RiverCity Company CEO Lays Out Broad Plan for Downtown Development

The RiverCity Company lays-out a plan for downtown Chattanooga for the next few years.

The newly streamlined non-profit organization is looking for more downtown business, and more people to live there.

CEO Kim White presented an ambitious program to downtown Rotary Thursday.

KIM WHITE, PRES. RIVERCITY CO. "Make no mistake..a healthy, vibrant downtown..is vital for healthy, vibrant community."

While many cities watch their downtown areas decay and die, Chattanooga has been going nowhere but up since being named the dirtiest city in the country back in the 70's. The 21st century waterfront and the Acquarium anchor a vibrant tourist industry, and apartments and condos are still going up. But without an over all plan things could stall.

KIM WHITE "Our projects have been funded through foundations...so we have been working with a shortfall."

Ms. White told the Rotary Club The RiverCity company will be coming to them for ideas.

SCOTT KORNBLUM, WSMC 90.5 "Oftentimes you have to follow the money, and my question was what has changed in the funding model that's going to allow for these brilliant plans to come into effect.?"

Kim White says it will take continued backing from long-time supporters the Lyndhurst and Benwood foundations, and from local governments and the business community.

SALLY ROBINSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER "Now that Volkswagen is here we're going to see a lot of growth..we're going to need good planning and good people that work outside of government but with government."

TOM EDD WILSON, GREATER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE "In terms of what can be done right now..this is a down economy..things never move as quickly as we would like ...but she's got a good plan."

The economy will factor in, according to Ms. White, but there's also the one thing most other communities are not getting---an auto plant.

KIM WHITE, RIVER CITY COMPANY "Right now we're working on a 3 to 4 year plan..because things have changed so much, but especially with Volkswagen and suppliers there's no telling what's going to happen downtown."

The RiverCity company is currently dealing with a lawsuit filed by the developer of 700 Market Street..and with the city of Chattanooga over construction problems on the 21St Century Waterfront Project.