The main parking lot and main entrance to the former American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue is pictured above on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Apartments could be built on the former American Museum of Science and Energy site on South Tulane Avenue.
The apartment complex could include 217 units in seven three-story buildings on the 10-acre site. They would be built where the former AMSE building and its big parking lot are now. AMSE has moved across the street to Main Street Oak Ridge, the roughly 58-acre redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall.
The apartment developer, Legacy Capital of Knoxville, anticipates that construction could begin at the site in the late spring or early summer of next year and last about 18 months, said company president Daniel Smith.
Smith and Mark Bialik, owner of GBS Engineering of Knoxville, presented information on the $25 million to $30 million project to the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission during a Monday evening work session. They plan to present what is known as a planned unit development for the project to the Planning Commission this month.
The market-rate apartment complex—which would include a pool, clubhouse, and fire pit area—could be made up of about 55 percent one-bedroom units and 45 percent two-bedroom units, with three to six three-bedroom units.
The new apartments, tentatively called Main Street Apartments, will have garages and more one-bedroom units than Bristol Park or Centennial Village Apartments, project executives said. One-bedroom apartments could rent for between $870 and $910 per month, and two-bedroom units could rent for $1,100 and $1,200 per month.
A new road would provide a connection through the property between Badger Avenue near Oak Ridge Associated Universities and the entrance and exit between Belk and Cinemark Tinseltown. The current main entrance to AMSE would be closed off, and Tulane Place would no longer cross the property.
The site is expected to have a retention pond and green space.
There has already been some development on part of the AMSE property, the southernmost area along South Illinois Avenue, where a Tire Discounters is being built. That 7.44-acre part of the site is owned by TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC after previously being owned by the U.S. Department of Energy before being transferred to the City of Oak Ridge and then to the developer. Other development in the area could include a restaurant and grocery store, Oak Ridge Today has previously reported.
The redevelopment of the former AMSE property is affiliated with Main Street Oak Ridge and its developer, RealtyLink, and TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC.
The remaining 11.14 acres on the northern part of the former AMSE property are owned by the City of Oak Ridge but are expected to be transferred later.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
The site of the proposed apartments, tentatively called Main Street Apartments, on the former American Museum of Science and Energy property on South Tulane Avenue across from Main Street Oak Ridge, as presented to the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. The Oak Ridge Municipal Building is to the north of the site. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
A plan showing the potential layout of proposed apartments, tentatively called Main Street Apartments, on the former American Museum of Science and Energy property on South Tulane Avenue across from Main Street Oak Ridge, as presented to the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. The roundabout pictured on South Tulane Avenue would be at the entrance and exit between Belk and Cinemark Tinseltown. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The main entrance to the former American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue is pictured above on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The east side of the former American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. The 10-acre site could be redeveloped with apartments. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
This view looks southeast to the former American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue from the entrance and exit between Belk and Cinemark Tinseltown on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The north side of the former American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. The 10-acre site could be redeveloped with apartments. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. This is a free story. Thank you to our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. You can see what we cover here.
Do you appreciate this story or our work in general? If so, please consider a monthly subscription to Oak Ridge Today. See our Subscribe page here. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today.
Copyright 2018 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
samuel hopwood says
A giant step forward for OR!