Downtown Knoxville & Everything West | A New Vision for Loudon

Popular Articles...

the magazine

A New Vision for Loudon

(0 votes)

Written by Shannon Cournoyer

Monday, 13 August 2007

The spirit of restoration and renovation has caught fire in Loudon and is spreading its way across town. As old buildings once again become renewed, entrepreneurs, investors, business people and developers are encouraged by this historic riverfront town's promise for the future.

A vision for the streetscape of Loudon, Tennessee Tommy Stokes, of Tommy Stokes Design of Knoxville, is one of those with a vision for the future. He recently purchased the building at 312 Grove Street. His hope is that, combined with redevelopment initiatives like The Grove Building Project, his property can also contribute to a revitalized community.

"I see a streetscape of retail stores and cafes where people will spend time together," said Stokes, "where delightfully decorated storefronts of cozy shops and little boutiques will beckon you inside for a visit. Each place will have its own unique flavor and will bring back the vitality of a town that once thrived. Here you'll find a unique small town experience for shoppers and shop owners."

Stokes and other developers are making a concerted effort to blend upcoming business and development projects into the existing town structure.

The current streetscape in Loudon, Tennessee New plans include:

A redeveloped Grove Street will encompass the soon-to-be renovated fountain at Triangle Park.
The Park will be the western anchor of a Wharf Street pedestrian walkway that connects downtown to its historical beginnings at the riverfront.
Existing storefronts will benefit from the Courthouse Improvement Grant that will promote a vibrant retail corridor of attractive signs, awnings, and welcoming shop windows.
The historic Lyric Theatre is undergoing restoration and renovation.
Recently acquired, the Lyric property on Commerce Street may provide additional shopping and gallery space.
The Grove Building and shops within it will be redeveloped and loft condos will soon be offered above its retail spaces.
The 312 Grove Street Building may have an open-air upscale collection of vignettes where small-shop owners can market home décor items, giftware, antiques, jewelry and more. Additionally, the new developments of Lakeside Village, The Carmichael Inn, and The Wharf Street Coffeehouse, connected to Grove Street via the Wharf Street Walkway, will provide the beginnings of a master plan for a greatly revitalized riverfront town.

Imagine...

Loudon Revitalization Map Just imagine a quiet little street where shops will bustle with patrons and you can meet friends for lunch at a local café, surrounded by the aroma of fresh baked goods. Strolling along Grove Street, you may view art at a local gallery or experience live music or theatrical productions at the Lyric Theatre. Upscale gifts in store windows catch your eye as you continue along Grove Street before stopping to rest on one of the many park benches that add to the area's welcoming aura.

You may even choose to live in one of the loft condos that will soon be offered above the generous retail space at The Grove Shops and Condominiums next to Triangle Park and its historic cascading fountain. The lucky few who will call this place home will always be near the heart of this riverfront town.

After time spent shopping and dining downtown, a stroll along the Wharf Street pedestrian walkway will take you to the riverfront where bicycle and walking trails connect to the new development, municipal parks and a proposed winery that will anchor the south end of town. Residents of Lakewood Place and River Oaks Place will enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides down Main Street past the Pathkiller Storehouse and the Carmichael Inn.