Army Corps gives Chattanooga barge 90 days to shape up

photo Mayor Andy Berke has asked the Army Corps to deny a permit for this rundown river barge owned by Allen Casey on the Tennessee River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given the rundown riverfront barge across from the Tennessee Aquarium 90 days to shape up or potentially face shipping out.

Lee Roberts, a spokesman for the Corps, said its officials met with barge owner Allen Casey June 18 and gave him 90 days to complete corrective actions to bring his barge permit into compliance.

"Upon completion of the 90-day period, the Corps will make a decision whether to reinstate, modify or revoke the permit," Roberts said in an email.

He said that since the issue remains an ongoing enforcement action, the Corps is not at liberty to further discuss any details regarding communications with Casey or his noncompliance.

Casey, a Chattanooga businessman, floated the barge to the city from Pittsburgh in 2009 with the intention of putting in a New Orleans-style restaurant, a steakhouse and a bar.

The barge is moored to a vacant tract of land off Manufacturers Road, where Casey has said he's trying to put together financing for not just the restaurant project but a mixed-use development on the parcel.

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