The Erlanger Health System Planning Committee on Monday afternoon approved a resolution allowing Erlanger to turn over 5.03 acres of Lincoln Park property to the city of Chattanooga.
Mayor Andy Berke recently held a press conference saying the long-closed historic black park would once again be a park.
However, the Hospital Authority Board at the time did not approve the transfer as had been expected. Board members said they wanted to look into the situation further and to study the effect of giving up the property on the hospital's long-range plan.
Erlanger President and CEO Kevin Spiegel said the city, in return for the property, has agreed to swap about eight acres of land in Alton Park as a future site for a new Southside Community Health Center. “This transaction will net out to zero so the financial impact to Erlanger is zero,” Mr. Spiegel said.
The Alton Park property involved in the land swap is located at 38th Street and Ohls Avenue by the Villages of Alton Park.
“This agreement between Erlanger and the city of Chattanooga will be a benefit for both of us,” Mr. Spiegel told the Planning Committee. “It will not only improve our community here by having a public park nearby, but also enable us to provide a more appropriate facility when we rebuild on the Southside,” he said.
Under the new agreement, the city will be responsible for upkeep, maintenance and all liability related to the new public park. Should the property be used for any purpose other than as a public park, it will revert back to Erlanger.
The resolution was placed on the consent calendar and will be voted on at Thursday night’s board meeting.