New director offers early impressions of Knox, agency

For Gerald Green, MPC’s new Executive Director, the move to Knoxville is a homecoming of sorts.

Gerald joined MPC in July, coming to us from western North Carolina, where he spent the better part of 30 years in professional planning. This is his second time around as a Knoxville resident—he spent a couple of years here in graduate school, earning a Master’s degree in Planning from The University of Tennessee, and he stayed for another three years to work with the East Tennessee Development District.

That was in the early 1980s. Not surprisingly, the city is a little different from the Knoxville he knew back then.

“Knoxville was a great place to live then, and it’s even better now,” remarked Gerald.

“Redevelopment of downtown, with its mix of uses and 24-7 energy, is a wonderful achievement,” Gerald listed among the many changes he’s observed since his return. Also of note is the much larger, more diverse population that shares the area and the fabric of historic homes, buildings, and landmarks that lend cultural identity.

Knoxville and surrounding area have not been immune to the pressures that growth brings, so Gerald sees some challenges for MPC and the community as a whole.

“We need to take a fresh look at our development regulations and bring our zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations into the 21st century,” Gerald said.

Enhancing connectivity and services in recently developed and developing areas is also on his longer-term to-do list. That will better accommodate the ever-growing population that continually places demands on the public school system, road capacities, and park facilities.

Gerald also is concerned that commercial development thrives in some corridors while others struggle.

He sees opportunities for MPC to increase its communications efforts, both internally and with citizen groups, builders, city and county departments, and elected officials. He noted the importance of communicating MPC’s role in city-building, better demonstrating what the agency does to add value to the community.

In addition to community planning, Gerald is passionate about physical fitness, cycling, and gardening. He and his wife, Ashlea, a faculty member at Western Carolina University, are currently house-hunting and hoping to find an older home in one of Knoxville’s center-city neighborhoods.

Welcome back to Knoxville, Gerald! We’re looking forward to your second chapter of living and working in this great community.