Despite objections from several neighbors, the site for a 260-unit, affordable-housing apartment building proposed for Alton Park got unanimous approval for rezoning Monday.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission agreed to rezone a 13.36-acre site at at the old Frank H. Trotter School site at Central Avenue and West 51st Street from a manufacturing zone to a residential district to allow for development of The Reserve at Mountain Pass. The $40 million project is proposed by LDG Development LLC, a multi- family housing developer and owner based in Louisville, Ky.
Single-family housing would be a better choice for the site, several neighbors told planning commissioners, suggesting the land would be better used for individual homes, a career center or even a new school.
“We would rather see single- family home dwellings,” said Cornelia Williams. “You’re putting in $40 million in this complex, why not use this money more wisely and put in a career center?”
Neighbors also voiced concerns about potential crime from the tenants, since the proposed apartment complex would allow use of Section 8 housing vouchers.