Westside Neighborhood Study

WESTSIDE CHATTANOOGA S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 INTE R NS H IP S T UDY

Executive Director Eric Myers

Urban Design Coordinator Lindsey Willke

Summer 2018 Urban Design Fellow

Hunter Gee, Smith Gee Studio

Summer 2018 Interns

Neeraja Natarajan, SCAD, M. Urban Design Yiren Zhu, Georgia Tech, M.Arch Yvette De Soto, SCAD, B.Arch

01

Background Project Context....2 History...4

CONTENTS

Westside Today...12

02

Current Condition Analysis....18 Westside Development....19 An Aging Westside....23 Land Use...24 Amenity...26 Challenge and Opportunity...30

03

Big Ideas Big Ideas....35 Short Term Goals...56

01 B A C KG RO U ND Chattanooga’s Westside has a rich history, a once thriving residential neighborhood with industrial anchors is the product today of the lasting effects of urban renewal. The area is largely overlooked in comparison to many Chattanooga neighborhoods. The Westside is comparable in size to all of downtown.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The study focused on the area between highway 27 and the riverfront to the west and Main Street

Chattanooga Design Studio 2018 Summer Internship Program

During the Summer of 2018,

Chattanooga Design Studio’s internship program studied the Westside of Chattanooga. The interns, recent college graduates with degrees in architecture brought new ways of thinking about the future of this neighborhood.

2 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

and MLK Boulevard to the north and south. The neighborhood is home to Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters, the GE/Alstom property - currently under new ownership, historic College Hill Courts and Boynton Terrace homes. There is no home ownership in the study area, all housing is public or subsidized.

Though the Westside has many challenges to becoming a complete urban neighborhood, welcoming to all, there is also much opportunity.

The topography, views and river access are unparalleled and a look back at the Westside’s history provides a starting point for rethinking its future.

HISTORY 3

attempted but constantly failed all through the 90s.

1973

1980

WESTSIDE HISTORY 1886

Factories of coke-fired iron and the developments of Tannery Flats, led to the adjacent worker residences of College Hill Courts and Blue Hollow.

1868

1840

Artist James Cameron receives what will be known as Cameron Hill as payment for his portrait of the Whiteside family.

Golden Gateway 1972

Residential lots along the side of Cameron Hill were auctioned and the neighborhood became a fashionable part of town.

2007

View from Cameron Hill to Westside 1885

View of Cameron Hill 1900

Residents

Blue Cross Blue shield purchased Cameron Hill, and by 2007 had built a complete new campus with 4,900 employees.

2000

2012

Residents of College Hill repeatedly voice concerns about being pushed out and shut down like many other affordable housing complexes in Chattanooga.

of College Hill repeatedly

voice concerns

about being pushed out and shut down like many other affordable housing 2007 complexes in Chattanooga

2012

What is Happening in the Westside Today?

2018

2016

The river walk extension from the newly developed Blue Goose Hollow trail-head opens connecting south to St. Elmo.

Apartments in Chattanooga’s Westside to see $7.5 million revamp and I-27 is receiving repairs for vehicles.

2018

4 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Blue C Shield

Cameron H had built a campus wi employees

College Hill Courts affordable housing neighborhood opens with 433 units, making it the largest in Chattanooga.

The Westside Redevelopment Plan designates 407 acres bound by the Tennessee river for ‘slum cleaning’. The plan included reshaping the topography of the area for optimum vehicular access, and relocating over 600 families in the Westside.

1950

2000

2007

1940

1900

2007

ue Cross Blue eld purchased View of Cameron Hill to Westside 1906

Cameron Oxford Associates build the Cameron Hill Apartments and a new Boynton Park.

1973

1980

College Hill Courts James A. Henry Elementary School closed, many renovations of commercial and community spaces attempted but constantly failed all through the 90s.

College Courts 1964

Golden Gateway 1972

Highway I-27 was completed and opened to the public, the earth from the top of Cameron Hill was essential to its construction.

1963

eron Hill, and by 2007 built a complete new pus with 4,9000 oyees.

1958

1962

2018, Cameron Harbor Development

HISTORY 5

WESTSIDE HISTORY

ooga a nooga

nl Hill on l Hill

1889

1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997

1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889

1980

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

1997

2016 6 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

1885 1885 1885 1885 1885 1885

1885

1863

1863 1863 1863 1863 1863 1863

19 198 198 1

1941 1941 1941 1941 1941 1941

1932

1941

1980 1980 1980 1980 1980 1980

1928 1928 1928 1928 1928 1928 1928

1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917

89 1889 9889 1889

1932 1932 1932 1932 1932 1932

HISTORY 7

1906

Small scale factories and single family homes comprise the neighborhood.

8 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Historical Changes

A shift in Westside through development can be seen in these images, taken roughly 55 years apart.

1960

View of Lookout Mountain from Cameron Hill, Construction of highway 27 begins.

HISTORY 9

WESTSIDE HISTORY

The Chattanooga Times, Wednesday, March 7, 1990

The Chattanooga Times featured an article titled, “Affordable, safe homes hard to find” in September of 1991, written by Judy Frank. The article’s focus on the lack of safe affordable housing for low-income residents presents a list of one-year objectives regarding the housing dilemma for lower-income areas.

The Chattanooga Times, Thursday, September 12, 1991

10 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

The above article by H. Maria Noel in The Chattanooga Times discussed a housing group’s decision to renovate dwellings for the visually and hearing impaired.

A 1974 notice in The Chattanooga NewsFree Press titled, “Legal Notice of Public Hearing”, regarding the January 22 discussion of the Chattanooga Housing authority’s undertaking of a public housing project, which consisted of around 200 dwellings units.

The Chattanooga News-Free Press, Monday, January 7, 1974

HISTORY 11

WESTSIDE TODAY

BCBS Headquarters Downtown GE/Alstom Site Riverfront Parkway

12 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

College Hill Courts

Highway 27

Riverfront Parkway at Alstom/GE site

Alstom/GE site

Bluff east of Riverfront Parkway

Recent development along Riverfront Parkway (north)

Riverfront Parkway

Main Street at Riverfront Parkway

College Hill Courts

College Hill Courts

HISTORY 13

WESTSIDE TODAY

Access East-West, seven vehicular underpasses

14 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

12TH STREET

MLK

MAIN ST

Main Street underpass

12th Street underpass

12TH STREET

MLK

MAIN ST

MLK Boulevard underpass

12TH STREET

MLK HISTORY 15

02 Cu rre n t C o nd it io n Chattanooga’s Westside has experienced extreme change in its use, topography and fabric. The following series of diagrams dissect the history and current conditions into a series of ‘urban x-rays’.

ANALYSIS

View to Cameron Hill, 1957

18 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

1889

9th W1

2th

W1

Str

eet

(No

4th

eet

Industry and Railroads

1930s

9TH

Str

eet

Observations

Old Street Grid

ST

)

Str

ain

2TH

LK

eet

WM

W1

wM

Str

ST

RE

ET

(NO

WM

RE

+ Industry still occupied the majority of the river’s edge. + A dense grid is continuous from downtown. + The winding roads indicate the topography of Cameron Hill was respected and built around.

LK

)

ET

W1

4TH

ST

RE

ET

WM

ain

Industry and Railroads College Hill Courts

eet

Observations

Old Street Grid

Str

+ Industry extended some key streets all the way to the river. + First evidence of College Hill Courts on a map. + Three schools were in the immediate neighborhood of the Westside.

Schools

ANALYSIS 19

1980s

9TH

ST

RE

ET

WM

ain

(NO

WM

LK

)

Str

eet

College Hill Courts

Observations

Industry and Railroads

Observations

Old Street Grid

+ The addition of Highway 27 alongside the other Golden Gateway changes make the entire Westside cut off from Downtown Chattanooga.

+ No longer any schools in the immediate Westside neighborhood.

Schools

+ The dense grid system previously in place is replaced by much larger super blocks. + Industry is still very important and has a connection to the east.

Highway

2018

9TH

ST

RE

WM

ET

ain

Old Street Grid Industry and Railroads College Hill Courts Schools Highway 20 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

(NO

WM

LK

)

Str

eet

+ Industry is concentrated into larger structures and backed further away from street. + Dramatic decrease in density, connectivity and mix of uses.

Photograph by Lane Wood Studio

SPLASH Youth Arts Workshop is a year-round, free art program for youth, located in Chattanooga’s

Westside. SPLASH Executive Director Charlie Newton encourages the youth of Westside to become

involved in the arts as a catalyst in self-confidence, creativity in problem-solving, and leadership skills.

ANALYSIS 21

James A Henry Building, Grove Street

22 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Block Structure

Observations

Block Comparison

+ Riverfront Parkway is the primary organizer of the Westside’s block structure. + The river’s edge is defined by its large block structure. + The lack of a coherent block structure decreases the legibility of the Westside.

Observation

- Downtown has smaller scale block comparing to westside

Opportunities -

Building Age

Building Age

-1950 1951-1960 1961-1970 1971-1980

Observations + College Hill Courts, over 50 years old, are the most historic structures on the Westside today. + Most structures remain from the Golden Gateway efforts of the 60s.

1981-1990 1991-2000 2001-2010 2011-

- 1950

1981 - 1990

1951 - 1960

1991 - 2000

1961 - 1970

2001 - 2010

1971 - 1980

2011 -

Observation -

Opportunities -

Topography

Observations

640

840 860 640

Topography + Much

of the Westside sits on a bluff, the remnants of past hillsides.

660

+The topographic difference from the river to the highway creates a divide marked by Riverfront Parkway today.

Topography

slop diagram 860 660 640

Topography Observation

Slope diagram

- Chattanooga egde sits on a bluff - There is various level differences on the topograghy.

840 640

660 ANALYSIS 23

Building Footprints

FigureGround

Observations + The Westside is marked by large industrial buildings along the river with large open space in between.

Observation

+ The most clearly organized building footprints are at College Hill Courts, much of the rest of the Westside lacks a clear arrangement.

-

Opportunities -

1/64”=1’-0”

Land Use

Land Use

Institutional usage Commercial Industrial

Observations

+ Lack of diversity in land use. + Distinct land use patterns divided along Riverfront Parkway.

Residential, including Rental Property & Housing Authority

Institutional Observation - Religious + low-income housing

Opportunities -

Commercial Industrial Residential, including Rental Property & Housing Authority

Ownership

Observations

+ Majority of land controlled by two property owners Privately owned Housing Authority (City) County owned City owned State owned Federally owned City & County owned

24 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Walkability 10 minutes walk 5 minutes walk

Center of walkability 5/10 minute walk shed

Church

Grocery store

Bus Stop

Restaurant

Education

Bike Share

Recreation

Medical service

Observations + Within a 10 minute walking distance from Riverfront Parkway the only amenities are a gas station, medical clinic and bus stops. + There is only one existing park within much permeable unbuilt open space. + Large area of surface parking can cause lack of security and a positive opportunity for infill development.

ANALYSIS 25

Amenity

Observations

Amenity

+ The Westside lacks amenities to serve the daily needs of residents.

Church Restaurant Recreation Grocery store Education Medical service

1/64”=1’-0”

Mobility

Public Access

Bike trails local Nodes route Bike sha

Church

Grocery store

Restaurant

Education

Recreation

Medical service

Observations

+ Bus connections are limited both in timing and location. + There are only two bus routes for the entire Westside.

Bus stopre

River Walk Local route

Observation

Node

- Connection of bus is only for the housing community - Only two bus routes for whole of west side

Bike share

Opportunities

- Increase the bus routes towards the industrial zone.

Bus stop

Street Hierar-

Observations

Road Hierarchy

+ Connection between downtown and Westside are limited to 7 underpasses.

Highway Railways Primary Road Secondary Road

+ Limited street hierarchy in Westside. + Limited accessibility to river. + Riverfront Parkway is a major connector and an opportunity for future development.

Observation - 7 entries total b/w downtown & westside - Highway defines the westside - Grid(downtown) & chaotic(westside) - Less accessability to the other sideof the river - Parkway gives more opportunities for development

Opportunities -

26 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

+ Highway is a defining edge condition.

Highway

Primary road

Railways

Secondary road

Photograph featured in Causeway’s “Kids of Growth” article, June 20, 2014

Kids of Growth is a non-profit kids ministry in

the Westside neighborhood. The organization provides educational and fun after school summer programming.

ANALYSIS 27

View East on 6th Street

The distance between downtown and the

Westside is further exacerbated by the lack of

active edges connecting from downtown and

the wide roads geared towards moving vehicles rather than people.

28 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Open Space

Observations

+ Opportunity to rethink previous open space to preserve and use efficiently for water infiltration. + Under developed landscape is mostly leftover, in-between space.

Park

1/64”=1’-0”

Previous

Paved/ Built

Dense tree cover

River

Conclusions

+ The main identity of Chattanooga’s Westside today is defined by vast industrial facilities and multiple public housing complexes.

+ The condition of College Hill courts has been constantly deteriorating, much maintenance and renovation is needed to improve living conditions.

+ The excess of surface parking takes away from the incredible natural beauty of the Westside and potential growth for the neighborhood. As a result there are very few purposeful landscaping attempts, which contrast with the new Cameron Harbor neighborhood with a connection to the Riverwalk Park at Blue Goose Hollow.

+The lack of diverse land use and mixed use buildings in the area means that residents have to leave the neighborhood for every basic amenity. Some basic amenities like a playground and bus stops are available. + The highway barrier is a challenge to the connection to downtown Chattanooga.

Further access to the riverfront is critical to the success of the Westside neighborhood building of off of the new connection at Blue Goose Hollow.

ANALYSIS 29

CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY Access

Challenges

+ Currently the Westside has little to no pedestrian, or bicycle access or human scaled public spaces. + The areas along Riverfront Parkway mostly cater to the industrial mega blocks along the river, not to human scaled access, opportunity to make those spaces accessible and part of the Westside identity. + Open up visibility to the river from the Westside to acknowledge the beautiful location and begin fomenting pride of place.

1/64”=1’-0”

No Pedestrian Access

No Seating

No View

No Shading

No Bus Station

Riverfront Parkway

Highway 27 Barrier

Neighborhood Composition

Challenges

+ There is a lack of amenities in the immediate neighborhood that make it difficult for it to be a self sustaining and a desirable place to live. + The percentage of land use for industry is overpowering to the residential and mixed use potential of the neighborhood.

No Education Resource

Highway 27 Barrier

No Grocery Store

Study Area

Market Rate Housing Public/Subsidized Housing 1/64”=1’-0”

30 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Study Area

Industry

Access

Opportunity

+ Re-establishing the historically connected grid and access from the east to the river. Key Streets like MLK and 14th used to branch this way. + New streets should be people focused public spaces that prioritize pedestrian access, cycling and green space. The Westside should be easily accessible and feature possible gateway moments upon crossing the underpasses. + Potential to connect to Moccasin Bend and make the Westside a key access point to Northshore riverwalk and neighborhood.

Greenway 1/64”=1’-0”

Highway 27 Barrier Study Area Primary Connectivity Secondary Connectivity

Shading Pedestrian Access Bus station

Neighborhood Composition

Opportunity

+ Wider, greener main avenues that make cycling, bus stops and pedestrian well-being a priority. + Multiple commercial and educational opportunities to be in the immediate neighborhood. + Potential redevelopment of the Alstom Industrial Complex to become a planned mixed income and mixed use neighborhood that takes advantage of its river location.

Grocery Store

1/64”=1’-0”

Education Resource

View

Seating

Food

Public/Subsidized Housing

Greenway

Market Rate Housing

Study Area

Industry

“Spine“

ANALYSIS 31

03 B i g I d e as The Westside of Chattanooga has been evolving in many ways for decades. This chapter introduces effective means of evolution and change in the neighborhood that should be meaningful to the residents of Westside. The goal is great urban design which targets problems with thoughtful solutions.

BIG IDEAS

34 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Big Ideas

01 Connectivity

02 People First Streets

03 Community Resources 04 Neighborhood Art HUB 05 Riverfront for All

06 Job Opportunities

07 Underpass Activation

08 A Historic Neighborhood 09 Parkway as a Zipper 10 Urban Hiking Trails

Westside would benefit from a more efficient use of land through a deconcentration of poverty, mixed income housing, and increased density.

There should be an increased connectivity to the river. The waterfront should be an integrated green space with a focus on sustainability and low impact development to create a long-term space for everyone to enjoy.

A shift in focus is necessary regarding multi modal accessibility, people centric places and streets, and democratic street scapes, achievable though street diets and built street edges with active ground floor uses.

The new identity should be built through respectful revisioning central to success of Westside, with natural beauty in topography and views taken advantage of as a vision by and for the community of College Hill Courts.

The completed neighborhood will have accessible amenities related to community needs, public services, security, as well as integrating the arts, health, and education, for a successful revisioning of Westside.

BIG IDEAS 35

01 CONNECTIVITY

36 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Westside lacks connectivity and river front access for which we recommend extending Main Street and MLK Boulevard to the river front and extending neighborhood streets to create a grid.

Riverfront Pkwy St

ve

Ri

Main

rfr y

kw

tP

on

osed Prop ion s Exten

MLK

Blvd

ned Plan sion n Exte

Adapt Industrial Potential Exo District

Mixed Use Residential Mixed Income

ML

KB

lvd Ma

in S

t

+ Extending Main Street and MLK Boulevard will provide a feeling of unity in the city by connecting the Downtown to the Westside; extending these streets to the riverfront will renew a sense of Chattanooga’s industrial history. + Neighborhood streets should connect where possible starting with Cypress and Grove Streets.

BIG IDEAS 37

02 PEOPLE FIRST STREETS

Existing

Proposed Main Street Extension

Main St to SouthSide Greenway

Active street edges with a human scale focus.

38 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

MLK Boulevard, Main Street, and Riverfront Parkway are overly focused on vehicular traffic and need increased attention to a human scale.

Existing Street Section

27’

16’

47’

8’

SIDEWALK

SIDEWALK

SIDEWALK

sidewalk

SIDEWALK

CAR LANES

MEDIAN

CAR LANES drive lanes

MEDIAN median

47'

drive lanes CAR LANES

sidewalk

27'

16'

CAR LANES

SIDEWALK

CAR LANES

MEDIAN

8'

SIDEWALK

CAR LANES

Proposed Street Section

+ Prioritize safe cyclist routes and ample pedestrian walkways. + Include vegetation as buffer and green infrastructure to cleanse storm water.

front porch 25’

25'

side walk 7’

7'

bike lane 7’

7'

7’

7'

drive lane 10’

10'

median

car lane 10’

10'

bike on street lane parking 7’

7'

side walk

10’

10'

BIG IDEAS 39

Rive

rfron t Par

kwa y

03 COMMUNITY RESOURCES

ML

KB

oul

eva

rd

Ma

in S tree

t

Community resources should be co-located at strategic locations with a focus on walkability.

Quarter Mile - 5 minute walk shed

40 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Half Mile - 10 minute walk shed

The Westside needs a deliberate integration of neighborhood resources and amenities with a focus on broader community connectivity and a mix of housing types.

RADIAL PROPOSAL

EXISTING CONDITION W 12T

HS

LINEAR PARK STR

STR

EET

EET

VE

STR VE

GR O

2TH

W1

Str lar Pop ET

Ma

in S

4TH

eet

RS

TRE W1

4TH

EET

MA

et

STR

IN S

EET

STR

EET

TRE

ET

Potential phasing for densification/diversity of housing in College Hill Courts.

Potential increased connectivity while respecting existing fabric.

Phase 1

The neighborhood needs resources such as:

Sheila M Jennings Park, 400 units

Phase 2

+ Grocery stores

Art/Artisan Village, 200 Residential units, training, workspace

+ Barber Shop

Phase 3

+ Police Station

Mixed Use, Commercial & Residential - renovate existing, 200 units

PLA

3TH

STR

tre

EET

PO

PLA

RS

TRE

ee

t

Str ss

pre

TRE

W1

PO

ee

t

Str

Cy

Str

W1

PARKWAY

PARKWAY

IN S

EET

NT

T

3th

STR

RO

ON

FR

3TH

W1

ERF

R VE

3

MA

W1

3

STR

ET

ET

E IV

2TH

RIV

t

EET

DR

E IV

DR

ee

STR

ON

ON

2

3

RI

ve

2TH

T YN

T YN

Gro

W1

BO

BO

4

EET

1

ET

SH E WE ILA M STS IDF JENN E P ING AR S K

W1

GR O

5

CENTRAL PARK

TRE

+ Clinic/ health/ gym + Daycare

Phase 4

Community Center/Police Station, Commercial Rec-Center

Phase 5

Integrate active park space connecting to Boynton Terrace

BIG IDEAS 41

04 NEIGHBORHOOD ART HUB

Existing

42 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

The James A. Henry building is currently an underutilized and historic resource that could be reinstated as a center for the Arts.

Dorchester Arts + Housing Collaborative, Chicago | Former public housing site turned mixed income community art center plus artist housing.

Splash Youth Arts Director Charlie Newton, Photograph by Lane Wood Studio

+ HUB for multiple arts organizations, always keeping local efforts and residents as direct beneficiaries including: dance, drama, music, plastic arts, fine arts, maker space, architecture, education and outreach.

BIG IDEAS 43

05 RIVERFRONT FOR ALL Ecodistrict + Living machine for storm water purification terraces

Local Food + Urban aquaponics or city lead urban farming + Local fishing spot + Community kitchen + Rentable kiosks for small local businesses + Built edge on waterfront + Small warehouse adapted to mixed use

Ecodistr

+ Living M Stormwat Purificatio

Local foo

+ Urban A city lead u + Local fis + Commu + Rentable small loca + Built edg + Small W Adapted t

Recreation + Water sport harbor + River pools + Police station + Sport fields + Linear park connecting to Southside along Main Street

44 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Recreat

+ Water sp + River Poo + Police St + Sport Fie + Linear Pa West-side

The river front is an underutilized amenity that should be public and permeable from the Westside.

create shaded public space both small and large scale

create more access opportunities to the riverwalk

preserve industrial character along Riverwalk

adaptively reuse industrial building edges by activating ground floor uses

+ Increase programmed public amenities on and leading up to the waterfront + Alstom development to have multiple public connections through to riverfront

Riv

erf

ron

tP

kw

y

BIG IDEAS 45

06 JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Existing

Slip drive way

46 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Median

Car lane

Car lane

Parking

Blu

ff tr

ail

Blue Cross Blue Shield is located in the Westside but lacks engagement with locals and efforts to help those neighbors who need it the most, to which we suggest an activation of the MLK edge of the campus with a focus on creating jobs for the nearby residents.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

ML

KB

Bike lane

Side walk

lvd

+ Activating the edge of the BCBS campus will help further connect the Westside to downtown with a focus on active ground floor uses and a road diet. + A focus on creating jobs for Westside residents through job training programs and mentorship opportunities will help create upward mobility.

BIG IDEAS 47

07 UNDERPASS ACTIVATION

Existing Underpass

Existing Underpasses

48 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Chattanooga can mitigate the highway barrier through an underpass plan to improve pedestrian and cyclist access, focusing on prioritizing the human experience.

INSPIRING PEOPLE SCALED PLACES INSPIRING PEOPLE SCALED PLACES

Proposed Underpass Plan

Achievable through: + Street lighting for safety first + Art/sculpture to create identity and create unique public spaces + Green space/ environmental strategies for storm water and streetscaping + Designed for multimodal forms of transportations + Potential opportunities for public recreation at underpass BIG IDEAS 49

08 A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD

Existing

50 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

College Hill Courts has been a neighborhood for many since the 1940s. Addressing the needs of the neighborhood is vital to the future of the Westside. + Diversification of programs available in College Hill Courts. + Existing housing should be replaced 1 for 1 if any demolition occurs on HUD owned property. + Mixed income housing should triplicate existing density to provide market rate housing, subsidized and public housing options.

+ Mixed use buildings to provide amenities for the entire community, but always focusing on what is needed by the current residents first. + Create an identity and marketing strategy for diversified areas of the Westside.

+ A focus on art/artisan training and production as well as artist housing centered around the James A. Henry building.

+ Better connectivity and visibility by opening central walkway (Cypress St) into a low traffic neighborhood street that can be accessed from Main Street and 12th Street.

Proposed Cypress Street

BIG IDEAS 51

09 PARKWAY AS A ZIPPER

Existing

Propos

52 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

High density, high rise buildings are proposed to help Riverfront Parkway act as a zipper across the east and west of the larger Westside community.

sed Riverfront Parkway

Existing Riverfront Parkway

sidewalk

drive lane

5'5’

14'

drive lane

14’

drive lane 14’

14’

14'

drive lane sidewalk 5’

14’

14'

14'

5'

Proposed Riverfront Parkway

sidewalk 25’

25'

3’

3'

on street parking 10’

10'

drive lane 10’ 10'

drive lane 10’ 10'

on street sidewalk parking 10’

10'

3'

10'

+ Riverfront Parkway currently acts a connector to the greater city and is a central roadway in the Westside, as such there is an opportunity for it to become a meeting ground for the Westside while serving the larger Chattanooga community.

BIG IDEAS 53

10 URBAN HIKING TRAILS

Bluff Trail Infill Development

54 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Mitigating the topographic barrier between Boynton Drive and Riverfront Parkway by creating an urban hiking trail to explore the bluff by bike or foot.

Nature Trails

Cross Walk

Urban Landscape

Trail Connection at Street

Trail Connections

+ Trail crossing at street

+ Physical health opportunity

+ Splicing of urban and natural landscapes

+ Potential to connect to larger trail system BIG IDEAS 55

SHORT TERM GOALS

Westside resident, by photographer Erin O. Smith

56 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE

Photograph by Lane Wood Studio

1. Vision for the Arts

+ Connect and launch conversations between a coalition of artisans and makers that could lease spaces in the underutilized James A. Henry building, following the example of the Newtons and Splash Youth Arts. + Curate a common vision among local Artists that can share this space and can rally behind a common message of art education and training.

2. Community Conversations

+ Having Westside residents be a part of the beautification and enhancement talks is essential since they are the most direct recipients of the benefits of this endeavor and the effort should not be outsourced or disconnected from the people it is serving.

3. Safe Routes

+ 12th Street Underpass enhancements for the safety benefit of Westside residents that walk to downtown. + The quality of enhancements for the underpasses could be a starting point to reflect the identity that the Westside wants to have for itself and attract others to for it to be a more vibrant and accessible neighborhood.

BIG IDEAS 57