District 6 Summit Focuses On Revitalization

  • Friday, February 20, 2015
  • Gail Perry

Seven years ago, Councilwoman Carol Berz started meeting with people in District 6 who she represents on the Chattanooga City Council, to find out what they wanted for their community. She said it is the largest and most diverse of all the districts in Chattanooga. She found that the things important to the residents and business owners were economic development, education, connectivity, durability, sustainability, and the celebration of diversity. Representatives from the government, developers, service industries and neighborhoods who have participated all had one goal, which was to revitalize the area.

A presentation from many of the partners who are helping to shape the new image for what is being referred to as “midtown,” spoke to a standing-room-only crowd that gathered at the Wilson Air Center Friday morning to get a progress report on the initiative. Ms. Berz said that what was heard was a “cross section of what you’ve asked for.”

Information of advances that have been made on economic development was delivered by Sandra Brewer, V.P. of Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Brent Goldberg, COO of the city of Chattanooga, Nick Wilkinson, deputy administrator of the Office of Economic and Community Development and Emerson Russell, president and CEO of ERMC.

The audience was told that the city is working to provide safer streets, growing the economy and to have effective and high performing government. Highlights of progress being made specifically in District 6 are a new ordinance that limits predatory lending companies on Brainerd Road by setting distance and number requirements. Now there must be 1,300 feet between those businesses and they must be 500 feet from any residence.

A new Family Justice Center will be located in District 6. This is planned to help women, children and families transform their lives.

Another program that has been introduced is a literacy initiative to help children succeed in the district, which now has 3742 students learning to read.

The city has recognized a need to invest in small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. An incentive has been established for these companies that will give a $500 grant per person hired if a business adds five new full time workers. The investments made to attract large companies contributed to their location in District 6. These companies are Volkswagen which has recently announced an expansion, CocaCola that was enticed to stay in the city that is the home of Coke bottling, and Plastic Omnium, a French company investing $70 million and that will create 300 jobs. 

In addition to economic development, other issues were identified as being important to the residents of the area during meetings that led to this summit. Much of the progress is the result from public-private partnerships, said Ms. Berz. Status reports on many of the specific projects were given by the individuals who have been working to make them happen.

Terry Hart, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Airport, said 2014 set a record for travel originating from the Chattanooga Airport with a 14 percent increase from the previous year. Improvements at the airport include renovations of the terminal, replacement of concrete around the concourse, expansion to the ramp and parking areas that double the space for rental cars and adds 300 spaces for public parking. Equipment will be replaced and covered walkways will be built in all lots. Two phases of the solar farm have been built which now provides 80 percent of the energy needs at the airport. When phase three is complete, it will produce all of the energy that is used at the facility. The airport is also working with the city to increase aesthetics of the Shepherd Road entrance to the building.

Victoria Overholser and Richard Johnson from the Midtown Chamber Council Grass Roots Project said their organization is based on the model of River City in Chattanooga. Their focus is marketing the brand name “Midtown,” increasing connectivity and improving the quality of place with things such as creating more green spaces, organizing an annual community festival, enhancing a farmer’s market and providing a mentoring program.

Rick Wood, TN state director of the Trust for Public Land, said the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway is currently one of the biggest projects the group is working on. He said it is about land and also about connectivity. When complete, it will be a 12-mile linear park stretching from Camp Jordan to the Riverwalk crossing through District 6. He said this will contribute to the quality of life and is also an economic driver.

Kim Davis, general manager of Eastgate Town Center said that improvements were continuing at the mall with tiles and fountains being replaced and restored. There is also a theater located in the building. She said that the one-time mall is now a low-cost provider of space and that currently, there is space available.

John Bridger, executive director of the Regional Planning Agency spoke about new building projects that are using provisions contained in the Brainerd Overlay Zone such as streetscaping. He also cited advances in the way that the city is moving to limit pay day lenders in District 6 and other parts of the city.

Concerning the arts, the Brainerd Road area now has two performing theaters, Ripple Productions and Ensemble Theatre.

Lisa Maragnano, executive director of CARTA, told the audience that a multimodal study for transit options is being done. This includes planes, and cars as well as other modes of transportation such as biking and walking. A study was launched in February to find a central location to use as a hub. Currently, Eastgate is serving that purpose. This is where Mega Bus picks up passengers.

Instead of having a single hub, she said there may end up being two mini-hubs. CARTA is striving to insure it is providing services to the people that need public transportation, she said. A new bus stop has been built at the airport and 17 others that will be lit and have security cameras are currently under construction.

The summit ended with Ms. Berz announcing that the old Sears store and postal exchange on the Eastgate Loop is being developed as a central location for city services and is being referred to as “Midtown Central.” It will become the home of the Family Justice Center, will have a 125-150-seat theater for community meetings and events and will have a commercial kitchen. The center will provide programming and will hold various classes. It will also have a wellness center involving both mental and physical health and Legal Aid of East Tennessee will be an on-site partner.  For safety, a police precinct will be located in the building. It is scheduled to open July 1.

 

 

 

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