So, the Chattanooga Times Free Press has printed an editorial accusing CBL of a “pathetic smear campaign” to stop the development of Chattanooga Village in Hixson. This editorial would mistakenly lead a reader to believe that the main opposition to the development is from CBL & Associates.
Whether or not CBL has engaged Waterhouse Public Relations to help stop this project, there is plenty of opposition to the project from the surrounding community for multiple reasons, including concerns about traffic, flooding, and the environment. Many members of the community have voiced credible concerns that originated without assistance from Waterhouse or CBL. Even Hixson residents who do not live in the immediate vicinity of the proposed development are concerned about the creation of a traffic debacle like Hamilton Place has, and about creating more paved acreage when there are so many empty business sites (and not just Northgate Mall) that could be redeveloped.
The Times Free Press has either dismissed these concerns or has not bothered to investigate all the facts before printing the editorial—both inexcusable in responsible journalism. And I would think that CBL has at least as much of a legitimate vested interest in the project as the Chattanooga Times Free Press, which I doubt is as concerned about providing “benefits” to Hixson (whether we want them or not) as it is supporting some personal and biased interest of their own.
Nancy Willis
Hixson