Future of Downtown Chattanooga Discussed Amid Recent Events

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The past few weeks have been difficult as leaders and citizens how to make downtown Chattanooga safer.

In the wake of Chris Wright’s murder late last month and subsequent public safety actions by the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, many are wondering what’s the next steps for the future of downtown Chattanooga.

This was a focal point of a conversation held by the executive director of architecture firm Chattanooga Design Studio, Eric Myers, at the studio’s City Celebration event.

Myers is one of the lead architects involved in leading projects such as the renovations at Montague Park and is a part the One Westside project.

Myers believes that the issues in downtown Chattanooga stem back to two main issues; The fallout from the COVID pandemic and its associated remote work that drew away business from downtown Chattanooga.

He said, “What happens from both of those effects is that we have depopulation in certain areas of our public spaces and those spaces become a bit marginal in the way they are used or underutilized. What we experience is the daily experience that some downtown spaces can be rather unsafe or feel unsafe… I believe what Mayor Kelly said is true, that what happened recently is very isolated.”

He says that a focus in bringing in new businesses along with infrastructure projects is a critical way to tackle this ongoing issue.

Myers said, “When there are a lot of people around you feel safe. Connection to see and be seen, and also have safety comforts like shade trees and lighting.”

Myers was part of a presentation on Tuesday at Chattanooga City Council on the progress of Montague Park renovations.

During the presentation it was revealed that this project is likely to cost around 80 million dollars.

Myers says this may seem like a lot, but it is more than worth it for Chattanooga’s future.

Myers said, “Tom Lee River Park in Memphis was recently approved at the same dollar amount. So it’s about at the scale of what we’re seeing in public parks of this quality and of this scale, 45 acres, and its significance, as far as significance of need and position in the city.”

He told us the funding would come from a variety of sources and not exclusively local dollars.

He also told us the Chattanooga Design Studio will continue to hold public meetings on their progress with One Westside and Montague Park over the coming months.