KCDC breaks ground on Phase 2 of Western Heights redevelopment project
Phase 2 will add 52 housing units to the Western Heights community. This is in addition to 76 units added during Phase 1, which are set to be done this fall. The units in both phases are mixed-income.
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'We're excited to create that socioeconomic diversity that has subsidized, so affordable units for someone making almost no money all the way up to market rate for this area, it's a great combination and it leads to great results on the neighborhood level,' said Ben Bentley, CEO of KCDC.
Phase 2 aims to create a 'town center' for Western Heights. It will include a City of Knoxville fine arts and craft center. Bentley said the community expressed a want for more access to the arts during the public input process.
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The Knoxville Police Department is also bringing an addition to the area.
'We have a partnership with KPD to bring a police substation to this site, they are invested in community policing and this gives them an opportunity to really build rapport with children and families in this area,' Bentley said.
The phase will also include a University of Tennessee Medical health center. President and CEO of UT Medical Center Dr. Keith Gray said it's needed in this community.
'The care that we will provide will be primary care, prenatal services and will also be OBGYN services, we've studied our community and we know that in these underserved areas, infant and maternal mortality is among the highest in the state and the highest in the country,' he said.
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The goal behind the health center is to increase access to care.
'By bringing the care to the patients or the people of the community, we are able to improve their health because they are able to access it without the barriers of transportation or jobs that often times interfere with healthcare access in a remote location,' Gray said.
Phase 2 is expected to be done in the fall of 2026. The entire project, which will eventually add 479 housing units, is set to be finished in 2029. It is made up of six phases.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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