An Open House for the proposed Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge that would connect the South Waterfront and the University of Tennessee will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, October 10 at Cityview Condominiums Club Room (445 E. Blount Avenue). South Waterfront Development Director Dave Hill and representatives from Lawrie & Associates, which developed the conceptual design, will be present.

This public meeting will give Knoxville residents a chance to review and comment on the conceptual design of the proposed bridge that would span the Tennessee River between the Scottish Pike area on the south side of the river and the Thompson-Boling Arena on the north side.

Visitors will be able to learn about the design process, the issues the engineers face in developing the bridge, alternatives that have been considered and other information concerning the proposed bridge.

To learn more about the City of Knoxville's South Waterfront Development please go to www.cityofknoxville.org/southwaterfront.

The City of Knoxville will host an open house and hold a City Council Workshop focusing on the proposed Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge that would cross the Tennessee River to connect the South Waterfront with the University of Tennessee.

Both public meetings will include drawings and information about the conceptual design of the bridge as well as a look at the alternatives considered during the planning process.

The open house - which is also aimed at gathering public comment on the conceptual design - is set for 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Monday, October 10, in the Cityview Condominiums Club Room.

That will be followed with a City Council Workshop with a formal presentation about the proposed bridge at 5 p.m., Thursday in the City County Building's Small Assembly Room.

Both sessions will provide plenty of opportunity for review and discussion of the ambitious project.

"The bridge project has progressed to the point where we would like to show the public the planning that has been completed to this point and what is being proposed," said South Waterfront Director Dave Hill. "We think it's a good design, we think this bridge would produce some great benefits to both the South Waterfront and UT, and we want to get some input on the plan." "We also want to present the conceptual design to City Council to see if there is a consensus to move forward into a more detailed design development phase," he added.

The proposed bridge would span the river from the Scottish Pike area in South Knoxville to a landing on the north (university) side of the river that would be located between Thompson-Boling Arena and Pratt Pavilion. The bridge is part of the South Waterfront Vision Plan, which is a guide for the long-term development of the south bank of the Tennessee River.

Much of the South Waterfront Project Area is directly across from the UT campus. In addition to improving access between the two areas the proposed bridge is also expected to spur redevelopment along the waterfront area.

Last week the University of Tennessee expressed support for the city's continuing the planning process for the bridge after studying the current conceptual design.

Lawrie Associates, a structural engineering firm based in Alexandria, Va., developed the design.

If City Council and UT ultimately decide to pursue the project it would take several years to do the detailed planning, obtain the necessary permits from state and federal agencies and acquire funding before construction could begin.

The presentation at the Council Workshop will feature a discussion of the issues ranging from the selection of the landing sites and developing the bridge within existing structures and utilities to meeting vertical clearance requirements over the river's barge traffic.

More information about the South Waterfront Development is available at www.cityofknoxville.org/southwaterfront.

Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer will host an open house meeting this evening in Farragut, Tennessee.

The meeting will take place from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. EDT at Farragut Town Hall, located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive. The public is cordially invited to attend and meet Commissioner Schroer.

Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC) will open the doors to its new housing complex for seniors, the Residences at Eastport, for potential residents and the public Sept. 23 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

During the open house, potential residents, community leaders and the general public will receive guided tours of a model unit. KCDC employees will be available onsite to provide leasing information, answer questions and help seniors with the application process. Refreshments will be provided.

Parking is limited, but shuttles will run every 15 minutes from two locations. Residents and disabled guests will be picked up from the Walter P. Taylor leasing office on McConnell Street, and other community members will be shuttled from the Harvest Plaza parking lot at 2410 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

The Residences at Eastport is an affordable 85-unit development. Twenty-five of the units are housed in the former Eastport Elementary school building. The building retains the façade of the historic school, which is believed to be the first African American school in the Five Points neighborhood. The property is the newest apartment complex for seniors, age 62 and older, in the area.

"The Residences at Eastport are specially designed to accommodate the needs of our aging population in a comfortable community-style living environment," Alvin Nance, executive director and CEO of KCDC, said. "We are excited to unveil our newest housing complex, the initial step towards our goal of the revitalization of the Five Points area."

Upon completion, the complex will attain a LEED for Homes certification for its cost-efficiency and energy savings, furthering KCDC's mission of improving and transforming neighborhoods to promote sustainability and self-sufficiency.

KCDC is the housing authority and redevelopment agency for Knoxville. Since 1936, KCDC has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Knoxville. For more information, visit www.kcdc.org.

Please join KAT in the celebration of the one-year anniversary of the John J. Duncan Jr. Knoxville Station Transit Center .

A special Open House will be held on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the station located at 301 Church Ave., Knoxville, TN 37915.

There will be a celebratory cake, a transit retrospective on display in the training room and other activities to help celebrate the first year in the new facility.