KNOXVILLE - City of Knoxville Housing & Neighborhood Development staff will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, 6 p.m. at the Knox County Health Department (140 Dameron Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917) to discuss and answer questions regarding the future use of Serene Manor.

The meeting will also be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. The Teams link will be available at knoxvilletn.gov/development on Dec. 2.

Serene Manor, located at 970 Wray Street, was built in 1933 as the Rosenwald Wing of Knoxville General Hospital for treatment of Black residents. It has also served as a privately run residential care facility.

The City acquired the property in August 2024. Following a public input process, the City plans to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in the coming months for the reuse of the property. The goal is to address the community's needs for permanent supportive housing and transitional housing, in alignment with the Office of Housing Stability's three-year strategic plan and the City’s Attainable Resilient Knoxville plan.

Housing providers, neighborhood groups, and other interested parties are invited to attend this public meeting to learn more about the property, the creation of the RFP, and the disposition process.

The City of Knoxville ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids, and services.

Individuals with a disability who require an accommodation in order to participate may contact the City of Knoxville’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Brewer Cook, at 865-215-2034 or scook@knoxvilletn.govno less than 72 business hours (3 business days) prior to the public meeting.

If you have Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and want to request language translation services, contact the Human Resources Department at titlevi@knoxvilletn.gov or 865-215-3100 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.