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Shiny, happy Knoxville
Posted By katie allison granju
Metro Pulse asked Knoxvillians what would make this town an even better place to live in 2008.
A few of the answers:
Consolidation of the city and county governments would be the most significant change for the future of the Knoxville area; the hopeful result would be (1) to replace the dysfunctional Knox County government with something more positive like the City of Knoxville’s government and (2) to realize the cost and efficiency benefits of a single local government.
—Will Skelton, retired attorney
Probably too far out, but I’d love to have more public transportation options. I live in Fountain City and work at UT Med Center. I have to be at work at 7 a.m. several days of the week. I can’t get to work by 7 a.m. on the bus. I love using public transport in other large cities (Chicago, D.C.). It’s inexpensive, clean, and tons of people use it. I tried to figure out a way to do it here, but it just won’t happen with the bus service in its present schedule.
—Shanna Overbey, R.N., B.S.N.
Clinical Trials Coordinator
University of Tennessee Cancer Institute
If Knoxville really wants to improve quality of life, the city needs to focus on improving public transportation! What they’ve done downtown is great, but unless more people can get around from the center, life in the center of the city will never improve. Just take a look, all the best cities in the world have great public transport! Knoxville needs to realize that free trolleys around the downtown area are great, but people live and work in different areas. I live on 5th Avenue, right near downtown. I work off Merchants Boulevard. If I wanted to bus, it would take me 2 1/2 hours to get there—it’s a 10-minute drive! What about light rail, what about more buses? That’s my suggestion, and I’m sticking to it.
—Karissa Dunbar
I believe the one best thing the city can do to enhance the vitality and success of downtown Knoxville, as well as to enhance the concept of “city” for all residents of larger Knoxville, is to adopt explicitly in its planning process for downtown a set of principles and guidelines designed to improve and increase the amount of shared civic space. Community precedes commerce—always and throughout human history. Residential development and city services for residents must be the first priority.
—Robert A. Loest, Ph.D., CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
Integrity Mutual Funds, Inc.
There needs to be a little bit more civility, more ability to tolerate other people’s opinions and beliefs with a more balanced attitude. And there needs to be a more civic-minded heart in Knoxville than what’s been shown, particularly among the younger generation. I’d sum it up with my three C’s—more civility, more civic-mindedness, and more community-oriented activity.
—Jim A.H. Bell, attorney
Keep building and connecting greenways across Knoxville. Great progress has been made and more progress is desirable for improved quality of life.
—Victor Ashe, former mayor (1988-2003) and current U.S. Ambassador to Poland
Club shows should start on time, and people should get used to it, therefore show up on time. Other than that, I dig this place…
—Tim Lee, The Tim Lee Three
And from Tardisrider, a poster over at KnoxBlab:
A World’s Fair!
Jan 3rd, 2008
