Reminder: Kerbela Shriners development Proposal Meetings - tonight and tomorrow morning

[Janice Tocher]

Greetings Neighbors,

Here’s a note our city council rep, Karyn Adams, posted on Facebook… for those who may not be on Facebook or don’t follow Karyn… or those who need a reminder about upcoming meetings :)

--Kerbela Temple Development Proposal Meetings—

The Kerbela Temple site offers one of our City's most incredible views and sits at the terminus of one of our most important arteries, Gay Street, as a welcome to South Knoxville and Sevier Avenue. A private firm, CR Endeavors, is proposing development of the Kerbela site. Two meetings are scheduled to meet with the public about this proposal. These are meetings for you. Your voice and engagement make a difference.

The time, date, and location of meetings was selected by CR Endeavors. Both meetings are intended to introduce the project, to answer questions, and to hear the community's feedback and input.

Meeting 1:

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

Kerbela Shriner's Headquarters, 315 Kerbela

Refreshments will be provided by CR Endeavors.

Meeting 2

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

Kern's Food Hall, 2201 Kerns Rising Way

Light breakfast provided by CR Endeavors.

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 has 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 - Access the files for the project draft in advance of the meeting. Thanks to John Cadotte of the South Waterfront Advisory Group (SWAAG) for setting up the shareable file space.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11H5BbA_OyX8XOkWWkwXwsE4iPeKYgD3W

4 - The site sits in two different zones of the 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.  

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

5 - The proposal’s general concept is to develop an apartment property for the 55+ active-senior demographic. This concept is not a retirement community nor is it a continuity of care community. 

Please come to one or both of the meetings and engage with the developers, ask questions, and give this proposal some serious thought. 

And please share with your networks, especially in South Knoxville.