Alcoa Commissioners confronted on permitting, South Plant plans
The City of Alcoa, in partnership with Blount County and the City of Maryville, is moving forward with an intergovernmental agreement to purchase the 162.5-acre vacant South Plant property for $20 million. This action is a direct response to community fears that the site could be repurposed for a future data center, with officials aiming to control its future development. The agreement would place the land under management similar to other industrial parks, overseen by the Industrial Development Board.
The Alcoa Board of Commissioners recently advanced the first stage of an intergovernmental agreement between the cities of Alcoa and Maryville, and Blount County, to acquire the 162.5-acre vacant South Plant property for approximately $20 million. This move comes after community anxieties surfaced in February over the potential repurposing of the private property for a future data center.
City and county officials have been actively seeking a legal mechanism to regulate the development on the expansive site, located between North Hall Road, East Lincoln Road, North Wright Road, and the Arconic reclamation and casting center. The proposed purchase price of $20 million will be split among Alcoa, Maryville, and Blount County, contributing 30%, 30%, and 40% respectively.
If ratified by Blount County and Maryville City officials, the agreement will transfer management of the site to the Industrial Development Board of Blount County and the Cities of Alcoa and Maryville. This arrangement is intended to bring the property under a management structure akin to existing industrial parks, such as Pellissippi Place. This strategy aims to give local governments greater control over the property's future use and prevent developments, like data centers, that have raised community concerns.
The meeting also saw a significant turnout from residents, primarily from the Hall community, who expressed frustration over the City of Alcoa's denial of a special event permit for a community block party. This issue, however, was overshadowed by the commissioners' decision to proceed with the South Plant acquisition plans.