Heard of the Carpenter's building? Prime spot in downtown is primed for new apartments

Ryan Wilusz, Knoxville News Sentinel
·3 min read

Where can you find a blank-ish canvas in downtown Knoxville for new apartments? Local developer Joe Petre has a spot, adjacent to both Gay Street and Market Square.

The pink Carpenter’s Union Building isn’t the most recognizable downtown parcel, but that could change with the addition of nearly 90 apartments across five stories at 516 W. Vine Ave.

West Vine Avenue runs west from the 100 block of Gay Street before dead-ending near Locust Street and Summit Towers Apartments. It's also just across Summit Hill Drive and adjacent to the TVA and UT towers, which have a walkway between them to access Market Square.

Another local developer, Leigh Burch III, shared with Knox News in 2021 his own plans to bring 123 apartments to West Vine Avenue two blocks over behind the Crowne Plaza hotel. Burch recently told Knox News this project, also proposed as a five-story development, has been put on hold due to construction costs.

But that’s not stopping Petre, the registered agent of City Summit LLC, which purchased the property for $1.5 million in December 2021. Petre is executive vice president of commercial property developer LawlerWood and was most recently featured by Knox News in piece examining the rising level of investment around the downtown baseball stadium construction site.

Busy planning meeting will consider City Summit and riverside high-rise

The new apartment community, which renderings suggest would be called City Summit, will go before Knoxville-Knox County Planning’s Design Review Board on April 17. It will be a busy meeting, as a divisive 16-story apartment high-rise planned along the downtown side of the river is also on the agenda.

The Carpenter's Union Building at 516 W. Vine Ave. would be demolished if plans are approved for City Summit, a five-story apartment development planned for the property. West Vine Avenue splits the 100 and 200 blocks of Gay Street and is just a short walk across West Summit Hill Drive from Market Square.
The Carpenter's Union Building at 516 W. Vine Ave. would be demolished if plans are approved for City Summit, a five-story apartment development planned for the property. West Vine Avenue splits the 100 and 200 blocks of Gay Street and is just a short walk across West Summit Hill Drive from Market Square.

Since Knox News reported on the riverside project April 11, a website called keepknoxvillecharming.com has been encouraging people to sign a petition to prevent the development, suggesting “a building of this scale and design would erode Knoxville’s authentic design and gives nothing back to our community.”

The riverside project's scale will be discussed at the meeting, as well as concerns about pedestrian safety related to increased traffic and a parking garage entrance.

Downtown Knoxville board has suggestions for City Summit apartments

Ahead of the meeting, the Design Review Board has noted City Summit does not fulfill guidelines that recommend commercial spaces on the first floor.

City Summit is all apartments − 89 to be exact − and most of those would have balconies, according to planning documents. The Carpenter’s Union Building would be demolished, the documents state, and 18 parking spaces would be added on site.

The Board is also suggesting the developer and architect reimagine the design of the building, which is made up of mostly cement, in addition to adding a brick veneer on the first level. A more appropriate design, according to the board, could include additional masonry to better blend with surrounding buildings that include a historic church, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles building and older brick apartments.

Vine Avenue surrounded by Gay Street growth in downtown Knoxville

Vine Avenue is the split between the 100 and 200 block of Gay Street, the latter of which is being developed on the west side into a multi-use property with a commercial courtyard, described by the developer as “akin to Market Square.” This project is a four-minute walk from where City Summit would be located and is just across the street from Cradle of Country Music Park, which is being renovated with the most expensive piece of public art in city history.

All this to say, this part of town has been booming as of late with the addition of a convenience store and newer businesses, including Paris Woodhull Illustrations and Daché boutique.

Check back regularly at knoxnews.com for updates on City Summit and other downtown developments.

Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Downtown Knoxville apartments could replace Carpenter's Union Building