There’s a simple, short-term reason Unum won’t sell land near its downtown Chattanooga headquarters for a new U.S. courthouse: The company needs the parking spots.
The U.S. General Services Administration in January picked a 4-acre block bound by Vine and East Fifth streets as the best site for a new federal courthouse — against the wishes of local officials.
Unum owns 73.5% of the block, which includes 248 parking spaces employees can use in three lots, a company spokesperson said in an email. Local private parking operator BrightBase manages the lots for Unum.
The land isn’t for sale, a point Unum CEO Rick McKenney said he’s reiterated to whomever will listen.
“This is our campus,” McKenney said in an interview at the headquarters. “That is our property that we want to put to the best use possible for our employees.”