Something really cool is happening……

Downtown Kingsport …. Something really cool is happening !!!

For me growing up in Kingsport in the ‘60’s naturally created an affection for downtown. Thousands of people in our area, including myself, enjoyed countless days “knocking around” Broad Street and environs, drinking cherry cokes at Kress’s, riding the escalator at “J Freds”, watching the “change tubes” at Parks-Belk (anybody catch this??), seeing King-Kong versus Godzilla at the Strand or the Longest Day (with my mother – I’m wiping away the tears!)
at the State (for 50 cents !!), getting popcorn at Wallace’s, shopping for baseball cleats or wooden bats at Dobyns-Taylor.…man, I’m losing focus here….anyway….Then it happened … change …. Slowly at first the dynamics of downtown began to fade, then the big bang (Ft Henry Mall opened and Penney’s and Park-Belks closed). It saddened me so see the state of downtown for the next several years – one of my favorite hang-outs !!

However, FEAR NOT DOWNTOWN FANS !!! … there is something exciting going on!! You can’t point to one particular thing… it is a synergy, a funny sense one gets when you walk around in the last few weeks.…something you can’t necessarily see, but you can feel it. SOMETHING REALLY COOL IS HAPPENING ……CHANGE !!! .. a dynamic movement towards
redevelopment, new restaurants, new offices, re-modeled buildings, people everywhere on the sidewalks….yes, the “shift” is there, the “momentum” is there ..Downtown Kingsport is BACK !!! Once nearly dead or dying, now you’ve got music and concerts, a variety of great food, remodeled streets and buildings, an ambience that is attracting businesses and people that hasn’t’ been around for decades !! … and this is just the beginning !!

I am a City Planner by trade and part of my job and others is to establish estimations for future growth and/or direction in our City. Much-like Major Hoople, my “Fearless Forecast” is that … hold on to your hats !! …a Boom is about to happen in Downtown Kingsport !! We have only seen the beginning in terms life on the streets and sidewalks again. If I were a betting man, I would definitely “get in on this” because the growth and momentum of new businesses in downtown has been kick-started and will not slow down for several years. More street improvements and amenities are coming, more restaurants are coming, more entertainment venues, more shops, and more fun !! In summary, I challenge all area citizens to take a look and see what is happening here In Downtown Kingsport and “GET IN ON IT”, both from your presence, your investments, your enthusiasm, and your civic pride !!

William A. Albright,
City of Kingsport – Transportation Planner

SkinHealth – A Downtown Business Profile

Skin Health, owned by Beth Black, has been a four year tenant of 217 East Center Street. Beth Black is a graduate of the International School of Skin Care in Atlanta, GA. She has nearly a decade of experience in retail cosmetic and skin care procedures. Black has received training in microdermabrasion, medical esthetics, aromatherapy, reflexology, permanant make-up, and advanced camouflage make-up.

Call today to turn back the hands of time and schedule a private SkinHealth consultation.

Procedures include:
Skin Consultation
Microdermabrasion
Glycolic Skin Smoothing Facial
Oxygen Facial
Intensive Acne Enzyme Facial
Reflexology
Lash and Brow Tinting

You may call Beth Black C.M.A at 423.239.0913

Thank you Volunteers and Sponsors

Thank You to the amazing volunteers and supportive sponsors of this past weekends Downtown Cleanup Day! We had a lot of fun and are already looking forward to next year.

2007 Downtown Cleanup Day Sponsors:

1-800-Got-Junk

Networking and Computers

BB&T

Divine Delicacies

Kaffe Blue

KNETIC

Keep Kingsport Beautiful

City of Kingsport – Public Works

Alderman Jantry Shupe

Midday shuttle service up and running to downtown Kingsport

Published 05/20/2007 By Sharon Caskey Hayes

KINGSPORT — Kingsport has launched a new midday shuttle service to bring more people into the downtown district during lunchtime.

The new service started last week to bus folks to the downtown area from Eastman Chemical Co. and Holston Valley Medical Center between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The cost is 25 cents, round trip.

Mark Freeman, who headed the Downtown Shuttle Committee that recommended the service, said the idea is to bring more people downtown to eat and shop, and alleviate parking and traffic congestion at the same time.

“We got to looking at demographics — how many people work at Eastman, how many people work at Holston Valley, how many people work in downtown — and we realized that within a very short travel distance we could offer a shuttle and move a lot of people without them moving their cars,” Freeman said.

More than 16,000 people work along the shuttle’s 3.5-mile loop, including 7,500 at Eastman, 3,000 at Holston Valley, and 6,000 in the 44-block downtown district.

One bus travels between Building 280 at Eastman to downtown, while another bus runs the route from Holston Valley. Scheduled stops include Broad and New streets, Broad and Market streets, and Cherokee and Market streets. Stops will also be made for those who flag the bus.

Kingsport Transportation Manager Bill Albright said travel time on the shuttle is minimal — about five minutes from one destination to another.

“Because we have two buses running simultaneously in opposite directions, it provides great service time,” Albright said. “It works like a charm.”

He said the wait time for buses is no more than 15 minutes.

“If you time it right and look at the schedule and be there when you know the bus is coming by, you shouldn’t be waiting more than five minutes on the sidewalk,” Albright said.

The buses are air conditioned and can carry up to 16 passengers. Albright said the service will operate in a trial period through the end of September.

“This is not permanent until a decision is made by the BMA (Board of Mayor and Aldermen) to make it permanent. It’s got to have enough patronage to make it worthwhile,” Albright said.

He said the shuttle schedule could change depending on usage and rider requests.

Albright noted the BMA has authorized the service to operate up to three hours each weekday.

The city has applied for a $280,000 Federal Transit Administration grant to purchase new buses for the shuttle service. Initially the city wanted to buy hybrid buses. But Albright said those vehicles are cost prohibitive, each carrying a $240,000 price tag.

“We can get three regular buses for the price of one hybrid bus,” Albright said.

He said the city should know this summer if it receives the federal grant. The government is also expected to chip in on the cost of operating the service. Albright estimated it will cost about $33,000 a year to operate the two diesel buses. The city will fund about $6,500 of the cost, while the rest will be picked up by state and federal grants, he said.

Freeman said the benefits will outweigh the expense to the city.

“This is about getting customers downtown and generating more sales,” he said.

Lisa Childress, executive director of the Downtown Kingsport Association, said the shuttle should boost business in the downtown area.

“You can hop on the bus, ride downtown, have a sandwich or something, and you don’t have to move your car,” Childress said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Freeman said the shuttle can also benefit the families of patients at Holston Valley by giving them a break from the hospital without them having to drive. And it gives folks who work at Eastman and in the downtown area an opportunity to ride the bus to visit friends in the hospital.

Downtown Cleanup Day! is this Saturday

Keep Kingsport Beautiful and KNETIC are sponsoring a Downtown Cleanup Day on Saturday, May 19 from 7am-11am or noon to 4pm. As part of the Great American Cleanup, volunteers are invited to pull weeds, pick up trash and remove debris from the alleys to cleanup the Downtown streets in preparation for the Downtown Kingsport Concert Serieswhich hosts over 100,000 visitors. Volunteer sign-in will be at the corner of Market Street and Broad Street. For more information call KNETIC at 423.384.4976 or Keep Kingsport Beautiful at 392.8814. KNETIC is a civic and social group for young leaders and professionals between the ages of 20 and 40. KNETIC hosts social events, promotes leadership, and organizes community involvement opportunities for its members. Keep Kingsport Beautiful is a partnership of the city of Kingsport and the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce.

T.K.’s Big Dogs Menu

This post is proudly sponsored by AMMA / Appalachian Medical Massage Associates. AMMA is the nation’s only wellness center to offer Vodder Certified MLD, Nationally Certified Medical Massage Therapy, and SI, all under one roof. Experience the Difference.
We are located in Downtown Kingsport at 317 Cherokee Street Suite 101
Hours are by appointment M-Friday, between the hours of 8am and 7pm. (423) 288-2662

Pictures of Downtown Sculpture

Kaffe Blue

For the most up to date information on Kaffe Blue, clickHERE.

They also have a facebook page : www.facebook.com

Take a Walk

Downtown Kingsport’s Sculpture Walk in Kingsport Times News Article

Are people talking?

Your eyes and ears are being requested. Do you have answers to any of the following? If so, make a comment and let us know.

Does someone in Downtown Kingsport deserve a high-five and special recognition for their work?

Is there a building renovation that needs to be announced?

What about a particular individual that is doing something to improve our Downtown Community?

What social activities are taking place Downtown that we need to let Kingsport know about?

Do you have pictures of Downtown Kingsport that you would like posted to the site?