The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Source:  Fox News

Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:23 PM

House Near UT Once Occupied By UT Football Coach Gen. Robert Neyland To Be Demolished

 A house near the University of Tennessee campus once occupied by Tennessee football coach Gen. Robert Neyland is slated to be demolished.

Gen. Neyland lived in the house, located at 2111 Terrace Avenue just off Volunteer Boulevard, from 1927 to 1930.

UT has owned the building since 1965, but school officials say it has been vacant for more than 19 months. It was occupied by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety until May 2016 when the department relocated due to the building's deteriorating conditions.

"The excessive cost to renovate this structure is not a prudent use of funds when the end result does not meet or provide the program needs of the campus," said Tyra Haag, a UT public relations specialist. "From an occupancy standpoint, it is unacceptable, and we cannot assign anyone to the building."

UT must follow a state process that requires them to assess the significance of the structure, consult with the Tennessee Historical Commission and receive approval from the State Building Commission for the demolition. The building commission approved the building's demolition on July 2016.

"A key goal in our master plan is to optimize use of our existing land to accommodate the growing needs of our campus within our institutional zone, recognizing the land constraints we have with the Tennessee River, major highways, downtown and the Fort Sanders neighborhood and Cumberland Avenue business district," said Haag.

An exact date to demolish the building has not been set.