• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Update on downtown Oak Ridge Tuesday

Posted at 4:56 pm March 10, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Wayne Blasius

A city official will give an update on the proposed development of downtown Oak Ridge during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday.

The presentation will be led by Wayne Blasius, director of the Oak Ridge Planning and Development Department. The online Lunch with the League meeting has been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and it is scheduled from 12 to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 15.

“Because of its unique development as a community to support the Manhattan Project (during World War II), the City of Oak Ridge lacked a central downtown,” a press release said. “In the fall of 2019, the city prepared a vision for a new city center, which included zoning changes, property acquisition, and soliciting development. With zoning changes and property acquisition in place, on August 6, 2021, the Oak Ridge Land Bank held its ‘Toast the Town’ event to hear the formal announcement of the call for development. Two excellent proposals were received in response to the (request for proposals) and will be considered for approval by the Land Bank Board at their business meeting, March 15, 5:30 pm (location to be announced). Interested community members are encouraged to attend.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Downtown Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Main Street Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Land Bank, Wayne Blasius, Wilson Street

Oak Ridge Land Bank has news conference about downtown development

Posted at 8:54 am August 6, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Logo, company name

Description automatically generated

The Oak Ridge Land Bank will host a gathering on Friday, August 6, at 5 p.m. on Wilson Street near Rice Road. At 5:30 p.m., there will be a news conference regarding the land bank’s Request For Proposals to develop Downtown Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The Land Bank, representing the community interest with respect to the development of a downtown district, is releasing a RFP for the purchase and development of property in accordance with the adopted “vision” for this district, the press release said.

Over the decades, multiple plans have called for creating a place where Oak Ridgers can live, work, and play, the press release said. The Wilson Street corridor borders Main Street shopping near the new American Museum of Science and Energy and planned conference center, and it is easily accessible from Oak Ridge Turnpike and Alvin K. Bissell Park, the press release said. It provides a “great opportunity to finally have a distinctive, uniquely Oak Ridge place for people to gather,” the release said. “The existence of a more urban, densely-developed environment, featuring apartments, condos, restaurants, local shops, offices, and beautiful green space, will attract new and different businesses to Oak Ridge.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Downtown Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Land Bank, request for proposals, Wilson Street

Community development director retiring at end of July

Posted at 12:35 pm May 11, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Kathryn Baldwin, Oak Ridge community development director, will retire at the end of July.

Baldwin announced her retirement in an email that was sent to members of the Oak Ridge Land Bank, the Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, and the Oak Ridge Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday.

“I wanted to personally inform you that I’ve decided to retire at the end of July,” Baldwin said. “For 16 years, it has been my pleasure to serve the men and women who sit on boards that represent the City of Oak Ridge. Each of you bring a unique perspective to actions taken by our individual boards and commissions. In addition, you do so with an unsurpassed commitment to ethics, creativity, respect, and the health and wellbeing of the Oak Ridge community. The fact that you have put your faith in me and the Community Development staff has been a personal honor. I look forward to watching the City of Oak Ridge grow and prosper under your leadership.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, Kathryn Baldwin, Oak Ridge Board of Zoning Appeals, Oak Ridge Community Development, Oak Ridge Land Bank, Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission, South Illinois Avenue Corridor Study, the Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals

A first in Anderson County: Oak Ridge home demolished as part of state blight elimination program

Posted at 11:50 am May 3, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

The first home to be torn down in Anderson County as part of the state's HHF Blight Elimination Program was being demolished at 678 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The first home to be torn down in Anderson County as part of the state’s HHF Blight Elimination Program was being demolished at 678 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:30 p.m.

It’s being described as a first: An Oak Ridge home is being demolished Wednesday as part of a state blight elimination program. It’s the first home to be torn down in Anderson County as part of the state’s HHF Blight Elimination Program.

The property being demolished is at 678 West Outer Drive. It’s owned by the Oak Ridge Land Bank. The demolition, being done by First Place Finish, is estimated to cost close to $3,600, and it is expected to be completed today (Wednesday, May 3).

The work is being funded by the U.S. Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund, or HHF. Tennessee’s HHF Blight Elimination Program is administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, or THDA. Anderson County is one of six counties in the Volunteer State included in the program.

Under the Blight Elimination Program, qualified nonprofits and land banks can apply for loans of up to $25,000 to cover the cost of acquiring a blighted abandoned home, demolishing it, “greening” the property, and maintaining the vacant lot. The greened lot can then be transformed into new affordable housing or another use that is approved by THDA and is expected to stabilize and improve the neighborhood. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, blight elimination, Blight Elimination Program, Charlie Jernigan, First Place Finish, Hardest Hit Fund, HHF, HHF Blight Elimination Program, Lindsay Hall, Manhattan Project, Matt Widner, Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, Oak Ridge Community Development, Oak Ridge Housing Authority, Oak Ridge Land Bank, Ralph M. Perrey, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Tennessee Valley Authority Extreme Makeover, THDA, U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Treasury, Warren Gooch, World War II

Land Bank perspective on Oak Ridge housing to be discussed Tuesday

Posted at 11:23 am April 28, 2017
By Maureen Hoyt Leave a Comment

Charlie Jernigan July 11 2016

Charlie Jernigan, chair of the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corp. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

“Housing in Oak Ridge is a topic of great interest for a large and diverse group of people as well as government and business entities,” said Charlie Jernigan. “To really understand what is happening with housing, it is important to know its status now, the important entities involved, and the game plans going forward.”

Jernigan will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, May 2, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Now is an exciting time for Oak Ridge, with growth and positive change in many different arenas,” Jernigan said. “Housing is one of those areas presenting significant challenges, as well as opportunities for significant improvement. The city has reached a hinge point regarding housing: we have several options for our way forward, and one of these paths will take us where we need to be. Instead of choosing the current route of stagnation and further decay, we can decide to move in the direction of renewal and growth, and blaze a trail of improved housing throughout the city.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Charlie Jernigan, housing, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Land Bank

City publishes summary of Oak Ridge Land Bank Partnership Strategy Workshop

Posted at 1:08 pm April 14, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

By City of Oak Ridge

On November 6, 2015, the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation, in conjunction with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, hosted the second Housing Strategy Work Session. The purpose of this meeting was to identify willing partners in the effort to improve housing quality in the City of Oak Ridge.

As a result of this collaborative meeting, feedback was gathered from six identified stakeholder groups, each having their own perspective on what needs to be done and what they could do in addressing the city’s identified housing challenges.

The participating stakeholder groups offered the following input:

Banks

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, housing, housing strategy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge Land Bank

City buys blighted home that burned in July on Waddell Circle

Posted at 11:05 pm December 14, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

147-Waddell-Circle

The City of Oak Ridge purchased 147 Waddell Circle, which had a fire in July, using Community Development Block Grants. The property, which sustained more than 75 percent fire damage, is slated for immediate demolition. It was purchased from an owner-occupant who did not have the means to remove the structure, officials said. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge has purchased a home that burned in July on Waddell Circle.

The blighted property at 147 Waddell Circle was purchased through the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, program. It is slated for immediate demolition, officials said.

The home, which sustained more than 75 percent fire damage, was purchased from an owner occupant who did not have the means to remove the structure, the City of Oak Ridge said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: CDBG, City of Oak Ridge, Community Development Block Grant, fire, Oak Ridge Land Bank, Waddell Circle

Land Bank ‘ahead of curve’ in repairing, redeveloping blighted homes

Posted at 2:01 pm December 1, 2015
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Matt Widner and Charlie Jernigan Nov. 6, 2015

Matt Widner, Oak Ridge Community Development housing specialist, left, and Charlie Jernigan, board chair for the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corp., are pictured above during a housing work session on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A two-year-old effort to repair or redevelop blighted and abandoned homes in Oak Ridge is making above-average progress, an official said in November.

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation, the first of its kind in Tennessee, has sold two homes and donated two and has more listed, board chair Charlie Jernigan said.

Other land banks around the country haven’t had any sales until their third year.

“We’re ahead of that curve,” Jernigan said after a November 6 work session on housing at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the second this year. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Front Page News, Government, Government, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: blighted homes, Charlie Jernigan, First Place Finish, housing, Kathryn Baldwin, land bank, Matt Widner, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge Community Development, Oak Ridge Land Bank, Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation

Oak Ridge Land Bank hosting neighborhood strategy work session

Posted at 4:10 pm October 27, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Partnership Strategy Agenda Flyer Nov. 6, 2015

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation is hosting a strategy work session November 6 to focus on partnerships and “collaborative efforts to improve and promote our Oak Ridge neighborhoods,” a press release said. The work session is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, November 6, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Agenda items include demonstrated successes, a small group exercise, and a group discussion.

For reservations, contact Alicia Bailey at the City of Oak Ridge at (865) 425-3531 or by email at [email protected] by Wednesday, November 4.

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge Land Bank, Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation, Oak Ridge neighborhoods, strategy work session, work session

Oak Ridge Land Bank to be discussed Tuesday

Posted at 9:04 pm May 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Charlie Jernigan, board chairman of the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corp., will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday.

The meeting will be in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corp. is a unique governmental organization in Tennessee that grew out of the need to address the problem of blighted housing in Oak Ridge, a press release said. The concept of a land bank was introduced in 2011 as part of the “Not in Our City” plan. It became a reality in September 2013 when City Council approved Ordinance 08-2013. The Land Bank Corp. will work to support economic revitalization through returning vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to productive use, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Charlie Jernigan, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Oak Ridge Land Bank, Oak Ridge Land Bank Corp., Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church

Oak Ridge announces election results for boards, commissions, Land Bank

Posted at 11:38 pm December 23, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge has announced the results of the Dec. 16 special meeting to elect members of boards and commissions and a board of directors for a new Oak Ridge Land Bank.

Here are the results:

ELECTIONS—EXISTING BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: boards, commissions, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Land Bank

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

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

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

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

Recent Posts

  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing
  • Two fires reported early Friday

Recent Comments

  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Raymond Mitchell on City manager’s ‘State of the City’ canceled due to weather
  • Mysti M Desilva on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Mel Schuster on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Cecil King on Crews clearing roads, repairing water line breaks
  • Rick Morrow on Roads, schools, businesses closed after heavy snow
  • Diana lively on Free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25
  • Anne Garcia on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student
  • Raymond Dickover on Blockhouse Valley Recycling Center now open 6 days per week
  • Mike Mahathy on School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today