End of an era: Cumberland Avenue demolition begins, making way for $530M student housing

Ryan Wilusz, Knoxville News Sentinel
·4 min read

Only memories will remain, as a Chicago-based student housing developer has begun demolishing a block of buildings on "the Strip" near the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus.

Changes to Cumberland Avenue are in motion as crews began demolition Feb. 15 to make room for more than 850 apartments and almost 2,300 beds, roughly 30,000 square feet of commercial space and a 10-story parking garage.

Core Spaces, the development group, plans to construct four apartment buildings. The first phase, which includes two buildings and the garage, is expected to wrap up in 2025.

The city says Core Spaces will end up investing roughly $530 million.

Which Cumberland Avenue buildings are coming down?

All buildings on the north side of Cumberland Avenue between 19th and 20th streets are approved for demolition. Core Spaces spent record amounts of money to purchase them in 2021 and 2022.

This demolition is just the first step in a multi-phase project; more demolitions should happen over the next few years.

Are Cumberland streets and sidewalks closed?

Sidewalks on the north side of Cumberland Avenue between 19th and 20th streets will be closed for now but will reopen for the majority of the project with a covered walkway, according to a city news release.

Sidewalks on the southern side of White Avenue, the eastern side of 20th Street and the western side of 19th Street will be closed until summer 2025.

No long-term street closures are expected, the city says, but 11 public parking spaces will go away during this time.

What is being built on Cumberland?

The project includes four apartment buildings, whose details are broken down below. A 2,100-vehicle garage between the 1900 block of Cumberland Avenue and White Avenue also is in the plans.

The garage would include 212 parking spaces for Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and 85 spaces for East Tennessee Children's Hospital, according to the city.

Demolishing buildings in the 1900 block of Cumberland Avenue will mean losing local businesses on "the Strip," including Stefanos Pizza, though a representative of student housing developer Core Spaces told Knoxville City Council the company has invited local vendors to return once its mixed-use apartment project is complete.
Demolishing buildings in the 1900 block of Cumberland Avenue will mean losing local businesses on "the Strip," including Stefanos Pizza, though a representative of student housing developer Core Spaces told Knoxville City Council the company has invited local vendors to return once its mixed-use apartment project is complete.

North side of Cumberland Avenue's 1900 block (Phase 1)

  • Stories: 10

  • Commercial space: 16,000 square feet

  • Outdoor amenities: 10,000 square feet

  • Units: 313

  • Beds: 924

2001 and 2107 Cumberland Ave. (Phase 1)

This development will replace the Shell gas station.

  • Stories: 10

  • Commercial space: 5,500 square feet

  • Units: 146

  • Beds: 347

2109 and 2121 Cumberland Ave. (Phase 2)

  • Stories: 8

  • Commercial space: 2,400 square feet

  • Units: 168

  • Beds: 420

South side of Cumberland Avenue's 1900 block (Phase 2)

  • Stories: 8

  • Commercial space: 5,000 square feet

  • Units: 237

  • Beds: 583

How did 'the Strip' get here?

The Cumberland Avenue Corridor Project, adopted in 2007, paved the way for this type of mixed-use development with a major streetscape and Strip-specific codes adopted six years later.

While Cumberland Avenue might look more orange and white than normal, demolitions in the 1900 block should not impact pedestrian traffic for more than a couple weeks. A covered walkway eventually will be added on Cumberland Avenue, and no long-term street closures are expected.
While Cumberland Avenue might look more orange and white than normal, demolitions in the 1900 block should not impact pedestrian traffic for more than a couple weeks. A covered walkway eventually will be added on Cumberland Avenue, and no long-term street closures are expected.

The code identifies Cumberland Avenue as the "key retail street within the area ... primarily intended to accommodate ground floor retail with upper story residential or office uses."

Why the city supports student housing on Cumberland

For one, this type of development is exactly what the corridor project hoped to attract, though critics say the street's character has been diminished by welcoming big business and chains.

However, the city and university realize more student housing is desperately needed with record-breaking enrollment. UT spent $3.1 million last year to house students at a Papermill Drive hotel roughly 6 miles from the heart of campus.

What other projects address student housing?

The city is applying for a federal RAISE grant, which could provide $25 million toward a pedestrian bridge connecting the UT campus to the southern banks of the Tennessee River.

This infrastructure could help the landlocked campus expand across the water, and the proposal already seems to be attracting housing projects along Blount Avenue.

If approved, a developer wants to build a 14-story, 128-unit apartment building on Lake Avenue near "the Strip." It would have nine stories of apartments over six stories of parking spaces, with one of those levels being below ground.
If approved, a developer wants to build a 14-story, 128-unit apartment building on Lake Avenue near "the Strip." It would have nine stories of apartments over six stories of parking spaces, with one of those levels being below ground.

A 14-story apartment development has been proposed near "the Strip" on Lake Avenue. It would include 128 units.

After a senior living proposal was scrapped, owners of the former Hotel Knoxville revealed plans to transition the building to apartments for young professionals. They also floated the idea of leasing the building to UT, though university officials have not publicly shown any connection to the project.

About Core Spaces and Hub on Campus

Core Spaces has 45 residential communities, according to its website.

The company has been a regular winner of the annual Student Housing Business Innovator Awards since 2014, including for best new development and best implementation of mixed use.

Its flagship brand, Hub on Campus, would be applied to the Knoxville development.

Ryan Wilusz, downtown reporter and urban explorer for Knox News, can be reached at 865-317-5138 or by email at ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Follow Ryan's work on Instagram @KnoxScruff, and sign up for the free, weekly Urban Knoxville newsletter. Unlock premium perks and support strong local journalism at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: The Strip on Cumberland Avenue preps for demolition near UT Knoxville