Opponents line up at council meeting
photo by Claire Henley
The City Council voted in favor of the seven-story building on Cowart Street at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
However, Councilman Chris Anderson passed an amendment for both ends of the ground floor of the building to be used as commercial space rather than residential, as originally intended by Belle Investment Company.The remainder of the ground floor will be apartments.
A full house gathered at the meeting to hear the verdict for the tall apartment building on the Southside.
A large number of residents attended in opposition to the $25 million project, including Thomas Johnson, the owner of several buildings in the historic downtown. Mr. Johnson stated he still has not found one person on Market Street in favor of the seven stories.
“To have the tallest building in the neighborhood be just a parking deck with studio apartments wrapped around it is going to be a dismal thing,” he said.
Engineer Mike Price spoke in favor of the building, stating that while city residents claim this project is out of scale, many large buildings—such as the DRC and the TVA building—surround the area. To further support the uncharacteristically tall project, Mr. Price mentioned the 100-foot high building scheduled to be built behind the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
He noted that Mr. Johnson should be happy about the apartment complex, as it will bring many new residents to the area to support Mr. Johnson’s businesses.
Before the voting took place, Councilman Anderson asked to lift the condition on the ground floor in order to require commercial use on two corners of Cowart Street.
The council voted unanimously in favor of the seven stories with the amendment on the ground floor.
As a result of the amendment, a second reading will be required next week.
The Planning Commission and staff had recommended that a fifth story be allowed, but that it be set back.
Opponents say apartment structure will be this much higher than existing historic buildings on Market Street
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