Outdoor movies, a permanent home for the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra and a farmer’s market venue could all be on the horizon for Collegedale.
The city recently entered into a $17,000 design agreement with Hefferlin + Kronenburg Architect to develop the conceptual drawings and plans for a new town hub tentatively called “Collegedale Center” that would become a venue for a wide variety of activities.
“Collegedale, being formed the way it was 45 years ago, it was not formed around a town square or downtown area,” said Collegedale Tomorrow Advisory Board Chairman David Barto. “There’s no real sense of center to our town. We would like to use the property around [the new complex] to develop into a new city center. We’re hoping this will be the impetus for that to happen. If it doesn’t, we will still have a fantastic venue for performances, markets, conventions and meetings.”
But all of these plans hinge on cooperation with Southern Adventist University. Currently the university owns the six to seven acres of flat land adjacent to City Hall where the potential development would be constructed. Barto said the city hopes to work out an agreement where the city can either buy or swap the land with the university.
“We’re willing to do the design work so Southern will know what could end up on their property,” he said.
Historically, the university and the city have had a good relationship and are currently working together to develop a new loop road around the campus that will be both on university and city owned land. Assuming plans move forward, Barto said the development could include activities like outdoor theater performances, car shows, basketball or table tennis tournaments or rummage sales.
“We would also like to work on a partnership with SAU to offer community wellness and healthy living classes,” he said.
Barto said it’s important to note that this entire conversation wouldn’t be taking place if it weren’t for the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra, who originally proposed building an amphitheatre in Veterans Memorial Park.
“The city of Collegedale owes the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra a debt of gratitude for getting this project started,” he said. “We wouldn’t be talking about ‘center’ today without them.”