Audio clip
Chattanooga City Council
The owner of the Space House on Signal Mountain said Wednesday he probably would not try to reapply in nine months to make the home a vacation rental property after being turned down by the Chattanooga City Council.
"We can use it for our own personal use," said James Farris, owner of the Space House. "It's become a very expensive guest house now."
The Chattanooga City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday night to deny allowing the Space House to be used as a short-term vacation rental property. Because of the decision by the council, Mr. Farris could apply once again in nine months to rezone the property as a rental property, officials said.
But that is now out of the question, he said.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency previously had rejected plans to allow the Space House for rental. Several supporters and opponents showed up to the meeting Tuesday.
Councilwoman Deborah Scott, who represents the district in which the Space House is located, made the motion to deny the request.
She said she saw some of the value in having such a unique landmark be available to the public, but ultimately the house is in a neighborhood.
"I don't see a positive effect for a neighborhood," she said. "For a business, but not for a neighborhood."
Richard Clinton, a resident of the Palisades neighborhood, said he had gathered a petition from almost every homeowner except five against allowing the house being a rental property. There are 20 homes in the neighborhood, residents said.
He said the neighborhood had concerns about safety with potential partying going on at the house and also traffic concerns with the street being a one-lane road.
Mr. Farris replied that he would have the names, credit card information and license plates of anyone staying in the home. He said safety was one of his concerns.
"There's been no robberies or attacks," he said. "Preserving the Space House is my priority."
He said Wednesday he did not plan to sell the property.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
Richard Clinton should not be able to help decide what James Farris can do with his property as long as it's not hurting anyone or against the constitution. Same for the city council. It's not like some frat kids could afford to rent the place anyways so what is the real issue. People need to stop telling people what to do.
Mr. Clinton and the city council have no right to deny the owner the right to rent the property. I do not know Mr. Farris, but I believe he should have had the right to try renting the house. If that caused a problem, then deny the renting of the house. Again, it shows that it depends on who you are, what you are allow to do in Chattanooga.
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