Final South Broad revitalization plans released

Chattanooga, Tenn. (WDEF) –- The Chattanooga Design Studio announced they will be unveiling the final plans for the South Broad District redevelopment Monday night. The presentation and open house is scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m. in meeting room 1A at the Development Resource Center located at 1250 Market Street.

These plans differ slightly from prior designs — with a more specific strategy on how to make the community’s vision possible.

“It’s just been refined ideas, refined to an understandable package of ongoing implementation strategy,” Chattanooga Design Studio Executive Officer Eric Myers said.

The studio says a final report has been reviewed in-depth by multiple city agencies prior to its completion and is now available on the project website: https://southbroaddistrict.org/.

The plans were put into motion last August and include the comprehensive economic development study includes plans for the areas of South Broad Street,
Southside Gardens, the I-24 corridor, as well as the Howard School and South Market Districts, according to Chattanooga Design Studio.

One of the biggest highlights of the design is a sports complex, which would serve as the new home to the Chattanooga Lookouts baseball team.

“It’s exciting to be a part of this process,” said Rich Mozingo, president of the Lookouts. ” You know, that’s a piece of property that everyone in Chattanooga knows, and I think a lot of people are looking forward to something going on that property.”

But the plans for the ballpark are still in the early stages.

And according to the design studio, the district would take years to complete.

“This is a 15 year plan. So we’re just now beginning to work on the initial pieces of it. By the end of April we’ll have the adoption policy process in place, which can allow this document to be a policy guiding document,” Myers said.

“The Foundry site, along with the entire South Broad area, is an incredibly important connector to downtown and is primed for large scale redevelopment that can really add to the fabric of our urban area,” states Kim White, President of River City Company. “The transformation of this site is highly important for our community, and we look forward to offering insight, guidance and partnership when appropriate to assist in the success of this district.”

The company consulted about 250 citizens to iron out the final details of the plans.

“Citizen input is the foundation of all great urban design so we are proud to release recommendations derived from hundreds of participating residents, business owners and the general public,” said Eric Myers, Executive Director of the Chattanooga Design Studio. “In an effort to help ensure future success within the district, we were determined that this project remain a community-led guide to the long-term revitalization of South Broad.”

Erskine Oglesby, Jr, the city councilman for District 7, says the adoption of this plan will push it closer to reality.

“We are fully commited to move forward with this project,” Councilman Olgesby said. “One of the reasons why because it is citizen driven. This is the vision that was given to us through those number of charrettes to determine what they want it to look and feel like. It’s my commitment as a city council to push it forward. And it will not sit on the self.”>

So, the conversation continues, as the city inches its way towards completing the project.

“You know, this is a project that’s got to be a win, win, win, win for everybody. It’s gotta be a win for the city, a win for the county, a win for the district, and I think the plan the designers have put forward hits all those numbers. So hopefully, this is something that will go forward, and we’ll see great benefits from,” Mozingo said.