| Jackson Avenue Warehouse District and Extension | |
|---|---|
| (U.S. Registered Historic District) | |
| Location: | Jackson Ave Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Added to NRHP: | April 11, 1973; March 10, 1975 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 73001802; 75002148 |
The Old City is located at the northeast corner of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. Its boundaries, while not completely defined, correspond roughly with the Jackson Avenue Warehouse District, a National Register historic district. Presently, the Old City is known as an offbeat urban neighborhood, home to several unique restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops. There is also a smattering of small offices and apartments.
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History
The Old City is the site of several warehouses and factories. Several railroad lines run directly through the district. Trains make daily stops to load and unload. The whistle of a train is a familiar noise in the Old City. Manufacturing and warehousing have always been the main industries in the Old City. JFG Coffee has continued to own several buildings in the Old City for several decades. John H. Daniel company, a custom Tailor company also continues to make clothes in a large factory on West Jackson Street. The Old City was the location of race riots in 1919, when a mob of people broke into several warehouses to arm themselves. As Knoxville's industrial boom ended, many warehouses were abandoned. Several abandoned buildings can be seen throughout the historic district. Many of the buildings on South Central Street and Jackson Street were bought by developers as industry moved out. Many buildings were turned into bars, restaurants, loft apartments, and offices. Revitalization of the Old City has continued in recent years and abandoned buildings are being renovated for future development in many locations.
Geography
The Old City is in the northeast corner of downtown Knoxville. It is a relatively small district that is concentrated around the intersection of South Central Street and West Jackson Avenue. Interstate 40 passes directly to the north of the Old City. A new exit was constructed in 2006 enabling quick access to the Old City from Interstate 40. The new exit utilizes Hall of Fame Drive. The Old City is in a low lying area, down a hill from downtown Knoxville.
Population
There are several apartments throughout the Old City. Many of them are located behind and above offices and stores. There are also two large buildings that were developed into multi-story apartment buildings. Fire Street Lofts is located at the intersection of Gay Street and West Jackson Avenue. The Emporium Lofts and Sterchi Lofts are located a few buildings away on Gay Street, but it is debatable whether this is part of the Old City. The area tends to attract young single adults, who are sometimes affiliated with the University of Tennessee, which is less than a mile away. The Old City's proximity to entertainment and nightlife make it an attractive place to live for many young adults. The Old City has a noticeable presence of homeless people, but violence is uncommon and the main concern is panhandling.
References
- The Future of Knoxville's Past: Historic and Architectural Resources in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Knoxville Historic Zoning Commission, October, 2006), pages 20-21.
