100 Block Update- September 27, 2012

Please remember that the multimeters will be activated on Oct. 1, 2012 and KPD will begin enforcement on that date. The current hours of operation for the multimeters will be 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. We have been placing pamphlets on vehicles informing folks of this timing for the last week or so and we also plan to send another media advisory. The new meters will accept coin, bills, or credit cards and the cost will be $1 per hour with a two hour maximum. New signs have been placed on the block directing parkers to the meters which are located mid block.

The new meter is really very simple to use. For now we are using the pay and display option which means you simply pay at the meter and place your receipt on the dash of your vehicle. Because of the location of the meter near the Sterchi Building, we will have to move one of the benches to a new location and plan to also move around some of the benches on the west side of the street. Several of the benches had to be relocated from the locations shown on the our original plans due to utility relocation so we have asked the 100 Block Association to help us in determine the best relocation sites.

Other items of interest in the 100 Block of S. Gay Street area include the screening of the central garbage area which was created in a parking space on the 200 Block of S. Gay Street. We are getting estimates with the idea being that we would like to go for a similar look to the screening we have created by the State Street Garage.

The City of Knoxville, in conjunction with the Public Art Committee and the Arts and Culture Alliance, is continuing to plan improvements for the area around the Treble Clef. We would love to find the means to have a very meaningful art piece placed here along with other enhancements for the area.

The Engineering Department has notified me that our paving contractor plans to repave Summit Hill beginning this weekend so expect some delays and lane closures there.

We continue to discuss the panhandling issues here and plan to organize a joint meeting very soon with all the various Downtown Associations and the Cumberland Avenue Merchants Association to plan a coordinated method for making folks aware of the various regulations and impacts and to have a unified strategy going forward. As many of you know I attend most of these meetings and hear the same issues and ideas over and over. I believe the Cumberland Avenue Merchants Association has developed the most organized strategy thus far so I would like to try to get everyone together to begin a similar implementation strategy if possible.

Lastly, many events are planned for next weekend including the Hola Festival on Saturday October 6, 2012

(www.holaknoxville.org)  which will be held on Depot Street again this year and also First Friday on October 5, 2012. I look forward to seeing all of you there.

Thanks for your interest in the 100 Block of S. Gay Street and in Downtown Knoxville.