What This Story Is About
- The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission has approved a revised development plan from developer CR Endeavors to transform the former Kerbela Shriners property in South Knoxville into a 55-and-older residential community.
Why It Matters
- The decision follows months of community feedback, design revisions and intense review from local stakeholders, City representatives and planning commissioners.
- Developer CR Endeavors will continue coordinating with project partners and the City of Knoxville to navigate the remaining regulatory, design and permitting stages of the development.
For Context
- The Kerbela Shriners sold the property because funding from the transaction is required to support the fraternal organization’s active operations and local charitable mission.
Catch Up
- The approval follows four rounds of direct stakeholder sessions between the developer, city planning officials, and local resident advocacy groups, including the South Waterfront Advocacy Group.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission has officially approved a revised development plan for the former Kerbela Shriners site in South Knoxville, paving the way for a proposed 55-and-older residential community.
The decision follows months of community feedback, design revisions and intense review from local stakeholders, City representatives and planning commissioners.
The Birmingham-based developer, CR Endeavors, adjusted its plans significantly to address concerns raised during four separate community meetings, including discussions with the South Waterfront Advocacy Group.
Community-Focused Revisions
The newly approved plan introduces several key updates designed to activate the pedestrian experience and integrate the site into the surrounding neighborhood:
- New Public Plaza: A public gathering area at the corner of Dawson Street and Sevier Avenue, which will feature enhanced landscaping, pedestrian-scale lighting, and opportunities for food-truck activity and community programming.
- Property Connectivity: An east-west public pathway across the property to connect pedestrians to the surrounding South Waterfront, alongside a north-south breezeway connection.
- Improved Accessibility: Due to the site’s challenging steep grades—some approaching a 40% slope—the developer will install an accessible elevator and exterior stair to serve pedestrian connections.
- Land Donation: CR Endeavors plans to donate a portion of the land to the City of Knoxville.
“We’ve spent a lot of time listening, working through difficult questions and looking for ways to make this project better, and we’re proud of this final product,” said Ryan Robertson, Chief Operating Officer of CR Endeavors. “Though the site’s topography, accessibility requirements and the practical needs of the development create real constraints, we took the feedback seriously.”
Overcoming Topographical Challenges
The development team identified the property’s steep, rocky terrain along portions of Sevier Avenue as a defining characteristic. Existing retaining walls and limited buildable areas made establishing accessible public pathways a major engineering hurdle…