Walden grocery store proponent answers critics, some Signal Mountain residents still don’t like project

The landowner behind a planned Walden grocery store is countering critics of his newest plan for a town center complex, saying it will provide Signal Mountain with a better sense of community.

“It will be the place where more people on Signal Mountain see each other than at any other place on any given day,” said Chattanooga attorney John Anderson about the proposed $15 million project.

However, some opponents said the changes made in the center, such as building a smaller grocery store and putting two office and retail buildings up against Taft Highway, aren’t enough.

Ed O’Kelley of Walden said the grocery store, which hasn’t been identified, is still too large and he worried the project would create more empty shops on the mountain.