Metro Pulse/Urban Renewal

2023 Washington Ave.
3 bdrm/2 bath
2,200 sq. ft.
$120,000
Contact: Dave Hooper
Knox Heritage: 523-8008

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Unfounded assumptions about the center city

by Matt Edens

We were at a wedding last weekend—a big West Knoxville affair, the Maple Grove Inn, tents on the lawn, string trio, the works; enjoyed it immensely, except for one brief moment that marred an otherwise lovely evening. After the ceremony, we were drifting toward the receiving line, chatting with a co-worker's wife when she mentioned that she'd read my last column—about a lovely little cottage in Mechanicsville—and she asked me, "Buy a house in Mechanicsville? Were you serious?"

It's the sort of question I get from time to time, reminding me that the notion of buying a house in the center city is, well...let's just say some people are skeptical. Just a few months ago, an architect acquaintance of mine expressed surprise at the notion that I walk my dogs around the neighborhood at night without the slightest sense that I'm somehow putting myself at risk. "Really?" he replied, with more than a hint of disbelief in his voice. Most of the time I just let these sorts of things go, a gentle reminder that: a) people believe far too much of what they see on television; and b) most people still find the idea of living in and around downtown a distinct novelty (even if the majority of my circle of friends and I take it for granted).

But sometimes something happens that can't be dismissed with a mere roll of the eyes. Take, for instance, what just happened regarding this house on Washington Avenue in Parkridge. An absolutely fabulous 110-year-old house in practically mint condition—gorgeous floors, French doors, a wonderful built-in bookcase tucked under the stair, loads of stained glass. It was going to be the fourth house Knox Heritage bought, restored and resold in the neighborhood.

I say "was" because that same weekend I was out in West Knoxville enjoying the wedding, the young couple who planned on buying this place was in East Knoxville showing it to the woman's parents for the first time. The parents found the idea anything but novel. The phrase "there's no way a daughter of mine..." was bandied about along with other angry words. And the upshot is that this young couple is out not just their $1,000 in earnest money (they'd signed a contract) but out the chance to own one hell of a house, fully restored for a little more than $50 a square foot (roughly half the county-wide median). Let me repeat, for less than the cost of rancher out in Powell, these kids were getting a 2,200 sq. ft. Victorian with not just the big stuff repaired, but brand new heat and air, updated kitchen and baths, updated electrical and all new exterior paint plus original fit and finish of a quality that you can only find in the most expensive of new construction. Oh, and all this a scant five-to-10 minutes from downtown, UT, and the Old City.

Thanks, mom and dad.

Don't get me wrong. Center-city living takes a certain amount of vision. This couple had it. But unfortunately the parents could only assume the worst. And they did so without bothering to investigate the sort of "dangerous people" their kids were moving in with: like the three families with young children that Knox Heritage has helped buy and restore houses within a one-block radius of this place, or the two UT professors on the next corner, or the psychologist, antique dealer, and symphony cellist on the next block (he and his wife were two-thirds of the wedding string trio). Too bad the parents weren't in town a month ago, for the Derby Day progressive dinner sponsored by the neighborhood organization: We had 20-30 neighbors tramping from house to house, drinking mint juleps and eating barbecue.

And nobody got shot, stabbed, mugged, or otherwise molested.

So just what are you afraid of?