Knoxville, TN (WOKI) After being without a station for months, the Knoxville Fire Department reopened its doors at Station 6 Friday in the Burlington area, but it’s part of a larger goal to provide area residents with a new fire station in the not-too-distant future.

“I hope it is going to encourage developers to be able to come in and to put quality buildings and businesses and investment back into this community so once again we can be thriving and our young people can see that and experience as part of their growing up,” said Knoxville City Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie at Friday’s reopening ceremony.

The East Knoxville fire station had been closed since the Spring due to renovations but reopened after safety concerns were addressed.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon is expected to propose more than $1 million in investments into building a new fire station in the same area.

Kincannon will make her pitch to the full city council Tuesday.