Glass Street Gateway Initiative Unveiled

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – After years of planning, the Glass House Gateway Initiative is complete! 

This revitalization project was a community effort to revamp the neighborhood in East Chattanooga better known as Glass Street. 

“We’re celebrating all the good things that are happening in East Chattanooga. Unfortunately we get a bad rep over here but there are some really incredible people, businesses and spaces. When we engage folks that live in this area from the beginning, it really instills pride and confidence of place-  but more than anything it brings us together. It’s been a really tough year with the pandemic. This project has really connected us,” says Teal Thibaud, Glass House Collective Executive Director. 

The project included the installment of street lights, trees, benches, an asphalt mural , opening a grocery store and adding more community gathering space. 

Residents of the area say they are excited to see a sense of community back in their neighborhood. 

“Something like this means our community is coming back to life. At one point it was dead , there were no kids playing or anything. This is an opportunity to open up the community and show the people that our community-east chattanooga/glass house is actually booming,” says Audrey McClure, East Chattanooga Resident.

 “This is bringing things to our community that’s needed.  Also it’s giving the kids the ability to come out and be a part of it by painting the street. It’s bringing back life to this community,” says Reginald Yearby, Executive Director of Reach One Teach One. 

The Glass House neighborhood has been considered a food desert for the last several years and residents say adding a Save-A-Lot Grocery Store has been long overdue. 

“Save-a-lot actually is saving a lot of lives. People are able to come to the store and walk back home. It was a food desert but now it’s open. It’s bringing the community together. It’s a life force for us now,” says McClure.

 “It’s a community thing here. We’re a family here. We have a safe crosswalk for children. This is a kids community. It’s about the children here,” says Christina Mack, General Manager of Save A Lot grocery store.