Fairmount units reduced from 48 to 36

Controversy over the renovation and expansion of a public housing complex in North Chattanooga has convinced the Chattanooga Housing Authority to reduce the number of proposed units.

But residents living near the Fairmount Avenue Apartments say that isn’t enough to ensure pedestrian safety.

“It does not address the real issue,” said Pete Lapina, a Fairmount area homeowner and spokesman for the neighborhood organization called Friends of Fairmount. “There are still over 50 cars and still more children that have to walk up that hill.”

Instead of an apartment complex, he wants to see single-family homes or village townhouse-style apartments on the street, Mr. Lapina said.

The housing authority wants to renovate the 28-unit complex, making it more energy efficient and increasing the number of units to 48. But at a meeting Tuesday, authority officials said they would reduce the number of units to 36.

The authority also will make all units one or two bedrooms, instead of two or three. Instead of having 64 bedrooms, which the complex now has with 28 units, the new setup will have 57 bedrooms, said Naveed Minhas, CHA’s vice president of development.

The changes were made to address nearby residents’ concerns, he said.

“We need to have happy neighbors,” he said.

However, the changes must be approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, CHA officials said.

But Fairmount Avenue homeowners said the safety issue still remains.

If they’re going to put more apartments in the complex, officials at least should widen the road and put in sidewalks, said Michael Mitchell, who lives near the area.

“When you talk about grants and getting money, don’t overlook pedestrian safety,” he said. “The infrastructure is not there to support what they want to do.”

Bonita Johnson is one of only five residents now living at Fairmount Avenue Apartments. She said she’s lived there for more than 30 years, raised her children there and she doesn’t want to leave.

The apartments have been here since the 1970s, longer than most of the people who live in houses in the surrounding area, she said.

Housing authority officials proposed renovating the Fairmount Avenue Apartments earlier this year after receiving a $4.8 million federal grant to tear down the existing units and build units that save energy. They had planned to build the new units with solar panel roofs, strategically placed shade trees and walking trails.

Chattanooga Housing Authority officials will meet again at 11:30 a.m. Friday to make a final decision about the proposed apartment changes.

WHAT’S NEXT

Fairmount Avenue residents and CHA officials will meet with city officials at the City Council meeting room at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss Fairmount Avenue Apartments. The housing authority will hold a special called board meeting at 11:30 a.m. Friday to make a final decision about the apartments.