Having just read the updated news posted about CARTA (Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority) I am bewildered as to why CARTA would be involved in building low income (affordable) housing.
As the name implies, CARTA is a transportation program of Chattanooga.
CARTA has no business whatsoever in my opinion of venturing into the development of any housing construction projects, much less the need to own land. Does CARTA pay appropriate taxes on said land as I do for my downtown properties?
Leave the development of housing to the community of builders and contractors in our area.
I believe the Incline takes in the majority of revenue for CARTA if the articles I have previously read are correct, so the new management should be looking at why they can’t support the operations of the CARTA transit system without the supplemental revenue from the Incline ride fares. Whatever is necessary to make CARTA financially sustainable should not include getting involved in construction and operating housing and retail businesses.
If CARTA really wants to make a difference in Chattanooga then maybe they can find a solution along with the parking gestapo to the ridiculous parking costs that citizens and tourists alike must pay to just dine out in downtown bars, restaurants and eateries. It is ridiculous to pay what is required just to spend 2-3 hours in a downtown business. I know many people who have completely quit coming downtown because of the parking fees. I myself do not come downtown as much anymore. It cost me $8 in parking just last week to get a haircut at my downtown barber. That’s legal robbery.
I believe CARTA should concentrate on transportation issues and let the developers and builders do what they do best.
CARTA should sell that three acres and that would help with the lack of revenue the bus fares don’t bring in and/or raise the bus fares to pay for the operating expenses like a normal business would do.
Arch R. Tinker