The Knoxville News-Sentinel
February 17, 2004
Knoxville , Tenn. , Builders, Engineers Eager to Get in on Town Center Project
By David Keim

The $180 million Northshore Town Center development calls for a new exit ramp off Pellissippi Parkway and the widening of Northshore Drive , and it has quickly gotten the attention of builders, engineers and other potential beneficiaries.

Officials with the James Doran Co., which plans a mix of housing, shopping and office space on the 141-acre tract, were in town Monday for a reception in their honor.

The Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, the city, the county and U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. welcomed the growth in the tax base in comments to about 50 people at the Knoxville Convention Center .

Potential contractors hope for a slice of the pie, judging from phone calls the company has received and conversation at Monday's reception.

"We're working with several" contractors, said Shane Doran, senior vice president of the Charleston, S.C.-based firm. "There'll be more than one contractor involved and (we) would love to talk to local folks about that opportunity."

The developers also would love to talk to residents of adjoining neighborhoods, and a public meeting is planned next Tuesday to answer questions.

"Trying to be good neighbors," explained Leigh Colyer, the Doran construction manager who will oversee the project.

"They're our customers," Colyer added with a laugh. "We want them to come over and shop and be happy with us."

Upscale retailers along the lines of a Pottery Barn are expected, along with a 20-screen cineplex, 120 homes averaging perhaps $400,000 apiece, 450 apartments and 150 town homes. Some 300,000 square feet of office space are planned as well.

The development uses the principles of "New Urbanism," a design philosophy that calls for pedestrian-friendly settings that combine buildings used for work, play and living.

The Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission created a "town center" zoning specifically for the tract on the northwest corner of the Pellissippi-Northshore interchange, which is owned by Robert Sterchi.

MPC is expected to approve the Doran site design at its March 11 meeting, and construction should take about five years.

"We're going to build it as fast as they will come," said Pete Harper, vice president of marketing for Doran. He said site grading and installation of infrastructure are expected to take about a year before buildings begin to rise.

Developers said one resident called to ask about the effect of their development on traffic and schools.

The new exit ramp off southbound Pellissippi hasn't been approved, but Bob Doran, president of James Doran Co., expects approval within about 12 months.

The ramp would be a "slip ramp" off the existing exit ramp and would keep traffic off Northshore, developers said.

Northshore itself is to be widened from the on-ramp to northbound Pellissippi and west to the bridge near the property, with addition of acceleration, deceleration and turning lanes and more traffic signals, Colyer said.

When it's done, the developers expect traffic flow to be improved through the area, which has seen rapid commercial development on the east side of the parkway.

"We've done thorough traffic studies," Shane Doran said, pointing out that the development uses "smart growth" principles that aim to reduce the negative effects of new construction.

As for schools, Shane Doran said, "We'll be contributing a lot to the tax base." He also pointed out that only 120 of 720 housing units are single-family houses. The remaining town homes and high-end apartments will be for sale or lease. "We're still working through exactly how much of each," he said.

Local officials lauded the development, with chamber President and CEO Mike Edwards calling it a "major regional development," not simply a development benefiting Knoxville .

Shane Doran said it's unusual to find such a large tract in an affluent, growing area such as West Knoxville, and his father, Bob Doran, said their studies indicate the Knoxville market will grow by 10,000 jobs a year.

" Knoxville is a growth town with strong markets for housing, retail and office space," Bob Doran said.

Said Congressman Duncan: "I think this town center project of theirs is just going to boom."