Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization

The Fourth & Gill Neighborhood Organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving the beauty and history of our neighborhood while fostering a strong, connected community.

You may know us best for our beloved annual Tour of Homes & Gardens, the Birdhouse Neighborhood Center, or our ongoing advocacy for Knoxville’s historic architecture. But our roots go back to something even more personal: a group of mothers who wanted better lives for their families. Together with housing and social activists, they sparked a renaissance—reviving once-neglected Victorian homes and breathing life back into this corner of Knoxville.

With the help of urban renewal funds and the energy of neighbors committed to change, those early efforts began a transformation. The 1970s “back to the city” movement only added momentum, as professionals discovered the charm of these homes and joined in restoring them. Decades later, that spirit of care and community continues to guide everything we do.

Restoring Homes,
Reviving Community

Over the past few decades, social activism and home restoration have worked hand-in-hand to make Fourth & Gill one of Knoxville’s urban success stories. While a few houses remain in need of attention, the outlook for this century-old neighborhood has never been brighter. Its architectural character is inseparable from the social history of the people who first built it, those who later reinvested in it, and the current residents who continue to breathe new life into its homes.

Though its roots lie in the 19th and 20th centuries, Fourth & Gill is very much a 21st-century neighborhood. It is not uncommon to meet someone who has moved three or four times within the last two decades—always staying within five blocks—leaving behind a trail of beautifully restored houses. New infill homes now rise on lots where buildings were once lost, drawn by the same spirit that makes this community so magnetic: friendly neighbors, walkable streets, and a shared pride in preserving both history and home.