Chattanooga developer pulls rezoning for Walnut Street hotel

Mitch Patel, CEO of Vision Hospitality

A Chattanooga developer temporarily has withdrawn a request to rezone a downtown lot for a hotel near the south end of the Walnut Street Bridge.

“It’s been withdrawn for the moment,” said Andrew Hibbard of Vision Hospitality. “We’re weighing our options.”

Hibbard wouldn’t say why, but the action comes in the wake of concerns expressed by a downtown homeowners group.

Helen Burns Sharp, a representative for the Downtown Owners Collective, said nearby neighbors went on record as opposing the zoning change. She cited concerns including opening up the site to general commercial zoning and no neighborhood meeting on the proposal.

Documents filed with the city had indicated a Fairfield Inn by Marriott was eyed for the site.