A former restaurant barge, purchased by Allen Casey and docked at his property on the North Shore of the Tennessee River for several years, is seen from the Olgiati Bridge.A controversial barge moored on Chattanooga’s downtown waterfront, which has drawn the fire of city leaders for its rundown condition, might be removed by the time of next month’s Riverbend Festival.
A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge on Thursday approved a plan to put the dilapidated vessel docked across from Ross’s Landing up for sale.
Judge Shelley Rucker said the proceeds from the sale of the barge, for which a $50,000 minimum bid was set, are to go into an escrow account. The funds will be dispersed later after the ownership issue is sorted out in the bankruptcy cases of Chattanooga businessman Allen Casey and his company, River City Resort.
The judge told opposing attorneys in a hearing that they can “argue over an interest-bearing account rather than a barge on the river.”
Casey attorney David Fulton said they want to have the barge removed by the start of the festival, which begins June 6.