The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced on Feb. 6 that Tracy City has been admitted to its Tennessee Downtowns Program. A community assessment meeting is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 7, at Tracy City’s City Hall. The public is welcome to attend and meet with the Tracy City Steering Committee for downtown revitalization, the mayor and board of aldermen.
Tennessee Downtowns is a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts. The program follows the National Main Street Center’s “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization.” This is an 18-month tier program that guides steering committees through the steps of launching a downtown revitalization effort.
The other communities selected this year are Clifton, Greenfield, Portland, Waynesboro and White Bluff.
As part of the program, members of the steering committee will teach citizens about comprehensive, sustainable downtown revitalization and historic preservation through regional workshops and webinars, technical assistance and a $15,000 grant to complete individualized downtown development projects.
The steering committee has been active since it was appointed in October 2012 by the mayor and board of aldermen. Research by the committee found there are 55 active businesses and organizations in the downtown area of Tracy City and 19 commercial buildings vacant, leaving a vacancy rate in excess of 25 percent. The committee’s study will strive to address the high rate of business vacancies.
There are two buildings in the downtown area that have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There are an additional five sites that have value as historic or recreational areas. These are the vacant gymnasium of the former Grundy County High School, the site of the former Tracy City depot, roundhouse and engine repair shop, along with the contiguous Boy Scouts of America Park, the site of the former Shook School with remaining gymnasium, the site of the Wooten Mine and Coke Ovens and the site of the former Sam Werner Lumber Company. The committee has found significant current tourist trade in the downtown area that is being developed by existing businesses and organizations.
The committee encourages community input in the downtown revitalization study process. The steering committee members are: Jeremy Fultz (president of Tracy City Business Club), Nadene Moore (chairperson of Water Board of Tracy City Utility District), Sue B. Parrott (Grundy County member of Southeast Tennessee Tourism Board), Emily Partin (Commissioner, Grundy County Board of Commissioners) and Larry Phipps (mayor of Tracy City).
The Tennessee Downtowns application submitted by Tracy City is available for viewing by interested persons at Grundy County Historical Society Heritage Center, 465 Railroad Ave., Tracy City. People interested in providing comments or learning more can contact Nadene Moore, secretary for the committee, at (931) 592-6437 or (931) 592-6008.
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