CHA Moves Ahead With Fairmount Apartment Complex

City officials are still not happy with the plan, but the Chattanooga housing authority has approved the design of the proposed Fairmount Avenue Apartments in north Chattanooga.

Architects re-drew plans for the Chattanooga Housing Authority after complaints that erecting 48 units would overload streets and services. The plan presented to the board by Craig Kronenberg now shows 36 apartments. That includes 1 and 2 bedroom units in three, three-story buildings.

The board unanimously approved the architect's fee of 284-thousand dollars, the first step in a 4.2 million dollar HUD financed project.

But the vote did not stop the chorus of complaints from neighbors and city officials.

PETE LAPINA, FRIENDS OF FAIRMOUNT "I would contend to anybody..you walk up there..you walk onto the site..and you'll realize its not the best site for this."

Richard Beeland was there from Mayor Ron Littlefield's office.

RICHARD BEELAND, MAYOR'S OFFICE "Seems this is moving a little fast, and we're not really sure why...we're not sure that all the issues that the neighborhood has about this project have been answered as well."

The vote followed Thursday night's contentious public hearing at city hall where objections were many. The main complaints were that Fairmount Avenue is a narrow, up-hill roadway with no place for sidewalks...and with only a few spaces for off-road parking.

The original 28 apartment complex, which had mostly black residents, is now largely abandoned.

And, Board chairman Eddie Holmes says there may be another reason for the resistance.

EDDIE HOLMES, CHA BOARD CHAIRMAN "Whatever we do, there will be some opposition from the community, because they do not want CHA residents in their community..they're not user-friendly to CHA residents."

The mayor's office says there are no plans on the table to widen or improve the roadway, or access to the 36 units on the little dead end street.

Meanwhile, the Mayor is in discussions with HUD seeking more information about its selection of the Fairmount Avenue site.