With an announcement in the Chattanoogan.com on Nov. 12, 2024, titled “80 Tall And Skinny Units Planned On Tract Under 4 Acres In Alton Park”, it appears that the development friendly regional planning agency will shortly receive a request to change the current zoning area at 435 West 35th Street to allow the skyward construction of 80 units on four acres from the manufacturing zone designation (M-1).
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A secondary benefit is that, except for the owners on the mountainous altitude surrounding the Chattanooga bowl, the antiquated and outdated motto of the “Scenic City of the South” will no longer be applicable, because the Gig City will soon be the smaller version of New York City, Melbourne, Hong Kong, etc. and any other community that will obliterate the former historical venues of the past.
Go to Google's “pencil tower” (synonym for tall and skinny units), and Wikipedia will provide you with ample information and photos about the proposed wave of the future for Choo Choo City.
Multiple terms, such as a “skinny skyscraper, pencil thin tower, super slender tower, or super slim tower” all come within the following definition:
“A pencil tower, also known as a skinny skyscraper, pencil thin tower, super slender tower, or super slim tower, is a high rise building or skyscraper with a very high slenderness ratio that is very tall and thin. There is no universal definition of how slender these buildings are to be categorized.”
Chattanooga used to have a 12 story height limit, with the historic James and McClellan buildings being the best examples, with the Hamilton bank building at 7th and Market Street being an exception, with 15 stories. However influential political maneuvering allowed the construction of the 21 floor American National Bank (SunTrust), Jaycee Tower (18 stories), etc, edging skyward. The Downtown Marriott Hotel has 16 floors, but doesn't obstruct the scenic views of Signal or Lookout, Elder, Mowbray, Flat Top, Mountains, etc, plus Missionary Ridge surrounding the beautiful and inviting downtown areas, particularly 10th to 12th streets eastward from Market Street to Central Avenue do not block out views of the greenery of the aforementioned areas.
Alton Park may soon become the local equivalent of “Manhattan's Billionaires Road” near 57th Street in the sanctuary city, and prospective condominium owners can get a narrow abode at the above clouds locale that has sold for the low price of 25 million (that's dollars, folks) in 2019.
While the 185,000 citizens can always reply on our neutral and independent appointed commissions to protect the unique mountain surroundings, and to preserve and save the unique scenery that attracts newcomers daily, from California, New York, Chicago, etc, they may be forced to allow only a 40 story “tall and skinny unit” instead of any proposed 80 floor upward, beautiful structures.
Of course with another of RH Hunt’s architectural treasures (Medical Arts Building) now being scheduled to be razed the opportunity to change directions as to what to be rebuilt on the tall and skinny potential acreage on McCallie Avenue could produce big bucks for church owners?)
(Move aside, Atlanta, and Nashville, here we come!)
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If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)