Knoxville, TN (WOKI) – The Emerald Youth Foundation announced Friday plans to buy an East Knoxville property and turn it into a youth center as part of a multi-million dollar project. The plan, which includes a significant contribution from the State of Tennessee, comes just months after a failed attempt by the foundation to purchase a portion of the City of Knoxville-owned Chilhowee Park.
At the foundation’s annual prayer breakfast event, Emerald Youth leaders said the group would be buying the Eternal Life Harvest Center’s Martin Luther King Jr Avenue location. The five-parcel property is located in the Five Points neighborhood, and foundation leadership pointed to its proximity to Austin-East and Vine magnet schools, along with others.
Access to those schools is a key selling point for the foundation, which has worked for decades offering Christian-based youth outreach programs all over the Knoxville area. Foundation leadership said the next phase in their mission to help young people in Knoxville would be building a multi-million dollar youth center at the Eternal Life Harvest Center’s soon-to-be-sold location.
“Having lived and served in East Knoxville for nearly 50 years, I am thrilled about this potential ministry opportunity for Emerald Youth to continue to provide children and families with faith, learning and health programs in the Five Points community and beyond,” the foundation’s east area community engagement chair, Rev. Dr. Harold Middlebrook, said in a statement provided by Emerald Youth.
Emerald Youth pivots to building on private property over publicly owned land
The purchase of land owned by the Eternal Life Harvest Center is a pivot from Emerald Youth’s original plan to put a youth complex in East Knoxville. Last year, the city was deep into the final stages of selling a portion of Chilhowee Park to Emerald Youth, at least before voters had their say.
Chilhowee Park is a publicly owned property and is best known as the home of the Tennessee Valley Fair. The potential sale’s announcement caused a stir among Knoxvillians who felt they should have had more of a say in the process.
What followed was months of back-and-forth between taxpayers and the two parties. The sale eventually fell through, and Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon has since put together a committee to plan the park’s future.
What does Emerald Youth plan to do with the East Knoxville property?
It won’t be the foundation’s first time installing a youth center in the Knoxville area. Leadership pointed to Emerald Youth’s existing Haslam-Sanson Ministry Complex in Lonsdale, saying the East Knoxville property would be much the same.
“Over the last several months, we have looked at properties that would allow us to deliver on the vision we believe God as given us for East Knoxville youth and families,” Emerald Youth President and CEO Steve Diggs said. “We are encouraged and excited about this opportunity, which brings us one step closer to seeing that vision become a reality.”
Foundation representatives said the existing buildings will need renovating. Once finished, the foundation said the complex would include a full gym, meeting rooms and a learning center for students.
How much will the new youth center cost, and who’s paying for it?
Emerald Youth leaders said the first phase alone would represent a $25 million investment, calling it one of the most significant to come to East Knoxville in decades.
The foundation isn’t the only one footing the bill, however. The State of Tennessee has contributed $9 million toward the project, according to the foundation.
