A Proposed Apartment Complex Downtown is Too Tall for City Planners
That’s the question being pondered by city and county leaders after the regional planning agency voted against a new downtown apartment complex.
Its a matter of how tall the building can be.
This area of Cowart Street is ideal for downtown housing, according to Chattanooga planners.
It’s near Market street, the development resource center and plenty of shops and eating establishments.
But the developer, Belle Investment Group wants a 7 seven story building.
Planners want only 5.
JOE GRAHAM, COMMISSIONER "I’m sorry that the neighbors are going to be obstructed with their view..and I understand their concerns about the view..but they are already zoned for a 5 story building. The developer wants to put a 28-million dollar project there."
According to engineer Mike Price, who represented the developer, the estimated cost of each unit is 181-thousand dollars.
He says its not feasible unless he can put a 7 story building there.
Commissioner Graham says the difference in height for the two proposals is only 20 feet.
JOE GRAHAM "My thought was, for 20 more feet he’s going to help our school system with almost 200-thousand dollars in tax revenue every year."
It still goes before city council. It’s in Chris Anderson’s district, but Anderson tells News 12 he has not had a chance to study the proposal.
JOE GRAHAM "There’ll be several people to look at this …several people at the planning commission looked at it…it was a very close vote. And that’s fine…and then the city council will look at and they’ll ultimately make the final decision."
The developer so far, has not asked for a PILOT proposal for that project.
JOE GRAHAM "My concern is that I’m afraid we’re letting a developer get away from us for a vacant lot that needs to be developed."
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