Right now, the property at 911 Eastgate Loop is a tangle of construction: generators whirling on the grounds, buckets stuffed with trash in the hallways, an unplugged microwave in one of the rooms.
But come early November, when the Family Justice Center is scheduled to become operational, the expansive complex is to serve as a "one-stop shop" for domestic violence services.
During a tour of the property Wednesday, city officials championed the center's features. The 32,000-square-foot space, currently a maze of tunnels and silver tubing, will include space for the Chattanooga Police Department's Special Victims Unit, Legal Aid Services, and even the McKamey Animal Center, whose personnel will watch a victim's pet for up to seven days.
As Valerie Radu, executive director of the Family Justice Center, put it: "This whole building is formed around the idea of trauma care."
The walls, though sparse and chalky, will be decorated with local artwork and soothing colors and designs. The empty spaces will be transformed into conference areas for workers and living rooms for family members. In one corner of the building, Radu pointed out a long hallway with six rooms built into it. Down there, she said, investigators will interview children and victims, gathering evidence on-scene that attorneys could introduce in court.
Until then, the Family Justice Center will continue to offer services out of its temporary location on Cornelison Road, where it has operated since July 2015, Radu said.
In November, City Council members approved $3.7 million for the Eastgate facility. Throughout the process, a combination of state and federal dollars have made the Family Justice Center possible - and for good reason, city leaders have said.
In 2014, 51 percent of crimes against people in the state were family-violence related, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Of all 50 states, Tennessee ranks sixth for incidents of domestic and family violence, Radu said. And on the juvenile level, 6,781 were documented as victims of family domestic violence. That's 16.2 percent of all victims, Radu said.
Radu, Mayor Andy Berke and Chattanooga police officers each noted the high impact domestic violence has on a community.
In addition to jeopardizing their safety and happiness, the ensuing trauma of family violence can affect someone's productivity, Berke said. "Let's make it as easy as possible for people who've been victimized to get services," he said.
Police Sgt. Anthony Easter, who will be stationed in the center, said victims might find the center more helpful, more hands on, than dealing with trauma in open court.
"Sometimes for victims, the ultimate goal is not a conviction in court," Easter said. "That tends to drag out. It's about having a listening ear preparing them to move on and start a different life."
Contact staff writer Zack Peterson at 423-757-6347 or zpeterson@timesfree press.com. Follow @zackpeterson918.