A reminder on how long development projects can take. Kinsey Probasco Hayes, the commercial developer for the Alcoa West Plant project, announced the plan to redevelop the site in May, 2008.

“In the next six to nine months we should be in a position to begin development,” said Jon Kinsey, former Chattanooga mayor and president of Kinsey, Probasco, Hays. “It is right at the entrance to the Knoxville airport and it is surrounded by two significant highways, so we feel it is an opportunity to really do something world class for that area and provide a new downtown for the city of Alcoa, which does not have one presently.”

Four years later they might get started on the traditional retail portion of the redevelopment. How long will it take to get to the New Urbanist, mixed-use, town center part?