There's a 4.4 acre parcel of property on Pine Top Street recently owned by Lenoir City mayor, Tony Aikens.  It is adjacent to the property that has the new, low end apartments behind Hardies. Here's the history.

• April 2002, Aikens buys the property from Austin Henline for $106,000.00, according to the warranty deed.
• January 2015, Aikens Quit Claimed (gave it to) Jenny Minh Pham.
• April 2015, Jenny Minh Pham Quit Claimed (gave it back to) Aikens.
• March 2024, Aikens sold/Quit Claimed the property to Jose David Vazquez Mendez for $135,700.00.

But wait, it gets better.

Tony Aikens has a long history of filing quit claims that eliminates the need for him to pay the legal recordation tax. Last year, the law changed so he can't do that anymore. So according to his sworn signature, he got less for the property than the county had it appraised for.

On the swear and affirm part, the seller has to swear the price of the property they sold it for is the true amount or the amount of money they got for the property or if they sold it for less than the amount the property is worth. According to Aikens' signature, the higher price was the county appraisal. So according to Aikens' swear and affirm, he got less than $135,700.00 for the property. Looks like Jose David Vazquez Mendez got a real bargain from Aikens for his 4.4 acres with a house on it.

But wait, it gets better.

The new owner, Jose David Vazquez Mendez, has already made application to the Lenoir City Planning Commission to have the property annexed into the city and have it rezoned to R-3, high density residential (24 units per acre). He has also submitted plans to build 5 four-plexes and 3 duplexes and keep the existing house on the property. All this adjacent to already built 31 apartments and another 12 approved on a road that is nearly impossible for two cars to pass on.

Given that Jose David Vazquez Mendez bought the property from the mayor, there's no doubt he'll get his annexation and rezone. Remember when Aikens sold the Laundromat? He got the council to throw in a lot owned by the city on the deal. Hopefully, there's no city lots around this property. 

A foot note question, Lenoir City mayor, Tony Aikens, has owned the property since 2002. Why did he never have it annexed into the city while he owned it? Guess he didn't want to pay the high city property taxes or the Rain Tax...maybe? What hypocrisy.

Nothing will ever change in Lenoir City until something changes in Lenoir City.