Property owners plan revitalized Loudon By: Jeanna Lepping The Loudon Merchants and Property Owners Association gave Loudon City Council notice Monday of several changes to downtown Loudon they would like to see become reality. At the July 18 council meeting, Judy Keller, spokeswoman for the group, handed council the recommendations and said she knew the ideas were “not necessarily easy things to accomplish,” but she, along with other citizens, has “watched the city do some pretty amazing things.” Keller gave council four recommendations to help revitalize downtown Loudon, including a riverfront restaurant, a Wharf Street walkway, the relocating of a library to the downtown area and the redevelopment of several older buildings in downtown. Keller said the projects might seem difficult to accomplish, but she’s seen Loudon go through several changes over the years and has faith in the city’s abilities to get the work done. She cited the industrial park as an example of council’s good decision-making process in bringing industries to Loudon. “We’ve done a lot of things over the years with the help of a lot of people working hard...we’ve done things much greater than expected,” Keller said. Those in attendance at the meeting included representatives of several Loudon businesses, including Greer’s, Mark and Tina’s Diner, and McGill-Karnes Funeral Home. Also in attendance was Rick Dover of Family Pride, Inc., who plans to redevelop several parcels of land in downtown Loudon for an assisted living facility and other senior housing. Dover spoke of the riverfront restaurant recommendation, adding he felt it could be “a tremendous possible asset.” For example, Dover noted, there are currently no riverfront restaurants for boaters to dock along Watt’s Bar Lake from the locks in Lenoir City to Kingston. Dover said a riverfront restaurant would allow boaters to come into Loudon and shop downtown. He noted if there is nothing to attract people to downtown stores, the stores currently located there will have no profit. “Without people and pocketbooks, there will be no retail [downtown],” Dover said. The timing is right because along with a newly elected council, “we have people totally invested [in downtown],” he said. Dover also told council they should come up with a solution to fix the older buildings in town, pointing out several of the buildings are owned by absentee landowners who’ve “been difficult to talk to [about selling property].” “It’s the run down, slum-type property giving the city a black eye,” Dover added. In the recommendations given to the city, it is requested that council “consider funding a program to redevelop some of the blighted areas of our downtown. Make the most of our charming downtown that already has an original historic courthouse, a beautiful courthouse square, historic lighting, a fountain and a friendly atmosphere.” In response, Loudon Mayor Bernie “Inky” Swiney told the group he was “fascinated, surprised and pleased to see the merchants unified,” and added he hoped to make their recommendations a reality. Council member Lynn Millsaps asked City Manager Barry Baker if the recommendations could be put on an agenda for an upcoming priority setting meeting for the council. Other council members followed suit with Millsaps and Swiney, agreeing they’d like to see the recommendations come to fruition. Council member Nancy James added, “there’s a lot of possibilities...I wish we had enough money to do it all.” Council member Michael Cartwright agreed but was quick to point out that “the merchants shame a lot of our absentee landowners,” saying several of the absentee landowners were from families who have lived in Loudon for generations, yet are doing nothing to help revitalize downtown and instead are leaving the ones who want to see the changes made to merchants and landowners who have relocated to Loudon. Pointing out “this is as close to a town meeting as I’ve ever been to,” Swiney told the citizens council would try to “make a way to make wishes become reality,” and chimed in agreement with Keller’s description of risks Loudon has taken in the past. “We’ve refused to dry up and go away like other small towns,” Swiney said. “We’re all in this together, and these ideas will have to come to fruition,” he added. In other business, unanimously approved on second reading to amend the zoning of property located on Main Street from M-1, Light Industrial District, to R-2, High Density Residential District. Council also approved on first reading to rezone other property located on Main Street from M-2, Heavy Industrial District, to R-2, High Density Residential District. Both of these pieces of property will be used by Family Pride, Inc. for a senior housing development. Council also approved the purchase of a Cub Cadet from Fort Loudoun Tractor and Equipment Company for $5,800; approved the donation of a 1987 Ford Econoline 350XL to the North Monroe Volunteer Fire Department; and approved, with modifications made during the meeting, a development agreement with Tennessee National. The last piece of business before adjournment was appointments to various committees and groups. Among the appointments, council appointed Cartwright to the Loudon Utilities Board and named James vice mayor.
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