Knoxville News Sentinel

The pink Carpenter’s Union Building downtown could make way for five stories of apartments

- Ryan Wilusz

Where can you find a blank-ish canvas in downtown Knoxville for new apartments? Local developer Joe Petre has a spot, adjacent to both Gay Street and Market Square.

The pink Carpenter’s Union Building isn’t the most recognizab­le downtown parcel, but that could change with the addition of nearly 90 apartments across five stories at 516 W. Vine Ave.

West Vine Avenue runs west from the 100 block of Gay Street before deadending near Locust Street and Summit Towers Apartments. It’s also just across Summit Hill Drive and adjacent to the TVA and UT towers, which have a walkway between them to access Market Square.

Another local developer, Leigh Burch III, shared with Knox News in 2021 his own plans to bring 123 apartments to West Vine Avenue two blocks over behind the Crowne Plaza hotel. Burch recently told Knox News this project, also proposed as a five-story developmen­t, has been put on hold due to constructi­on costs.

But that’s not stopping Petre, the registered agent of City Summit LLC, which purchased the property for $1.5 million in December 2021. Petre is executive vice president of commercial property developer LawlerWood and was most recently featured by Knox News in piece examining the rising level of investment around the downtown baseball stadium constructi­on site.

Busy planning meeting will consider City Summit and riverside high-rise

The new apartment community, which renderings suggest would be called City Summit, will go before Knoxville-Knox County Planning’s Design Review Board on April 17. It will be a busy meeting, as a divisive 16-story apartment high-rise planned along the downtown side of the river is also on the agenda.

Since Knox News reported on the riverside project April 11, a website called keepknoxvi­llecharmin­g.com has been encouragin­g people to sign a petition to prevent the developmen­t, suggesting “a building of this scale and design would erode Knoxville’s authentic design and gives nothing back to our community.”

The riverside project’s scale will be discussed at the meeting, as well as concerns about pedestrian safety related to increased traffic and a parking garage entrance.

Downtown Knoxville board has suggestion­s for City Summit

Ahead of the meeting, the Design Review Board has noted City Summit does not fulfill guidelines that recommend commercial spaces on the first floor.

City Summit is all apartments − 89 to be exact − and most of those would have balconies, according to planning documents. The Carpenter’s Union Building would be demolished, the documents state, and 18 parking spaces would be added on site.

The Board is also suggesting the developer and architect reimagine the design of the building, which is made up of mostly cement, in addition to adding a brick veneer on the first level. A more appropriat­e design, according to the board, could include additional masonry to better blend with surroundin­g buildings that include a historic church, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles building and older brick apartments.

Vine Avenue surrounded by Gay Street growth in downtown Knoxville

Vine Avenue is the split between the 100 and 200 block of Gay Street, the latter of which is being developed on the west side into a multi-use property with a commercial courtyard, described by the developer as “akin to Market Square.” This project is a four-minute walk from where City Summit would be located and is just across the street from Cradle of Country Music Park, which is being renovated with the most expensive piece of public art in city history.

All this to say, this part of town has been booming as of late with the addition of a convenienc­e store and newer businesses, including Paris Woodhull Illustrati­ons and Daché boutique.

Check back regularly at knoxnews .com for updates on City Summit and other downtown developmen­ts.

Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and developmen­t reporter. Phone 865317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews .com. Instagram @knoxscruff.

 ?? HANNAH MATTIX/NEWS SENTINEL ?? The Carpenter’s Union Building at 516 W. Vine Ave. would be demolished if plans are approved for City Summit, a five-story apartment developmen­t planned for the property. West Vine Avenue splits the 100 and 200 blocks of Gay Street and is just a short walk across West Summit Hill Drive from Market Square.
HANNAH MATTIX/NEWS SENTINEL The Carpenter’s Union Building at 516 W. Vine Ave. would be demolished if plans are approved for City Summit, a five-story apartment developmen­t planned for the property. West Vine Avenue splits the 100 and 200 blocks of Gay Street and is just a short walk across West Summit Hill Drive from Market Square.

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