January 14th Update

Greetings and Happy New Year to all!

Our consultants at Vaughn & Melton shared an article regarding the City of Chicago's road diet for Lawrence Avenue which has similarities to the proposal for Cumberland Avenue. Check out the articles here and here. Below are photos of the Lawrence Avenue street conditions.

Existing streetscape conditions on Lawrence Ave. east of Western. Photo courtesy Ald. Eugene Schulter.

(From: Center Square Journal, July 6, 2010)

Proposed streetscape conditions (not finalized) on Lawrence east of Western. Photo courtesy Ald. Eugene Schulter

(From: Center Square Journal, July 6, 2010)

The Cumberland Avenue Corridor project is continuing with detail design work and preliminary plans.

Weekend Opportunities

Saturday January 15, 2011

17th Annual Eskimo Escapades
Volunteer Landing
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m

YWCA Race Against Racism 5K & 1 Mile Walk
YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center
Registration: 11:30 am
Race: 1 pm
5 K Run / 1 Mile Walk to Celebrate Diversity.

Sunday January 16, 2011

MLK "A Night with the Arts"
Bijou Theatre
6:00 PM
Performances by A Night with the Arts Tribute, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Opera and the MLK Choir.

Monday January 17, 2011

Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade
MLK Blvd.
10:00 AM
Annual Parade starting at Tabernacle Baptist Church and concluding at Great Warner AME Zion Church

Thanks for your continued interest! Have a safe and fun weekend and here's to a prosperous 2011!

January 29th Update

Over the last few weeks, city staff has continued to meet with stakeholders regarding the draft Form Code and the Streetscape concept plans including meetings with representatives of the Historic Fort Sanders Neighborhood Association, Knoxville Area Transit (KAT), the City's Operations Team, the Mayor's Student Advisory Board, and individual property and business owners. The discussions are going well and we would like to thank everyone for their comments and questions as we continue this public comment period.

Also this week, I was invited to participate in a panel discussion at the Nashville Complete Streets Workshop. Complete Streets are road networks that are safer, more livable, and welcoming to everyone. It was a great opportunity to discuss the Cumberland Ave. Streetscape project and the efforts of both local and state government to transform this strip into a more attractive, economically successful, vibrant and safe corridor.

If you would like more information about the workshop please visit: http://www.nashvillempo.org/completestreets.html
If you're interested in the Complete Streets Design Guidelines that were created for the Knoxville Regional Transporation Planning Organization (TPO) by Gresham Smith and Partners please visit: http://www.knoxtrans.org/plans/complete_streets/index.htm

Thanks for your continued interest! I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend.