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Oak Ridge mall to have new name, banks considering financing

Posted at 5:06 pm September 23, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Oak Ridge Village Area Rendering

 

Tim Sittema

Tim Sittema

The redeveloped Oak Ridge mall will have a new name, and local banks and credit unions are considering helping with project financing, executives said Tuesday.

The redeveloped mixed-use property will be known as Main Street—Oak Ridge, said Crosland Southeast, the North Carolina development firm that has been working with the city of Oak Ridge to redevelop the site, including through significant demolition and new construction. The name was chosen after long consideration of a new brand identity for the development, including involvement by Oak Ridge High School students.

“Most everyone we talked to in Oak Ridge was positive about creating a downtown destination for the community—something that says this place is the heart of the city,” said Crosland Southeast partner Tim Sittema. “The site already has Main Street running through it; so Main Street—Oak Ridge is the obvious choice.”

David Bradshaw

David Bradshaw

Construction is expected to begin in early 2015, with an opening anticipated in the third quarter of 2016, based upon completion of the financial arrangements.

In a press release, Crosland Southeast said a consortium of local financial institutions, led by CapitalMark Bank and Trust of Oak Ridge, is considering substantial involvement in the financing of the redevelopment “due to the transformative nature of this project in the city core.”

“In addition to our bank, ORNL Federal Credit Union and others have held discussions together about providing lending support to the mall project,” said David Bradshaw, executive vice president of CapitalMark. “Although details have not been finalized and commitments have not yet been made, there is very strong interest among our local banks and credit unions to be engaged in this important long-term investment in the Oak Ridge community.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: CapitalMark Bank and Trust, construction, Crosland Southeast, David Bradshaw, demolition, development, financing, IDB, Main Street—Oak Ridge, mall redevelopment, Mark Watson, name change, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, ORNL Federal Credit Union, public infrastructure, tax increment financing, TIF, Tim Sittema

Lake City’s name change to Rocky Top on hold for now

Posted at 1:29 am May 6, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Tim Isbel at Hearing on Lake City Name Change to Rocky Top

Tim Isbel, president of the Rocky Top Marketing and Manufacturing Co., at a federal court hearing on Monday on Lake City’s proposed name change to Rocky Top.

Note: this story was updated at 2:52 a.m.

KNOXVILLE—Lake City’s proposed name change to Rocky Top is on hold for now as a federal judge considers a request to stop the move.

The name change has been proposed as part of an expensive plan to convert the former coal mining town in northern Anderson County into a tourist destination. But it has been challenged by the publisher of “Rocky Top,” a well-known bluegrass song and unofficial University of Tennessee anthem.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill that allows the name change, but the proposal has not yet gone back to the Lake City Council for final approval. Under the state law, Lake City could become Rocky Top on July 3, said Tim Isbel, an Anderson County Commissioner and president of Rocky Top Tennessee Marketing and Manufacturing Co.

That company has proposed a development that could be worth up to $450 million over six years and include an indoor and outdoor water park, coal miners theater, children’s museum, train rides, restaurant, and candy company on some 300 acres near two exits off Interstate 75. During a hearing in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Monday, officials said it could bring 200 new jobs to Lake City and generate another $6 million in sales tax per year. But the project hinges on the name change. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Government, Government, Lake City, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Bill Haslam, bluegrass song, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant, candy company, children's museum, coal miners theater, House of Bryant Publications LLC, intellectual property, John Triggs, Lake City, Lake City Council, name change, Nathan D. Rowel, Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee Marketing and Manufacturing Co., Tim Isbel, train rides, U.S. District Court, University of Tennessee, Waddey Patterson, water park

Rocky Top name change advances

Posted at 1:29 pm March 20, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Lake City Council Approves Rocky Top Name Change

The Lake City Council votes 4-0 in November to change the town’s name to Rocky Top, and Rep. John Ragan said he has draft legislation to approve the name change to introduce in the state legislature.

Information from WYSH Radio

A legislative proposal that would allow Lake City to officially change its name to Rocky Top will soon be debated by the Tennessee House of Representatives.

On Thursday, the House Calendar and Rules Committee voted to put the plan, also known as HB 1469, on the House’s agenda for Monday, March 31.

This comes after The House of Bryant Publications filed a lawsuit against the city to stop the name change. The House of Bryant owns the trademark to the song “Rocky Top.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Lake City, State, Top Stories Tagged With: HB 1469, House Calendar and Rules Committee, House of Bryant Publications, John Ragan, Lake City, lawsuit, name change, Rocky Top, Tennessee House of Representatives

Lake City’s name change to Rocky Top challenged in federal court

Posted at 4:10 pm March 11, 2014
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Lake City Council Approves Rocky Top Name Change

The Lake City Council votes 4-0 in November to change the town’s name to Rocky Top, and Rep. John Ragan said he has draft legislation to approve the name change to introduce in the state legislature.

Note: This story was last updated at 6 p.m.

The Gatlinburg publisher of “Rocky Top”—a bluegrass tune, state song, and unofficial anthem for the University of Tennessee—filed a federal lawsuit on Monday that seeks to prevent Lake City from changing its name to Rocky Top as part of a plan to turn the former coal mining town into a tourist destination.

The publisher, House of Bryant Publications LLC of Gatlinburg, also owns many Rocky Top trademarks, and it believes that the proposed name change for Lake City “is an attempt to unfairly exploit the fame and goodwill of House of Bryant’s intellectual property,” according to a press release from Waddey Patterson, an intellectual property law firm based in Nashville.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Monday. The defendants are Lake City, Rocky Top Tennessee Marketing and Manufacturing Co., Anderson County Commissioner Tim Isbel, Franklin resident Brad Coriell, Lake City businessman Mark Smith, Lake City Vice Mayor Michael Lovely, and Knoxville resident Carl “Buddy” Warren. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Government, Government, Lake City, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, Brad Coriell, Carl "Buddy" Warren, Coal Creek, copyright, federal lawsuit, Gary L. Montle, hotel, House of Bryant, House of Bryant Publications LLC, John Ragan, Lake City, Lake City Council, lawsuit, legislation, Mark Smith, Michael Lovely, name change, Randy McNally, restaurant, Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee Marketing and Manufacturing Co. Tim Isble, Tennessee General Assembly, theater, theme park, trademark, U.S. District Court, Waddey Patterson, water park

Lake City to Rocky Top: Bill clears first hurdle

Posted at 11:37 am February 5, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Lake City Rocky Top Meeting

A standing-room-only crowd assembles to watch the Lake City Council vote 4-0 in November to recommend the town’s name be changed to Rocky Top.

Legislation that could clear the way for Lake City to be rechristened Rocky Top cleared its first hurdle on Tuesday as it was approved by the Tennessee House of Representatives’ Local Government Committee in Nashville.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Ragan of Oak Ridge, is a private act requested by Lake City officials as the first step toward developing Lake City and its two exits off I-75 into a tourist destination.

Developers say that without the name change, the project—which could include a theater, a restaurant, and other amenities—cannot move forward. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Government, Lake City, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, John Ragan, Lake City, Lake City Council, Local Government Committee, name change, Rocky Top, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee House of Representatives, Tim Sharp, tourist destination

Lake City has Nov. 1 public meeting on changing name to Rocky Top

Posted at 12:14 pm October 22, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Lake City residents who want more information about a proposal to change their city’s name to Rocky Top as the first step toward the creation of an amusement destination with a water park, restaurant, and theaters tied together by the area’s coal mining history will get a chance to get that information and share their opinions during a public meeting scheduled for Friday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center of Main Street Baptist Church.

The Lake City Council will consider the name change on Thursday, Nov. 7. If approved, the change would have to be approved by the General Assembly. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Lake City, Lake City, Top Stories Tagged With: Buddy Warren, Coal Creek, coal mining, Lake City, Lake City Council, Main Street Baptist Church, name change, restaurant, Rocky Top, theaters, theme park, water park

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Classifieds

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AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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