RiverCity holds design contest

River City Co. has invited the public to participate in an urban design contest, with a free kick-off event scheduled for July 27 in the Chattanoogan hotel at 5:30 p.m., the nonprofit urban renewal firm announced.

Award-winning architect and urban planner Alex Krieger, who has worked with cities such as post-Katrina New Orleans, Detroit and Shanghai, will challenge attendees to develop concepts for downtown locations.

The goal is to envision “the highest and best future use” for those sites over a one-year period, said Kim White, president of River City Co.