After spending years in a building just down the street from City Hall, Johnson Cityâs new visitors center could soon settle in a local historic landmark.
According to their draft agenda, city commissioners are scheduled Thursday to consider buying the two-story portion of the former Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railway depot building for $750,000 from Beacon Financial Credit Union.
The building would house the Johnson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Johnson City Development Authority and one or two employees from the cityâs communications and marketing department.
Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brenda Whitson said the location stood out because itâs at a nexus downtown, having easy access to Interstate 26 as well as multiple businesses and recreational opportunities. The visitors center is currently in the Chamber of Commerce building at 603 E. Market St.
It will still be at least a few years before the Johnson City Development Authority sees its ambitions for the John Sevier Center fully realized.
But, in the year and a half since it officially purchased the building, the organizationâs leader says the JCDA is making progress bit-by-bit on its plan.
In 2019, the JCDA bought the nearly century- old apartment complex with plans to eventually sell the building to a developer, unlocking the commercial potential for a structure that has for years served as subsidized housing.
The center, located at 141 E. Market St., is one of the most visible buildings in the downtown areaâs skyline. Although nothing is certain at this stage, officials have floated the idea of the redeveloped building eventually having residential options, retail and maybe even a hotel.
Johnson City is looking for people willing to help serve their community.
The City Commission is accepting applications for appointments to a series of volunteer boards and committees. The appointments are scheduled to be made in July.
Any citizen interested in serving can submit an application online at www.johnsoncitytn.org/boards. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 28, and applications are kept on file for one year. Descriptions of each board and committee can be found online at www.johnsoncitytn.org/boards and committees.
The openings include:
Animal Control Board: Supervises and governs the policies and activities of the Washington County/Johnson City Animal Control Program and Center, which is responsible for the enforcement of regulations and codes pertaining to animals and prevention of cruelty to animals.
Live music will soon return to downtown Johnson City.
Formerly known as Founders After 5, a rebranded version of the music event called Fridays After 5 will begin this June and run through September, occurring from 6-8 p.m. most Fridays.
The event is moving from its traditional home in Founders Park to King Commons Park. Connect Downtown Johnson City, part of the Johnson City Development Authority, is organizing the event.
Lindsey Jones, the authorityâs marketing manager, said Founders After 5 could get fairly busy, typically seeing an average of 500 to 600 people in attendance each week.
âWeâre expecting after a year of no fun in 2020 that people are going to be eager to get out, listen to live music again,â Jones said, âso weâre expecting larger crowds than normal.â
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