By Scott Barker, News-Sentinel staff writer
August 6, 2002 

Objections raised Monday to a planned transformation of Market Square centered not on its urban qualities but on its primary natural element - trees. 

In a public meeting at the old downtown Watson's store, Kinsey Probasco & Associates unveiled its plan for the public spaces in and around Market Square. The plan remains essentially unchanged from the proposals developed during a two-day public planning session June 27 and 28. 

Its primary features include replacing the pavilion in the square's north end with an open stage area with four tall pillars at the corners, a colonnade of trees stretching from the north end of the square to Clinch Avenue and an expanded Krutch Park. 

Urban planner Stroud Watson, who led the design team, told the 135 people gathered in the afternoon heat that great urban spaces are memorable, but their value is in how they are used by citizens. 

"What we have is a room for the city to use," Watson said. 

The meeting focused on the public spaces in Kinsey Probasco's $41 million redevelopment plan. City Council has approved $6.8 million for public improvements. Kinsey Probasco partner John Kinsey said a preliminary cost analysis shows the plan is affordable. 

Most in attendance seemed to embrace the Kinsey Probasco plan, though some objected to the proposed removal of 10 willow oaks along Market Street and a half-dozen sawtooth oaks in the south end of the square. 

The Kinsey Probasco proposal would replace those trees with a twin colonnade of mature hardwoods about a foot in diameter. Mike Fowler, the project's landscape architect, said removing the trees would make the area more visible while helping to unify Market Square and Krutch Park.

The changes also would make it easier for patrons of Market Square businesses to cross the plaza, Fowler said. 

But Jim Cortese, who owns a tree service company, said removing the trees would be akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. He said the trees should be thinned, not removed. 

In a letter to Mayor Victor Ashe, Frank Rothermel, chairman of the city Tree Board, argued for saving the trees. 

"The board strongly recommends the preservation of these trees and measures be taken during design and construction to protect them," Rothermel wrote. 

Ashe, who last year successfully lobbied state transportation officials to save two trees endangered by a West Knoxville highway project, asked Kinsey Probasco to revisit its landscaping proposal. 

Kinsey said his team would comply with the mayor's wishes, though he added the Kinsey Probasco proposal would increase the overall number of trees in the area by 50 percent. 

Some in attendance didn't think the dissenters could see the forest for the trees. South Knoxville resident Rachel Craig said the team's explanation allayed her concerns about cutting down the trees. 
Market Square property owner Pat McHugh said, "Let the experts do their jobs." 

Kinsey said the team would continue to tweak the plan while working toward beginning construction in the fall. The target for completion of the public space changes is April 2003. 

"Planning is great," he said, "but if you don't build something, why do the planning?" 

Scott Barker may be reached at 865-342-6309 or barkers@knews.com.