Revitalizing a Community: Residences at Eastport

Eastport School, founded circa 1870, is believed to be the first school for African-Americans in Knoxville's Eastport community. The historic brick building will undergo a transformation to become the cornerstone for the Residences at Eastport, a sustainable housing community for seniors, as celebrated during a groundbreaking ceremony on August 13, 2010.

Made possible in part with $6.5 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the redeveloped property will provide 85 LEED-certified, affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income seniors. In a great show of support for the project, Knoxville City Council approved $869,000 in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Project funds for renovations. This is Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC) latest project, a first step in what KCDC hopes will jump-start revitalization efforts in the Five Points Community. The site is located across the street from the Walter P. Taylor neighborhood.

KCDC CEO Alvin Nance said in an interview with the News-Sentinel that when the Mechanicsville properties were demolished, a large number of people were displaced, which had a major impact not only on social services, but on the school system and churches. With the Walter P. Taylor project, he said, "we're going to prepare housing first, move the residents from those units at the Walter P. Taylor, then go back to Taylor and begin to knock down those units. So this way we don't have a major disruption of the community."

Breaking ground for the new Residences at Eastport on August 13, 2010, during KCDC's kick-off celebration were (with shovels l-r) Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre; Denark Construction President Frank Rothermel; Partners Development Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Christi Branscom; Tennessee State Rep. Joe Armstrong; Knox County Commission Chairman Thomas "Tank" Strickland; Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale; Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam; KCDC Board of Commissioners Chairman Juanita U. Cannon; Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati Vice President Tom Ciresi; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Assistant Deputy Secretary Pat Hoban-Moore; KCDC Board of Commissioners member Montina Jones; and Knoxville City Councilman Dan Brown; (behind l-r) David Leaverton, representing Senator Corker; KCDC Board of Commissioners member Ellen Adcock; and Knoxville City Councilwoman Marilyn Roddy.

City Councilman Daniel Brown recalled being part of the safety patrol at Eastport, while Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam told the gathering that state Representative Joe Armstrong and County Commission Chairman Thomas "Tank" Strickland both attended the school. As reported to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, "We love the re-use of historical buildings that have meant a lot in the community," the mayor said, adding that Eastport fits that description. Many East Knoxville residents remember fondly their years at Eastport Elementary School, a school that faithfully served the community for many years. This time around, instead of serving as a place of learning for youngsters, the site will provide housing for area seniors.

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