Proposed Tennessee Riverwalk addition

Hamilton County commissioners approved a key property deal Wednesday that moves the city and county closer to a $15 million extension of the Riverwalk.

Vulcan Lands will grant the county rights to construct a walkway across its property along the Tennessee River.

"This is a much-needed piece of property we've been looking for for a long time," County Mayor Jim Coppinger said.

He gave credit to the Lyndhurst Foundation for helping negotiate the agreement.

Chattanooga and the county have been jointly working on the extension, which extends the Riverwalk more than 3 miles along the river from Ross's Landing to the foot of Lookout Mountain. The county will build the extension and the city will maintain it.

Commissioners also approved a ground lease with the city through 2052 for the new homeless health care clinic at the old Farmer's Market site on 11th Street, a chemically tainted brownfield that has been cleaned up.

The county will pay $1 a year, plus utilities, and will move its current homeless services clinic from a site across the street, where rent and utilities total $23,800 a year.

Commissioner Joe Graham voted against the measure.

"It's not that I'm against the health department; I just don't like the piece of property and the contamination of the property," he said.

County commissioners also:

• Approved a five-year, $2.9 million extension of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department's family planning services.

• Approved the highest and best bids from the county delinquent tax sales.