I grew up in Chattanooga and have recently moved back with my husband and daughter. I spent my childhood driving up and down South Broad Street. With the exception of Luther broadcasting from WDEF’s headquarters, the cheese dip at Las Margaritas and the flashy cars parked at Night Haven, it was an uninspiring strip. South Broad has come a long way in 30+ years but I hope for more.
Unlike County Mayor Wamp, I know very little about the business of baseball and baseball stadiums although I appreciate the energy the Lookouts bring to downtown. What I do know is the magic a well-designed public space can bring to a city. Urban developments are not all created equal but the best ones seem to have a “secret sauce” that brings communities together. Chattanooga needs more of this secret sauce.
Last night County Mayor Wamp held a town hall to highlight his concerns over the cost of the stadium and the uncertainties around the financial projections. Sadly, he skipped over the opportunities of the project.
In my opinion, the biggest merit of this project is having New City Development as the master developer. In County Mayor Wamp’s closing remarks he said he “didn’t know Jim Irwin, who is from Atlanta.” I wish he did know Jim Irwin and his team. They have an incredible track record of turning blighted industrial areas into vibrant public spaces. My family recently spent a happy morning eating pancakes at Ponce City Market - we have been closely following Neuhoff, their billion dollar development in Nashville - my daughter grew up playing in Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. Their work has design integrity and the special sauce that brings urban life together.
Rather than look down on outsiders coming to re-develop Chattanooga, I hope County Mayor Wamp will welcome the talents who want to improve Chattanooga and also welcome all the new families (like mine) who have recently moved here to make Chattanooga our home. Our city will benefit from this collaboration and we will ultimately end up creating an engaging urban space that we will make us all proud.
Bethany Patten
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As a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga area, I am incredibly excited about the proposed new stadium and can't wait to attend games, eat dinners nearby, and more. Its addition will bring significant benefits for the city of Chattanooga. Chattanooga, in my opinion, is the best town in America, and this stadium could be a fantastic opportunity for us.
However, if the project is as beneficial for the city as claimed, why is there a need for government involvement at all? Shouldn't developers, investors and bankers be lined up ready to participate and profit from it? If taxpayer funds are used, will the public receive perks like free tickets or parking? If not, why not?
Taxpayers are already facing costs related to infrastructure and road improvements. I firmly believe that the developers should bear these expenses entirely. If the project is not viable or profitable without taxpayer support, perhaps it's not a project that should be done.
Finally, while the promise of job creation and increased tax revenue is often cited to why taxpayer investments are required for major projects, so why aren't my property taxes going down?
Bradley Chambers