On Wednesday, Chris Caldwell, Deputy Chief of Staff to Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said that Knox County “analyzed” a total of 12 sites for relocation of the Knox County School District before settling on the TVA East Tower and Summer Place.
Commissioner Charles Busler asked for the list. So, I asked the Commission office for it after Busler got it.
Here it is
Property Searches & Comparison Studies
- Rule High School Campus
- East Town Mall
- Knoxville College Campus
- Knox Central
- City County Building
- Swan Office Building
- Suntrust Office Building
- St. Mary’s Campus
- Farragut Market on Outlet Drive
- Boys & Girls Club
- I-40 Expo
- TVA East Tower & Summer Place
Here is my opinion (based on what I know) of each location. Also, when former Mayor Burchett had an employee in Finance Department that rarely showed up, it was said he was analyzing the east tower move, when I open record requested his emails and work product, Zack Webb said the work and email were deleted when he left. I will open record request these comparison studies and work product to justify the comparison studies.
1. Rule High Campus: would have been a good possibility for a modular office building to be placed.
2. East Town Mall: I question that a serious discussion was had with the owners of Knoxville Center Mall.
3. Knoxville College Campus: it’s still an active college.
4. Knox Central: in current use as Knox County Storage along with purchasing and some Sheriffs Office operation.
5. City County Building: Really? Where would the existing offices go?
6. Swan Office Building: not even sure where this is.
7. Suntrust Office Building: the one behind the old Hyatt Hotel that Knoxville bought for KPD that they will now sell with KPD HQ’s.
8. St. Mary’s Campus: Knoxville had their eyes and likely a verbal agreement on those buildings before the hospital sold.
9. Farragut Market on Outlet Drive. at Home moved out recently to go into the Old Gander Mountain store location in Turkey Creek.
10. Boys and Girls Club: which one?
11. I-40 Expo: unlikely Tim Graham would sell it as he books events there often.
12. TVA East Tower and Summer Place: this is the location, they’ve wanted. Former Mayor Tim Burchett and Chris Caldwell had an employee in Finance that it was said was working on this deal years ago. However, when the employee left, I requested email and work product and Zach Webb, IT Director said the product and hard drives were erased.
Follow the money.
