Clemons, Choo Choo housing options coming soon

Director of operations Heather Everett, right, and receptionist Gabby Palmer stand in a 2-bedroom loft under development at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored to offer luxury downtown loft apartments by owner and developer Vic Desai.

By Alex Green September 25, 2015 4 min read

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New downtown housing options at the Clemons, Choo Choo coming online soon

A support column, which will remain uncovered for decoration, is seen in a 2-bedroom loft under construction at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored to offer luxury downtown loft apartments by owner and developer Vic Desai.

The view from a 2-bedroom loft which looks over 8th street at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored to offer luxury downtown loft apartments by owner and developer Vic Desai.

Gabby Palmer pulls a tarp away from the window of a 3-bedroom loft under construction at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored to offer luxury downtown loft apartments by owner and developer Vic Desai.

Developer and owner Vic Desai stands in a 3-bedroom loft under development at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored by Desai to offer luxury downtown loft apartments.

A 2-bedroom loft apartment with 3 windows is under construction at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored to offer luxury downtown loft apartments by owner and developer Vic Desai.

Gabby Palmer looks up at the open ceiling of a 2-bedroom loft apartment under development at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored to offer luxury downtown loft apartments by owner and developer Vic Desai.

Director of operations Heather Everett, center, stands with Gabby Palmer, left, on the room of the Clemons building where a deck will be located, along with a nearby rooftop dog park, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored to offer luxury downtown loft apartments by owner and developer Vic Desai.

Developer Vic Desai stands in a 1-bedroom loft apartment under development at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored by Desai to offer luxury downtown loft apartments.

Gabby Palmer walks through a floor of loft apartments under development at the Clemons building Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The building, which dates back to the early 1920s, is being restored to offer luxury downtown loft apartments by owner and developer Vic Desai.

For more information about The Clemons

* Where: 730 Chestnut St.*Online: www.theclemonschattanooga.com* Contact, schedule a hard hat tour: 423-228-0605

For more information about Passenger Flats

* Where: 1351 Passenger St.* Online: www.passengerflats.com* Contact, request info: 423-822-8422

Starting at the top floor of the Clemons building and going story-by-story down to ground level is like walking through a living archaeological dig, each story a less complete version of what the building will be in a matter of months, and every floor offering a better look at the nearly 100-year-old building’s bones.

But not for long: developers expect to open the Clemons’ 50-plus urban lofts to new residents sometime in December.

The project has been in development since late last year after upstart Chattanooga firm ViaNova Development purchased the vacated Blue- Cross BlueShield office space with an ambitious $7.5 million plan to retrofit the old building for urban-style, downtown apartments.