What should the future of downtown Morristown look like? Survey seeking public input

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WATE) — Morristown is seeking the public’s input on the future of its downtown area.

Main Street America and Downtown Morristown are running the survey to help inform the planning for future development and improvements in the downtown area. The survey should take about 10 minutes to finish. It will remain open until midnight on July 28. Click here to take the survey.

Morristown has seen a lot of growth in the past five years, with Mayor Gary Chesney sharing in March that the city’s population has grown by about 3,000 people in the last five years with another 3,000 people projected to in the next five years. To help keep up with the growth, the city broke ground on a new fire station in March and conducted a new transportation survey to help determine what types of projects should be prioritized over the next 25 years .

Downtown also saw upheaval after the Parks-Belk Building was destroyed in a fire. The historic building had been a staple of the area for years and was set to be renovated before it was burned. During a meeting on Jan. 10, the architect for the owner presented a conceptual idea to replace the building with a new structure honoring the legacy of the historic Parks-Belk .

In 2023, the city of Morristown and downtown business owners received nearly $2 million through the Tennessee Historic Development Grant . The mayor said the grant would help make the area more inviting to visitors and residents.

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