Northeast State Community College has placed new signage and is cleaning up the Downtown Centre in preparation for classes scheduled to be held there this fall.
Steve Campbell, with NSCC, gave an update to the Johnson City Development Authority Friday morning on what the college has done to the facility, located in the middle of downtown Johnson City. Campbell said the State Building Commission has received designs for renovations to the building and should give its approval by the beginning of July.
In the meantime, Campbell said the school has placed NSCC banners on several sides of the building identifying it as a NSCC property.
Workers are also cleaning up the courtyard area in the middle of the structure and the stairwells. Campbell said there is also a plan to trim the trees on the Market Street side of the building. After that is done, the outside of the building could be cleaned.
Campbell also said the school plans to install a gate that would prevent access to the parking garage incorporated into the structure between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Johnson City police and NSCC police have already increased patrols of the building in an effort to step up security.
Parking for the upcoming Umoja Festival in downtown and First Friday was brought up, but Campbell said the school would work with the city regarding the potential for parking at the structure.
“I think during festivals and special events like that we should be able to manage that,” Campbell said.
In addition to festival parking, Campbell said the school has had some conversations with local firms whose employees use the garage for parking.
The JCDA purchased the Downtown Centre for $1 million in December. The facility had been used as a courthouse and other government offices. The JCDA will rent the building for a nominal fee to NSCC so the college can operate a Washington County teaching site. The JCDA also is providing a $1 million grant to the NSCC Foundation to provide renovations to the building.
Classes are scheduled to begin this fall for students who plan to take courses that would put them on the path to a four-year university like East Tennessee State University.
In other JCDA business, Dan Reese told members the contract to complete the deal on the historic CC&O Railroad Depot and turn it into a brewery/restaurant could be closed in a few weeks.
The contract is currently being reviewed by an attorney.
The JCDA approved in May a $5,000 purchase agreement with Sevierville attorney and entrepreneur Joe Baker, who plans to turn the downtown landmark into a locally themed brewery and accompanying restaurant
Baker will move immediately to renovate the building and prepare it for business once the deal is closed.