News 12 Then: The ten year anniversary of a land swap on the north shore

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Ten years ago, the city of Chattanooga made a land swap to solve a controversy over a proposed hotel going up right next to the Walnut Street Bridge.

The hotel would have loomed over the bridge inside Coolidge Park.

And that wasn’t very popular with residents.

So Mayor Ron Littlefield worked out a swamp.

The city would get the developer’s land next to the bridge.

And the city would hand over an unused piece of property next to Renaissance park on Manufacturer’s Road to the developer.

So what happened to those two pieces of property 10 years later?

The “old paint store” is now the home of Outdoor Chattanooga.

On the other side of the deal, Mayor Littlefield never got that hotel on the north shore he wanted.

But they did get a parking lot that was sorely needed.

And now the lot is changing again.

Next spring a new apartment and retail space will open here on Manufacturer’s Road.

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