The first residential structure at the new Knoxville stadium will be named “The Beauford Delaney Building” in honor of the internationally acclaimed artist whose original childhood home stood one block from the site of the transformational project on the edge of the Old City.
Downtown Knoxville-based Partners Development will serve as the developer for the $45 million project, and the building is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024 to coincide with the Knoxville Smokies’ debut baseball season at the new stadium.
The name of the first building on the stadium site is the result of GEM Community Development Group’s partnership with a cultural and historical advisory committee led by Rev. Reneé Kesler,
president of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.
“Beauford Delaney is by far the most important artist of the 20th century; his influence on the world of art cannot be overstated,” Kesler said. “His works are extensively exhibited in museums, galleries and private collections all over the world. Naming the first residential building in this location after our native son is a historic step toward prominently and intentionally exhibiting the rich legacy of Black heritage.
GEM Community Development Group is making good on the promise to preserve Black history and culture in the heart of this community known as The Bottom.”
The nine-story building, which will consist of 35-45 condos depending on final layout, will include underground parking for residential units; restaurant, retail and commercial space on the ground floor; and city-view units on the second and third floors.
The fourth floor will be an amenity floor with an outdoor platform deck to view all stadium events, as well as grilling areas, fire pits and gathering spaces. The fourth floor also will contain fitness and business centers and a party room with a kitchen.
Views of home plate will be available for units on the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth floors. “This project is something our company wanted to be involved in because of the impact on the
community, transformation of a blighted area and the chance to offer a one-of-a-kind residential experience in Knoxville that can’t be duplicated anywhere else in the city,” said Russ
Watkins, president and CEO of Partners Development, which also is serving as overall project manager for GEM Community Development Group. “We wanted to provide every condo on the
upper floors with a view of home plate.
Residents will have the option of viewing the inside of the stadium or picturesque views of the city facing East, North or South.”
The cultural and historical advisory committee led by Kesler has advised the development team from the beginning on being intentional about capturing the rich Black history and culture of
the location of the project, as well as reflecting the multi-racial history of baseball in the community.
GEM Community Development Group seeks to bring more than $100 million in private investment to complement the new multi-use stadium and is the private development partner
to Boyd Sports, which operates the Smokies baseball team.
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