The private owners of Hawkins Ridge at St. Elmo said they have placed a conservation easement on over 52 acres of the hilltop property. John DeMoss of the group that bought the property at auction said that section of the land will be available for public use when the land is transferred to the Trust for Public Land.
Mr. DeMoss said, "The management and investors of Sunnyside Properties desire to clarify the facts related to the property, given the misinformation recently publicized. Management and investors began looking into options to conserve the land during the first half of 2015.
"Although the property remains privately held, Sunnyside Properties has been actively working with Councilman Chris Anderson and The Trust for Public Land to transition the conserved land into the public’s hands and subsequent use. Discussions are ongoing and the Sunnyside team’s desire is ultimately to consummate a transaction with TPL. Under such a transaction, the community would enjoy the full use and benefits of a conserved Hawkins Ridge.
"The aforementioned conservation easement restricts the majority of the land – including the trails, summits, and otherwise unique characteristics of the property – from substantial development in the future. This alternative strategy resulted from a unique combination of efforts contributed by Jim Lea of The Lea Team at Keller Williams, myself, who led the investor group, and Paul Teruya, of GreenTech homes. Mike Price, of MAP Engineers also worked diligently on behalf of Sunnyside in the execution of the conservation easement. These individuals, working together with numerous others, effected the single largest conservation of land in the St. Elmo area.
"The recent rezoning request for 0.99 acres of land near 46th street allows a single family home to be built on the periphery of the conserved Hawkins Ridge.
"We believe Sunnyside Properties and the management team has successfully balanced the wishes of investors as well of those of the community. This has been positively demonstrated through implementation of this conservation easement, which forever benefits not only St. Elmo, Alton Park and Lookout Mountain residents, but Chattanooga’s citizens and its visitors at large. The Sunnyside team values the concerns of the community and appreciates the help of Chris Anderson and the Trust for Public Land for the ongoing process to transition Hawkins Ridge to public use. Until the hopeful transition occurs, the conserved property remains in private use."