Knoxville public officer orders repairs for five homes, affirms boarding charges at six properties

Nicholas Bradshaw, the City of Knoxville’s public officer designated under the city code, on Friday convened a hearing on code violations and issued repair or repair/demolition orders for five properties and approved boarding charges for six more.

City inspectors led by Scott Elder, the city’s neighborhood codes enforcement manager, reviewed photos and reports showing water and structural damage, fire burnout, missing utilities and repeated vagrancy at the properties. For 1620 Jefferson Avenue, Elder said the main house was vacant with exposed, rotting porch framing and a failing rear floor; staff requested a 120-day repair order for the main house and a 60-day repair-or-demolish order for accessory structures. Bradshaw issued that split order and warned that failure to act could lead to placarding, vacating and city-conducted corrective work with costs placed as a lien.

The hearing included neighbors and owners who described the history and their plans. Lynn Sullivan, a Park Ridge resident and former member of the Knox Heritage board, urged preservation of 1620 Jefferson as a contributing building in the National Register district, saying, "It makes me very upset to see that a historic contributing structure to the National Register District next to my own home is in this kind of condition." Owner Gordon Foster told the officer that he bought the house to renovate but has been hampered by contractors who went out of business and by repair costs; he said, "We bought this house ... to fix it up" and that he is not intentionally letting it decay. Kathy Foster added that the owners have done some repairs, treated the home for termites and have paid for lawn care.

Elder also requested and Bradshaw granted a 90-day repair order for 2738 Jefferson Avenue after documenting missing shingles, a sagging roof deck, broken windows and an exposed electrical panel; owner Frankie Sumner said she plans to pull permits and hire contractors to complete the work. A 90-day repair order was issued for 215 East Glenwood Avenue after Elder described severe porch damage; owner Adam P.N. Piano said a recent divorce settlement allowed him to pull permits and schedule repairs. At 2527 Linden Avenue, Elder described fire and extensive interior burnout and sought a 90-day repair/demolition order; Emmanuel Bailey, who said the property is owned by Carpetbagger Theatre and has been through organizational and legal setbacks, asked for time to secure counsel and funding, and said the nonprofit has been boarding and clearing the site. Bradshaw ordered repair or demolition for 2527 Linden within 90 days. Bradshaw found 3240 Wilson Avenue in dangerous condition following an October 2024 inspection and ordered repairs within 90 days; no one spoke in its defense at the hearing.

Bradshaw also approved city boarding actions and affirmed charges for corrective work at 2904 Browning Avenue, 8600 Kingston Pike, 4603 Meadow Court, 3709 Reagan Avenue, 904 University Avenue and 3240 Wilson Avenue, saying the structures presented attractive nuisances and dangers to the public. Scott Elder told the hearing that boarding has been necessary in multiple cases because of repeated break-ins, fires, and exposed wiring or structural elements.

The orders set firm deadlines: 120 days for the main structure at 1620 Jefferson and 60 days for its accessory structures; generally 90 days for several other repair orders. Bradshaw repeatedly emphasized the purpose of the deadlines was to allow owners time to secure permits and contractors while protecting neighbors from unsafe conditions. He closed the hearing after affirming the orders and the boarding charges; the session was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

Next steps listed publicly: owners are expected to obtain required permits, complete repairs within the timeframes ordered or face placarding and potential city action to abate hazards with costs recorded as liens.