Rapidly growing East Brainerd is eyed for a new neighborhood shopping center that's aiming to woo restaurants, small retail sites, office users and other services, an official said.
"We definitely have interest from a variety of different users," said Kelly Fitzgerald, vice president of commercial brokerage for SVN Second Story Real Estate Management, which is looking at leasing up the proposed center at East Brainerd Road and Morris Lane. Fitzgerald spoke to the Chattanooga Times Free press via phone.
A site plan filed with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency shows more than 50,000 square feet of new space would go in four different locations on the parcel. Also, about 300 parking spaces are planned.
Allen, Texas-based Aventine Development is seeking to rezone the nearly 7-acre corner tract that sits across Morris Lane from a Publix supermarket. According to the planning agency, the company wants a commercial zone to replace the existing residential one.
Aventine Chief Executive Chad Hagle declined to comment on the proposal in an email, but the rezoning request is expected to be heard next month by the Planning Commission.
Fitzgerald said SVN Second Story has been directed to "try to bring things to the area that benefits the neighborhood."
"It's a great location with everything growing over there," she said.
The site is not far from busy and heavily traveled Gunbarrel Road, which already sports a lot of retail.
"With the retail market on Gunbarrel, there's only so much room for growth," Fitzgerald said. "We feel like (the planned center) is a natural extension of that."
Also, she said, the neighborhood center would serve as a good location between Gunbarrel and a planned Publix at East Brainerd Road and Ooltewah-Ringgold Road. The Publix is slated to anchor the Enclave shopping center that will be built on 32 acres.
Chattanooga developer Bassam Issa said earlier that he hopes the Publix center eventually includes about 150,000 square feet, plus nearby fast food restaurants, banks or medical offices.
"This is right in the middle of one of the fastest-growing parts of Hamilton County," he said.
Another developer, Clint Wolford of Wolford Development in Chattanooga, said his company has a 6.3-acre vacant tract under contract on East Brainerd Road near Heritage Park.
Wolford said the company is working with different restaurant concepts in a retail building proposed for 7777 E. Brainerd Road, along with a couple of freestanding, quick-service restaurants and a self-storage facility.
"A lot of people don't want to get on Gunbarrel Road," the developer said. "They'll do anything to avoid it."
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.