ST. MARY’S REDEVELOPMENT

The former Physicians Regional Medical Center site, historically known as the St. Mary’s Hospital site, encompasses approximately 30 acres on Scott Hill above Fulton High School and First Creek. Serving the public through healthcare, the first hospital opened on the site in 1930. Although reorganized several times throughout the years, healthcare continued on the site until the last owner permanently closed hospital operations in 2018. Seeing the need to move quickly, the City Council adopted a resolution requesting KCDC to develop a redevelopment and urban renewal plan for the area on Feb. 12, 2019. Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), as the redevelopment authority of the City, has been asked by the City to assist with the redevelopment effort for the hospital site. KCDC provided a conceptual site plan and massing diagrams that preserved the historic St. Mary's hospital building while illustrating new building forms that would be appropriate at the site. Appropriate building forms could include townhomes on the north side of the site and multifamily midrise buildings on the interior of the site adjacent to the historic hospital and Magdalene Clark Tower. Plans for the site will continue to serve the public through a variety of ways, including community services, housing and bringing healthcare back to the site.

Public meetings were held in 2021 to develop the plan and again in 2023 to share and receive final feedback from the community.

In 2021 during two public meetings, several proposed site plans were presented. Those site plans all contemplated a zoning mix that is consistent with the current rezoning proposal – RN-6 zoning for the parcel that includes the existing St. Mary’s hospital and retaining the RN-4 zoning for the northern parcel that abuts East Churchwell Avenue. Residents were eager to see the redevelopment of the site move forward.

Neighborhood residents and stakeholders participated again in the North Knoxville Community Open House in early 2023 at Fulton High School. Residents viewed plans for the site and shared their thoughts. The response was enthusiasm for the redevelopment of the site and the planned improvements.

Updates at the Feb. 9, 2023, open house included:

• The status of City’s Safety Center
• Lincoln Memorial University Tower and programs
• Fulton’s “Public Service” academy in collaboration with the City
• Greenspace opportunities on the St. Mary’s site
• Planned redevelopment of the remaining St. Mary’s property
• Greenway and Christenberry playground details
• Woodland Avenue updates