a PILOT agreement, which is often the final green light for a project like this. Joe wasted no time—he gave the go-ahead that very night! Demolition started on the 21st, and now they are knee-deep in grading and preparing the site.
A Roadmap to Completion
So, when can we expect to see residents moving into these new homes? Buckle up, because the projected timeline is around seventeen months! That puts us at about March or April of 2026 when the apartments will be finally up for grabs. But before that happens, there’s still a bit of work to do, like placing pilings, known as Geopiers, and finalizing the full building permit, which Joe expects within the next two weeks.
While construction may bring a bit of noise and activity, Joe mentioned that they’re optimistic about the ground conditions. “We haven’t unearthed any unpleasant surprises, unlike other projects around the city,” he added, explaining that the site hasn’t seen many buildings before, which is a plus.
What Can We Expect at City Summit?
Now, let’s talk about what City Summit will look like! This new development will stand proud at five stories, boasting 89 apartments total. That mix includes 3 studio units, 51 one-bedroom, and 35 two-bedroom apartments. The exciting part? This project aims to promote more affordable living in downtown Knoxville, with 10% of the homes designated for workforce-priced housing.
While many new developments focus on luxury and swanky amenities, that’s not the goal here. Joe noted, “We’re looking at more mid-level, affordable homes, which will keep the rents lower.” They’re skipping out on extras like gyms and pools to focus on keeping costs down.
A Community Project
It’s also worth mentioning that a temporary trailer is set up on-site, which will soon be swapped out for a more permanent construction trailer. The development has worked to preserve parking for neighboring LMU during the build. Joe summed it up perfectly: “It’s wonderful to see the neighborhood coming together!”
A Missed Opportunity?
With all the buzz about City Summit, it still leaves some residents considering what could have been. There were comments about the missed potential for a sleek high-rise that could have captured visibility from I-40. But, unfortunately, that’s how the cookie crumbles in today’s world of development—opting for functionality over creativity is the trend!
All in all, City Summit is shaping up to be a welcome addition to Knoxville’s residential scene. As construction rolls ahead, we can’t help but feel excitement for the community and the fresh options this project will bring. Stay tuned, Knoxville—big changes are on the horizon!
