xtianpoop

@BnaBreaker and @jmtunafish nail some more candid thoughts surrounding Knoxville, but I will attest, @nativetenn, that the geography is especially linked to the development (and lack thereof). I lived in the Fort, and I remember how easy it was to access campus- whether walking/sweating up hills or hopping on the North/South. I also remember finding it so strange that I had friends living in a gated, cottage community in South Knoxville. The Retreat, I believe, which had the most lax security (if you memorized the code or just hit random numbers, you could always get passed the gate). Us in the Fort were envious of the nice conditions in S Knox while they were envious of our transportation ease, including walking anywhere/everywhere. To your point, geography in TN's 4 largest downtowns are all tricky. I grew up in Chatt, and I've recently lived/studied in Knox. I compared and contrasted constantly my 4 years. I'll give the geography cred to Knoxville because it IS especially difficult in its urban center, not even considering the caves downtown (I want to say limestone?). Chatt is fortunate to having more of a valley downtown, but the twist in the comparison is its metro is difficult to develop geographically. Knoxville's is the opposite, hence I-40 latitudinal sprawl. (Isn't there a song lyric about West Town mall sprawl?) Go macro at even the surface levels, and the MSA/CSA sprawl in Knoxville is so much that the US gov at one point had to dedicate extra time defining it. Chatt's is close to half the size as Knoxville, and one county east begins another MSA. It's crazy looking at a cross-section of such seemingly similar cities. TL;DR: Knoxville is a jewel of TN. It should have a brighter spotlight, but geography + poor leadership and planning over the years = beleaguered regional city

It's been relatively slow, but 14 of the 16 stories are being turned into apartments. These will be on the same block as the new 9-available stories of the Market City Center apartment complex. The 11 (?) storied block cap in the picture is supposed to be renovated into a hotel. I can't see this soon-to-be (pricey) apartment mid-rise NOT taking down the facade in the next 5-10 years, if not sooner. Besides the trend aspect of living in an old building, how is it to compete with a new, prettier building on the same block? I don't think the demand is there. Let the market bring that facade doooowwwwwwnn

Agreed. That parking lot is part of the low-density, low-rise part of downtown that I think contributes to not only blight aesthetics, but also to the perception of a smaller downtown. 10-stories would be great at minimum there, but even less would be hugely impactful there at the intersections of the two districts. I wish I remembered more what downtown was like when the EPB building was still there.

I have a bunch of photos to put up, but since I have no time, I want to share this photo I found this weekend on DeepZoom that I think you'll all enjoy. Facing north on Market St. in 1967. Today's SunTrust building is under construction of what then was the "Taj Mahal of Chattanooga," known as American National Bank. Also rather interesting is that you can see the facade being put on the Hamilton National Bank, covering up the Beaux-Arts built in 1911. A lot of these buildings, especially on the block closest to us, are still alive and well today. The banks' insolvencies led to bolstering some of the legacy companies in Chattanooga and Tennessee, too.

Another from Rock Creek Aviation, but the density (and beauty) is undeniable. 5 Points at Northshore is really standing out, too!

Ripped from Rock Creek Aviation's Instagram. Great view of the growing Cameron Harbor development. Townhomes along Riverfront Pkwy, 2 apartment buildings across from those next to the rehabbed dealership (now Chatt Whiskey). Office building at the intersection has the steel frame going up. If you squint, you can see the new apartment building 10 North on Cherokee Blvd. (Peep Market City beside SunTrust Building, too. Can even spot the Children's Hospital Outpatient building in the background)

Chattanooga Is Changing. But Its Charms Remain. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/travel/chattanooga-is-changing-but-its-charms-remain.html Found this to be rather enjoyable, and lacking the typical copy a lot of the I'm-visiting-Chattanooga articles get. I loved, too, that she brought in the bad. Thought it was well-balanced.

Thanks for these and for reminding me! I've a bunch from just when I've been out around town, or from when I'm crawling between bars. I've a bunch of similarly shot photos. Let's see if I can't help you with the dev real quick with these. (Challenging myself to go off memory, so please feel free to correct) North Shore -> starting with John Wise buildings on Cherokee, it goes to the 5 Points at North Shore by a Franklin group, if I'm not mistaken. I want to say their name starts with a B. Next you're at Douglas Heights in MLK, then Jefferson Heights in Southside (the red bricked homes used to be Section 8, and the owner now rents out purposefully at an affordable rate- I'm talking at/around $500. I love that and him) LandSouth off Main St looking towards Choo Choo is the new BlueBirds luxury apartments (we'll see if lives up to the hype), then John Wise's condo project he's been waiting on for a good several+ years on the corner at Rossville Blvd. Hit the Moxy hotel at Market x King by Desai, the you're downtown at City Center looking at that older building which has been receiving more investment, renovations over the years. Old Krystal HQ Fletcher Bright fixed up with the Market City Center 10-story mixed use building, with an alleyway project underway. This is anchoring new development along Cherry there. Then the Westin in the City Center (refusing to call area irrelevant names by out-of-touch suburban builders). You go along Riverfront Pkwy on the Westside, abutting the Cameron Harbor development. The apartments beside the Chatt Whiskey facility are looking GREAT, and I'm not sure if they're related to Cameron Harbor or not. The houses are the most recent phase of CH. I believe the steel beams then are the new mixed-use office building abutting Blue Goose Hollow park. I'm not entirely sure, but the toothpick development looks to be the one next to the chicken plant off Broad towards S Broad. John Wise again, but I think partnering with someone. I want to say this is a phase. The beautiful build next is behind TVA next to the award-winning park (and award winning businesses). Alabama developer. Tasteful, great infill, and it really impacts the area. Can see it all the way in Cowart Place and behind Clyde's. Next is (I believe again) John Wise's building on Chestnut next to Finley, which is a build-up from pre-existing 1-story brick structure. Lacking imagination and something to be desired, but kudos for the project nonetheless. Supposed to be affordable housing, too. Not PILOT affordable, but actually affordable. I remember some comment about servers and downtown service workers should be able to live there. Then UTC!

My mistake! I thought there was an outdoors component. Honestly, I like it either way. Agreed that Nashville is lacking.

These open-air markets seem to be the new trendy thing for cities. I know Detroit is getting a similar one downtown, too.

I loathe the name "West Village" for the site. Even though the "West End" is as cringeworthy, I have to give it to the suburban developer brothers...it's pretty clever. The Westin in the West End

You weren't seriously asking, but thinking about it for a bit, my gut leans towards perception. Nashville isn't billed as a "tech" town. Startups are billed some, but not tech. I'm thinking in terms of messaging. That's one side, and the other side is from individual companies recruiting, getting the word out. I totally can see the "leftovers and rejects" you say Nashville gets- that is, just not top tiers, competitive talent. Hate to keep bringing Chatt into it (half to less-than half the size doesn't make for great comparison), but their primers, their other PR efforts, etc at least sells itself as a place for tech (if only under the guise of "entrepreneurial," startups, etc). It's a place of pride. Numbers pale to Nashville, but to my reference of Nashville's messaging...that would be one place I would start were I in any official capacity for the city. Agreed on all accounts. Hit all the nails on their heads. Quoting this one because - while I'm undecided if I'd like the HQ2 in Nash (admittedly, I've no present dog in the race) - Amazon would be well to do all you say here. It didn't click before now how brilliantly positioned Nashville is (and could be) for future growth opportunities for Amazon...studios, healthcare, on top of a bolstering logistics hub, to name but a few.

Pronounce it "ex-chin poop." My first name is Christian (after Duke's most hated player), and while it's a funny handle resulting from collegiate inside jokes (poop being a more appropriate word to say after a gaffe), I synesthetically like how it reads. As a young tech professional, I can vouch for this. When Chattanooga's market is tight or employers stingy- Nashville is the immediate go-to. Amazon has consistently rolling positions, meaning wanted postings up perpetually. What's more - unlike many medium to small tech companies in TN - Amazon is about pipeline building. The bar is high, but they do take new developers, programmers, etc and give them their first jobs. Senior positions are always difficult to recruit, but it only takes a few seniors to lead, mentor many juniors.

I'm inclined to think the strategy of including certain cities to have others up their ante is true. In no way do I wish to cut Nashville down, but there is a perspective to be had - I believe - that given its recently unprecedented growth and surging popularity (it city), among many things, the inclusion is to draw on the insecurities of more mature markets to up their offer. TN is known to be competitive with incentives, so this peripheral knowledge must surely - when everything is added together - weigh against those "more expected" cities. We know how fear works. Nashville is the pretty, popular, young gun on the market. It's not too far saying this will affect incentives from more mature markets. TL;DR: Nashville is an even smarter pick in the shortlist because being popular and growing is just enough of an outside fear to poke the coffers of targeted metros. (Again, in addition to Nash's package, advantages, etc etc)

Spent the last week in Detroit. You know you're a visitor when you love allllll the snow. Not the most updated renderings, but I was curious about the skyline, too, after passing the site. All from https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2017/11/20/detroit-skyline-hudsons-tower/880337001/ (+ more there)