Knoxville officials plan an open house 6 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at a potential “maker space” in an old warehouse at 1200 McCalla Ave. The event will be co-hosted by the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center.
According to a city press release, Smart Growth America (SGA) visited the city last year for a three-day community assessment on small-scale manufacturing in the Magnolia Avenue Warehouse District. One recommendation: Transform vacant city-owned properties into “maker space” by giving priority to proposals that highlight incorporating small-scale manufacturing tenant space.
City officials are interested in hearing from the community on how a vacant city property at 1200 McCalla Ave. might best be brought back into private reuse.
City staff will offer tours and talk with attendees on how the space could be reused and turned into small-scale manufacturing – a woodworking or glass-blowing shop, for example, or a 3D printing operation. Ideas gathered during the Open House will be incorporated into a Request for Proposals for the sale of the property.