Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knox County leaders have launched a proposal to acquire the site of a North Knoxville recycling facility prone to fires and currently owned by a company that owed hundreds of thousands in back taxes.
The agreement, which still needs to be approved by Knox County Commission, proposes the county take over two locations — 2742 Hancock Street and 302 North Avenue — in exchange for over $4.3 million.
County reps say they plan to use the property as a potential county-wide maintenance facility.
“We plan to use the property as a potential county-wide maintenance facility,” said county representative Chris Caldwell. “We hope to start programming soon after approval and start conversations with KCS about a possible partnership. This property will help us begin the process of vacating the Knox Central property with the hope of getting it back on the tax rolls.”
The properties are currently owned by Fort Loudon Waste and Recycling and Edstock LLC.
Fort Loudon Waste and Recycling owns the Hancock Street location which was the scene of a large-scale fire in August of last year. According to county documents from last summer, the company owed the county and city over $257,000 in back taxes.
