The Downtown Morristown Association is proud to be a partner with the Morristown Crossroads Partnership - A certified Tennessee Main Street Program

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Millennium Square Daily Gazette
Building Project

The Millennium Square Daily Gazette Project is a major grant funded renovation and space reutilization project. A full 90% of the funds come from TDOT State Grant Funds and Federal Grant Funds. The remaining 10% of funding comes from private investment from the land owners "The Millennium Square Partners"

The Daily Gazette and Mail Newspaper started in 1866 right after the Civil War and  it ran for 109 yrs until the last paper rolled thru the massive old press machine on Sept 30, 1975. Since its closing the building has remained unoccupied and has unfortunately been seriously neglected to the point where it was no longer feasible nor safe to keep it standing. The roof of the old paper building experienced a major cave in causing serious damage internally and structurally. It is a tragedy that such a historical treasure has been lost from demolition by neglect. We need to develop ordinances with teeth and enforce them to prevent building owners from destroying our downtown buildings!

When the Morristown train depot and Princess Theater were demolished by neglect it left a hole in our community culture experience that could not be replaced and we certainly do not want to see that happen again. We must do all we can do as responsible citizens to preserve and protect our historic buildings and culture.

Unfortunately there is nothing we can do to save the Daily Gazette Mail building as it is now too far gone and unsafe. However the possibility of turning such a negative experience into a positive win/win solution for everyone presented itself earlier this year. We are once again encouraged and inspired that there are plenty of good people left in our community that care about the preservation and growth of downtown.

The buildings have been purchased by new owners and they have met with the City of Morristown planners, Crossroads Development Partnership Main Street Program and Downtown Morristown Association members. The new owners have agreed to a major partnership in a project that will tear down the existing unsafe structures and replace them with both retail and much needed parking spaces. The plan is the build nice retail space on the bottom and then have parking spaces built on top of the new retail space and also on the side. The whole space including the top will have a facade that resembles current downtown old city feel in order to maintain consistency downtown

To view the proposed design plans click on the designs below

Concept Plans Page 1  Concept Plans Page 2

The plan is solid and the proposed uses will we believe serve as a major catalyst for even more renovations not only the East of Henry Street section on West Main but the entire downtown area. We have studied the plans as well as the entire project and grant process and believe they are right on target with what we need which is useable retail space and additional parking. We need to maintain street level retail space as much as possible to ensure downtown remains on a positive growth trajectory. The proposed design plan gives downtown both the needed retail space and additional parking spaces.

The fact that the project is using 90% State and Federal grant money and the other 10% comes from the Millennium Square Partners without use of city or county taxpayer funds is tremendous! Most if not all of the projects we have been able to accomplish downtown in the past 3 years have been a result of grant funding, volunteers, the Tennessee Main Street Program and community partnership with private businesses and individuals interested in seeing downtown flourish.

Positive improvements and growth do not happen during a recession without a major commitment from many people and that is indeed what is happening despite the economy. We choose to be positive, not negative, we have made a choice to act on dreams, not sit around and talk about them hoping for better days. That is what is pushing downtown growth and we believe it will spread across the city into other areas. When one neighbor starts fixing up their home that action is often contagious and the same principle works with entire neighborhoods and districts!

We encourage all persons and businesses who are interested in seeing downtown Morristown continue to flourish and grow to get involved and participate in the excitement! Call your City Council Members and County Commissioners and let them know how important downtown preservation and revitalization is so they can assist as well.

Thank you!

Downtown Morristown Association