CROSSVILLE FLASHBACK 2007: Council planning work session on downtown improvements.

Downtown Crossville in 2007

CROSSVILLE FLASHBACK 2007: Ten Years Ago

Crossville City Council hears about downtown improvement suggestions

Crossville city council will schedule a work session in the near future with representatives of Downtown Crossville, Inc. to discuss several proposed downtown improvements.

Downtown Crossville Inc. (DCI) representative Frances Carson addressed the council at their regular August meeting. Carson displayed a number of pictures that showed the kind of improvements they wanted to see in the downtown area.

“This proposal is just a starting place,” explained Carson who talked about three areas of initial concern including parking, truck traffic and cruising.

On parking, Carson said they hoped to get public parking areas in downtown better marked so visitors could find them more easily and they also hoped to find additional locations for more parking as well.


In order to reduce the amount of truck traffic through downtown, DCI had been working with the city street department to provide better signs including signs that would indicate trucks coming from Homestead could easily get to I-40 using the Milo Lemmert Bypass rather then coming through the downtown area. They also wanted to have signs indicating the optional truck route further back from the intersections in order to give the trucks more warning that the alternate routes are available and they connect back to 127.

Carson said the group had been working with the police department on the issue of cruising. She stressed that the problem was not local kids but those who were from out of county and also older. Some of the problems reported by downtown property owners and businesses included cruisers staying later, litter and other unsanitary activities.

Carson said the group “was not opposed to local cruising” as the local residents generally went home earlier and were much less of a problem.

Carson explained that the group had done a lot of research and they had looked at several other cities that had improved their downtown areas. Some of the ideas DCI looked at seemed right for Crossville while others might be less successful.

According to Carson, the group is looking to expand it's partnerships. A number of Main Street property owners and business operators are already involved and the group has been working to keep the existing businesses on Main Street while trying to find more businesses to put in currently empty buildings.

“We'd like to ask for a work session with the council,: said Carson, “and we'll be requesting some funding but we want to explain what the funding will do.”

A work session will be scheduled in the near future. Crossville Mayor J. H. Graham asked that the meeting be in the evening so businesses owners could also attend.

Taste of Crossville remains very popular fundraiser for DCI.

Downtown Crossville, Inc. uses the annual event Taste of Crossville to help raise funds for their work in support of many downtown events and educational activities.  The 2017 event, held May 25th was very well attended with area restaurants and other businesses sharing their food with attendees while Main Street was closed between Neecham Street and Fourth Street.

It was a beautiful night if a touch on the cool side, but the sunset was a great desert for this very popular event.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying the food and fellowship

Canon restaurants' Chuckwagon

North End of Downtown

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Depot made a great backdrop too.

Main Street was full of people enjoying great food and fun.

Grinderhouse coffee

State Park Restaurant had great ribs. 

Good Samaritan of FFG food service.

Chestnut Hill Winery

Calfkiller Beer on tap

 

Beer and T-shirts too.

A sunset to end the evening. 

Crossville Flashback to 2000: Palace Theatre groundbreaking ceremony was a celebration of restoration efforts.

(Editors note: Seventeen years ago work was just starting on the restoration of the Palace Theatre.)

The effort to save Crossville’s Palace Theater started some 15 years ago; supporters can finally breathe a sigh of relief after Wednesday’s ground breaking ceremony and work on the building moving forward.

Crossville Mayor J. H. Graham told the crowd gathered for the ceremony, “This building will be the cornerstone for the enhancement of the small town character of Crossville.” Graham added that many people have memories of small town life tied to the Palace.

Graham shared that he had his first date with his wife at the Palace Theater to see the movie “Walking Tall.” Graham also said that his parents had gone seen the classic movie “Gone with the Wind” at the Palace.

“This theater shall not be gone with the wind,” promised Graham.

While restoration work was done on the Palace, plywood

protected the already restored neon marquee. (Photos by Jim Young)

Rear of original building that was removed to expand the stage area.

prior to work starting a portion of the rear wall fell during a wind storm

Contractors work on the interior of the theatre.

The stage area is behind the worker in this photo

“Most of us have never seen an uncut diamond,” said Graham. “I feel like I’m standing in front of a diamond in the rough. A building that’s been designed for many uses.”

The Mayor thanked a long list of people including Downtown Crossville Inc., the Greater Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Society and Cumberland County school students who gave their pennies and others.



DCI member Jim Purcell, who acted as master of ceremonies recognized special guest, Joe Edd Hodges. Hodges, long time Cumberland County art educator spearheaded the first efforts to reuse the Palace Theater in the 1980’s. Hodges has been in poor health for several years.

Purcell also thanked the Tennessee Department of Transportation who were instrumental in helping Crossville get the ISTEA grant. ISTEA is a federally funded transportation enhancement program that is paying for part of the renovation so the Palace project can include a tourism/visitors center.

Another important partner in the Palace project according to Purcell is Regal Cinemas, who have their corporate offices in Knoxville. Regal has donated theater seats, projectors and other needed equipment. Regal has also offered their expertise when needed.

Purcell called DCI the glue that held this project together or “this corner would be a parking lot.”

“I don’t think any of us have any idea what impact this project will have on our community,” Purcell told those gathered. “Come back in several months for our grand opening.”

DCI president Dr. Richard Bradley thanked the many familiar faces in the crowd who helped on the Palace effort including Vancenitta Wisdom and Joe Edd Hodges.

Bradley added that “DCI’s work is just starting” as the group works to furnish and operate the theater. Fundraising for items needed to improve the theater facilities will continue as the construction moves forward.

Those who attended the ceremony had a chance to step into the old Palace lobby to see what the building looks like in its current condition. Immediately after the groundbreaking, employees of Pioneer Construction were back at work on the building.

Crossville city council approves sale of industrial property and lease with DCI for Snodgrass building

After two months of uncertainty, the group Downtown Crossville, Inc. (DCI) will be able to continue using the historic Snodgrass building for their headquarters with the approval of a new lease between DCI and the city on the city owned building.

Council also approved the sales agreement and gave final approval to the sale of 9.09 acres on Wyatt Court, one of the city's industrial parks. The purchaser, L. E. Butch Smith plans to build an industrial building there that could be either rented or purchased. The property is sold at $25,000 per acre.

The Snodgrass building is one of the oldest standing buildings in Crossville, the structure behind the courthouse was once the law office of Charles E. Snodgrass who, in addition to being a lawyer served as a state representative and as US congressman from the Fourth District of Tennessee. The building predates the 1905 courthouse and was built about circa 1890. It served as a law office until 1970, was purchased by the county in 1989 and used as the veterans service office until purchased by the city when the county considered tearing it down.

Historic Snodgrass building

During the council's called meeting on July 22, the topic of the DCI lease on the building was on the agenda. Councilman Danny Wyatt said that DCI had used the building for three years and that if notice on the lease wasn't given to DCI 90 days before October 31 it would automatically renew for another three years. Council voted to give DCI notice so the old lease wouldn't automatically renew.

At the August regular council meeting Wyatt proposed to put the building up for bids to see if any other non-profit wanted to lease it. That measure failed and a motion was approved that interim city manager Steve Hill should negotiate a new lease with DCI. After 6 weeks with no contact from the city, DCI began to get concerned that the city didn't intend to continue the lease but finally the draft lease was presented to DCI with a new rent of $100 a month, a one year lease that becomes a month to month after the initial term and either side can give a 90 day notice to terminate the lease.

The motion to approve was approved by all four council members present. Councilman Jesse Kerley did not attend the meeting.

Council had previously agreed to the purchase of some 9 acres of the Wyatt Court industrial park, the last usable piece of that property to Butch Smith who said he plans to construct an industrial building to either sell or lease. Originally Smith had requested a credit for the number of jobs created against the purchase price but has since dropped that request according to city attorney Will Ridley.

The purchase price for the property is $25,000 per acre for a total price of $227,075. The sale was scheduled to be closed right away as required advertising of the sale has already taken place several months ago. The four members present unanimously approved the sales contract.

Property being purchased by Butch Smith at Wyatt Court off of Woodlawn Rd.

Smith already owns the building in the background on the left.

Downtown Crossville dressed for fall.

It was a bright fall morning today and a great time to get a few pictures of Main St, in Crossville dressed up for the season.  Downtown Crossville, Inc puts up the light pole decorations and several businesses have their own decorations too.  Enjoy!
All rights reserved, Photos (C) 2016 by Jim Young

Crossville Depot donor walk where the rails used to run

Entrance to the Depot shop run by C.A.T.S.

Fall decorations on Main Street courtesy of DCI.

Some businesses have their own fall decorations. 

It was a gorgeous morning for coffee on the sidewalk too. 

Military Museum, center, flanked by the Chamber of Commerce

 and the Milo Lemmert Courthouse annex (old Post Office)

The Military Memorial Park has been a part of Downtown Crossville for years.  

Recently the Post-9-11 memorial was added. 

Fourth grade tours of historic downtown Crossville underway

Main Street in Crossville will have some extra congestion on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the month of September while Cumberland County schools fourth graders will be touring historic downtown and learning about area's history.

 Drives are asked to use extra caution when the children are present.  Each group has a leader with a sign to stop traffic when the the children are crossing roads. 

Fourth grade students from North Elementary School tour Main Street Crossville.

Tours start at the Art Circle Public Library and other stops on the tour are numerous including the county archives, the courthouse, the palace theatre, the depot and more.  They hear stories about the history of the business district along the way, view the mural at Fifth Street and get to go in the caboose at the depot vist the military museum and the military monument.  

Students learn a bit about the rail road that once was an important part of Crossville.

Fourth graders visit the oldest commercial building on Main Street, currently the home of Plateau Properties and was originally built in the late 1800's as the offices of a coal company 

This is the 9th year that DCI has hosted the tours for the students.

DCI's Frances Carson talked to the Crossville city council 

about the 4th grade tours during the August council meeting.

Council decides fate of Snodgrass building lease and are taken to task by longtime downtown businesswoman Shirley Hughes

“We in Crossville vote for you all and vote you in there. Why do so many of you not support Crossville?'

That was the question asked to the council by downtown property owner Shirley Hughes during a public comment at the end of the Crossville city council's meeting that included a discussion of Downtown Crossville Inc. (DCI) use of the city owned Snodgrass building.

Mrs. Hughes continued, “You do everything you can in voting against downtown. You're cutting the amount that had been approved for the sidewalks and things. And you tried to kick the DCI out. I want to know why are you against downtown Crossville? I just want to say that I think it is important to have a downtown.”

Hughes said most of the people that shopped at her business came from out of town something she said that concerned her.

Public Comments by downtown property owner Shirley Hughes

Earlier in the meeting, councilman Danny Wyatt discussed an item he had placed on the agenda concerning the lease on the Snodgrass building. Wyatt moved that the lease of the building be put out for bids to see if another non-profit organization would be interested in using it.

Councilman Jesse Kerley seconded the motion so it could be discussed.

Mr. Wyatt said that the lease DCI had would automatically renew for an additional 3 years if no action was taken. He added that DCI had done a good job but he felt this was the only way to see if anyone else was interested in leasing the building.

Councilman Pete Souza said he felt that the Snodgrass building was not just a city building, but an historic building. He added that DCI are ambassadors of Crossville and they use the building as a center point. “They've done more to enhance the downtown area than the city has. I sincerely want to see DCI remain there,” explained Souza.

Councilwoman Pamala Harris said that since DCI was getting the building as well as a donation of $8,000 to the organization she felt that they should pay the utilities on the building in addition to the $75 rent. According to Ms. Harris the utilities for the Snodgrass building average around $80 a month.

“Crossville is the heart of our community,” stated Mayor James Mayberry, “and it's the county seat and the citizens love to come to town whether it be for parades, taste of Crossville or Friday night at the crossroads. And DCI is instrumental in organizing a lot of these events. They decorate town for a lot of the seasons which enhances our little town.”

Mayberry also said that DCI organizes educational tours of downtown for all the fourth graders in the county each fall that includes a visit to the courthouse and the palace theatre and other locations. “I think DCI is a very important part of this community and we need to support them in every way that we possibly can as a council,” added Mayberry.

Ms. Harris compared the Crossville depot to the Snodgrass building saying that the depot paid there own utilities and they don't get a donation from the city. Mayor Mayberry pointed out that the depot was allowed to keep any revenue from the rental of the meeting room as part of their lease.

A vote taken on Wyatt's proposal failed with two votes in favor from Wyatt and Kerley and three votes opposed from Souza, Harris and Mayberry.

Souza moved that the city enter into negotiations with DCI to renew the contract and a second was given by Mr. Mayberry.

Councilman Wyatt asked who would negotiate for the city and it was decided that the city manager should be the one. The motion was amended to add that provision and was approved by the council unanimously.

Crossville city council discusses DCI and the Snodgrass building lease

DCI's Frances Carson gave the council additional details on the fourth grade downtown tours during public comment.   

Information on the 4th grade downtown walking tours

A busy August regular council meeting to discuss the Snodgrass building, retail development, downtown sidewalks and more

The Crossville city council's August regular meeting will be Thursday August 11 and includes a possible decision on the future of the Snodgrass building, hiring a retail consulting firm and more on the downtown sidewalk project.  The council meeting starts at 6 PM in the council chambers at city hall and is preceded by the audit committee meeting at 5:30 PM in conference room 317.

In addition, councilman Jesse Kerley wants to discuss a possible splash pad at Centennial Park and councilwoman Pamala Harris want to discuss succession planning and a policy on press releases.

At the council's recent called meeting, the subject of the lease by Downtown Crossville Inc. (DCI) of the historic Snodgrass building for office space behind the courthouse was on the agenda. DCI had sent a letter asking the city to approve the 3 year extension that was in the lease and outlining the work the group has done downtown and to the building.

Historic Snodgrass Building currently leased by DCI. 

Instead, following a brief discussion, a motion by councilman Danny Wyatt was approved by three council members to give notice of terminating the lease that would automatically renew if no action was taken by the council. Mayor James Mayberry opposed the motion.

DCI pays $75 a month for the building and the city covers utilities. Wyatt's motion include putting the matter on the agenda for the August meeting to further discuss the matter and decide on the future of the building that could continue with DCI or some other use.

A few months ago, the council interviewed three firms that provide retail consulting as a way to recruit new retail and restaurant chains. Ms. Harris has requested the matter be out on the agenda to more forward with a selection of which firm the city will contract with.

Once again the downtown sidewalk program is on the agenda but the main subject is the project to improve the traffic signals at the bottom of Watertank Hill at Main Street and Lantana Road. The current signal light pole is too low.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has not approved the sidewalk project because of the problem and require the city to fix the problem or take the intersection out of the project. The estimated cost of the signal upgrade is $276, 242.50.

The city can use so-called surface transportation funds that are already allocated but would have to use other funds for improvements planned for the intersection at Fourth Street and West Ave. Council will also consider a $579,500 budget amendment for the sidewalk crew, equipment and supplies necessary for that action taken last month.

Ms. Harris agenda items include discussion of a succession plan to be in place when long time city employees retire and a policy on press releases. No additional information was released with the council's agenda on the details of these matters.

Council gives DCI notice on Snodgrass building lease--future on August council agneda

One of the oldest buildings in the downtown area has been used for the past several years as the headquarters of Downtown Crossville, Inc (DCI) but action by the Crossville city council may change that.

Known as the Snodgrass building, the structure behind the courthouse was once the law office of Charles E. Snodgrass who, in addition to being a lawyer served as a state representative and as US congressman from the Fourth District of Tennessee. The building predates the 1905 courthouse and was built about circa 1890. It served as a law office until 1970, was purchased by the county in 1989 and used as the veterans service office until purchased by the city when the county considered tearing it down.

Snodgrass building (right)

During the council's called meeting on July 22, the topic of the DCI lease on the building was on the agenda. Councilman Danny Wyatt said that DCI had used the building for three years and that if notice on the lease wasn't given to DCI 90 days before October 31 it would automatically renew for another three years. DCI pays a monthly rent of $75 and the city pays for utilities.

Wyatt said he had just discovered the renewal and thought the council needed a calendar of such contracts and renewals for future decisions. Said Wyatt, “I feel like we ought to go ahead and give notice, and I don't have a problem with DCI and we get back to the issue of the office upstairs.” Council discussion on non-profit office space.

Wyatt continued, “I'd like to make a motion that we terminate the lease and then put it back on the agenda in August and let the council decide if they want to renegotiate it or sell the building or give another agency a chance to be in there for three years.” Councilwoman Pam Harris supported Wyatt's motion.

Mayor James Mayberry pointed out the funds DCI has invested into the building as part of the contractual agreement of $17,000 over and above the rent paid. “I think they are doing a great job,” added Mayberry.

Further discussion on the issue of the lease will come up on the August council agenda. The motion passed with yes votes from council members Wyatt, Harris, Jesse Kerley and a no vote from Mayor Mayberry.

Benches purchased for Depot questioned by Councilman Kerley. DCI responds

The purchase of number of benches that are to be installed at the Crossville depot were called into question by councilman Jesse Kerley during the regular May city council meeting eliciting a response from Bob Schwartz, the president of DCI during the public comment.

Kerley brought up the matter during the city manager's report asking for details about the purchase and if it was approved by the city council as would be required for a purchase of  $5268.  Interim manager Steve Hill said the purchase took place before he started and he did not know if the purchase had gone before the council.  The funds for the purchase came from the city's budget line for administration/public relations.

Kerley asked Hill to investigate the matter further and bring a report back to council.

DCI president Schwartz spoke a short time later during public comment saying he wanted to set the record straight on the purchase.  Schwartz said the council had not approved the purchase and that DCI had paid the city for the benches as a "pass through" before the order was placed.

Councilman Kerley snapped that the purchase needed to be approved by the council.