{SKNBC - private} Kerbela Temple Development Proposal Meetings Announced

[Janice Tocher]

Greetings neighbors - From Karyn Adams - here’s more information about the proposed development at the Kerbela Shriners site and next week’s meetings.

--

Kerbela Temple Development Proposal Meetings Announced

Good neighbors of the Forest...I want to make sure that everyone is aware of two meetings next week regarding the Kerbela Temple site. The meetings are:

Wednesday, April 1, 6pm - 7:30pm

Kerbela Shriner's Headquarters

315 Kerbela

Refreshments will be provided by CR Endeavors.

Thursday, April 2, 8:30am - 10am

Kern's Food Hall

2201 Kerns Rising Way

Light breakfast provided by CR Endeavors.

The time and date and location of meetings was selected by CR Endeavors, the developer proposing the project for the Kerbela Temple site.

Both of these meetings are intended to introduce the project, to answer questions, and to hear the community's feedback and input.

Some additional facts to share:

1 - This is not a City-led project. This is a private developer. CR Endeavors is from Birmingham, AL and have been working with the Kerbela owners.

2 - CR Endeavors originally had a spot on the Planning Commission agenda for April 9th, for their project's review and potential approval/denial. They have agreed to postpone for one month to engage with the public.

3 - You can access the files for the project draft in advance of the meeting here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11H5BbA_OyX8XOkWWkwXwsE4iPeKYgD3W

Thanks to John Cadotte of the South Waterfront Advisory Group for setting up the shareable file space.

4 - The site sits in two different zones of the Southwaterfront's form-based code - SW-6 and SW-5. The proposal, as it is drafted now, will require several variances from the South Waterfront form-based code. You can access the form-based code here:

https://library.municode.com/tn/knoxville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=APXBZOCO_ART7FOSECODI_7.1SWSOWAZODI

5 - The overall idea of the proposal is to develop an apartment property for the 55+ active-senior demographic. To be clear (as some folks have been confused when hearing this demographic), this is not a "retirement community" or "continuity of care" community.

Please come to one or both of the meetings next week and engage with the developers, ask questions, and give this proposal some serious thought. The Kerbela site is one of our City's most incredible views and sits at the terminus of one of our most important arteries, Gay Street. Your voice and engagement make a difference.

Please share with your networks, especially in South Knoxville.