South Knoxville Riverfront Site Moves Toward Redevelopment

A long-discussed piece of South Knoxville riverfront is moving another step closer to redevelopment.

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, in partnership with the City of Knoxville, has opened a Request for Qualifications process to find development teams interested in transforming roughly 15 acres along the South Knoxville waterfront. The site is considered one of Knoxville’s most significant remaining riverfront redevelopment opportunities.

The property sits directly across the Tennessee River from the University of Tennessee campus and includes about 1,400 linear feet of riverfront. According to KCDC, the parcels include addresses along West Blount Avenue and Scottish Pike.

The vision is for a walkable, mixed-use development that better connects South Knoxville neighborhoods with the river, downtown Knoxville, and the UT area. Public goals include more green space, river access, public gathering areas, mixed-income housing, and development that respects the character of South Knoxville.

The effort builds on years of planning. Knoxville adopted its South Waterfront Redevelopment and Vision Plan in 2006, describing the area as part of a long-term strategy covering roughly 750 acres along three miles of the Tennessee River south of downtown and UT. The city says the broader South Waterfront effort has already included more than $61 million in public investment and $400 million in private investment.

The current redevelopment push also follows more recent community work. KCDC says the South Waterfront Advisory and Advocacy Group, formed with residents, business owners, and community leaders, has helped guide planning through meetings, surveys, roundtables, and public events. A “Down River” master plan was developed in 2025 and approved by Knoxville City Council in 2026.

One key piece of the site’s history may remain part of its future. KCDC noted that the area has supported light industrial uses, including a long connection to Jefferson Woolen Mills. The 1948 Jefferson Mills Addition building remains on the site, and officials say its preservation and reuse are envisioned as part of the redevelopment.

The project could become a major public-private redevelopment effort. Government Market News reported that the broader project could top $200 million and is connected to planning for a pedestrian and bicycle bridge linking South Knoxville with the university and downtown

For now, the next step is selecting the right development team. KCDC says responses to the RFQ are due by 11 a.m. on Aug. 7. After submissions are reviewed, top-ranked teams will be invited to submit more detailed proposals that may include purchase terms, timelines, project teams, and other development details.