May 9, 1936

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) was founded in 1936 as Knoxville Housing Authority (KHA).

1938

KHA applies for $2.5 million for slum clearance and low-rent housing. First housing units included:

  • 320 units at College Homes
  • 244 units at Western Heights
  • 200 Units at Austin Homes

The building permit for more than $1 million was the largest in Knoxville history in 1938.

1940-1941

First families move into College Homes and Western Heights in 1940.
First families move into Austin Homes in 1941.

1952

Lonsdale Homes completed.

1962

Yale Avenue Urban Renewal Project is unveiled. The $12 million project allowed the University of Tennessee to double the size of its Knoxville campus. The project covered 135 acres of land and resulted in the relocation of 393 families.

1964

KHA begins the $7 million Mountain View Urban Renewal project, which provided 190 acres for the development of the Safety Building, Hyatt Regency, Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, Chamber of Commerce, Fort Hill Building Complex and additional private development.

1965

KHA’s Central Office Building on Broadway completed.

1966

Guy B. Love Towers completed, which provided 249 units for elderly.

1967

Walter P. Taylor Homes completed, providing 500 units for elderly and disabled.

1969

Northgate Terrace high-rise completed, which provided 277 units for elderly. Cagle Terrace high-rise completed, which provided 274 units of elderly.

1970

KHA begins Social Service Program. KHA begins $16 million Morningside Urban Renewal, which included elderly high-rise Isabella Towers, 200 single-family homes, four parks, a black cultural center, numerous commercial developments and new public improvements.

1972

Montgomery Village, Christenberry Heights and Isabella Towers completed. KHA begins the development of the TVA twin towers project, the agency’s first project in the city center.

1973

KHA changes its name to Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation to better reflect its role as both public housing authority and redevelopment agency for the City of Knoxville.

1979-1982

Work begins on developing the World’s Fair site in the Lower Second Creek Redevelopment Project area; complete acquisitions, relocation and demolition of 1982 World’s Fair site.

1987

The Manor, an innovative program that provides supportive services to seniors, begins at Isabella Towers.

1995

KCDC begins waterfront improvements along Volunteer Landing that include condominiums, public park improvements and retail and restaurant spaces.

1998

KCDC receives $26 million HOPE VI revitalization grant to rebuild Mechanicsville Commons on the site of College Homes, now nearly 70 years old.

2001

KCDC and the City of Knoxville break ground on facade improvements and an entertainment pavilion as part of the Market Square redevelopment plan.

2002

State office building built and ribbon-cutting held in Mechanicsville neighborhood.

2006

HOPE VI project completed in Mechanicsville at a total cost of $41 million.

2008

KCDC completes a $26 million upgrade of Lonsdale Homes with a mixture of renovation and new construction for decreased density and community feel.

2009

KCDC merges with Knox County Housing Authority; upgrade of Christenberry Heights unveiled and renamed to North Ridge Crossing after a $16 million remodeling into a premier property.

2010

KCDC begins Five Points redevelopment project with six senior housing duplexes and breaks ground on The Residences at Eastport.

KCDC unveils energy-efficiency upgrades and facade improvements at Valley Oaks.

2011

KCDC completes 85-unit The Residences at Eastport, constructed using the facade of the Five Points community’s first African-American elementary school.

2012

KCDC’s The Residences at Eastport awarded LEED Platinum from the U.S. Green Building Council; 183 units of Walter P. Taylor Homes demolished.

KCDC unveils renovations to Virginia Walker and Bakertown apartments and renames the Knox County properties to Autumn Landing and Nature’s Cove.

2013

Multiplex and single-family home adjacent to Paul Hogue Park unveiled in Five Points.

2015

Five Points Master Plan unveiled to the public after extensive community input project

2016

KCDC breaks ground on 95-unit senior housing development in Five Points, The Residences at Five Points.

2017

KCDC opens The Residences at Five Points.