I recently read an article where some of the North Shore residents disapprove of the color scheme that builder John Wise has painted on his Hamilton Lofts project in that area.
I don’t live in the North Shore area, but since I do live in Chattanooga and trade in the North Chattanooga area, I feel as though I have standing to comment.
I like Mr. Wise’s color scheme. He has had some innovative ideas for many of his buildings in Chattanooga.
Since this is by the Tennessee River, I think that it is nice to give this waterfront area a maritime flair. North Chattanooga is revising itself and these colorful buildings give the area some pizazz.
They resemble the famous painted houses in Charleston, S.C.
In fact, Greg Glover with Channel 3 News has named this area on his Instagram as “the painted ladies of North Shore”. (greg glover3)
To me, the revised color scheme which I saw looks bland and drab. As the young people now say, it looks “old school.”
I know you can’t please everybody but it is my hope that the Hill City residents will reconsider and leave these colorful buildings.
Russell J. Bean
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Kudos to Russell Bean for writing the opinion about the colored buildings on the North Shore.
I completely agree with Mr Bean's opinion. The "painted ladies" on North Market Street should
retain their bright and individual colors. Who needs another set of drab, neutral buildings in this
part of town? North Chattanooga is a reserve for people who like to express themselves.
Let the bright colors gleam brightly, and let the neutral, drab, and boring buildings be built
in the suburbs, where they belong.
We should also take time to reflect on John Wise's individual rights as a property owner. Shouldn't he be allowed to paint his property whatever color he chooses? What does freedom mean if you have to please a public taste committee before you can even paint your own property?
James Brown