Eager to see design plans for a proposed $6 to $8 million City of Knoxville investment that would transform a six-block section of Magnolia Avenue between Jessamine Street and North Bertrand Street?

Have suggestions to improve the streetscapes designs?

Visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/magnolia for the latest renderings and plan details that were presented at a Thursday, Jan. 21, public meeting at the John T. O’Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona St.

Magnolia Avenue residents and business owners visiting the webpage will be able to read public comments on the streetscape project. They can also review documents and plans developed with public input over the past seven years, dating back to the 2009 Magnolia Avenue Corridor Plan.

About 70 citizens attended Thursday’s meeting, where Dawn Michelle Foster, the City’s Director of Redevelopment, City Project Manager Bryan Berry and design consultants with Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon presented the design details for Magnolia Avenue streetscape improvements between Jessamine Street and North Bertrand Street.

Proposed improvements include adding 14-foot-tall brick gateway pillars; raised medians to replace the center left-turn lane; bike lanes; and bus pull-offs. Streetscape amenities would include attractive new black street light poles and crossbars with LED lights, wider sidewalks, benches and bike racks. Left-turn lanes will be provided at major intersections, and crosswalks would be colored and patterned to enhance both aesthetics and pedestrian safety. Utility lines would be relocated, and new trees would anchor the landscaping design.

Pending approval of the design and project budget, construction could begin in early 2017.

Public input is invited. A two-week public comment period ends Feb. 4. Email your ideas or comments to bberry@knoxvilletn.gov.