A return to the river launched downtown Chattanooga’s renaissance more than 30 years ago. Today, Chattanoogans are going back to the Tennessee River again as they take another run at making a splash on the waterfront.
Detailed plans crafted to bring billions of dollars in new investment to the riverfront are emerging with calls for an array of new housing, more retail, office space, manufacturing and, most of all, people.
The ONE Riverfront plan, aimed at the area from Ross’s Landing to Fourth Street, and the re-imagining of the nearby former Alstom manufacturing site within walking distance to the heart of the waterfront are seen as bringing new waves of interest in living, working and playing on the Tennessee River.
ONE Riverfront planning started in late 2019 to re-energize downtown’s waterfront area and spur more activity after energy shifted over the past couple of decades to other parts of the central city.
Jim Williamson, vice president of planning and development for the nonprofit downtown redevelopment group River City Co., says the pandemic gave planners more time to gather input from the community, though much occurred in a socially distanced manner.