New retail on State of Franklin. (Johnson City: dorms, neighborhood, tenants)

[rccrain]

I've heard there is a lot of new retail coming to the area of SoF between Old Navy and the Med Center. But I haven't heard any names or details.

Well, earth is moving and construction is ensuing, and all I've heard is that there is one really good restaurant from Atlanta coming in. Does anyone have any more details?

Thanks.

[jabogitlu]

I've not heard anything at all. I hope that means they're staying tight-lipped because they have some good tenants, and not that they didn't bother to get anyone anchored in at all (which would be very Johnson City-esque of them).

I also noticed that a new "DQ" has opened downtown near the police department. I don't know if that's Dairy Queen or not, and haven't had a chance to stop yet.

Also there is some major grading going on at the end of Tennessee Street down near the VA. Will they turn it into a four lane? Looks like it!

[gregetn]

The DQ has been there for years... they just cleaned it up and redesigned it. The Tennessee St. project has also been in the works for years. I believe it was envisioned for at least a decade before they started it this month. As for the St. of Franklin project- it has been extremely quiet as to potential tenets. Odd???

[jabogitlu]

LOL! Really? Well, I guess that shows you what a fresh coat of paint will do. I drove down there the other day and my first thought was "Oh, a new restaurant!" Their sign said "Now Hiring," so that reinforced my thought. Oh well.

And, what exactly are they doing around TN St? The area could use some revamping to be sure, but putting in additional lane(s) will really cut the neighborhood's yards way down.

[rccrain]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Also there is some major grading going on at the end of Tennessee Street down near the VA. Will they turn it into a four lane? Looks like it!

Tn St project details:
The contractor will perform specific work including:

• Excavation, grading, and paving to extend Tennessee Street from the intersection of Tennessee and Lamont streets north to the intersection of Pactolas Road and West Market Street.

• Excavation, grading, and paving to realign side streets (Pactolas Road, Main Street, Lehigh Street, Wilson Street, Hamilton Street and Lamont Street), driveways, and parking lots.

• Installation of retaining walls.

• Installation of a stormwater collection system, including a box culvert for King Creek to allow for the stream crossing of Tennessee Street.

• Installation of curb, gutter and a sidewalk.

• Resurfacing 1,725 feet of West Market Street and John Exum Parkway.

The extended Tennessee Street will feature four 12-foot lanes with curb/gutter and sidewalk on both sides of the road.

New traffic signals will be placed at the intersection of Tennessee and West Market streets and the intersection of Tennessee and Lamont streets.
:: Johnson City Press - News :: (http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Detail.php?Cat=LOCALNEWS&ID=63851 - broken link)

[jabogitlu]

Oh! Well, that's very different than I envisioned, but it makes sense, and I'm glad to see that the Hillcrest red light on Mkt St will be going away, the Mkt/Exum area was always a bit strange. Plus this will provide a much needed rear entrance upgrade to ETSU to alleviate traffic on the Medical Center side. This project, along with the massive (relatively) dorm they're building on the old side of campus, and the proposed office/retail/school tower beside the Millenium Center will finally make South Johnson City equal North.

[rccrain]

I've heard the Millennium Ctr Tower might be on he rocks due to ETSU not getting some state funding. We can still hope; those would easily be the best dorms on campus.

[jabogitlu]

I hope so, too. But what the campus really needs is parking garages. I heard those had been in the works, too, prior to budget slashes.