Amanda Jennings in one of the apartments in White Lily Flats. “Where do you put the bed?” I asked. “Anywhere you want,” David Dewhirst replied.
When people talk about “urban living,” I always think the condo where Alan and I live in the Cherokee Building on Church Avenue is a good example of that. It has tons of exposed brick and the drop-ceilings have been removed, meaning you can see all the heating and air conditioning duct work. It’s pretty cool.
But when it comes to urban living, our condo is nothing compared to the newly finished apartments that David Dewhirst and Mark Heinz are offering in the White Lily Flour building at 222 N. Central St., just across the railroad tracks from the heart of Knoxville’s Old City. My colleague, Amanda Shell Jennings, and I went on a tour there sponsored by Urban Land Institute last month. The building is now called White Lily Flats and contains 47 residences with retail space on the ground floor. Folks, this is what “urban living” looks like!
The White Lily Flour logo is in the floor in the entrance of the building.
“We let the building lay itself out,” joked Dewhirst to a group gathered in the lobby prior to the tour. “On the fourth floor, what we call ‘the penthouse’ has a great view of industrial tanks. You can’t believe how many people ask us, ‘When are you taking the tanks out?’ I always say, ‘Those are AMENITIES!'”
The apartments range from studio units to one- and two-bedroom units. Rent ranges from $775 to over $2,000 per month, Heinz said.
Originally constructed in 1885 for the J. Allen Smith Co., the four-story brick building later became known as the White Lily Flour Building. White Lily flour was produced there until 2008 when the plant was closed. Dewhirst acquired it in 2012.
“It took us 14 months just to empty the building,” he said. “That’s longer than the construction!”
It was important to the developers to leave as many of the original details as possible. “Every time we try to do something creative, it takes 20 times longer than if we had just gone to Home Depot and bought everything new,” Dewhirst said.
Amenities (other than the industrial tanks!) include washers and dryers in each unit, parking, stainless steel appliances and a secure entry.
And the location. Dewirst predicts it’s an area on the rise. “In two or three years, this area is going to be as vibrant as Market Square,” he said.
Exterior of the White Lily Flour building.
Developer David Dewhirst greeting the group in the lobby.
The chandelier in the lobby is made of part of the flour-making machinery.
The remaining details from the old building add to its charm.
Another remnant.
Here’s the view in unit 405 of the tanks Dewhirst refers to as “amenities.” (You gotta love the way the guy thinks!)
Also in apartment 405, this old sign remains.
Chuck Griffin, left, and Grant Rosenberg were on the tour. Here they are in unit 405.
The view from the window in unit 405.
View from another window in the same unit.
The paint color in the stairways is the same color as it was when White Lily was operating in the building.
Amanda, right, chats with Katharine Pearson Criss.
Sara Hedstrom Pinnell, right, and Marcia Tobin.
Over in unit 406, Chuck Jones was pouring wine.
More than 50 percent of the units already are leased, Dewhirst said.
This is the interior of unit 404.
A skylight in 404.
Two of the most creative developers in Knoxville! David Dewhirst, left, and Mark Heinz.
There you have it. If you want to grab one of the remaining apartments, don’t dawdle! Click here to go to the website and see floor plans and contact info.
Thanks for sharing these detailed pictures! Love the view of the tanks and the original color in the stairway. Our downtown is really shaping up to the be THE Place To Be!
Rusha: You need to join us! You all were MADE for downtown living!
My cats would climb those ladders.
Maria: It would be a great place for cats!
I am sorry I missed the tour. Looking out our Cherokee Lofts window, I guess the Pryor Brown Garage is our “amenity.”
Hahaha, Alan!
I predict these will fill quickly. Love the definition of amenities. In our case, it’s the views of our neighbors’ HVAC units from our roof decks.
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Could they take the tanks out? According the county that is a separate property owed by Knox Rail.
A buddy of mine lives there. He says the shelves shake every time a train goes by ( it’s a busy mainline with a dozen to 20 trains per day ). He can’t wait for his lease to be done.
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