A new, large-scale residential development is being proposed adjacent to the east side of Yardley Flats and Covenant Health Park. I took a deep dive into the proposal and discovered the new building will be a major expansion of housing with retail in the Downtown Knoxville Warehouse District. The Design Review Board staff report lists Denis R Dalton & Carey D Wallace of Apex Patton LLC as the owners and applicants of the project. All information here is based on the proposal, but Inside of Knoxville will follow the development and update as this project moves forward.
The new development, a seven-story, mixed-use residential space with ground-level retail next to Covenant Health Park, will replace the former Pumps of Tennessee business. Bounded by Georgia and Florida Streets, the location for the development is 250 Patton Street and will include several amenities, an internal parking garage and improvements to the streets and sidewalks around the development. The building will run parallel to Yardley Flats.
According to proposed renderings, the building is named The Alpha, but the name is subject to change. The proposal will go before the Design Review Board on July 15 at 4 p.m. Many of the elements are listed as meeting the recommendations, but the staff report does recommend a number of discussion points to make certain that the building complies with zoning.
Also coming before Planning Commission today (July 9) will be the Kerbela Temple site and Jonathan’s Grille, a restaurant development on the other side of Covenant Health Park.
Residential and Retail Layout with Amenities
The majority of the Patton Street space will be dedicated to 245 residential units with studio, 1 bedroom, 1 bedroom with den and a 2 bedroom options. The Design Guidelines mention apartment spaces as part of the considerations and given the layout, I am making the leap that these will be rented apartments. The smallest space on the layouts is a studio at 426 square feet up to multiple 1,167 square feet 2-bedroom spaces. In this design proposal, furnishings were not listed. Some of the apartments will have balconies in the renderings.
Five residential levels will be placed above three garage levels (one underground, one street level and one on the second floor) with 263 parking spaces. A single entrance to the garage will be available from Florida Street. A residential story and final garage level will be built on top of the other two levels with additional amenities on the Patton Street side and space that will open to retail and first floor amenities.
Patton Street will be the main street-facing entrance with retail space, leasing office, a mail and package room with an amenity space taking up most of the elevation. In one rendering, a gym facility seems to be “penciled in.” All trash collection will contained within the building with access to a loading area.
A 3,400 square feet retail space will be located on the Northwest Corner (positioned next to the Florida street entrance to Covenant Health Park). The retail space will be two stories tall with higher ceilings and will be accessible to the public. I am curious which retail location would take up shop here, though the rendering suggests a restaurant or bar space.
Level 02 (the first residential units) will be built around outdoor amenities, including (per design documents) a pool, jacuzzi and tanning deck with attached courtyard. Grilling stations, a dog spa and “other amenities” are listed in this space. The remainder of the building will be built around this courtyard that will face the south elevation of the building. A grassy area is shown on the ground level below the south elevation.
Outdoor amenities in the spaces around the building will include temporary bike racks, new sidewalks with lighting, and tree planters. Based on the current conditions of this area, it will significantly improve the walkability of the block for anyone in the area, and will definitely connect attendees to sports and events at the park.
The Florida Street elevation shows a large-scale mural dedicated to the Knoxville Giants, which would face Yardley Flats. I hope that this remains in the final design of the building. It would be a great thematic addition to Knoxville’s mural scene and would extend the history of Knoxville’s Negro Southern League team with the amazing statuary on the opposite side of the park. The proposal notes that this mural would be commissioned.
Architectural Features
At the street level, pedestrians and vehicles can expect two stories of modular red brick with storefront aluminum windows and doors along the Patton Street side. Windows will be large and should allow light in during the day and illuminate the street at night. Three entrances to the building will be placed along Patton, and seating is proposed outside the retail area.
On the other three elevations, openings in the red brick will feature louver fins in the garage levels. Commercial garage doors will provide access to the garage and loading areas.
The five levels of apartment exterior would be an alternating combination of a lighter composite wall panel and darker, recessed metal panels. The northwest corner above the retail space is a natural wood looking composite wall panel with wood soffit paneling. Lighting would provide an architectural feature on this upper corner level.
Jonathan’s Grille and Kerbela Temple Proposals at Planning Commission Today
Both of these projects will come before Planning Commission on Thursday, July 9 (today). Jonathan’s Grille was originally proposed as a three-story structure to be built into the hillside across from the southwest corner of Covenant Health Park’s plaza. Planning Commission will consider a proposed a reduction in height and square footage for the restaurant while the Kerbala Temple site plan will be taken up again after a postponement from the June, 2026 meeting.
Jonathan’s Grille (406 Willow Avenue)
Jonathan’s Grille is a middle-Tennessee based sports bar and restaurants with locations in Tennessee and Alabama. The Covenant Health Park location will be the first in Knoxville. Originally planned as a three-story building, 20,000 square feet building, today’s request will reduce the building’s height to two stories and (60’ 6” to 33’ 9”) and 11,200 square feet. Planning Commission documents also mention an additional outdoor patio balcony seating area.
Recommendations from the staff report are mainly positive, noting multiple pedestrian connections to the public sidewalk and consistency with the developments around Covenant Health Park.
Kerbela Temple Development
After a postponement on behalf of developer CRE at the June 11 meeting, Planning Commission will again consider the Level III Alternative Compliance Review of the Form Base Code Districts for the Kerbela Temple development site, previously covered by Inside of Knoxville.
Remember that the Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for today, July 9 at 1:30 PM in the Main Assembly Room at 400 Main Street.
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