Chattanooga agency seeks affordable housing solutions

Pam Ladd

The city should give incentives to developers who build affordable housing and charge a fee to those who don’t, Chattanooga’s Regional Planning Agency recommended Monday.

John Bridger, executive director for the planning agency, said Chattanooga can promote more affordable housing by changing its zoning and building codes to accommodate homeowners renting single accessory apartment units in their houses and by allowing more moderate density projects such as two- to three-unit dwellings in established suburban neighborhoods.

Bridger gave the recommendations to about 100 residents, bankers, designers and housing industry professionals who met at Battle Academy Monday to hear the results of his yearlong study. Bridger said the demand for housing has changed from larger single-family homes to smaller homes and apartments. The study outlined how hard it is still for many people to find affordable and livable housing.

Bridger said the council asked the planning agency to do the study to see if any policy changes should be made to improve housing options for low- and moderate-income Chattanoogans.