The Stringers Ridge controversy is just like the many others we have in Hamilton County. They announce a project, people get up in arms about it, and then they do it anyway over the objections.
The focal point of the argument is the "historical" value and scenic beauty of the area, and how we need to preserve our green spaces. Hogwash. If Hamilton County cared about any of that they would have stopped a hundred other projects on the surrounding hills, ridges and mountains that spoil the view for those of us who live "down here."
If anyone hadn't noticed, there are hundreds of houses hanging like hemorrhoids off the bluffs of Lookout Mountain. From corridor J, Signal Mountain looks like a tacky version of some elevated trailer park. All of the surrounding ridges in Chattanooga have the same problem of overdevelopment. Mobry Mountain and Flat Top are suffering the same fate and nobody seems to care.
This has happened over and over again and nothing has ever stopped it before. Is it because the developers are not from around here? I wonder which one of our local crooks is jealous. Is that what is making it so difficult? I'll just be it is.
What in the world will two or three more apartment buildings change anything about the total esthetics of a city that builds something in every empty space they can find? There is no reason to stop this now because development of Stringers Ridge is inevitable. The people who are going to do it and the date are the only questions.
Tim Price
jat-55@msn.com
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Thank you, Tim Price, for pointing out the abject hypocrisy of some who are opposed to the Stringer's Ridge development. There seem to be two common threads in the opposition:
1. Putting townhomes on the ridge will spoil the natural view we have now. I really enjoyed the letter from the lady on Signal Mountain who is opposed to destroying the natural state of the ridge. Well, as Mr. Price so eloquently points out, what's the difference in Signal and Lookout Mountains and Missionary Ridge. At one time they were pristine mountain and ridgetop views until the evil developers came along and destroyed the view. What makes Stringer's Ridge different?
2. The evil developers are only interested in destroying our natural landscapes and, heaven forbid, making a profit while doing it. Has it ever dawned on you people that at one time your residence, whether a single family home, condo or apartment was vacant land. And if it had not been for some evil developer coming along and clearing your lot and building your residence, you would have no place to live?
And just to set the record straight about Cameron Hill, it was not some evil developer who leveled the top of the hill and destroyed the beautiful old neighborhood. It was the state of Tennessee who did it so they could construct the Olgiati Bridge. As I can recall that was a truly beautiful neighborhood and I can only imagine how nice it would be now. However, I can also only imagine if every car coming down 27 and across the Olgiati Bridge in the morning was coming down Cherokee Boulevard and across the Market Street Bridge if Olgiati had not been built.
Douglas Jones
Chattanooga