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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Big Nine Building project slated for M.L. King

In this view looking west, a developer is looking at another new student housing development in the 600 block of M.L. King Boulevard.
In this view looking west, a developer is looking at another new student housing development in the 600 block of M.L. King Boulevard. In this view looking west, a developer is looking at another new student housing development in the 600 block of M.L. King Boulevard.

The corridor is evolving. What we're trying to do is shepherd that.

The “Big Nine” nickname is returning to East M.L. King Boulevard.

Chattanooga developers Bobby Joe Adamson and Chris Curtis are joining up to raise their second new apartment and retail structure on the key downtown corridor, which they’ll call the Big Nine Building.

Their newest project at 621 M.L. King will rise four stories and house 41 apartments. Its name will reflect the road’s history – it was long known as Ninth Street and served as a thriving center of black commerce and entertainment.

The $3 million to $4 million building, that will also hold ground-floor commercial space, is to start going up in about six months and open in 2020, the developers said.