By M. Trevor Higgins
Staff Writer
A pin gets you into Riverbend, but upgrades are available for Star Seating, blanket seating or Club Riverbend. The best view of the festival, however, may belong to the residents of River Pier Landing.
Residences at the development, which also includes restaurants, cost between $350,000 and $1 million; but for nine days in June, the view is priceless.
Janet O’Brien stands on one of her two porches extending from the fourth floor of the building that also houses eateries such as The Blue Plate, Hennen’s and Cold Stone Creamery. Her condo sits squarely in front of the main Coca-Cola Stage with a clear, catbird-seat view of corn-dog vendors, the Covista Stage, Chattanooga Pier and a long stretch of Riverfront Parkway.
“I love Riverbend, but to be able to stay up here, have your own food and drinks,” she said, “we’re definitely looking forward to it.”
Mrs. O’Brien and her husband, Sean, moved to Chattanooga in the summer of 2001. “We loved the music in the past but didn’t want to get caught up in all the crowds,” she said. So last year, when her home was nothing but a concrete shell, she paid a visit to the festival during the Kid Rock performance.
“The sound is pretty good. They put up LCD screens. The stage is decently far away,” she said.
Mrs. O’Brien said she isn’t worried about loud music or getting access to her building. Rather, she made sure her work schedule was free of travel during the festival. This year she is looking forward to the Allman Brothers Band, and she will have out-of-town visitors staying with her several nights.
Fellow fourth-floor resident Dan F. McDaniel said the building will be “an exciting place for a little over a week.”
“In fact, my son and daughter-in-law may be more excited than I am,” the 54-year-old business owner said. “And they will invite some of their friends and guests for a night.”
Mrs. O’Brien, who moved in about a month ago, said many residents whose apartments are still under construction have been trying to get toilet service hooked up for their own private parties.
Hers is one of only three occupied residences. One of those belongs to Wayne and Deborah Wilhelm, who moved here recently from Atlanta. This will be their first Riverbend.
“We’re not nervous at all,” Mr. Wilhelm said. “Maybe we ought to be.”
For the O’Briens, the hustle and bustle of Riverbend is just another part of being a downtown resident, just like walking to restaurants or movies, watching boats dock or riding bikes across the Walnut Street Bridge.
“About 80 percent of the time here, it’s quiet,” she said. “The rest of the time you go with it.”
E-mail M. Trevor Higgins at thiggins@timesfreepress.com
Staff Writer
A pin gets you into Riverbend, but upgrades are available for Star Seating, blanket seating or Club Riverbend. The best view of the festival, however, may belong to the residents of River Pier Landing.
Residences at the development, which also includes restaurants, cost between $350,000 and $1 million; but for nine days in June, the view is priceless.
Janet O’Brien stands on one of her two porches extending from the fourth floor of the building that also houses eateries such as The Blue Plate, Hennen’s and Cold Stone Creamery. Her condo sits squarely in front of the main Coca-Cola Stage with a clear, catbird-seat view of corn-dog vendors, the Covista Stage, Chattanooga Pier and a long stretch of Riverfront Parkway.
“I love Riverbend, but to be able to stay up here, have your own food and drinks,” she said, “we’re definitely looking forward to it.”
Mrs. O’Brien and her husband, Sean, moved to Chattanooga in the summer of 2001. “We loved the music in the past but didn’t want to get caught up in all the crowds,” she said. So last year, when her home was nothing but a concrete shell, she paid a visit to the festival during the Kid Rock performance.
“The sound is pretty good. They put up LCD screens. The stage is decently far away,” she said.
Mrs. O’Brien said she isn’t worried about loud music or getting access to her building. Rather, she made sure her work schedule was free of travel during the festival. This year she is looking forward to the Allman Brothers Band, and she will have out-of-town visitors staying with her several nights.
Fellow fourth-floor resident Dan F. McDaniel said the building will be “an exciting place for a little over a week.”
“In fact, my son and daughter-in-law may be more excited than I am,” the 54-year-old business owner said. “And they will invite some of their friends and guests for a night.”
Mrs. O’Brien, who moved in about a month ago, said many residents whose apartments are still under construction have been trying to get toilet service hooked up for their own private parties.
Hers is one of only three occupied residences. One of those belongs to Wayne and Deborah Wilhelm, who moved here recently from Atlanta. This will be their first Riverbend.
“We’re not nervous at all,” Mr. Wilhelm said. “Maybe we ought to be.”
For the O’Briens, the hustle and bustle of Riverbend is just another part of being a downtown resident, just like walking to restaurants or movies, watching boats dock or riding bikes across the Walnut Street Bridge.
“About 80 percent of the time here, it’s quiet,” she said. “The rest of the time you go with it.”
E-mail M. Trevor Higgins at thiggins@timesfreepress.com
