Crossroads Partnership

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CROSSROADS

DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP

Community Vision for the Heart of Morristown, TN

"Every community has a heart. Keeping that heart beating is what we do." - Dwight Young, National Trust for Historic Preservation

The Crossroads Partnership is a public-private leadership group dedicated to improving the appearance, value and quality of Downtown Morristown's Central Business District, also known as the Crossroads District, by applying the National Main Street Center's successful Four Point Approach focus on Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion and Organization.

Visit the Our Story page to learn more about the Crossroads Partnership, the 111 acre Crossroads District and discover the history of our unique downtown and the SkyMart overhead sidewalks inspired by England's Chester Rows.

Main Street has a Heart for Teachers

Downtown is showing its support during March and April

Our Story

What is the Crossroads Partnership? Is the Central Business District the Crossroads District? Where did the idea for those overhead sidewalks come from? Downtown Morristown has a story to tell. Explore the links below to learn more.

Watch for the Blue Plate Special at Jersey Girl Diner.

The Partnership
The District
SkyMart
Some History

The Partnership

The Crossroads Partnership

Introduction | Mission Statement | Vision Statement | Board of Directors

Maintaining an economically vibrant downtown, celebrating our heritage, preserving our unique architectural history, and continuing to grow and develop in a positive manner is important to our community as a whole. To assist this effort, a group of downtown business owners, community leaders, citizen activists and government officials have come together to form the Crossroads Partnership. The Partnership is administered by its own Board of Directors and professionally managed by a Program Director through the Morristown Community Development Corporation. The Partnership is non-profit and volunteer driven. The current board of directors includes representation from the City of Morristown, Hamblen County, Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce, Walters State Community College, Rose Center, Morristown Utilities and several other dedicated individuals. Extended partnerships with other organizations such as Keep Morristown-Hamblen Beautiful, Morristown Tree Board, Master Gardeners, Tennessee Technology Center, Boys and Girls Clubs and others allow the vision of a great downtown to grow every day.

Specific goals of the Crossroads Partnership include: encouraging building façade and streetscape improvements; providing support for existing businesses while recruiting new, compatible ones; organizing financial incentives for building rehabilitations; researching and acquiring grants; developing new community events; and promoting the area as a unique destination. To foster these goals, the Partnership has become certified as an official Tennessee Main Street program through the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Main Street USA is a proven program developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is positively impacting traditional downtowns across America.

Our Mission Statement:

The Crossroads Partnership is a public-private leadership group dedicated to improving the appearance, value and quality of Morristown's Central Business District, the new Crossroads District, through preservation, revitalization and economic development.

Our Vision Statement:

We envision the Crossroads District as a regional focal point that draws on its unique character to foster economic opportunities, creative endeavors and community spirit. The Crossroads District enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors alike by protecting and preserving its heritage while providing a clean, safe and attractive environment in which to enjoy unique shopping, diverse dining, cultural events, professional services and quality residential living. Our District provides opportunities and enrichment to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Our vision is achieved and maintained through a strong public-private partnership among local government, businesses, educational institutions, non-profit community organizations and residents. This partnership is devoted to working together to make the Crossroads District an attraction, an asset, and a successful business district, cultural center and thriving residential neighborhood beneficial to the citizens of Morristown and Hamblen County.

2012 Board of Directors

Leah Taylor, President

Director of Marketing, Jefferson Federal Bank

Jackie Jinks, Vice-President

Conservation and Environmental Director, Morristown Utility Systems

Robert Lydick - Treasurer

Executive Director, Rose Center

Lila Wilson - Secretary

Director of Tourism, Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce

Jim Beelaert

Owner, Creative Contracting Inc.

Bill Brittain

Hamblen County Mayor

Dr. Foster Chason

Vice President for Student Affairs, Walters State Community College

Becky Cunningham

Lakeway School of Ballet

Randy DeBord

McFarland Medical

Luke Evola

Merrill Lynch

Sam Grigsby, Jr.

Community National Bank

Dr. Dean Haun

Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church

Clay Krummel

Megan's Corner Catering and More

Dawn Phillips

Jersey Girl Diner

Kenneth B. Smith

Smith Family Partnership, Ltd.

Mayor Danny Thomas

Mayor of Morristown

Darrell Williams

The Fret Store

The District

Scroll over pictures to view. Click on the picture for a larger view.

Main Street
City Center
Jersey Girl Diner
Rowena's on Main
Hamblen County Courthouse
The Nest
Main Street
Liberty Bell and 1st Methodist
Java Garden Courtyard
The Farmer's Market
Timeless Elegance Tea Room
Stetzers Funeral Home
Lakeway School of Ballet
Ghost Signs
Public Library
Rose Center
Sherwood Commons
Wilmeyer Court
Olde Towne West
Fred Miller Park

The Crossroads District

PDF brochure and district map

The boundaries for the 111 acre Crossroads District, our program focus area, is divided into four distinct neighborhoods: Downtown Core, West North Area, City Center Area, East Main Area, and Morris Blvd. Area. The District includes the Hamblen County Courthouse, Rose Center, and the Henry Street Post Office, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Scroll through the pictures above for an overview of the diversity found within the Crossroads District. It remains today the center of local government and culture, home to parks and gardens, an array of both independent local businesses and nationally respected chains...the true crossroads of our community.

Be sure to visit the Shop.Dine.Explore! page for more information.

SkyMart

SkyMart view the original SkyMart brochure

Many of the structures built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries still line Main Street, but our downtown looks very different from most.

In the early 1960's, a major fire and flood devastated downtown. Limited parking, building deterioration and lack of expansion space resulted in the "Conservation and Renewal Project", a vast urban renewal project that channeled and diverted Turkey Creek, added new public parking areas, and created the "Downtown SkyMart", a second-level sidewalk system that runs along both sides of Main Street.

The idea for SkyMart came from well-know local architect Hubert Bebb who was fascinated by the famous Chester Rows in England which are over 700 years old. Our "sidewalks in the air" are quite different from Chester's and the City made newspaper headlines worldwide for the visionary idea of expanding Main Street "upwards".

Today, visitor's to our downtown are protected from the sun and rain while on the ground and can experience a quiet walking destination above. Music is still provided through the extensive outdoor speaker system. Plus, the Downtown SkyMart is a great place to watch a Parade from!

Some History

Scroll over pictures to view. Click on the picture for a larger view.

Birds-eye view c.1917
Henry and Main c.1917
County Courthouse c.1917
Southern Railway Depot
1955 Centennial
1930's "Great White Way"
Main Street - 1950s

Our Historic Downtown

It became official on April 28, 1855 - Morristown was a City; having grown from two important early travel routes which intersected here. One was The Big Road, a major east-west stagecoach route connecting Baltimore to Knoxville. The other was known early on as the Buffalo Trail, leading north-south through the Cumberland Gap. Later, this road became a branch of the famous Dixie Highway and was an important link between Detroit and Miami. With the arrival of the railroad in 1856, the city began to grow rapidly, but was split between Jefferson and Grainger Counties with Main Street as the dividing line. Legend has it that a group of gentlemen sitting under a tree across from today's First Baptist Church decided it was too difficult dealing with a split town and far off county seats. If you lived south of Main Street, your county seat was Dandridge, but if you lived north of Main Street your county seat was Rutledge, both more than two hours away by horse. The citizens demanded a more localized government which resulted in the creation of Hamblen County on May 31, 1870.

Over the years, Morristown developed a rich and interesting history with Main Street often serving as "center stage". Union and Confederate troops, parades, circuses, famous preachers and popular entertainers such as Archie Campbell, Minnie Pearl, and Tex Ritter all made their way through downtown at some point. Coffee lovers know JFG got its start here. There were once three movie palaces and an opera house offering the latest entertainment. From 1957-1960, Morristown was voted Cleanest City in America for a town its size.

The biggest changes occurred during the 1960's when the city embarked on a major urban renewal project that cleared slums, added a new boulevard south of downtown and created the Downtown SkyMart second-level sidewalk system. This extraordinary undertaking brought international attention to the city.

The 1960's also witnessed the development of Morristown Plaza west of downtown that was the largest shopping center in east Tennessee at the time. The late 1980's brought College Square Mall to the east side of town. Despite suburban growth, downtown Morristown continues to thrive as the heart of our community. Retail shops, restaurants, government services, the public library, post office, churches, banks, a farmer's market and private residences that range from lofts to elegant homes are within easy walking distance of each other. There are also popular events such as the monthly Main Street Festivals, typically held April-September, Christmas on Main, antique shows and October's Mountain Makin's festival at Rose Center, a celebration of Appalachian culture recognized as one of the Southeast's premier events.

Did you Know?

Some famous residents have left their mark on our city. Davy Crockett, a frontiersman, politician and warrior who won acclaim during the battle at the Alamo, grew up in Morristown. Davy's father established a successful tavern here. Less than a mile east of downtown on Morningside Drive is the Davy Crockett Tavern Museum. This reproduction of the original tavern is open May-October for tours.

Another interesting character is Melville M. Murrell, a local Methodist preacher who developed his own ornithopter, a bird-like flying machine with wings that flapped, while Wilber and Orville Wright were just kids. Melville patented his Great American Flying Machine in 1877. The Wright Brothers, who began glider experiments in 1900, did not accomplish their successful Army test flight until 1908, 31 years after Murrell's flying machine defied gravity. A permanent exhibit is on display at the Rose Center.

Learn more about Hamblen County history by exploring the custom Google map.

Shop. Dine. Explore! rb_shade_001

Shop. Dine. Explore!

Quilt lover's unite at our newest shop ...MMija Quilts!

The Crossroads District is home to a diverse range of specialty shops, restaurants, services and more. The Farmer's Market is here. Stop by the library or the post office, stroll through a park, ring the Liberty Bell...there truly is something for everyone downtown. Scroll through the directory below or download a Visitor's Guide.

Directory
Virtual Visit
Quick Facts
Promotions

Directory

Discover Downtown May 2011.pdf

Art

New! I Am An Artist Children's Studio ... 117A E. Main St. | 423.736.0867 | website

New! Ingenuity 101 Art Gallery ... 101 E. Main St. | 423.258.7587 | Facebook

New! Pink Pig Pottery ... 144 W. Main St. | 423.307.5777 | website

Antiques

Diane's Place Antiques & Collections ... 138 W. Main St. | 423.317.9224

Farm House Antiques ... 148 W. Main Street | 423.581.1527

Vintage and More ... 142 W. Main St. | 423.586.8100

Architects

Fuller Architects ... 326-A W. 1st North St. | 423.587.0323

Michael D. Price ... 208 E. 1st North St. | 423.581.5063

Attractions

Liberty Bell Replica at City Center Plaza ... website

Farmer's Market [open every day] ... corner of E. Morris Blvd. and S. Henry St.

Fred Miller Park [Rotary Splash Pad, arboretum, playgrounds] ... corner of E. Morris Blvd. and S. Jackson St.

Historic Pedestrian Garden ... corner of E. Main St. and Cumberland St.

Morristown-Hamblen Library ... 417 W. Main St. | 423.586.6410 | website

Quilt Square (Appalachian Quilt Trail) ... S. Henry Street at 181 W. Main St.

Rose Center ... 442 W. 2nd North St. | 423.581.4330 | website

SkyMart/Greenway Trail ... follows Main Street, connects to Fred Miller Park

Bakery

Yummy Cakes & More ... 161 W. Main St. | 423.327.4692 | website

Banks

Andrew Johnson ... 435 W. 1st North St. | 423.581.8668 | website

Community National ... 225 W. 1st North St. | 423.587.2345 | website

Jefferson Federal ... 143 E. Main Street | 423.586-1408 | website

Regions ... 201 W. Morris Blvd. | 1.800.734.4667 | website

SunTrust ... 400 W. Main St. | 423.585.6043 | website

Ballet/Dance

Lakeway School of Ballet and Dance ... 180 W. Main St. | 423.581.3559 | website

Barbershops

Down Town Barbershop ... 119 E. Main St. | 423.307.1207

Catering

Jersey Girl Diner ... 174 W. Main St. | 423.254.1304 | Facebook

Megan's Corner ... 123 W. 1st North St.| 423.585.0420 | website | Facebook

Timeless Elegance Tea Room ... 156 W. Main St. | 423.318.9292

Churches

All Saints Episcopal ... 601 W. Main Street | 423.586.6201 | website

Centenary United Methodist ... 206 N. Jackson St. | 423.586.3683 | website

First Baptist ... 504 W. Main St. | 423.586.0522 | website

First United Methodist ...101 E. 1st North St. | 423.581.2180 | website

First Presbyterian ... 600 W. Main St. | 423.586.4281 | website

Consignment

My Mother's Closet ... 177 W. Main St. | 423.587.5860

Cosmetics

Merle Norman ... 127 W. Main St. | 423.581.2732

Crafts/Needlework

One More Stitch ... 127 N. Daisy St. | 423.317.8773

Dining

Burger King ... 202 W. Morris Blvd. | 423.581.5672

The Little Dutch ... 115 S. Cumberland St. | 423.581.1441 | website

Luigi's ... 267 E. Morris Blvd. | 423.254.1974

Java Garden ... 203 W. Main St. | 423.587.1030 | website

Jersey Girl Diner ... 174 W. Main St. | 423.254.1304 | website | Facebook

Subway Sandwiches & Salads ... 2550 E. Morris Blvd. | 423.581.8781

Timeless Elegance Tea Room ... 156 W. Main St. | 423.318.9292

Exercise/Gyms

Curves ... 243 W Main St. | 423.317.8668

Financial Services/Investments

Hilliard Lyons ... 101 W. Main St. | 423.587.6302

Merrill Lynch ... 225 W. 1st North St. | 423.318.7340

Florists

East Tennessee Florist & Hobbies ... 143 W. Main St. | 423.586.2118

Furniture

As Is ... 325 W. Morris Blvd. | 423.581.8658

Gifts/Specialty

Backstage Gifts ... 101 E. Main St. | 423.585.3366

Gigi's ... 157 W. Main St. | 423.586.1990

Mama Shirley's Candies ... 235 E. Morris Blvd. | 423.307.8509

Rebecca Janes Gifts & Jewelry ... 231 E. Morris Blvd. | 423.307.8323 | Facebook

Rowena's on Main ... 160 W. Main St. | 423.581.0600 | Facebook

The Nest Antiques & Gifts ... 110 S. Cumberland St. | 423.586.0711

Government

City of Moristown ... 100 W. 1st North St. | 423.581.0100 | website

Hamblen County Courthouse ... 511 W. 2nd N. St. | 423.586.1931 | website

Hamblen County Health Department ... 331 W. Main St. | 423.586.6431

Gunsmith

Village Gunsmith ... 200 W. Main St. | 423.839.2088

Hardware/Garden

Ramsey's Farm Market ... 309 N. Cumberland St. | 423.586.3361

Jewelry

East Tennessee Diamond Co ... 149 W. Main St. | 423-587-6893 | website

Ladie's Fashions

Kathryn's Dress Shoppe ... 134 W. Main St. | 423.586.5941

Music Supplies

The Fret Store ... 172 W. Main St. | 423.581.3280 | website

Optometrists

Dr. D. E. Harmon ... 131 N. Henry St. | 423.586.9601 | website

Pharmacy/Medical

Healthstar Physicians ... 420 W. Morris Blvd. | 423.586.2410 | website

McFarland Pharmacy & Apothecary... 167 W. Main St. | 423.581.1118 | website

Walgreens ... 251 S. Cumberland St. | 423.581.4440 | website

Photography

Camera Castle ... 201 E. Main St. | 423.587.2874 | website

Jerry Seals Photography Studio ... 186 W. Main St. | 423.586.7383

Professional Services

All Celebrity Travel ... 111 E. Main St. | 423.307.1122 | website

D. Hryhorchuk, Attorney ... 175 W. Main St. | 423.586.3474

Taylor Reams Tilson and Harrison ... 116 E. Main St. | 423.586.9302

Quilt Supplies

New! MMija ... 135 W. Main St. | 423.586.2822 | website

Salons

Hamblen School of Beauty ... 133 W. Main St. | 423.586.4630

Salon La Vie ... 207 W. Main St. | 423.307.1301

Wedding/Rentals

Trinkets and Treasures ... 166 W. Main St. | 423.587.1831

Virtual Visit

Make a Virtual Visit

Of course nothing beats actually being here, but the next best thing can often be a picture...they are "worth a thousand words". Take a look inside the many businesses that make the Crossroads District special. Click on the photo for a larger view and more information.

Rowena's on Main
Yummy Cakes and More
Jersey Girl Diner
Gigi's
The Nest
Java Garden
Fret Store

Quick Facts

Hamblen County Demographics

2000 U.S. Census

City of Morristown population: 24,965 (28,054 2009 Estimate)

Hamblen County population: 58,128 (63,033 2009 Estimate)

MSA population: 123,526

Median Age: 37.1

Racial Makeup: white-91.2% (Hispanic-10.4%), African American-3.8%

Owner-occupied Housing: 67.9%

Median Home Value: $116,400

Median Family Income: $46,803

More US Census data on Hamblen County can be found here

Property Taxes: City/County - $2.69 per $1000 assessed

Sales Tax - $0.0975%

More information on City taxes can be found here

Promotions

The Perfect Wedding Day!

Morristown's Main Street is the perfect place to plan the wedding of your dreams. Everything you need for that spacial day is right here:

The perfect ring .... is waiting at East Tennessee Diamond Co.

The dresses and tuxedos ... Trinkets and Treasures has you covered.

Beautiful invitations ... gigi's will inspire you.

Looking good ... Salon la vie and the Downtown Barber Shop will have everyone looking their best.

Gift registry's ... the customer service at Rowena's, gigi's, and the Nest can't be beat.

Delicious meals and cakes .... the best caterers in town can be found along Main Street including Jersey Girl Diner, Megan's Corner, Timeless Elegance, and Yummy Cakes.

Beautiful flowers ... are just a step away at East Tennessee Florist.

Those pictures ... Jerry Seals Photography and Camera Castle will document your memories.

Key Resources rb_shade_001

Key Resources

Java Garden - voted best coffee house in East Tennessee by Tennessee magazine in 2011!

The Crossroads Partnership is here to help. Are you looking for a space in which to start a new venture? Interested in learning more about building preservation? Wondering about building improvement incentives? This is the place to begin...

Facade Grants
Available Properties
Other Resources
Links

Facade Grants
Line Frame

East Tennessee Preservation

Alliance Award Winning Program

Building Improvement Facade Grants

The Façade Improvement Grant program seeks to encourage building owners and tenants to invest in Morristowns central business district, referred to as the Crossroads Development District, by financially assisting with appropriate exterior renovations to their buildings. The intention is to stimulate building improvements while being mindful of the historical significance and uniqueness of the downtown structures. Replacing damaged, boarded or bricked-up windows, improving main and upper level storefronts, repainting or removing paint from buildings that have been previously painted are all considered to be important priorities for this area. Attractive building appearances (aesthetics) have been proven to increase property values, improve the marketability of space within the buildings and attract new businesses, residents and visitors to an area.

The Façade Improvement Grant is a reimbursement program and requires that the building owner or tenant contribute a minimum of 50% of the total cost of the renovation project. The maximum grant match for any given year is $10,000.

This program is funded on an annual basis through revitalization funds received by the City of Morristown from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. First-round applications are due by September 15, 2011 and will be awarded by October 1, 2011. A second round of grants may be announced if funding is available. All proposed work must be able to be completed no later than March 31, 2012.

For more information, follow the links below:

Façade Improvement Grant Program Summary

Façade Improvement Grant Program Application

Available Properties

The following commercial, residential and mixed use properties are currently available for rent, lease or purchase. Click on the photo for more information.

COMING SOON!

Other Resources

Tax Credits | Save Our Signs | Tennessee Tool Kit

Building Rehabilitation Tax Credits

The federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit (RTC) encourages the preservation and reuse of the nation's built environment by offering federal tax credits to the owners of historic properties. The tax credits represent a dollar-for-dollar reduction of federal taxes owed. Since its inception in 1976, the credit has encouraged the rehabilitation of more than 31,000 historic properties representing over $31 billion in private investment.

The federal government has established a number of criteria that must be satisfied to qualify for either the 20 percent or the 10 percent federal rehabilitation tax credit. These stipulations relate to the property itself and the specifics of the planned rehabilitation project. Learn more .

Save Our Signs

JFG, a regionally recognized brand of coffee with roots in Morristown, understands the importance of historic signage as part of the architectural landscape of a community. To encourage local businesses and individuals to invest in repair and maintenance of historic signs, JFG will donate a portion of proceeds of JFG Coffee sold at participating retailers between August 24, 2010 and December 31, 2020 directly to the Knox Heritage Save Our Signs Fund. The SOS Fund awards monetary grants providing one-time, matching and restricted support for the 1) restoration, 2) repair, or 3) comprehensive maintenance of a historic sign at least 50 years old. To learn more, please contact the Crossroads Partnership.

Tennessee Tool Kit

Need to know what incentives Tennessee offers new or expanding businesses, or what programs are available to assist Tennessee communities? Look no further than the newly updated Tennessee Tool Kit, which is now available online by clicking here .

The Tool Kit is a comprehensive guide to incentives and programs offered by the state of Tennessee through the Department of Economic and Community Development. Each fiscal year Tennessee's offerings are reviewed to address the changing needs of growing businesses and communities.

Links

The Partnership is dedicated to helping you find the information you need. Below are some links we feel might be useful:

Building Preservation/Improvements

National Park Service Preservation Briefs (How-To's)

Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation

Community Links

City of Morristown | City of Morristown on Facebook

Hamblen County

Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce

Morristown Art Association

Morristown-Hamblen Public Library | Library on Facebook

Morristown Utility Systems

Panther Creek State Park

Rose Center and Council for the Arts

Walters State Community College

Community Studies

Buxton Downtown Market Analysis (2010) - coming soon

BWSC Morristown College Neighborhood Redevelopment (2007)

Hyett Palma Downtown Action Agenda (2000)

Vision 2000 (1987)

Historic Preservation

East Tennessee Preservation Alliance

National Trust for Historic Preservation

Tennessee Historical Commission

Local History

Hamblen County Archives on TNGenWeb

Local News

Citizen Tribune

Main Street

National Main Street Center

Tennessee Main Street Program

Page 10

News

The Buzz From Main Street

The Buzz From Main Street

Downtown Morristown Moving Forward.wmv

Watch all the exciting changes occurring downtown!

Yummy Cakes - voted best bakery in East Tennessee by Tennessee magazine in 2011!

1.6.12

New video - Downtown Moving Forward

6.6.11

Main Street Welcomes Yummy Cakes and More

Morristown, TN - Owner's Kristi Gives and Gloria Lambdin will tempt your sweet tooth from cupcakes to gelato. Be sure to visit their colorful shop soon!

4.25.11

Events

Calendar

Western Legends

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