Oak Ridge Today

Council to discuss city marketing, eighth rowing lane, housing, Main Street

Posted at
By 8 Comments

SIRA-Regatta-April-17-2016-6

Officials and referees monitor races on the seven-lane rowing course at the 2016 SIRA Championship Regatta in Oak Ridge on Sunday, April 17, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday will discuss city marketing, the potential eighth lane at the rowing course, housing, and Main Street Oak Ridge.

The issues will be discussed during a non-voting work session of the Oak Ridge City Council at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, in the Multipurpose Room of the Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane, which is behind the Kmart shopping center.

There are other agenda items that could also be discussed: pending U.S. Department of Energy projects and public comment requests, and updates on the Oak Ridge Senior Center and Friendship Bell.

The report on visitation marketing will be presented by Marc DeRose, executive director of Explore Oak Ridge (the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau). [Read more…]

Lee, a construction superintendent, running for Oak Ridge City Council

Posted at
By 35 Comments

Joe Lee

Joe Lee (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Joseph “Joe” Lee, a commercial construction worker who is now a field superintendent for a project at the University of Tennessee, is running for Oak Ridge City Council in the November 8 election.

Lee, an Oak Ridge native, announced his candidacy this month, and he said he has qualified to be on the ballot in November.

Lee is a 1970 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, and he attended Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. He returned to his hometown in 1987 and was employed by Downtown Management Company as construction manager during the time known as “The Mall Wars,” a press release said. He met Julie Easterday there, and they were married in 1989. They now have two daughters, Lindsay and Loren.

The press release said​ Lee has worked his entire career in the commercial construction industry as either carpenter, superintendent, or construction manager. He has worked throughout the Southeast on industrial, institutional, and commercial projects, the release said. [Read more…]

Council approves backyard chickens, growlers (tap beer to go)

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mark-Watson-and-Kayla-Wyatt-April-19-2016

Pictured above during an Oak Ridge City Council work session on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, are Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, left, and Kayla Wyatt, an advocate for allowing a small number of hens at Oak Ridge homes. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

An earlier effort to allow backyard chickens in Oak Ridge failed. This one succeeded.

On Monday, the Oak Ridge City Council approved backyard chickens in the second and final vote.

The ordinance change allows up to six female chickens, or hens, at homes in the city, possibly by August 1. Roosters will not be allowed.

Council approved a few amendments to the proposed ordinance on Monday, agreeing to not allow the slaughter of any chickens, as opposed to just hens, and lowering the building permit for a henhouse and fenced enclosure from $50 to $25.

The amended ordinance passed 5-1, with Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch casting the lone “no” vote. Council approved an earlier version of the ordinance in a 5-2 vote in May. City Council member Rick Chinn, who was absent from this week’s meeting, joined Gooch in voting against the ordinance in May. [Read more…]

Main Street Oak Ridge groundbreaking on July 20, city manager says

Posted at
By 3 Comments

RealtyLink-at-Main-Street-JCPenney-July-5-2016

The sale of the Oak Ridge Mall closed Thursday, June 30, 2016, and executives from RealtyLink, the developer of Main Street Oak Ridge, were at the 58-acre site on Tuesday, July 5, planning for the demolition of enclosed spaces between Belk and JCPenney, the two remaining anchors. From left are Matt Usry, RealtyLink project manager; Brett Rogers, RealtyLink construction director; and Brad Gunn, RealtyLink property manager. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The groundbreaking for Main Street Oak Ridge has been scheduled for 2 p.m. July 20, City Manager Mark Watson said Monday.

Main Street Oak Ridge is the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

Executives from RealtyLink, the Greenville, South Carolina, company redeveloping the mall, have said demolition machinery could be at the site the week of July 18.

Watson said the July 20 groundbreaking has been confirmed with RealtyLink Principal Neil Wilson.

Watson announced the groundbreaking, which will be open to the public, during the Monday night Oak Ridge City Council meeting as a “save the date” event. [Read more…]

Council to consider backyard chickens, growlers (tap beer to go)

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider an ordinance change that would allow backyard chickens—hens, but not roosters—and another that would allow growlers, tap beer to go. That’s a growing field in the craft beer industry, the city staff said.

The City Council approved the backyard chicken ordinance in a 5-2 vote in May. That was the first of two readings, or votes. The vote on Monday, July 11, will be the second and final reading.

If approved by Council, residents would be allowed to keep up to six female chickens, or hens, at homes in the city, possibly by August 1. Annual permits and henhouses would be required. No roosters would be allowed, and henhouses would not be allowed in front yards, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said in a memo to City Council members.

The Oak Ridge ordinance is based on an amended version of an ordinance that Knoxville adopted in 2010. [Read more…]

State grant of more than $900,000 to be used for Turnpike sidewalks

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-Sidewalks-July-6-2016 600

A state grant of more than $900,000 will be used to complete sidewalks along the south side of Oak Ridge Turnpike from Illinois Avenue to Fairbanks Road, including along this stretch of roadway between Lafayette Drive and Division Road, pictured on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:45 a.m. July 7.

Oak Ridge has received a state transportation grant of more than $900,000, and it will be used to complete sidewalks along the south side of Oak Ridge Turnpike between Illinois Avenue and Fairbanks Road, officials said Wednesday.

The $927,021.40 Multimodal Access Grant is from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

It’s one of 14 grants worth a total of about $10.3 million awarded this year, according to information from TDOT. Other cities receiving grants in the Knoxville area were Lenoir City—$899,394.30 for an SR2/Broadway Multimodal Access Project—and Gatlinburg—$396,036 for US 321 Safety Upgrades and Trolley Stop.

In Oak Ridge, the grant will be used to help build a continuous sidewalk on the south side of the Turnpike from Illinois to Fairbanks.

The current standard requires sidewalks in front of new buildings when they face the Turnpike. So, there are short stretches of new sidewalks in front of The Donut Palace and Zaxby’s restaurant, both relatively new businesses, interspersed with sections of no sidewalks in front of Martin Funeral Home and First Presbyterian Church between Lafayette Drive and Division Road. [Read more…]

Mall sale has closed, executives say

Posted at
By 5 Comments

JCPenney Oak Ridge June 30 2016

The JCPenney store at the former Oak Ridge Mall, which has more recently been known as Oak Ridge City Center, is pictured above. The sale of the roughly 58-acre site has closed, Steve Arnsdorff, chief manager of Oak Ridge City Center LLC, said Friday, July 1, 2016. RealtyLink of Greenville, South Carolina, plans to redevelop the site, which also includes a Belk store, as Main Street Oak Ridge, a mixed-use development that could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and possibly a hotel. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 p.m.

The sale of the former Oak Ridge Mall has closed, executives said Friday morning.

The sale was confirmed by Steve Arnsdorff, chief manager of Oak Ridge City Center LLC, which had owned the property, and Neil Wilson, principal of RealtyLink, the new developer.

The new owner is TN Oak Ridge Rutgers LLC, a company set up by RealtyLink, which is based in Greenville, South Carolina. The purchase price was $6.3 million, and the sale closed late Thursday evening, Wilson said.

RealtyLink plans to redevelop the roughly 58-acre site, which includes a Belk and JCPenney, as a mixed-use development known as Main Street Oak Ridge. It could include retailers, restaurants, residential units, and possibly a hotel.

“We’re excited for what this project will do for Oak Ridge,” Arnsdorff said. “This community deserves this. We’re excited this is happening.”

“I think what I would like to point out is that it’s a great day for Oak Ridge and for the city to sort of embrace this new mall,” Wilson said. [Read more…]

Recording of subdivision plat for mall redevelopment shows comfort among attorneys, consultant says

Posted at
By 10 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge City Center, which could be redeveloped as a multi-use town center known as Main Street, is pictured above. Also known as the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped building is at center. The white building at center left is Walmart, and it is not part of the proposed redevelopment. Neither is the white building at center top, the Tinseltown Theater. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 5:30 p.m.

The subdivision plat for Main Street Oak Ridge, the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall, was on its way to the Anderson County Register of Deeds to be recorded on Tuesday afternoon, said Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge.

That means the attorneys for both the buyer and the seller were comfortable enough with their progress to have the plat recorded, Evans said.

Officials said last week that RealtyLink, the proposed developer, is on track to close on the sale of the roughly 60-acre mall site by the end of June. It’s currently owned by Oak Ridge City Center LLC.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission added a lot to the subdivision plat for the proposed redevelopment in April, creating 11 interior lots. Officials said that requested change had to do with project financing, and it was a minor change from what was approved several months earlier. [Read more…]

Mall sale still on track for closing by end of month

Posted at
By 4 Comments

Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge City Center, which could be redeveloped as a multi-use town center known as Main Street, is pictured above. Also known as the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped building is at center. The white building at center left is Walmart, and it is not part of the proposed redevelopment. Neither is the white building at center top, the Tinseltown Theater. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The closing on the sale of the former Oak Ridge Mall is proceeding, and it is still on track to close by the end of June, a city consultant said Friday.

“Everything we’re hearing is that they are still on track to close by the end of the month,” said Ray Evans, retail consultant for the City of Oak Ridge.

Evans said officials have been in contact with the RealtyLink, the mall redeveloper, this week, and RealtyLink and the city staff have been discussing construction sequencing.

“We’ve had multiple meetings on that this week,” Evans said. [Read more…]

DOE remains interested in transferring Clark Center Park to city

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Clark Center Park Water View

A view of Melton Hill Lake near a boat ramp and between two picnic areas at Clark Center Park in south Oak Ridge in July 2014. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy remains interested in transferring Clark Center Park to Oak Ridge, and the city continues to discuss that possibility with the federal government even though it could be a strain on municipal finances, officials said Tuesday.

The property could be transferred at no cost to the city. But one of the questions raised two years ago about the potential property transfer was whether Oak Ridge could afford to take over the 80-acre park.

That appears to remain a concern. It costs DOE about $300,000 per year to operate the park, which is in south Oak Ridge on Melton Hill Lake.

“Monetarily, it’s difficult for us right now,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said Tuesday.

In 2014, there were Oak Ridge City Council meetings and public meetings about the future of the park and the potential transfer to the city. [Read more…]

Photos: Charlie Daniels Band, Grand Funk Railroad; changes possible at Secret City Festival

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Charlie Daniels Band at Secret City Festival June 10 2016

The Charlie Daniels Band played at the 14th annual Secret City Festival at Alvin K. Bissell Park on Friday, June 10, 2016. Pictured above is Charlie Daniels. (Photo by Angela Richardson-Newman)

 

The Charlie Daniels Band and Grand Funk Railroad both played at the Secret City Festival last weekend. Here are two photos from the concerts by Angela Richardson-Newman.

The Charlie Daniels Band played Friday, June 10, and Grand Funk Railroad performed Saturday, June 11. Both concerts were well-attended, and both received good reviews.

It was the 14th annual Secret City Festival. Besides concerts, the festival included music, food, vendors, a car show, a World War II re-enactment, U.S. Department of Energy bus tours, history and science exhibits, arts and crafts, and children’s entertainment and activities.

It’s not entirely clear if the festival will continue next year in the same form or at the same time of year as this year’s festival and previous festivals. This year had been considered a transition year as a new inaugural board of directors was appointed for a new nonprofit celebration. That board is expected to be responsible for the time, location, and length of the festival, as well as sponsorships and funding. [Read more…]

Letter: Asked Council to proceed with caution on AMSE transfer

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Note: This letter was sent to Oak Ridge City Council members before the Monday evening vote on a property transfer resolution related to Main Street Oak Ridge and American Museum of Science and Energy.

Members of Oak Ridge City Council:

I have several questions regarding the proposed transfer of the American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) land and surrounding property to the newest mall developers. My questions arise from 45 years of tax-paying residency in Oak Ridge, and decades of hearing  many eventually broken promises about mall redevelopment.

(1) What will happen to the Museum? The AMSE has been a showcase (somewhat faded in recent years due to DOE neglect) for Oak Ridge’s proud history. With the advent of the Manhattan Project National Park, its significance would seem to be enhanced. It will take  years for the National Park Service to finalize its plans and perhaps develop a local headquarters for the park, and so the Museum would appear to be especially important now. If the mall developers do take possession, will the Museum simply be bulldozed, in the hope of attracting more retail establishments? Given the city’s previous experience with organized retail development, I can easily imagine a large pile of bare dirt sitting undisturbed for decades, perhaps with an abandoned rusty earthmover on top, where we once had a monument to our history and scientific leadership, and a resource for teachers and tourists. [Read more…]