The Knoxville City Council approved an urban renewal area for the VA campus at its meeting Monday. Interim City Manager Heather Ussery says that this is a formal step in the process of redevelopment.

“The discussion started with Mayor Hatch giving an update on where we’re at in the project. The city’s attorney and the county’s attorney are working through a 28E agreement, which will be brought to our boards in the next few weeks as we work through the legal terms of the agreement. This portion is for the county to establish an urban renewal area over the property. Because it’s within the city limits, it’s required for the city to grant the county access to do so.”

A decommissioning ceremony for the chapel will be held at the VA campus Saturday at 10:00 a.m.