OMNI stands for Old Mechanicsville Neighborhood Interest. It is the official homeowners association of Old Mechanicsville. OMNI is an active gathering of neighbors and friends who show their care and concern for our neighborhood through awareness, communication and improvement of our community life. Everyone is welcome. Our regular meetings are open to the public. OMNI gathers not only to take care of business and other matters of concern and importance but we also seek to build better and deeper relationships with one another. We believe the best neighborhoods are the ones not just where we live but where we live together, work together, dream together, share together.
The OMNI board of directors meets quarterly.
Old Mechanicsville Neighborhood Interest was created on May 27, 1987, by Bill Powell and a group of people interested in the revitalization of this community. We formally organized in October 1988 by electing officers and meeting regularly. Our purpose is to promote community-wide interest and concern for the problems of residents of the Old Mechanicsville Community and adjoining communities to the end that (a) sickness, poverty, crime and environmental degradation may be lessened: (b) racial tensions, prejudice and discrimination, economic and otherwise, may be eliminated. Our purpose is also to expand the opportunities available to residents and groups to own and operate business enterprises in economically depressed areas.
On July 18, 1980 Mechanicsville was listed on the National Register of Historical Places. On September 3, 1991, Knoxville City Council under Mayor Victor Ashe approved ordinances to rezone the Mechanicsville Landmark District to Historic Overlay District, making Mechanicsville the first residential area in the city to achieve Historic Overlay status. Our geographic boundaries can be seen on the enclosed map. They are from the Interstate heading north, including Arthur Street, Deaderick Street, and parts of Cansler Street, McGhee Avenue, Oak Avenue, Tulip Avenue, Western Avenue, and Hannah Avenue. Our community is very ethnically mixed. Our ethnic mix includes: Middle Eastern, Hispanic, African America, American Indian, and Caucasian.