Nourishing the Neighborhoods
Plans for District Two

This is the second installment in my series on Chattanooga neighborhoods. For the sake of communication with members of the City Council, I have organized comments according to council districts. Running for Mayor means listening to people and then finding ways to turn talk into action. Here's what I've learned from those living in District Two, and here's what I plan to do for them.

Overview

District Two includes the North Shore area – including Coolidge Park, Hill City, Riverview, Stuart Heights, Lupton City and portions of the southern part of Hixson. In recent years, the North Chattanooga area has reversed decades of decline and has become one of the hottest, high demand areas in local real estate. Riverview has always been a premier neighborhood and the new Enclave development has added to the mix of upscale housing. Land in Lupton City previously held by a local industrial corporation is slated for development in the near future. Likewise, homes in adjacent and nearby neighborhoods have increased in value and desirability due to favorable proximity to downtown.

Challenges

District Two has become a very trendy place to live and do business – particularly near the riverfront. Dealing with all the pressures of increasing demand for real estate (and the resulting increases in property values) will present an opportunity to those who wish to enjoy the investment potential and a challenge to older, poorer residents that might be crowded out of the market by the same increase in appraised value as a taxable asset. Such an effect is known as "gentrification" and can present a real problem for existing residents on fixed incomes. Still, rising property values are a good thing and should be promoted – with some safety net advantages for existing homeowners.

Identified Needs:

1. Manage infill development of vacant lots. Revise and fine tune the C-7 Zoning Regulations to provide a more workable and legally supportable method to promote desired mixed use and compatible residential development

2. Road and traffic improvements with special emphasis on taming Hixson Pike and giving sustained critical attention to the "S curves".

3. Bike facilities, sidewalks and greenways – especially connecting schools with residential areas and commercial centers.

4. Work with County officials to quickly resolve questions regarding the continuing status of area schools – particularly the magnet schools.

5. Seek a quick and happy solution to the issue of the proposed hotel near the Walnut Street Bridge. Revise and update the 1992 North Shore Plan.

6. Add streetscaping and landscaping to rights-of-way. Improve neighborhood parks and public spaces.

7. Environmental protection. – including restrictions on development of slopes.

Greatest Opportunity:

Continuing development of the north shore riverfront parks – including the proposed Chinese Garden near the Theater Center. The City of Wuxi, China, sent their two top landscape professionals to Chattanooga approximately two years ago to select a site and design a garden to honor our 20-year Sister City relationship. The selected location is a small parcel of open land between the parking lots and the river across from the Theater Center. The proposed ornamental garden would create a unique environment with a small pond, pavilions and other features consistent with desires to maintain views in all directions. Officials of Wuxi have even offered to prefabricate the structures in China and ship them to Chattanooga to make the development truly authentic.

My Plan and My Pledge

I will use my experience in public works and my credibility with all stakeholders to make progress on the inadequate roads and other long-standing developmental bottlenecks affecting much of the district. As the only candidate that has ever built a road or dealt effectively with traffic and drainage problems, I absolutely know how to address these problems. We've already taken steps to protect some of the more environmentally fragile areas. The specific regulations limiting development of slopes and hillsides (adopted recently by the current city council - with substantial advice and assistance from the development industry) will provide a previously missing level of protection. I will use my city planning skills to work with the whole community and facilitate the redrafting and adoption of amendments to the C-7 mixed-use zoning regulations. It is imperative that these regulations be rewritten quickly and effectively to prevent issues such as recently arose with the proposed hotel near the Walnut Street Bridge. Now - as for the controversial hotel - I will pledge to all concerned that we will have a happy solution to that dilemma within 60 days of my taking office as Mayor. I know that there are acceptable alternatives. On the school question let me say that even though the County is primarily responsible for schools, the Mayor of the City of Chattanooga can influence the members of the School Board and County Commission to stop the uncertainty regarding the future status of district schools. I will do that. Finally, I know we can make the desired greenways, parks and sidewalks happen, too. It just takes persistence and determination. Of course, experience counts as well – and I have plenty of that.

As mayor, I won't need on-the-job training. I pledge to quickly move forward on addressing these needs and capitalizing on these opportunities. I'm ready to go to work for District Two and all of Chattanooga.