A plan to make homeownership in Chattanooga easier and city land stewardship more streamlined could get off the ground by mid-2025.
The Chattanooga government in the past year has marked major changes to the way its planners and private builders consider development. A revised zoning policy — passed unanimously over the summer — is reclassifying what types of building are appropriate where and upending size requirements for some home-building projects.
City staff members working on housing are now preparing to take a second stab at a grant for up to $7.5 million that would allow them to build on some of those recent changes.
Chattanooga City Council members Tuesday authorized the city’s application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a federal Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing grant. The grant is designed to assist areas that “are actively taking steps to remove barriers to affordable housing,” according to information published on HUD’s website. If the grant is successful, the award announcement could be made by the middle of 2025.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga will donate 11 city properties for affordable housing projects)