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Downtown Chattanooga could look dramatically different in the future. Here’s why.

Shown in red are areas including The Bend, Hawk Hill and TVA's Chattanooga Office Complex, where major changes are planned in the coming years.
Shown in red are areas including The Bend, Hawk Hill and TVA's Chattanooga Office Complex, where major changes are planned in the coming years. Shown in red are areas including The Bend, Hawk Hill and TVA's Chattanooga Office Complex, where major changes are planned in the coming years.

By Ben Sessoms 11 min read


Since Chattanooga’s incorporation in 1839, the landscape of the city’s downtown has seen various changes — from roads lined with streetcars to polluting industry to the Tennessee Aquarium, a modern anchor for Chattanooga’s skyline. But with several ambitious projects planned across the urban core, the city may see its biggest transformation in a generation over the coming years.

“We are at an incredibly pivotal and interesting time in Chattanooga’s history,” Emily Mack, president and CEO of the River City Company, said in an interview.

When considering the history of Chattanooga’s downtown, Mack said the city is entering a new phase of development.

“When you think about where we are and the monumental projects and plans and initiatives that are in the works right now,” Mack said, “I believe we are at this next phase.”