Chattanooga breaks ground on a new family center in Avondale

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – It won’t become a reality until this time next year, but residents of the Avondale community are getting a brand new youth and family development center.

News 12’s Ashley Henderson was there for the groundbreaking this afternoon.

The Andy Berke administration last year promised the Avondale community that it would set aside some 6-million dollars for a new meeting and youth center.

It will be built here at Dodson and Wilcox.

MAYOR ANDY BERKE said “this is a big investment in the Avondale community. This is a center that was built 60 plus years ago ..we knew they needed a new one and this is the chance to really change the trajectory of this area.”

City council member Anthony Byrd was raised in this area and he says the need for such a facility is great.

“You know, a lot of times these kids they come from the gutter, they come from things that we can not even imagine. You know its hard out here for them. But this center is going to inspire them to be awesome. You’re going to see a lot of the crime come down. you’re going to see kids have hope now…you’re going to see them be able to dream.”

Lurone (Coach) Jennings is the administrator of City Youth and Family Development.

“Young people, we’re doing this so that you will have a great opportunity, in this community to do great things and to be great people.”

The new center will be built next to the existing one….so the neighborhood will continue to have a meeting place as construction continues.

The Mayor added “this neighborhood needed places to gather to have meals to celebrate things the new Avondale Youth and Family development center can serve all these functions at the sale time.”

In the Avondale community, Ashley Henderson, News 12 Now.