Let's Buck the Tower!
Give us a break, David! ["Don't Buck the Tower," a letter from David Markey, Vol. 9, No. 22] I am a 12-year resident of Sequoyah Hills and admittedly one of those who have complained about the poor cellular service in our neighborhood. I will very gladly, however, continue to tolerate static on my cellular calls in return for the ability to sit on my back porch and not see a 180-foot tower. Give the residents of Sequoyah Hills some credit. To paraphrase you, we aren't "automatically bucking against the word tower;" rather, we are objecting to what promises to be a very real eyesore in the heart of one of Knoxville's most beautiful and historically significant neighborhoods.
To further argue the fact that the base of the tower will be screened by surrounding buildings also misses the point. Wasn't the vast majority of the iceberg that sunk the Titanic also obscured by the Atlantic? The real question is whether or not Sequoyah Hills residents have any legal basis upon which to block the tower. I truly hope that we do, and also hope that in the future cellular companies will find a less intrusive way to build their "cells." I appreciate the convenience of cellular service and am a subscriber for every member of my household; however, I still don't want a tower in my back yard. I'll bet your neighbors don't want one in yours, either.
Terry A. Hummel
Knoxville
More Metal Towers
As I drive to work in the mornings and see one of the few remaining green spaces along Middlebrook Pike sprouting huge metal towers instead of spring flowers, I join your other readers who have bemoaned the loss of Deane Hill, Bearden Hill, and other spots of serenity.
Not that I think we could have done anything about it had we known, but I suggest that the little tiny black "variance" signs be made larger and more informative so that the public will have a better idea of what is planned when remaining land is sacrificed in the name of "progress."
Additionally, I would like to publicly applaud Walgreens for being a good neighbor in its construction of two new West Knox stores: First, building at the corner of Papermill and Kingston Pike at the site of the old burned-out motel and secondly, buying and demolishing the service station at the corner of Vanosdale and Kingston Pike. In both of these instances, Walgreens could have destroyed even more undeveloped land in the area instead of rebuilding on previously developed space. I encourage consumers to support environmentally compatible developments and to avoid patronizing those stores which insist on consuming what little green space we have left.
B. L. Neeley
Knoxville
Crazy Concepts From Wilmington
I have been an avid reader of the Metro Pulse for many years; I lived in Knoxville for eight years and enjoyed it every day. I recently moved to Wilmington, N. C., which is on the southern coast. It is great living next to the beach, the surf, and sun. What's even better is living in a city with a downtown scene. Downtown Wilmington is a "Historic District" that reminds me of Savannah, Ga. There are many buildings and houses that have been renovated into beautiful homes.
The amazing thing that I learned from locals is how Wilmington changed its downtown from a waste of space to an exciting mecca for entertainment and business. From what I have gathered, the city offered tax breaks to businesses. One gentlemen I met came in and purchased real estate and leases it out to businesses. He has retired at a ripe old age of 45. Dennis Hopper still owns one building that houses a top floor club called "Otters." Mr. Hopper recently sold a building to a developer, but still has an apartment on the top floor.
Wilmington has many downtown restaurants and clubs that do steady business during the week and are packed during the weekends. Along the riverfront, there is fine dining as well as nightclubs, and the city doesn't penalize for loud music. I suppose if you don't like loud music, then move. Every day that I am downtown past 5, it is still busy. I suppose Knoxville could do the same, but Wilmington has done something that helps their downtown: FREE PARKING!
I miss my friends in Knoxville as well as the city. The best years of my life were spent in KnoxVegas. I just cannot help but think how much Knoxville would benefit if downtown was not a "Ghost Town" after 5 p.m.
Robby Sherman
Wilmington, N.C.
| 
