Bristol City Council approves budget amendment, moves to buy LC King building and OKs park and downtown grants

At its Feb. 4, 2025 meeting, the Bristol City Council approved a fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment, authorized a contract to pursue purchase of the LC King property on Seventh Street, accepted a $2 million donation to build "Katie’s Playground" at Still Creek Park, and agreed to accept a $100,000 tourism enhancement grant for a Shelby Street concert site.

The budget change (Ordinance 25-2) was presented by Finance Director Holly Burren and showed a proposed general fund of $37,308,094, an increase of $998,000, and a capital facilities fund balance proposed at $12,648,105. Burren said the capital increase includes $2,750,000 that would be needed to purchase the LC King Building. The council voted to approve the ordinance on first reading; the roll call recorded Mayor Hutton, Councilwoman Powers, Councilmember Aker and Councilmember Fire Robin voting yes.

Council then considered a purchase agreement for the LC King property (Resolution 25-12). City staff described the parcel as four buildings fronting Seventh Street and said the council’s approval would allow staff to move forward with an appraisal, a structural analysis, electrical/mechanical reviews, title and survey work, and an environmental investigation. The purchase agreement includes conditions that the city may waive; staff said any significant waiver would return to council for approval. Resident Brandon Hard testified in favor, calling the site an opportunity for maker space and arts programming; Dina Cook offered personal recollections of the King family. Council approved the resolution by roll call (Hutton, Powers, Aker, Fire Robin — yes).

The council also authorized two park-related agreements (Resolution 25-13) to accept a donation and maintenance arrangement for Katie’s Playground at Still Creek Park. Danielle Smith said the agreements would allow Legacy Parks Foundation to design and construct the playground and would obligate National Philanthropic Trust to accept a $2,000,000 donation from anonymous donors to fund long-term, nonroutine maintenance; the city would perform routine maintenance. Council approved the resolution by roll call.

Tom Anderson, economic development director, presented a Tennessee Department of Tourism Development grant the city was awarded for a music venue on the Shelby Street lot (Resolution 25-14). Anderson said the award is $100,000 and requires a 30% city match (a 70/30 split). He described initial project work as mass grading, concrete pads and sidewalks, fence and curbing, and landscaping; the scope in the awarded contract was narrowed by the state, which Anderson said freed up some city funds for matching. Council approved acceptance and execution of the grant contract.

On land-use items, the council closed a public hearing and later adopted Ordinance 25-1 on second reading to rezone 333 and 337 Bluff City Highway from B1B (neighborhood business) to B3 (general business). Planning staff reported the planning commission reviewed the request and recommended approval, recorded as a 7–0 vote; the transcript also referenced an absence and an abstention during that commission review. The city adopted the rezoning by recorded roll call.

The council approved first reading of Ordinance 25-3 to abandon an unopened platted right-of-way near Vance Drive. Staff said the abandonment was requested by the Staunton family to permit a subdivision platting that would reconfigure four parcels and improve buildable area; the planning commission had reviewed the request in October 2024. The ordinance passed its first reading.

The meeting included public comments on other topics. Katie Steigers of 1020 Georgia Avenue called attention to recent state-level school voucher action. A student, Luke Smith of 116 Maxwell Drive, asked council to review content in Tennessee High School’s library under Tennessee’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act and urged council to refer the matter to the school board. Several residents — including Danny Dunn and Brandon Hard — spoke in support of the playground and downtown reuse efforts.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 25-2 (Budget amendment, FY 7/1/2024–6/30/2025): Approved on first reading; roll call recorded Hutton, Powers, Aker, Fire Robin — yes. Key figures presented: general fund $37,308,094 (increase $998,000); capital facilities $12,648,105 (increase includes $2,750,000 for LC King purchase).

- Ordinance 25-3 (Abandon unopened street near Vance Drive; first reading): Approved on first reading; roll call recorded Hutton, Powers, Aker, Fire Robin — yes. Request filed by Mr. and Mrs. Staunton to facilitate a four-lot subdivision.

- Ordinance 25-1 (Rezoning 333 and 337 Bluff City Highway to B3; second reading): Adopted; roll call recorded Hutton, Powers, Aker, Fire Robin — yes. Planning commission recommendation recorded as 7–0.

- Resolution 25-12 (Authorize contract of sale for LC King property): Approved; roll call recorded Hutton, Powers, Aker, Fire Robin — yes. Approval subject to appraisal, structural/electrical/mechanical review, title/survey, environmental review, and resolution of liens/leases; city retains right to waive conditions and return to council if needed.

- Resolution 25-13 (Donation and maintenance agreement for Katie’s Playground at Still Creek Park): Approved; roll call recorded Hutton, Powers, Aker, Fire Robin — yes. Maintenance fund pledged: $2,000,000 via National Philanthropic Trust for nonroutine maintenance.

- Resolution 25-14 (Accept tourism enhancement grant for Shelby Street concert site): Approved; roll call recorded Hutton, Powers, Aker, Fire Robin — yes. Grant award: $100,000 from Tennessee Department of Tourism Development; city match requirement: 30%.

- Consent agenda (Resolutions 25-15 through 25-24, assorted purchases, grants and contract scope changes): Approved; roll call recorded Hutton, Powers, Aker, Fire Robin — yes.

What the actions mean next

Staff will proceed with the LC King due diligence steps described in the purchase agreement (appraisal, structural and systems analyses, title/survey and environmental review). If staff recommends waiving conditions or otherwise changing terms that would materially affect price or risk, the item will return to council for action. Design and contracting work for the Shelby Street site and the Katie’s Playground project will proceed under the grant and donation agreements; staff said final engineering, design documents and procurement steps will be brought forward as the projects are scoped.

Council members and staff repeatedly framed the LC King purchase and Shelby Street grant as components of a broader downtown and arts strategy. Several public speakers praised the potential for maker space, gallery and arts programming tied to the LC King site.

Ending

Council members closed the meeting after routine reports and comments from staff, noting ongoing work on historic-preservation nominations, upcoming community events and continuing coordination with the Bristol Tennessee City Schools on issues raised during public comment.