Affordable housing near downtown is expanding, as developers try to answer the city’s call to address a housing squeeze that’s challenged middle- and mid-low-income individuals and families.

The four-story development at 525 W. Fifth Ave. will feature 121 units for households making below the area's average income.

A new development, Riella on 5th, is expected to break ground in early May and will include 121 units on a spot west of Broadway near Volunteer Ministry Center on West Fifth Avenue.

“It’s kind of gotten crazy in our market, especially post-COVID,” said Craig Cobb, president of development for DGA Residential, a subsidiary of the Dominion Group. “Housing prices since then have doubled, right? And so have the interest rates. That puts a huge strain on anyone trying to get into a single-family development, or even buy an existing home.”

The apartments are intended for people who have income, but less than the average market income. The four-story development at 525 W. Fifth Ave. will replace a dilapidated structure and adjacent vacant lot with a J-shaped building including 39 one-bedroom, 39 two-bedroom and 43 three-bedroom units. 

The complex will include seven fully ADA-accessible units and three units designed for tenants with sight or hearing impairments. Units will have modern touches including granite counters, steel appliances, and washer and dryer hookups.

“We like making an impact here in our own backyard,” Cobb said. “We feel the pain, we see the need, and so we’re really excited to be able to offer affordable housing.”

Riella on 5th joins other DGA Residential developments active in 2026. Construction is underway on an 84-unit property in Hardin Valley expected to be completed in fall 2026. The company is partnering with Knoxville’s Community Development Corp. to redevelop a portion of the former St. Mary’s Hospital site with 170 townhome and apartment units, including 40 units earmarked for seniors. It’s also teaming up with Bluedog Capital Partners on affordable-housing units at MAC on Fifth, a mixed-use complex under development in the 200 block of West Fifth Avenue.

The City of Knoxville provided an incentive package worth $2.27 million through American Rescue Plan Act funds and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) incentives.

“The demand for affordable housing must be addressed through public and private partnerships,” Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said in a news release. “The City of Knoxville appreciates DGA Residential’s continued commitment to addressing that need through intentional, quality development. These 121 units will offer modern amenities with access to economic opportunity and city services.”

Ward Waste Changes Hands 

Former County Commissioner Kyle Ward has sold his company, Ward Waste Solutions, to Republic Services. Ward will stay with the new company, serving as a media contact.

On April 1, he notified Ward Waste Solutions customers by letter. If Knox County residents want curbside waste removal, they must subscribe to a service for that removal. The move had little impact on subscribers, according to a news release.

“Please accept a sincere thank you from Ward Waste Solutions for your patronage,” the customer letter read. “Know that the new combined team will handle your waste and recycling needs reliably and responsibly.”

Movers and shakers

Pitch Winner: The 2026 PYA Ballard Innovation Award live pitch competition on April 22 hosted five high-growth startups vying for a total of $65,000 in monetary and strategic support from PYA. 

EVRCool won first place – $50,000 in non-dilutive capital and in-kind tax, accounting, strategy and marketing services. Second place was awarded to TerraSync, and third place went to CE Tools Inc., receiving $10,000 and $5,000 of in-kind support, respectively.

Since its launch in 2021, the PYA Ballard Innovation Award has granted more than $400,000 in cash and in-kind services to outstanding high-growth startups in East Tennessee.

Founded by Josh Roby and Jacob Swain, EVRCool is filling a gap in the industrial chiller industry. Conventional air-cooling and legacy liquid-cooling systems are energy intensive, physically large, and increasingly unable to keep up with the demands of high-density computing

and electrified systems. To solve these problems, EVRCool’s advanced cooling technologies significantly increase heat-transfer efficiency while reducing system size, energy consumption and operational complexity.

“PYA is honored to recognize EVRCool and all of the innovative startups that competed this year,” PYA CEO Marty Brown said in a release. “Their ingenuity and aspirations represent the values shared by all founders and the future they collectively imagine.”

KOC’s Byrd Recognized: Scott Byrd, director of sports medicine outreach for Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic, received the 2026 East Tennessee Distinguished Service Award from the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association for his work with athletic programs. 

TIAAA officials cited Byrd’s commitment to educational-based athletics, professional development and the community during the Tennessee Athletic Directors Conference in Knoxville on April 12.

“Scott’s tireless efforts in pursuing professional development, increasing organizational growth and leading on the state and national levels have not gone unnoticed by the TIAAA or by his peers,” said Benji Gray, awards chair for the TIAAA. “This is a well-deserved acknowledgement for Mr. Scott Byrd because of exceptional leadership.” 

The association names an individual or organization that has served interscholastic athletics for the honor. 

“We congratulate Scott on this well-earned distinction,” said Dr. Matthew Rappé, a KOC sports medicine surgeon. “Scott has made significant contributions to sports medicine outreach in East Tennessee and has worked diligently to place KOC athletic trainers in high schools all across our region. We are thrilled to see his efforts recognized.” 

Announcements and openings

Riverview Sold: The 280-foot, 23-floor Riverview Tower and connected car garage sold this month for more than $44 million. Knoxville-based Apex Bank is the new owner. More than four decades old, Riverview is the second-tallest building in Knoxville’s downtown skyline. 

Selling the property within four months of going on the market in December was an accomplishment of its own, according to SVN | Wood Properties, which worked with Hertz Knoxville One LLC, a subsidiary of Hertz Investment Group, to market the property for sale. 

The office tower sits at 900 S. Gay St. and has more than 334,000 square feet of office space within view of the Tennessee River and Fort Loudoun Lake. The agents on the property said it was one of the top properties available in the region. 

Apex Bank was founded in 1931 as a community bank. Since 2008, when it came under new ownership, the bank has grown from $157 million in assets with four locations to $1.4 billion in assets, with 22 retail locations, and a Knoxville-based mortgage-servicing center with over 220 employees.

Berry Good: Berry Social, a new acai bowl eatery, will open a location at Covenant Health Park this summer. Heather Jenkins owns the shop with her husband, Chad Jenkins.

“Knoxville is ready for a fresh, feel-good experience that blends wellness, flavor and new community,” Heather Jenkins said.

The acai berry is grown on the acai palm tree in South America. The berry is known for nutritional value and is sometimes called a “superfood” because of its antioxidant compounds, phytonutrients and organic compounds. Jenkins said the soft-serve product that will be available at Berry Social differs from that sold at some other outlets in that it has zero water content – it’s 100 percent organic berry.

Berry Social is not a franchise but is a licensee of Berry Divine of Arizona, which developed the unique product. Heather Jenkins is a graduate of the University of Tennessee while her husband, Chad, is a Maryville College alumnus.