Local Reaction on 7 Story Apartment Building Near Southside

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – Taller than any building nearby, seven stories of one bedroom and efficiency apartments are going up right next to historic Southside at the corner of Cowart and 12th Streets.

Known for its quaint, brick shops, trendy restaurants, colorful murals, and the home of the Chattanooga Market, the southside has seen intense revitalization the past 25 years.

And that’s exactly why some residents aren’t happy with the new plans.

"It just kind of screws up the whole sky line if you build something that tall," said nearby resident Aaron Johnson. "It’s just that many more people, that much more traffic."

The building will hold 140 one bedroom and efficiency apartments, attracting a working class demographic officials say is vital for the cities growth.

"Typically the workers want to live close by and the business people want their workers to live near the office," said Mayor Andy Berke. "So for these tech companies, for the other businesses that we see coming to our downtown, having affordable apartments that are located at the heart of the city are actually important and I hear from business owners all the time so that they can stay in Chattanooga and attract top talent."

"We really have a lack of housing downtown that middle class work force people can afford," said councilman Chris Anderson who represents the Southside district. "This is going to be hundreds of new people coming into the downtown area."

Johnson and his father Thomas who is an architect that has developed several historic buildings in the southside remain skeptical.

"They say that for everything, ‘hey this will create jobs!", Johnson said. "But eventually it will be built and just cost money."

Councilman Chris Anderson said his southside neighborhood supports the building plans about 80 to 20.