Being in a Pickle isn't so bad

On Wednesday, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Pickle Mansion.

John Haas, the owner, was our tour guide. He's in the process of rebuilding the mansion for his family by returning it to its original state of a three bedroom home. He's a landlord in the Fort and owner of the Fort Sanders Yacht Club, so I'm told, so it makes sense for him and his family to live there. I'm not sure when it will be done, but what an amazing home it will make one day.
He's owned the house for about three years now and has been busy fixing the foundation. This included removing extremely large and incredibly heavy water containers (I don't remember the technical name of them) without making the whole house collapse. The stone work is gorgeous on the ground level. He showed us several archways he's had to rebuild.
From what he said, it sounds like the foundation is set, and so he'll finally be able to move on to the second and third floor, which, of course, is all necessary for the installation of the roof. The damage that was done originally by the fire and over the past six years by water is extensive. I finally realize what a task he has taken upon himself to fix the Pickle Mansion. Calling it a labor of love is an understatement; a labor of insanity is more accurate.

I didn't even know before visiting how the fire six years ago started, but I learned that the mansion used to be split up into several apartments. Supposedly, one of the tenant's girlfriend had just broken up with him, he couldn't pay rent, and as a result, was asked to vacate his apartment.

Shortly after his eviction notice, his neighbors heard him come in, make a bunch of noise, and leave. A few minutes later, smoke was coming out of his apartment. His neighbors tried to break the glass on the fire extinguisher to find it was not glass, but lexan, an unbreakable material. The landlord had replaced the glass with lexan because his tenants had (gotten drunk and) broken the glass one too many times.

The neighbor beat the encased extinguisher until the whole thing fell on the ground. By then they had to leave because the fire was spreading.

All this is hearsay, and the disgruntled tenant was never convicted. It could have all been an accident. All we know now is that John Haas has his work cut out for him for the next decade or two. I hope he finds it within himself to keep going, and to invite me back over when it's all said and done.

Appropriate or Ignoring Knoxville's Past?

Say goodbye to the JFG facade that has for so long been a defining element of Knoxville's industrial past, and say hello to the look indicative of its new use. 

Overall, I'm fine with the cleaned up look. Considering the number of new windows they've added I think something needed to be done. Note how they're adding grey, blue and white paint to create variety and reinforce a horizontality to an otherwise dull facade. 

What are your thoughts on this updated JFG?

I've seen the future ... and the view is sweet!

Howdy folks,

As you probably know, David Dewhirst is widening his reach in our beloved downtown with his latest project the JFG Flats. For the rental project he is converting the old JFG warehouse into swanky apartments, and, I predict, will be a very important move for the revitalization and growth of the Old City.


Yours truly was invited to attend a pre-tour of the building and some of the units ... and here's what I found.

The units are still in progress, and I suspect they will match, if not exceed, his other projects' design aesthetics. Prices start at around $500 for a studio, which may seem a little high, but with all that you get for the price, I think its justified.


As you can see from the pictures, Dewhirst is doing a great job to retain that warehouse aesthetic, while providing the modern vibe one would expect from a downtown loft. (Note: most of those are the original window frames, a signature of the era, kitted with new double-pane windows).


This last one is the old bean grinder on the top floor that will be incorporated into the design of one of the few three bedroom units - with private roof access. Dewhirst seems to have put out another great project, and one that will surely be a hit come move-in day (mid July).

Renters Rights?

As a long-standing renter of properties in downtown and North Knoxville I have a few questions about what rights one has as a tenant in regards to the following situations. I've talked to a few people dealing with these issues recently in Maplehurst and we've been somewhat shocked out of knowing what to do.

1) The landlord won't fix ceilings and leaks, forcing tenants to move.

2) The landlord tells tenants their fully functional radiators are "broken" and that they will be "turned off." The landlord says the tenant can pick up a space heater from the office that barely heats the apartment and jacks up their KUB bill to hundreds of dollars.

3) They have said that they are going to fix buildings, but as people move out of buildings, they open up the windows and doors to abandoned and even some occupied buildings, exposing the interiors to the elements. Other than seeming unsafe to have old, dilapidated buildings open to the public, isn't demolition by neglect illegal?

4) If a tenant has a heat or leak problem, the owners say the tenant can move into another apartment that they own. I don't think they compensate you for this huge inconvenience.

I've seen a lot of people have to leave Maplehurst because of this neglect. On top of the absence of a friend, I get the enjoyment (sarcastic) of watching some of my favorite buildings in Knoxville deteriorate. It's a complicated situation because it's not really the current owners fault that Maplehurst is in the state it's in (ownership has changed numerous times in the past few years) but I'm really confused as to what they're currently doing.

Is the only threat you have in these circumstances to hire a lawyer or break your lease? If people silently move out, the situation is not likely to get better. Is there someone in government that you're supposed to notify of these things? From what I hear, this is just as much a predicament in the Fort, but what's being done about it?

I've asked several times to have my bathroom ceiling fixed. Every week more and more pieces of drywall fall into my bathtub. If you don't hear from me for a few days, it may be because I'm lying naked under my upstairs neighbors bathtub that has fallen on my head. Maybe then, they'll come and fix it.

The Sun(Sphere) Will Save Us All

Hello all ('all' being primarily defined as 'homeowners'), there are two big events going on this weekend. 

First off, there is a "Solar 101" workshop this Saturday from 10 - 12 at Ijams Nature Center in South Knox. The workshop will teach the basics of solar technologies that are available for home installation, such as solar electric, hot water, lighting, heating and passive solar design. It will also provide a step-by-step introduction for "going green" with your home. They will also look at financial incentives and options as well as hiring good installers. 

If you want to go, RSVP to Gil Melear-Hough at gil@cleanenergy.org. 

Next, from 11:30 - 2:00 on Saturday there is a ribbon cutting and open house for Knox Housing Partnership's seven new LEED Gold Certified affordable homes. It's at Five Points in East Knox (714 - 732 S. Chestnut St.) This is a pretty huge deal, since the only other LEED-certified house in TN is Al Gore's. The mayor will be there, and other big wigs, so be sure to wear your Sunday errrr ... Earth-conscious Best!

Knoxville Voice

Alright Downtowners, I have a question for you? Do you live in a renovated warehouse cum apartment? And if so, can you hear your neighbor's every word, groan, moan, bite, belch, etc?

I moved to the Emporium in May, and have slept with ear plugs more times than I care to remember. Till now I've just shut my yap, as I was told that that's just the way Dewhirst works his renovation magic, but recently I talked with a fellow tenant in my building who has decided to break his lease and make a run for it. Apparently, the paper thin walls got the best of him - that, or reality sunk in and he realized that he's paying a hefty sum for a sub-par quality of life.
 
For reasons similar to my neighbor, I've been planning on escaping to the JFG building, but realized that it too is a Dewhirst and will probably have the same nonexistant level of care paid to its wall insulation.

So Downtowners: what buildings are good, and which one's can you hear your neighbors playing Wii at 4 a.m.? Thus far I know the Emporium, Sterchi and Fire Street have a bad rap, What buildings do you recommend? Which one's suck? Concerned citizens need the info!

PS: My neighbor is listening to Coldplay for going on 3 hours. Just thought you'd like to know.