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Chattanooga City Council passes Passage architectural fees

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Audio: Chattanooga City Council -- July 22, 2008

The Chattanooga City Council on Tuesday night gave approval for the Chattanooga Downtown Redevelopment Corp. to sign a contract with a local firm related to architectural services for fixing the now-closed Passage attraction downtown.

Dan Johnson, chief of staff to Mayor Ron Littlefield, said the TWH Architects, Inc. firm working to correct the structural problems has estimated the total project cost to be at least $1.5 million.

The architectural fees — for various professional services — are determined by a formula that takes into account construction cost and other factors, according to the city.

The Passage — a water-based attraction designed to honor American Indians and now closed to the public — has a number of structural issues, including water dripping through cracks, officials have said.

Council Chairwoman Linda Bennett said after Tuesday night’s council meeting that she hopes officials can get money back from original project contractors Hargreaves Associates and Continental Construction Co.

“I feel like there will be some … meeting of the minds and ways to fix this without the city having to come up hopefully with all those dollars,” she said.

She said that she hopes a resolution can be reached with contractors through an agreement and not through formal mediation.

“I feel like it’s going that direction,” she said. “I believe we’ll be able to work things out.”

Officials opened the Passage in 2005 as part of the $120 million 21st Century Waterfront Plan.

Councilman Jack Benson said Tuesday night after the council meeting that the city is “too deep in to abort this situation” in terms of funding work for the Passage.

“We’re going to have to make the best out of it,” he said. “But I do think that it’s important that we make certain that it’s not only soundly constructed … but that it is safe.”

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