A day after the Planning Commission rejected a seven-story apartment building on the 1200 block of Cowart Street, the City Council approved a building that could rise to eight stories behind the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
After the meeting, Jon Kinsey, former mayor and Choo Choo managing partner, said, "We are not planning an eight-story building. We just went through the process of getting the necessary zoning. Who knows what will go there?"
But he said it is hoped that an apartment complex at the site of the current Track 29 music hall will begin to rise in the next six months.
He said his group will not be developing the apartments. He stated, "We are getting proposals from a bunch of different people."
Mr. Kinsey said the apartment building "will certainly be compatible" with the Terminal Station, which also rises 100 feet.
The council voted unanimously to change a restriction that allows a 100-story building at the Choo Choo as long as it is somehow attached to the train station.
"We just thought that requirement was silly," Mr. Kinsey said.
John Bridger of the Regional Planning Agency cautioned that the decision could set a precedent. "There are also other similar cases in proximity," he said.
After lengthy discussion on Monday before the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, historical neighborhood advocates won a victory in the Southside area when the commission narrowly rejected a request to allow developers to build the seven-story apartment building onCowart Street.
The Belle Investment Co. & BYD Coward, GP asked for special permission to build beyond the zone’s current 48-foot maximum height limit bringing more than 100 single-room studios and small apartments to the area.
The Planning Commission voted against raising the height limit 6-5.
Mr. Bridger said the current thinking is a six-story limit in the vicinity of the Choo Choo. But he said there is a possibility it could be raised to eight stories in the upcoming Form Based Code.
He said one factor to take into consideration was the nearby historical district with smaller-scale development.
Mr. Kinsey said the view of the new apartments would be blocked by the railroad station from Market Street.
Councilman Moses Freeman pushed for approval of the request, saying, "It's a continuation of getting people downtown. We need to make sure it can hold a number of people and that we get our share of the taxes."