Tract Larger Than Lookout Mountain, Tn., Eyed For Homes
posted May 13, 2008
Relatively flat terrain with sweeping views on beautiful Aetna Mountain may be Hamilton County's next large-scale development area.
Doug Stein said the group that owns a thousand acres above the Cummings Cove development in Lookout Valley has been studying for the past 18 months the most responsible way to develop the huge tract that is larger than the entirety of Lookout Mountain, Tn.
"It's the most unique tract of land in the Eastern United States and we want to make sure we handle it with sensitivity," he said.
Mr. Stein, whose family owns the tract along with the Chazen family, said the group has had four different highly regarded land development firms study it.
"All of the plans include a town center with less development as you move out and a lot of shared space," he said.
Mr. Stein said development likely will not be allowed at the edge of the bluffs, so that "when you look up from the valley you will still see the greenery and the trees."
The Southern Land Company at Nashville first drew up a vision for the Aetna Mountain property that was at one time owned by North American Royalty Company.
Urban Design Associates of Pittsburgh, Wood and Partners of Atlanta and TWH Architects of Chattanooga have also drawn up plans.
The parcel stretches from above Cummings Cove almost to the I-24 freeway as it heads toward Nickajack Lake. Aetna Mountain itself goes all the way to Nickajack.
Mr. Stein said, "our mountains around Chattanooga are especially unique because you can get great long views. When you are in the mountains of North Carolina, you only get that view when you reach the top of the highest mountain."
And he said the property "is closer to all the wonderful world-class amenities that downtown Chattanooga offers than Lookout Mountain."
Mr. Stein, who is the fourth-generation president of Stein Construction Company, said it will not be a significant problem to get water and sewage lines up the mountain to the spacious tract. "Our company has done projects like that before," he said.
He said the land is currently is use "as timberland" and it will likely be "a year or two" before any development starts on Aetna Mountain.
Alan Solon, a land development specialist from Atlanta, is a partner in the project and is overseeing the final development at Cummings Cove as well as the huge mountaintop project.
There are about 200 acres to be developed in the valley at a new section known as The Woodlands.
Mr. Solon said, "That's our focus right now. We've got plenty of time to finish planning for the top."
He said, "Developers get bad names because they destroy the steep slopes and they have houses hanging over the edge. Chattanooga is fortunate that this property will be developed by Doug Stein and Gary Chazen because they will make this an asset to the community - not just something to make money for them."
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