(Today’s article is by new contributing writer K.W. (Keith) Leonard. Leonard, an English teacher with Knox County Schools, has called Knoxville home for more than thirty-five years, most of which he’s spent in South Knoxville.)
Having moved to Knoxville in the late 80s, South Knoxville eventually drew me across the river from the university. The Disc Exchange and local restaurants made SoKno interesting, and friends living in apartments made me want to hang out there. Twenty years ago, I chose to make South Knoxville my home. For many of the intervening 35 years, SoKno has remained very similar to the version that led me across Henley Street Bridge. That is, until the last decade or so.
As the city of Knoxville reviews the latest iteration of the South Knoxville redevelopment plan to determine its next steps, a new apartment living complex is already shaping the South waterfront into its next form. This new apartment complex, The Davy, represents a significant shift in the look and density of the South Knox Waterfront.
On August 16, 689 new residents (once fully leased) will be added to the south side of the city on move-in day for The Davy. Located between One Riverwalk and Kerns Food Hall, the Davy will feature apartments ranging from 331 to 1,052 square feet. Residents will lease by the bedroom with common spaces for all roommates in the unit. Pricing on the website reflects the per bedroom cost. Leasing agents noted that the apartment is on track for the opening date, and they don’t foresee any delays.
Under the fair housing act, leasing is open to everyone; however, in the time I was at the leasing office, it was clear that the primary lessee seeking a spot will be university students. The families discussing a lease that day as well as the location near the university, downtown and Cumberland Avenue lends itself to students at UT.
Amenities for Residents
Apartments with up to four bedrooms will be furnished with a couch, side and coffee tables and an entertainment stand with a 55” television in the common space. Bedrooms will feature a desk/chair, bedframe with XL mattress, underbed storage and a nightstand arc above the bed. Bedrooms are built to include a private bathroom with shower for each resident. Walk-in closets are also included with most bedrooms.
Kitchens will have a fridge, microwave, deep sink, stove/oven and, dependent on unit size, a connected or standalone food prep island. A washer/dryer combination is also included in each apartment. Apartments are painted in a neutral, light gray color with a vinyl flooring with a faux-wood appearance.
Ashton Ballinger, on-site leasing manager, said that the Davy will “be bringing to South Knoxville the newest luxury amenities.” Everyone has their own definition of luxury, but The Davy checked a lot of boxes for me. Ms. Ballinger provided a list of those amenities, all of which are slated to be open on move-in day August 16. Residents will have access to an on-site pool with hot tub, grilling station, hammock garden, firepit and a picnic area in the interior space of the apartments.
Inside, study rooms will be available to residents. A fitness center will be available with a spin room. Residents will have access to a clubhouse with a 100” television with an eye towards resident events like viewing sports. Apartment management is also considering weekly resident events. Up to two pets per unit are permitted with breed restrictions, and residents will be able to keep their pets clean with an on-site pet wash and exercised with an on-site pet park.
Given the location and the nature of commuter parking at the University of Tennessee as well as any resident choosing to live and work downtown, I can easily see how being a pedestrian or bus commuter could be an option. No specific bus route is being planned to The Davy as far as I am aware. Residents will be able to lease parking in a newly-constructed garage behind the Davy. You can easily see this large new garage rising on the hill above the Kerns Food Hall parking.
Parking will be a tiered monthly rate, based on the location, and is not included in the monthly rent. Standard parking on levels 1-3 will be $200 per month, a basic level on upper levels will be $175 and premium parking with skybridge access directly to the apartment buildings is available for $215 per month. Some spots in the One Riverwalk garage are also available. A small road with street parking will also be available for access to public amenities.
Community Connections and Partnerships
Speaking of public amenities, The Davy will contain two spaces that will be leased to other companies. The first will be a full restaurant, currently leased by Kennedy Concepts. In Knoxville, Kennedy Concepts operates Loco Burru at West Town Mall, as well as Cafe 4 on Market Square and The Kennedy on Gay Street. The restaurant will be open to the public, and I am hoping to follow up with another story about the restaurant soon.
Additionally, a grocery store, likely on the scale of a convenience store, will be available to the public and residents alike. Since the restaurant and grocery are leased spaces, The Davy management did not have additional information about these spaces.
The Davy is also actively working to establish partnerships with businesses around them, including Kerns Food Hall and locations near the University of Tennessee campus. They have actively advertised through businesses downtown, Cumberland Avenue, Sevier Avenue and of course, Kerns Food Hall. Ms. Ballinger noted that other partnerships are possible if the right opportunity presents itself. For example, a spin instructor might offer classes in the spin area of their on-site gym.
On the day I visited, the construction crew began to mulch and rebuild sidewalks to replace older sidewalks and connect to the intersection at Henley and Blount. When the new pedestrian bridge is built, the walk from the apartments to the bridge will be roughly a .2 mile walk, the same distance to the Kerns Food Hall. The influx of new people to this area of South Knoxville should further support businesses along Sevier Ave, especially once the SoKno Art Trail is completed. A trip to Hi Wire Brewing would be a .6 mile trip by foot along this new trail.
Finally, based on the site renderings, the streetscape on Blount Avenue will be extended along the southern elevation. Residents will increase traffic, which should translate to additional support for nearby businesses and restaurants. The Davy offers regular live video tours via their Instagram account (@thedavyknox) as the lead-up to move-in approaches and leasing is ongoing. More information about rooms can be found here.