Chattanooga to Redevelop City-Owned Properties to Keep Innovation District Momentum

"Four years after establishing the Innovation District downtown, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke is offering a couple of under-utilized municipal buildings within the district for possible redevelopment for affordable housing and innovative office space," reports Dave Flessner.

The City Hall Annex, one of the two city-owned buildings proposed for redevelopment, currently houses the city's IT, 311 agency, and City Attorney's office. An entire floor is currently unoccupied. The other city-owned building, a former wellness center, now houses a few of the city's facilities management and engineering employees.

The redevelopment plans are included in "A newly released plan for the Innovation District recommends the addition of more modern office space and testing facilities, along with the development of more affordable housing for those working on startup ventures," according to Flessner.

Mayor Berke discussed the new Innovation District plan in the annual State of the City address, which meant there's no shortage of talking points about the successes of the Innovation District since its creation in 2014. An article by Alexis Lipsitz Flippin provides additional background on the innovation district.