By Mike Steely

Senior Writer

steelym@knoxfocus.com

An overflow crowd pushed into a room at Pellissippi State College on Magnolia Avenue Thursday to hear Peter Davis of WRS talk about what the new owners of Standard Mill hope to do with the old skeleton of a building.

Two concept drawings were presented along with a map of a proposed road to serve the future project. Davis, along with Deputy Mayor Bill Lyons, talked of options for the site including multi-family dwellings, office space, retail stores and public space for events.

Davis said it will cost between $1.5 and $2 million just to clean the building up and cannot, yet, set a timeline on that effort or when the old building may be back in use.

A new street is being proposed to link Washington Avenue with East Fifth Avenue, possibly add to the greenway system there, and provide access to Caswell Park. He said that the East Knoxville neighborhood is a “food desert” and maybe a food venue would be included.

Lyons indicated the city will help the plans along with a tax break and assist in the new street.

“We’re excited about the future of Parkridge,” Mayor Madeline Rogero told the meeting.