WESTERN HEIGHTS TRANSFORMATION PLAN
ONE COMMUNITY ENSURE NEW AND RENOVATED HOUSING IN WESTERN HEIGHTS FEEL LIKE ONE COMMUNITY Western Heights has an opportunity to become a neighborhood of choice – for the current Western Heights public housing families, for new mixed-income rental residents, and future homeowners. To thrive as one community, it is important that all residents feel their housing is high-quality and everyone has equal access to all amenities.
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KCDC renovated the interiors of the 1938 housing at Western Heights in 2018. However, the majority of the renovations were made to the interiors. The building exteriors would benefit from enhancements that would help them fit into the new choice neighborhood. STRATEGY 1 Renovate the 1938 residential buildings to make sure they fit into the neighborhood with the new mixed-income housing » Add enhanced porches and stoops that complement the style and quality of the new construction housing » Add architectural elements that improve the aesthetics, such as new windows, shutters, etc. » Increase the number of buildings and units that are fully accessible from zero to 12 » Demolish 12 units to widen streets, manage stormwater, and provide safe parking areas » Enhance the amenities to provide comparable playgrounds, parklets, community gardens, trails, and community room spaces
STRATEGY 2 Support KCDC Western Heights families living in the 244 renovated units with high-quality case management and supportive services so individuals and families can thrive » Fund in-kind services to provide the same level of individual and family case management to the residents in the 1938 housing as to the target residents STRATEGY 3 Develop vacant lots in Western Heights as affordable, infill homeownership opportunities » Develop infill housing on vacant lots in Western Heights, as land prices and public ownership allow » Continue to work with and support residents who are preparing for homeownership through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Homeownership program » Continue to work to secure vacant lots and buildings in the neighborhood that can be used for infill housing and community-serving uses
PARTNERS • KCDC • Brinshore Development • City of Knoxville • East Tennessee Housing Development
Corporation
The Neighborhood Plan / One Community
