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| Mayor Haslam's Vision for the Next Four
Years From the first day I took office we have stressed the importance of strong neighborhoods with a major focus on effective and responsive delivery of services. I am proud of the way our 311 phone system is working. Not only does it connect citizens to the right department; it also provides us valuable information with which to manage our resources and evaluate our performance. In the next four years we will build on the successes of 311 along with that of our “Problem Properties Task Force’ to ensure that neighborhoods are safe and properties are protected. Each neighborhood is unique and we recognize the importance of involving neighborhood organizations as partners. We will continue to work on flooding, especially along First Creek. We must work diligently to keep our economy strong to provide opportunity and hope to citizens in all areas of our city. We will build on our successful recruitment of Sysco to provide good jobs in the heart of Knoxville. We will maintain and strengthen our strong partnerships with the county and state governments, the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Lab, and our continued support of the Jobs Now! program. Companies want to locate where their employees can find a variety of housing options, a diverse set of quality entertainment and cultural offerings, and a lively downtown. The opening of the Bijou and the Tennessee Theater along with the soon to be opened downtown cinema has helped Knoxville attract younger, creative professionals. In the next four years we will continue to build a strong downtown. We have had great success with residential development and are now seeing that the dining and retail sectors have started to take off. We will continue to use all of the tools at our disposal to keep downtown moving forward. Work is just beginning that will bring the Sunsphere and the Amphitheater to life in Worlds Fair Park. This work is being paid for through our sale of the Candy Factory and Victorian Houses. These historic structures will soon be fully restored and in productive use. Our recently relocated Crafts Center on Broadway is enjoying great success and work has begun on the meeting and dance space in the Emporium. This has allowed us to direct money previously earmarked for the restoration of the Sunsphere to sidewalk construction around schools in east and north Knoxville. A part of our history will be resurrected when those structures are opened in this, the 25th anniversary of the fair, and I look forward to an even more vital park in the core of our city. As we look to the second term I will continue to direct our attention and resources to connect downtown to its surrounding neighborhoods. My approach has been, and will continue to be pursuing long term economic opportunity in partnership with neighborhoods. Last week Council approved the code that will guide the development of the South Waterfront. This effort involved an unprecedented public process. This vote followed a lengthy public involvement process. This long-term project will benefit the entire city as well as those who live in nearby neighborhoods. We are enthusiastic as we move to the implementation stage. We are continuing to work to strengthen Five Points to the east and to support and improve valuable programs in the Empowerment Zone. In partnership with TDOT and UT we have just culminated a process that will lead to a transformation of Cumberland Avenue. With council’s support we have put the pieces in place to better connect downtown to the great neighborhoods immediately north of downtown. With the help of council we have also been building community. The South Waterfront process was just one of many efforts that involved citizens in significant ways. We also reached out to neighborhoods in the Fifth and Broadway process that has led to a new redevelopment area and small area plan. I took the advice of our neighborhood task force in finding better ways to work with neighborhood organizations. Not only has this approach increased public trust; it also has improved what we do and it has allowed us to get more done. We have lots of work to do in building community. We have to work harder to ensure that all Knoxvillians, regardless of race or income have the opportunity to enjoy success. We have to work even harder to make sure that all Knoxville neighborhoods are free of blighted properties that rob folks of their property values and serve as magnets for crime. We take very seriously the trust placed in us by the people of Knoxville. We also know that results count more than promises and we want to continue to turn our plans into results. Please join us as we keep moving Knoxville forward. |
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