Oak Ridge Council surveys development at Pine Ridge

By Bob Fowler, Anderson County editor

The Knoxville News Sentinel, October 3, 2001

OAK RIDGE - The controversial Pine Ridge site, which has been clearcut and is being leveled for warehouses and offices, could land a business that would employ 250 people, Oak Ridge City Council members were told during a tour of the property.

Developer Nat Revis, who said he's already poured $1.2 million into the project, said there's no way he's going to sell the land back to the city.

The buyback and the conversion of Pine Ridge into a city park has been proposed in a petition mounted by Bill Schramm, an environmental consultant.

Schramm has already collected more than 1,100 signatures calling for the city to either buy back the land or condemn it, and he said he plans to present his petition to City Council Oct. 8.

Schramm's effort is one facet of a public outcry over Pine Ridge, which some say has been degraded into a highly visible eyesore. Illinois Avenue, the main entrance into Oak Ridge from Knoxville, winds down one side of the ridge.

After Monday's tour, Mayor David Bradshaw dismissed the notion of buying back the site, most of which the city sold in 1999 to Revis for $2,250 an acre.

"The city is not in a position to purchase property that's been heavily invested in," said Bradshaw. "I was encouraged by what I saw. I think our best approach is to encourage Dr. Revis to work with city staff to make it the best possible development."

Revis said he is working with the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and several companies, including IBM and General Motors, on a proposal to build 50,000-square foot warehouses for housing records and documents.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have spurred other companies to consider the storage of crucial documents at sites away from their corporate headquarters, Revis said.

Revis said he is also bidding to build a 170,000-square-foot building for a local company that is considering a new location, either in Oak Ridge or Knoxville, where 250 people would be employed.

Office buildings are planned on the terraced portion of Pine Ridge that would front Illinois Avenue, while the warehouses would be on the backside of the ridges, Revis said.

Some 70 feet of the second of two ridge tops paralleling Illinois Avenue would be chopped off, as well as 50 feet off the first ridge. A small valley between the ridge tops will be filled in, Revis said. The grading and leveling is expected to be complete in six months.

Revis said he is working with the University of Tennessee Department of Agriculture to determine the correct mix of trees and other vegetation to plant on Pine Ridge for landscaping.

He said he is also discussing the possibility of building walking trails on part of the tract. About 50 acres of the site will be suitable, Revis said.

Revis said he has financing in place to complete site work, estimated to total $3.5 million and include moving 1.2 million cubic yards of earth.

Revis said he's not sure he would have proceeded with the development had he know it would have created such a controversy.

Oak Ridge City Manager Paul Boyer said Revis "has been held to every rule and regulation we have in place. He has the permits he needs to go ahead with his work."

Bob Fowler may be reached at 865-481-3625 or bfowler@knoxnews.infi.net.

Copyright 2001, KnoxNews. All Rights Reserved.