Chattanooga City Council approves South Broad development
Site will serve as home of new Lookouts stadium projected to open in 2025
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — If you build it, they will come.
After decades of discussion, the Chattanooga City Council voted Tuesday night on a resolution to approve both the proposed South Broad development and the new Chattanooga Lookouts ballpark.
Chattanooga’s South Broad District, which has been called an “eyesore” by numerous residents and local politicians, is set to become the next jewel of the Scenic City.
The council approved six resolutions Tuesday relating to the district plan and stadium.
Among them was the creation of the new Sports Authority of Hamilton County and the city of Chattanooga, which will update the council annually on development status.
Mayor Tim Kelly gave an impassioned speech to all in attendance, saying the new South Broad site will be nothing short of a home run for the community.
“This project will conservatively generate tens of millions of dollars in new money for schools and will provide millions more in new, permanent tax revenue to pave roads, invest in infrastructure and support workers not only in the South Broad district, but across our city and county,” Kelly said.
Numerous council members also expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm for moving forward on development.
Council members Darrin Ledford and Jenny Hill personally thanked both Economic Development Officer Jermaine Freeman and Chief Financial Officer Brent Goldberg for helping the plan’s approval come to fruition.
“Our goal has always been to benefit the most Chattanoogans we possibly could while also protecting our economy in every way possible and they really bent over backwards, so thank you both very much,” Hill said.
The mayor called the city’s western gateway “long neglected,” but that’s officially, finally, in the past.
Moving forward, he’s excited to see the site transformed and neighborhoods further connected into One Chattanooga.
“Chattanooga has the potential to be the best city in the country and this project is a classic example of something that has to change from a blighted brownfield to what it can be — this beautiful centerpiece for the community,” Kelly said. “It is a very big deal, indeed. It will be something we can all be very, very proud of in the future.”
Aside from the new Lookouts stadium that will be built, Mayor Kelly expressed excitement over new housing, small businesses, and greenspaces that will also come from the new site.
The new ballpark is scheduled to host its first game in the Spring of 2025, but new businesses and developments may be ready before first pitch is finally thrown.
