Chattanooga: Construction wraps up at Two North Shore

In just a matter of weeks, developers will put the finishing touches on Two North Shore, an urban retail development designed to appeal to environmentally-conscious consumers.

“We just felt it was time to make a statement that developers can do things more environmentally consciously, and it can be cost effective to do that,” said Steve Arnsdorff, founder and principal of CS & Associates, the developer behind Two North Shore.

Almost two years to the day after construction started at the Manufacturers Road site, the developer will debut four new locally-owned tenants, including North Shore Yoga and Learning Express toy store, B.D. Burke Interiors, opening Saturday, and Trek Bicycle Store set to open in December.

All of the businesses in the center are locally owned, Mr. Arnsdorff said, and part of his commitment to LEED, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design guidelines. The LEED rating system is used to identify and measure high-performance, environmentally responsible buildings.

“(We believe in) the concept that you build buildings, not just for cars, but for bicycles and people walking, and in an urban setting so you can get here a bunch of different ways,” Mr. Arnsdorff said.

The result is a design that is not only environmentally-friendly but also incorporates some aspects of “new urbanism,” a phrase Mr. Arnsdorff said describes a trend in urban planning that brings mixed uses together so the land is better utilized.

Not only is land better utilized, materials are as well. Several pieces from the Signal Knitting Mill warehouse across from the shopping center on Manufacturers Road were used in the development of Two North Shore, including 100-year-old heart-of-pine beams and bricks, part of the pedestrian walkways in the center.

The tenants in the shopping center are embracing the idea of sustainability and environmental responsibility, too, he said.

Northwest Georgia Bank’s new North Shore location opened Sept. 16 and occupies one of the three buildings on site. The 6,500 square-foot branch is the first LEED-certified bank building in Tennessee, according to officials at the U.S. Green Building Council.

“With the eco-commitment gaining a lot of steam already in Chattanooga, naturally we wanted to join our friends and neighbors in doing our part,” said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer of Northwest Georgia Bank.

The Learning Express Toy Store, owned by Mary Beth and Cam Conklin, opened earlier this month in a 3,000-square foot space. Mrs. Conklin said she and her husband realized Learning Express could be an asset to the Chattanooga community.

The store, a franchise of a Boston-based company, will offer several initiatives that tie in well with the focus and direction of the center, she said. The store currently carries some eco-friendly products and even has a Crocs recycling program, where children who bring in their old pair will get 20 percent off a new pair of the holed, slip-on shoes.

“The decision to choose Two North Shore was based on — one a fabulous location— but also our commitment both to helping with the revitalization of this area, and also our personal belief in the environmental focus of the center,” Mrs. Conklin said.