Knoxville Photos!

[Tennessine]

Picture I took of the UT Pedestrian Bridge on Friday afternoon. On the left, phases I and II of the completed Student Union stand.

 

Picture from the upper deck of Thompson-Boling Arena during the UT-Miss. St. Men's Basketball game on Tuesday, March 5th, 2019. Go Vols!

 

 

[Tennessine]

 

Old City: Jackson Avenue. Taken yesterday, April 8th.

[MLBrumby]

Love Old City! It's really cool and not where you'd expect to find old Knoxville. I expected it to be close to the river, but Knoxville was more of a railroad town.

[Tennessine]

11 hours ago, MLBrumby said:

Love Old City! It's really cool and not where you'd expect to find old Knoxville. I expected it to be close to the river, but Knoxville was more of a railroad town.

Knoxville was a big rail mecca in the early to mid-20th century; in terms of light rail, it even had a streetcar downtown until the 1950s. The commercialization of the auto, the decline of limestone quarrying and the decline of textile manufacturing culminated in an economically-depressed Knoxville in the mid-20th century, resulting in a slight population decline from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was not until the 1982 World's Fair when things began to pick back up, and that was still at a painfully slow pace. In fact, much of the transformations to Knoxville's historic urban districts occurred in the 2000s and 2010s. Today, Downtown and the Old City are flourishing, and there is a massive residential boom occurring in both areas (though I do not have the figures for this).  I'm very glad to see a city so rich in history and importance for the state of Tennessee return to its old glory in the southern Appalachians.

Speaking of Knoxville's rail history, the picture I posted was actually taken right in front of Jackson Terminal, which is now a renovated warehouse used primarily for gatherings and concerts.

[East Side Urbanite]

On 4/9/2019 at 4:19 PM, nativetenn said:

 

Old City: Jackson Avenue. Taken yesterday, April 8th.

Strong. I like it.

[MidTenn1]

On ‎4‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 4:53 AM, nativetenn said:

Knoxville was a big rail mecca in the early to mid-20th century; in terms of light rail, it even had a streetcar downtown until the 1950s. The commercialization of the auto, the decline of limestone quarrying and the decline of textile manufacturing culminated in an economically-depressed Knoxville in the mid-20th century, resulting in a slight population decline from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was not until the 1982 World's Fair when things began to pick back up, and that was still at a painfully slow pace. In fact, much of the transformations to Knoxville's historic urban districts occurred in the 2000s and 2010s. Today, Downtown and the Old City are flourishing, and there is a massive residential boom occurring in both areas (though I do not have the figures for this).  I'm very glad to see a city so rich in history and importance for the state of Tennessee return to its old glory in the southern Appalachians.

Speaking of Knoxville's rail history, the picture I posted was actually taken right in front of Jackson Terminal, which is now a renovated warehouse used primarily for gatherings and concerts.

I understand there are talks in progress to build a baseball stadium in Old Town when the Smokies' lease on the Sevierville stadium is up in a few years. A retro style facility in this neighborhood would be awesome.

[Nathan_in_DC]

On 5/1/2019 at 3:02 AM, PHofKS said:

I understand there are talks in progress to build a baseball stadium in Old Town when the Smokies' lease on the Sevierville stadium is up in a few years. A retro style facility in this neighborhood would be awesome.

It would make so much more sense to have the stadium somewhere more accessible than it is now. Either in closer to Sevierville, Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge, or bring them in to Knoxville. As it stands, there's nothing to do before or after the game, so it makes it difficult to turn going out into an event. Perhaps off Summit Hill east of Hall of Fame Drive to provide an extension of the entertainment district, or across Magnolia from Chilhowee Park to help spur some development in that neighborhood. Even somewhere out west wouldn't be so bad, near Cedar Bluff or Bearden maybe?

[KJHburg]

first time in downtown Knoxville since well the Worlds Fair in 1982 with my parents in the family sedan.  Photos from the top and they do need to clean outside of that Gold ball. 

Lots of photos of downtown and the UT area.   Lots of photos but like I said it has been a LONG time.   I thought downtown Kville was pretty vibrant lots of shops, hotels restaurants etc.  

First photos are major construction site along Cumberland Ave.   Cumberland Ave reminds me of Hillsborough St in Raleigh near NC State campus.   It was clear enough to see the Smokies from the Sunsphere. 

[Tennessine]

Thanks, @KJHburg! You always deliver quality content no matter where you go. I hope you enjoyed your visit to Knoxville and the Volunteer State. Don't stay away, now!

[KJHburg]

Just now, Tennessine said:

Thanks, @KJHburg! You always deliver quality content no matter where you go. I hope you enjoyed your visit to Knoxville and the Volunteer State. Don't stay away, now!

My niece goes to Belmont in Nashville and will remain in Nashville after graduation since at least yearly visits and I usually stop in Kville to break up the trip depending on when I leave Charlotte. 

[bnacincy]

1 minute ago, KJHburg said:

My niece goes to Belmont in Nashville and will remain in Nashville after graduation since at least yearly visits and I usually stop in Kville to break up the trip depending on when I leave Charlotte. 

Thanks for all the photos! You're doing yeoman's work! Any chance you'll head to West Tennessee and take some Memphis photos?

You can try the BBQ there and see how it ranks with Carolina Que!!

[KJHburg]

Many moons ago I went to Memphis but I do need to go back and I want to go up that Bass Pro Pyramid for sure.  and downtown of course. 

[bnacincy]

8 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

Many moons ago I went to Memphis but I do need to go back and I want to go up that Bass Pro Pyramid for sure.  and downtown of course. 

And when you do check out Interstate BBQ on 3rd Street and the BBQ Shop on Madison.

In the meantime check out the Memphis forum and see what was just announced for the Pinch District right across from the Pyramid!

[MLBrumby]

Once again, nice photos.. thanks. You're right about that Sunsphere which has gone from novelty... to centerpiece... to oddity... to relic... to a bit of a funny, even maybe endearing symbol of a 'scruffy' city.  BTW: that tag came from the WSJ in 1982. 

[rancenc]

Recent aerial view of Chattanooga.

 

[smeagolsfree]

Thanks For posting rancenc!

[rancenc]

Recent aerial view of Knoxville!

 

[KJHburg]

random photos  of Knoxville area from downtown to the new Bucee's out on I-40.   what is with this abandoned hotel?  could be it revived or maybe turned into affordable housing or something?   My friend took these while there this weekend. 

[MLBrumby]

That hotel is the former Hyatt Rwgency built in the early 1970s and an early ‘atrium’ hotel. I actually stayed there in the late 90s on business once and it was showing its age then. I think it changed owners a couple times. Current owner has offered the building for student housing to UT which is going through an enrollment boom. Housing is in critically short supply in Knoxville. 

[MLBrumby]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

random photos  of Knoxville area from downtown to the new Bucee's out on I-40.   what is with this abandoned hotel?  could be it revived or maybe turned into affordable housing or something?   My friend took these while there this weekend. 

….

…

The Hyatt Place on Gay St. is the birthplace of the Southeastern Conference, where the original member schools formed what would become the premier collegiate athletic conference today. 

[KJHburg]

19 minutes ago, MLBrumby said:

That hotel is the former Hyatt Rwgency built in the early 1970s and an early ‘atrium’ hotel. I actually stayed there in the late 90s on business once and it was showing its age then. I think it changed owners a couple times. Current owner has offered the building for student housing to UT which is going through an enrollment boom. Housing is in critically short supply in Knoxville. 

that seems that would be a good conversion.  all rooms with bathrooms and you could put a small microwave and mini fridge in there too. 

[smeagolsfree]

Funny that I stayed at both of those hotels. The second one as a child visiting Knoxville when I was 6 years old.

[jjbradleyBrooklyn]

I stayed at that hotel back in 2017, and it was in need of a renovation then.

It had a 1980s vibe to it, and it has such a cool interior. A great building.

Would be cool to see tha conversion happen, for UT student. Great idea!