Better Communities By Design
Created in 1970, the East Tennessee Community Design Center is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that works with community groups in urban and rural East Tennessee. The Community Design Center organizes people, ideas and resources to facilitate positive change in economically distressed and isolated communities in the region. The sixteen Tennessee counties served by the Community Design Center are: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union.
On the Boards
The term “on the boards” may not be very descriptive today, as most design and drawings seem to be digital. It remains the phrase of preference for me though being the old codger I am and all.
Currently “on the boards” here at the Community Design Center are such projects as strategizing how vehicles and pedestrians might better coexist around Bearden High School.
Pictured: Lisa Wilkerson, PTA President, Curtis Catron ASLA, Landscape Architect & volunteer professional advisor, Danni Varlan, Legislative PTA Chair, Steve King, City of Knoxville Engineer, Emily Lingerfelt, ETCDC staff, Doug Dillingham, Knox County Schools
In north Knoxville, possible adaptive reuses for the blighted Oakwood Elementary School, over in Rockwood F. R. David Park upgrades.
Out in Oak Ridge, a new adult day care facility for Emory Valley Center.
Leslie Fawaz (standing), studio director, leads a planning session with the client, UT students and Manny Herz, AIA, volunteer professional advisor.
Up in Greeneville a new facility to house Rural Resources Greeneville after their home in the barn was struck and destroyed by lighting.
Pictured: Brent Honeycut, AIA & volunteer professional advisor, Leslie Fawaz, AIA and ETCDC staff Ashley Shearron
We are also working on a design for a park on Harrell Road, a new streetscape for Wall Avenue downtown.
A boathouse for the Knoxville Rowing Association.
Oh yes, a new home for the Ladies of Charity, downtown YWCA renovations, plans of the existing facilities of the Scott County courthouse and jail.
I might as well mention too we are working with several neighborhoods on building consensus around a plan that hopefully will reduce the speed and volume of traffic in the neighborhood, and on façade enhancements for multiple locations throughout the empowerment zone.
All in all it’s pretty busy around here creating “better communities by design.”
Thank you for your support.
—David Watson, Executive Director
Recent News
February 8, 2010 - Download the 2009 ETCDC Annual Report
