Knoxville, Boyd have not talked plans about $6M Old City land purchase

Knoxville leaders say they have not been approached by state Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd about what he plans to do with the more than seven acres of property he bought last week in the Old City.

But, officials said, any major project in that area would require a major vetting process.

Boyd, who owns the Tennessee Smokies baseball team in Sevierville, paid $6 million for one of the Knox Rail Salvage properties and a nearby parcel last week.

The seller, Mike Frazier, told WBIR 10News that he spoke with Boyd during their 18 months of negotiating and Boyd told him what he wants to do with the property.

MORE: A closer look at Boyd's Old City land acquisitions

Frazier said it “will be an asset to the community,” but didn’t elaborate other than to tell WBIR reporters they “might be on to something” when asked about the long-running rumors that Boyd would build a stadium on the land and potentially relocate the Smokies team.

Boyd, a local businessman and philanthropist, told 10News that at this time he and his wife “don’t have definite plans for this property.”

City leaders on Thursday said they’ve worked often with the Boyd family, but so far haven’t talked with him about his latest land acquisition.

“Randy and Jenny Boyd are major property owners in the Old City, and so there have been many city dealings with them in recent years on various properties and projects,” said Jesse Mayshark, the city’s senior director of communications and government relations. “But we have had no proposals or requests from Randy Boyd or anyone else in regard to the future use of the Knox Rail Salvage property.”

Mayshark added: “Any request or proposal for any kind of public involvement in a redevelopment project would have to go through extensive public discussion and vetting, as is true of any redevelopment project.”

Rest of story, including the costs of moving the Smokies now, right HERE.