Kingsport Pavilion Update (building)

[jkmiller]

Originally Posted by dakota79

I currently live in North Dakota, and am in the process of looking for a new place to live. It has been suggested that I consider Kingsport as an option. I work in retail at one of the stores that opened in the new Kingsport Pavaillion, and would hopefully just transfer.

My main concern is if the area is walkable. I cannot drive because of an eye condition. I would use public tranist too, but there are times it does not run. I have no problem walking far distances, but my main question is are there sidewalks along E Stone Dr. heading toward the Pavaillion from town? I did an aerial map search, but it is hard to tell. I know there is a highway interchange before the center coming from town. Are there sidewalks near that interchange? And also, is the area safe?

I will likely make a trip there next month if things sound okay, but this will give me a good idea.

You could probably check with our current transit system called KATS to see if they have the Kingsport Pavilion on their route yet. The number is 423-224-2613. Hope this helps.

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by dakota79

My main concern is if the area is walkable. I cannot drive because of an eye condition. I would use public tranist too, but there are times it does not run. I have no problem walking far distances, but my main question is are there sidewalks along E Stone Dr. heading toward the Pavaillion from town? I did an aerial map search, but it is hard to tell. I know there is a highway interchange before the center coming from town. Are there sidewalks near that interchange? And also, is the area safe?

If you mean safe from random crime, yes.

There are few if any sidewalks along Stone Dr. between Lynn Garden Dr. and Kingsport Pavilion, but there is a wide (6 to 8') & walkable shoulder.

If coming from downtown, you can also walk up Center St. until you hit Eastman Rd. (both have sidewalks), then cut through shopping center parking lots until you get back on Stone Dr. just before it goes under John B. Dennis Hwy.

Another option is walking on the Greenbelt from downtown. You could then hang a left on American Way to get to Stone Dr. @ John B. Dennis.

One more route from downtown: Watauga Rd. to Center St. to Eastman Rd.

[dakota79]

Thanks to everyone for your input.

It certainly does not sound like this is the ideal walking situation.

The Tri Cities area has a lot of the qualities I am looking for though, and maybe the person who suggested Kingsport overlooked the whole walking situation or thought the store was somewhere else.

I work for Target, and I know there is a store in Johnson City and Bristol too. I am not limited to Kingsport since all three are in my range for apartment prices.

Is the area around the Johnson City store more walkable?

I think I read earlier in this thread something about a new mall and possibly a new Target in JC. Where would this be? I don't want to transfer to the old store and then have the new store in an area I can't get to.

Again, thanks for your help!

[utvols21]

Depending on where you are wanting to live. There is a couple of apartment complexes very close to Kingsport Pavillion. But yes unfortunately you are right at the moment this is not a very walkable area because of the proximity from the center of the city. For your info Brandy Mill is the apartment complex. About Bristol and Johnson City. The Bristol target is out of the way as well for walking. I have only been up there a few times but do not know of many houses or apartments nearby. Johnson City would probably be your best bet for walking it is in the center of town and there are apartments everywhere for the college. Hope this helps

[jabogitlu]

Johnson City's public transit is more developed than KATS. You should have no problem catching a bus to and from work, especially if you live around the South Side near ETSU. There are some "fairly" close by apartments around Johnson City Target, but the big plus is that the entire area is sidewalked and has pedestrian signals. This is the city center so there is much less high-speed traffic than associated with Stone Drive. There was a rumor for a long time that a Super Target was to be built in North JC, but that development is already underway and we haven't heard anything about a move. (I work for Target in Johnson City, coincidentally.)

[ComicalMoodyDan]

Honestly none of this area is ideal for walkers or people who don't have a car, you really need a vehicle in this area to get around. Yes there are minor exceptions where this isn't true but for the most part you can't really get around in this area without driving.

You might want to consider looking at a larger city with better public transit.

[dakota79]

Okay, Johnson City definitely sounds like the best option.

Good to see that someone from the JC Target is on here too.

I will be using the public transit at times, but obviously, working in retail requires some evenings and weekends when the buses don't run, so I need to make sure I can still get there and home.

I am likely coming to look the area over next month, and will be able to decide for myself if the set up would be good enough. My actual move would not be until Spring.

Basically, in all my research, I have come to discover you can't have everything. If you go for a bigger city with better public transit, especially in the South, you are looking at much higher crime and apartment costs. Or, you contend with snow for 7 months and sub zero cold like I do now in North Dakota. Currently, I walk about 2 miles to work each way, even in the cold and snow. It's time for a change.

Thanks again to everyone for their help.

[rccrain]

Yes, walking JC around the Mall, Target, and State of Franklin is doable. You may want to look for housing along Knob Creek Rd and Sunset.

[jabogitlu]

Some apartments that might be of interest to you are on Christian Lane, right off Mountcastle Drive. This is the high rise behind the Target shopping complex. One caveat, I have no idea what these apartments are like. They may be retiree or low income or whatever, but it's worth checking out, as your commute to work would basically require crossing Mountcastle Drive (as I recall there's even a crosswalk down there, in the middle of the 4-lane) then walking around the building to get to the front doors.

Sorry I can't provide a name or even a phone number where you can call management. I tried to Google, but to no avail. Maybe rccrain or someone else knows the name of them!? They appear to be on 2101 Christian Lane. When I go to work Sunday I'll try to swing through the parking lot and see if I can get any contact info.

[dcommander]

That may be Appalachian Christian Village. I believe that is a retirement community.