WESTSIDE CHATTANOOGA S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 INTE R NS H IP S T UDY
Executive Director Eric Myers
Urban Design Coordinator Lindsey Willke
Summer 2018 Urban Design Fellow
Hunter Gee, Smith Gee Studio
Summer 2018 Interns
Neeraja Natarajan, SCAD, M. Urban Design Yiren Zhu, Georgia Tech, M.Arch Yvette De Soto, SCAD, B.Arch
01
Background Project Context....2 History...4
CONTENTS
Westside Today...12
02
Current Condition Analysis....18 Westside Development....19 An Aging Westside....23 Land Use...24 Amenity...26 Challenge and Opportunity...30
03
Big Ideas Big Ideas....35 Short Term Goals...56
01 B A C KG RO U ND Chattanooga’s Westside has a rich history, a once thriving residential neighborhood with industrial anchors is the product today of the lasting effects of urban renewal. The area is largely overlooked in comparison to many Chattanooga neighborhoods. The Westside is comparable in size to all of downtown.
PROJECT CONTEXT
The study focused on the area between highway 27 and the riverfront to the west and Main Street
Chattanooga Design Studio 2018 Summer Internship Program
During the Summer of 2018,
Chattanooga Design Studio’s internship program studied the Westside of Chattanooga. The interns, recent college graduates with degrees in architecture brought new ways of thinking about the future of this neighborhood. 2 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
and MLK Boulevard to the north and south. The neighborhood is home to Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters, the GE/Alstom property - currently under new ownership, historic College Hill Courts and Boynton Terrace homes. There is no home ownership in the study area, all housing is public or subsidized. Though the Westside has many challenges to becoming a complete urban neighborhood, welcoming to all, there is also much opportunity. The topography, views and river access are unparalleled and a look back at the Westside’s history provides a starting point for rethinking its future.
HISTORY 3
attempted but constantly failed all through the 90s.
1973
1980
WESTSIDE HISTORY 1886
Factories of coke-fired iron and the developments of Tannery Flats, led to the adjacent worker residences of College Hill Courts and Blue Hollow.
1868
1840
Artist James Cameron receives what will be known as Cameron Hill as payment for his portrait of the Whiteside family.
Golden Gateway 1972
Residential lots along the side of Cameron Hill were auctioned and the neighborhood became a fashionable part of town.
2007
View from Cameron Hill to Westside 1885
View of Cameron Hill 1900
Residents
Blue Cross Blue shield purchased Cameron Hill, and by 2007 had built a complete new campus with 4,900 employees.
2000
2012
Residents of College Hill repeatedly voice concerns about being pushed out and shut down like many other affordable housing complexes in Chattanooga.
of College Hill repeatedly
voice concerns
about being pushed out and shut down like many other affordable housing 2007 complexes in Chattanooga
2012
What is Happening in the Westside Today?
2018
2016
The river walk extension from the newly developed Blue Goose Hollow trail-head opens connecting south to St. Elmo.
Apartments in Chattanooga’s Westside to see $7.5 million revamp and I-27 is receiving repairs for vehicles.
2018
4 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Blue C Shield
Cameron H had built a campus wi employees
College Hill Courts affordable housing neighborhood opens with 433 units, making it the largest in Chattanooga.
The Westside Redevelopment Plan designates 407 acres bound by the Tennessee river for ‘slum cleaning’. The plan included reshaping the topography of the area for optimum vehicular access, and relocating over 600 families in the Westside.
1950
2000
2007
1940
1900
2007
ue Cross Blue eld purchased View of Cameron Hill to Westside 1906
Cameron Oxford Associates build the Cameron Hill Apartments and a new Boynton Park.
1973
1980
College Hill Courts James A. Henry Elementary School closed, many renovations of commercial and community spaces attempted but constantly failed all through the 90s.
College Courts 1964
Golden Gateway 1972
Highway I-27 was completed and opened to the public, the earth from the top of Cameron Hill was essential to its construction.
1963
eron Hill, and by 2007 built a complete new pus with 4,9000 oyees.
1958
1962
2018, Cameron Harbor Development
HISTORY 5
WESTSIDE HISTORY
ooga a nooga
nl Hill on l Hill
1889
1997 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
1889 1889 1889 1889 1889 1889
1980
2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016
1997
2016 6 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
1885 1885 1885 1885 1885 1885
1885
1863
1863 1863 1863 1863 1863 1863
19 198 198 1
1941 1941 1941 1941 1941 1941
1932
1941
1980 1980 1980 1980 1980 1980
1928 1928 1928 1928 1928 1928 1928
1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917
89 1889 9889 1889
1932 1932 1932 1932 1932 1932
HISTORY 7
1906
Small scale factories and single family homes comprise the neighborhood.
8 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Historical Changes
A shift in Westside through development can be seen in these images, taken roughly 55 years apart.
1960
View of Lookout Mountain from Cameron Hill, Construction of highway 27 begins.
HISTORY 9
WESTSIDE HISTORY
The Chattanooga Times, Wednesday, March 7, 1990
The Chattanooga Times featured an article titled, “Affordable, safe homes hard to find” in September of 1991, written by Judy Frank. The article’s focus on the lack of safe affordable housing for low-income residents presents a list of one-year objectives regarding the housing dilemma for lower-income areas.
The Chattanooga Times, Thursday, September 12, 1991
10 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
The above article by H. Maria Noel in The Chattanooga Times discussed a housing group’s decision to renovate dwellings for the visually and hearing impaired.
A 1974 notice in The Chattanooga NewsFree Press titled, “Legal Notice of Public Hearing”, regarding the January 22 discussion of the Chattanooga Housing authority’s undertaking of a public housing project, which consisted of around 200 dwellings units.
The Chattanooga News-Free Press, Monday, January 7, 1974
HISTORY 11
WESTSIDE TODAY
BCBS Headquarters Downtown GE/Alstom Site Riverfront Parkway
12 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
College Hill Courts
Highway 27
Riverfront Parkway at Alstom/GE site
Alstom/GE site
Bluff east of Riverfront Parkway
Recent development along Riverfront Parkway (north)
Riverfront Parkway
Main Street at Riverfront Parkway
College Hill Courts
College Hill Courts
HISTORY 13
WESTSIDE TODAY
Access East-West, seven vehicular underpasses
14 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
12TH STREET
MLK
MAIN ST
Main Street underpass
12th Street underpass
12TH STREET
MLK
MAIN ST
MLK Boulevard underpass
12TH STREET
MLK HISTORY 15
02 Cu rre n t C o nd it io n Chattanooga’s Westside has experienced extreme change in its use, topography and fabric. The following series of diagrams dissect the history and current conditions into a series of ‘urban x-rays’.
ANALYSIS
View to Cameron Hill, 1957
18 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
1889
9th W1
2th
W1
Str
eet
(No
4th
eet
Industry and Railroads
1930s
9TH
Str
eet
Observations
Old Street Grid
ST
)
Str
ain
2TH
LK
eet
WM
W1
wM
Str
ST
RE
ET
(NO
WM
RE
+ Industry still occupied the majority of the river’s edge. + A dense grid is continuous from downtown. + The winding roads indicate the topography of Cameron Hill was respected and built around.
LK
)
ET
W1
4TH
ST
RE
ET
WM
ain
Industry and Railroads College Hill Courts
eet
Observations
Old Street Grid
Str
+ Industry extended some key streets all the way to the river. + First evidence of College Hill Courts on a map. + Three schools were in the immediate neighborhood of the Westside.
Schools
ANALYSIS 19
1980s
9TH
ST
RE
ET
WM
ain
(NO
WM
LK
)
Str
eet
College Hill Courts
Observations
Industry and Railroads
Observations
Old Street Grid
+ The addition of Highway 27 alongside the other Golden Gateway changes make the entire Westside cut off from Downtown Chattanooga.
+ No longer any schools in the immediate Westside neighborhood.
Schools
+ The dense grid system previously in place is replaced by much larger super blocks. + Industry is still very important and has a connection to the east.
Highway
2018
9TH
ST
RE
WM
ET
ain
Old Street Grid Industry and Railroads College Hill Courts Schools Highway 20 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
(NO
WM
LK
)
Str
eet
+ Industry is concentrated into larger structures and backed further away from street. + Dramatic decrease in density, connectivity and mix of uses.
Photograph by Lane Wood Studio
SPLASH Youth Arts Workshop is a year-round, free art program for youth, located in Chattanooga’s
Westside. SPLASH Executive Director Charlie Newton encourages the youth of Westside to become
involved in the arts as a catalyst in self-confidence, creativity in problem-solving, and leadership skills.
ANALYSIS 21
James A Henry Building, Grove Street
22 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Block Structure
Observations
Block Comparison
+ Riverfront Parkway is the primary organizer of the Westside’s block structure. + The river’s edge is defined by its large block structure. + The lack of a coherent block structure decreases the legibility of the Westside.
Observation
- Downtown has smaller scale block comparing to westside
Opportunities -
Building Age
Building Age
-1950 1951-1960 1961-1970 1971-1980
Observations + College Hill Courts, over 50 years old, are the most historic structures on the Westside today. + Most structures remain from the Golden Gateway efforts of the 60s.
1981-1990 1991-2000 2001-2010 2011-
- 1950
1981 - 1990
1951 - 1960
1991 - 2000
1961 - 1970
2001 - 2010
1971 - 1980
2011 -
Observation -
Opportunities -
Topography
Observations
640
840 860 640
Topography + Much
of the Westside sits on a bluff, the remnants of past hillsides.
660
+The topographic difference from the river to the highway creates a divide marked by Riverfront Parkway today.
Topography
slop diagram 860 660 640
Topography Observation
Slope diagram
- Chattanooga egde sits on a bluff - There is various level differences on the topograghy.
840 640
660 ANALYSIS 23
Building Footprints
FigureGround
Observations + The Westside is marked by large industrial buildings along the river with large open space in between.
Observation
+ The most clearly organized building footprints are at College Hill Courts, much of the rest of the Westside lacks a clear arrangement.
-
Opportunities -
1/64”=1’-0”
Land Use
Land Use
Institutional usage Commercial Industrial
Observations
+ Lack of diversity in land use. + Distinct land use patterns divided along Riverfront Parkway.
Residential, including Rental Property & Housing Authority
Institutional Observation - Religious + low-income housing
Opportunities -
Commercial Industrial Residential, including Rental Property & Housing Authority
Ownership
Observations
+ Majority of land controlled by two property owners Privately owned Housing Authority (City) County owned City owned State owned Federally owned City & County owned
24 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Walkability 10 minutes walk 5 minutes walk
Center of walkability 5/10 minute walk shed
Church
Grocery store
Bus Stop
Restaurant
Education
Bike Share
Recreation
Medical service
Observations + Within a 10 minute walking distance from Riverfront Parkway the only amenities are a gas station, medical clinic and bus stops. + There is only one existing park within much permeable unbuilt open space. + Large area of surface parking can cause lack of security and a positive opportunity for infill development.
ANALYSIS 25
Amenity
Observations
Amenity
+ The Westside lacks amenities to serve the daily needs of residents.
Church Restaurant Recreation Grocery store Education Medical service
1/64”=1’-0”
Mobility
Public Access
Bike trails local Nodes route Bike sha
Church
Grocery store
Restaurant
Education
Recreation
Medical service
Observations
+ Bus connections are limited both in timing and location. + There are only two bus routes for the entire Westside.
Bus stopre
River Walk Local route
Observation
Node
- Connection of bus is only for the housing community - Only two bus routes for whole of west side
Bike share
Opportunities
- Increase the bus routes towards the industrial zone.
Bus stop
Street Hierar-
Observations
Road Hierarchy
+ Connection between downtown and Westside are limited to 7 underpasses.
Highway Railways Primary Road Secondary Road
+ Limited street hierarchy in Westside. + Limited accessibility to river. + Riverfront Parkway is a major connector and an opportunity for future development. Observation - 7 entries total b/w downtown & westside - Highway defines the westside - Grid(downtown) & chaotic(westside) - Less accessability to the other sideof the river - Parkway gives more opportunities for development
Opportunities -
26 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
+ Highway is a defining edge condition.
Highway
Primary road
Railways
Secondary road
Photograph featured in Causeway’s “Kids of Growth” article, June 20, 2014
Kids of Growth is a non-profit kids ministry in
the Westside neighborhood. The organization provides educational and fun after school summer programming.
ANALYSIS 27
View East on 6th Street
The distance between downtown and the
Westside is further exacerbated by the lack of
active edges connecting from downtown and
the wide roads geared towards moving vehicles rather than people.
28 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Open Space
Observations
+ Opportunity to rethink previous open space to preserve and use efficiently for water infiltration. + Under developed landscape is mostly leftover, in-between space.
Park
1/64”=1’-0”
Previous
Paved/ Built
Dense tree cover
River
Conclusions
+ The main identity of Chattanooga’s Westside today is defined by vast industrial facilities and multiple public housing complexes.
+ The condition of College Hill courts has been constantly deteriorating, much maintenance and renovation is needed to improve living conditions.
+ The excess of surface parking takes away from the incredible natural beauty of the Westside and potential growth for the neighborhood. As a result there are very few purposeful landscaping attempts, which contrast with the new Cameron Harbor neighborhood with a connection to the Riverwalk Park at Blue Goose Hollow.
+The lack of diverse land use and mixed use buildings in the area means that residents have to leave the neighborhood for every basic amenity. Some basic amenities like a playground and bus stops are available. + The highway barrier is a challenge to the connection to downtown Chattanooga. Further access to the riverfront is critical to the success of the Westside neighborhood building of off of the new connection at Blue Goose Hollow.
ANALYSIS 29
CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY Access
Challenges
+ Currently the Westside has little to no pedestrian, or bicycle access or human scaled public spaces. + The areas along Riverfront Parkway mostly cater to the industrial mega blocks along the river, not to human scaled access, opportunity to make those spaces accessible and part of the Westside identity. + Open up visibility to the river from the Westside to acknowledge the beautiful location and begin fomenting pride of place.
1/64”=1’-0”
No Pedestrian Access
No Seating
No View
No Shading
No Bus Station
Riverfront Parkway
Highway 27 Barrier
Neighborhood Composition
Challenges
+ There is a lack of amenities in the immediate neighborhood that make it difficult for it to be a self sustaining and a desirable place to live. + The percentage of land use for industry is overpowering to the residential and mixed use potential of the neighborhood. No Education Resource
Highway 27 Barrier
No Grocery Store
Study Area
Market Rate Housing Public/Subsidized Housing 1/64”=1’-0”
30 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Study Area
Industry
Access
Opportunity
+ Re-establishing the historically connected grid and access from the east to the river. Key Streets like MLK and 14th used to branch this way. + New streets should be people focused public spaces that prioritize pedestrian access, cycling and green space. The Westside should be easily accessible and feature possible gateway moments upon crossing the underpasses. + Potential to connect to Moccasin Bend and make the Westside a key access point to Northshore riverwalk and neighborhood.
Greenway 1/64”=1’-0”
Highway 27 Barrier Study Area Primary Connectivity Secondary Connectivity
Shading Pedestrian Access Bus station
Neighborhood Composition
Opportunity
+ Wider, greener main avenues that make cycling, bus stops and pedestrian well-being a priority. + Multiple commercial and educational opportunities to be in the immediate neighborhood. + Potential redevelopment of the Alstom Industrial Complex to become a planned mixed income and mixed use neighborhood that takes advantage of its river location. Grocery Store
1/64”=1’-0”
Education Resource
View
Seating
Food
Public/Subsidized Housing
Greenway
Market Rate Housing
Study Area
Industry
“Spine“
ANALYSIS 31
03 B i g I d e as The Westside of Chattanooga has been evolving in many ways for decades. This chapter introduces effective means of evolution and change in the neighborhood that should be meaningful to the residents of Westside. The goal is great urban design which targets problems with thoughtful solutions.
BIG IDEAS
34 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Big Ideas
01 Connectivity
02 People First Streets
03 Community Resources 04 Neighborhood Art HUB 05 Riverfront for All
06 Job Opportunities
07 Underpass Activation
08 A Historic Neighborhood 09 Parkway as a Zipper 10 Urban Hiking Trails
Westside would benefit from a more efficient use of land through a deconcentration of poverty, mixed income housing, and increased density. There should be an increased connectivity to the river. The waterfront should be an integrated green space with a focus on sustainability and low impact development to create a long-term space for everyone to enjoy. A shift in focus is necessary regarding multi modal accessibility, people centric places and streets, and democratic street scapes, achievable though street diets and built street edges with active ground floor uses. The new identity should be built through respectful revisioning central to success of Westside, with natural beauty in topography and views taken advantage of as a vision by and for the community of College Hill Courts. The completed neighborhood will have accessible amenities related to community needs, public services, security, as well as integrating the arts, health, and education, for a successful revisioning of Westside. BIG IDEAS 35
01 CONNECTIVITY
36 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Westside lacks connectivity and river front access for which we recommend extending Main Street and MLK Boulevard to the river front and extending neighborhood streets to create a grid.
Riverfront Pkwy St
ve
Ri
Main
rfr y
kw
tP
on
osed Prop ion s Exten
MLK
Blvd
ned Plan sion n Exte
Adapt Industrial Potential Exo District
Mixed Use Residential Mixed Income
ML
KB
lvd Ma
in S
t
+ Extending Main Street and MLK Boulevard will provide a feeling of unity in the city by connecting the Downtown to the Westside; extending these streets to the riverfront will renew a sense of Chattanooga’s industrial history. + Neighborhood streets should connect where possible starting with Cypress and Grove Streets.
BIG IDEAS 37
02 PEOPLE FIRST STREETS
Existing
Proposed Main Street Extension
Main St to SouthSide Greenway
Active street edges with a human scale focus.
38 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
MLK Boulevard, Main Street, and Riverfront Parkway are overly focused on vehicular traffic and need increased attention to a human scale. Existing Street Section
27’
16’
47’
8’
SIDEWALK
SIDEWALK
SIDEWALK
sidewalk
SIDEWALK
CAR LANES
MEDIAN
CAR LANES drive lanes
MEDIAN median
47'
drive lanes CAR LANES
sidewalk
27'
16'
CAR LANES
SIDEWALK
CAR LANES
MEDIAN
8'
SIDEWALK
CAR LANES
Proposed Street Section
+ Prioritize safe cyclist routes and ample pedestrian walkways. + Include vegetation as buffer and green infrastructure to cleanse storm water.
front porch 25’
25'
side walk 7’
7'
bike lane 7’
7'
7’
7'
drive lane 10’
10'
median
car lane 10’
10'
bike on street lane parking 7’
7'
side walk
10’
10'
BIG IDEAS 39
Rive
rfron t Par
kwa y
03 COMMUNITY RESOURCES
ML
KB
oul
eva
rd
Ma
in S tree
t
Community resources should be co-located at strategic locations with a focus on walkability. Quarter Mile - 5 minute walk shed
40 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Half Mile - 10 minute walk shed
The Westside needs a deliberate integration of neighborhood resources and amenities with a focus on broader community connectivity and a mix of housing types. RADIAL PROPOSAL
EXISTING CONDITION W 12T
HS
LINEAR PARK STR
STR
EET
EET
VE
STR VE
GR O
2TH
W1
Str lar Pop ET
Ma
in S
4TH
eet
RS
TRE W1
4TH
EET
MA
et
STR
IN S
EET
STR
EET
TRE
ET
Potential phasing for densification/diversity of housing in College Hill Courts.
Potential increased connectivity while respecting existing fabric.
Phase 1
The neighborhood needs resources such as:
Sheila M Jennings Park, 400 units
Phase 2
+ Grocery stores
Art/Artisan Village, 200 Residential units, training, workspace
+ Barber Shop
Phase 3
+ Police Station
Mixed Use, Commercial & Residential - renovate existing, 200 units
PLA
3TH
STR
tre
EET
PO
PLA
RS
TRE
ee
t
Str ss
pre
TRE
W1
PO
ee
t
Str
Cy
Str
W1
PARKWAY
PARKWAY
IN S
EET
NT
T
3th
STR
RO
ON
FR
3TH
W1
ERF
R VE
3
MA
W1
3
STR
ET
ET
E IV
2TH
RIV
t
EET
DR
E IV
DR
ee
STR
ON
ON
2
3
RI
ve
2TH
T YN
T YN
Gro
W1
BO
BO
4
EET
1
ET
SH E WE ILA M STS IDF JENN E P ING AR S K
W1
GR O
5
CENTRAL PARK
TRE
+ Clinic/ health/ gym + Daycare
Phase 4
Community Center/Police Station, Commercial Rec-Center
Phase 5
Integrate active park space connecting to Boynton Terrace
BIG IDEAS 41
04 NEIGHBORHOOD ART HUB
Existing
42 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
The James A. Henry building is currently an underutilized and historic resource that could be reinstated as a center for the Arts.
Dorchester Arts + Housing Collaborative, Chicago | Former public housing site turned mixed income community art center plus artist housing.
Splash Youth Arts Director Charlie Newton, Photograph by Lane Wood Studio
+ HUB for multiple arts organizations, always keeping local efforts and residents as direct beneficiaries including: dance, drama, music, plastic arts, fine arts, maker space, architecture, education and outreach.
BIG IDEAS 43
05 RIVERFRONT FOR ALL Ecodistrict + Living machine for storm water purification terraces
Local Food + Urban aquaponics or city lead urban farming + Local fishing spot + Community kitchen + Rentable kiosks for small local businesses + Built edge on waterfront + Small warehouse adapted to mixed use
Ecodistr
+ Living M Stormwat Purificatio
Local foo
+ Urban A city lead u + Local fis + Commu + Rentable small loca + Built edg + Small W Adapted t
Recreation + Water sport harbor + River pools + Police station + Sport fields + Linear park connecting to Southside along Main Street
44 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Recreat
+ Water sp + River Poo + Police St + Sport Fie + Linear Pa West-side
The river front is an underutilized amenity that should be public and permeable from the Westside.
create shaded public space both small and large scale
create more access opportunities to the riverwalk
preserve industrial character along Riverwalk
adaptively reuse industrial building edges by activating ground floor uses
+ Increase programmed public amenities on and leading up to the waterfront + Alstom development to have multiple public connections through to riverfront
Riv
erf
ron
tP
kw
y
BIG IDEAS 45
06 JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Existing
Slip drive way
46 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Median
Car lane
Car lane
Parking
Blu
ff tr
ail
Blue Cross Blue Shield is located in the Westside but lacks engagement with locals and efforts to help those neighbors who need it the most, to which we suggest an activation of the MLK edge of the campus with a focus on creating jobs for the nearby residents.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
ML
KB
Bike lane
Side walk
lvd
+ Activating the edge of the BCBS campus will help further connect the Westside to downtown with a focus on active ground floor uses and a road diet. + A focus on creating jobs for Westside residents through job training programs and mentorship opportunities will help create upward mobility.
BIG IDEAS 47
07 UNDERPASS ACTIVATION
Existing Underpass
Existing Underpasses
48 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Chattanooga can mitigate the highway barrier through an underpass plan to improve pedestrian and cyclist access, focusing on prioritizing the human experience.
INSPIRING PEOPLE SCALED PLACES INSPIRING PEOPLE SCALED PLACES
Proposed Underpass Plan
Achievable through: + Street lighting for safety first + Art/sculpture to create identity and create unique public spaces + Green space/ environmental strategies for storm water and streetscaping + Designed for multimodal forms of transportations + Potential opportunities for public recreation at underpass BIG IDEAS 49
08 A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD
Existing
50 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
College Hill Courts has been a neighborhood for many since the 1940s. Addressing the needs of the neighborhood is vital to the future of the Westside. + Diversification of programs available in College Hill Courts. + Existing housing should be replaced 1 for 1 if any demolition occurs on HUD owned property. + Mixed income housing should triplicate existing density to provide market rate housing, subsidized and public housing options.
+ Mixed use buildings to provide amenities for the entire community, but always focusing on what is needed by the current residents first. + Create an identity and marketing strategy for diversified areas of the Westside.
+ A focus on art/artisan training and production as well as artist housing centered around the James A. Henry building.
+ Better connectivity and visibility by opening central walkway (Cypress St) into a low traffic neighborhood street that can be accessed from Main Street and 12th Street.
Proposed Cypress Street
BIG IDEAS 51
09 PARKWAY AS A ZIPPER
Existing
Propos
52 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
High density, high rise buildings are proposed to help Riverfront Parkway act as a zipper across the east and west of the larger Westside community.
sed Riverfront Parkway
Existing Riverfront Parkway
sidewalk
drive lane
5'5’
14'
drive lane
14’
drive lane 14’
14’
14'
drive lane sidewalk 5’
14’
14'
14'
5'
Proposed Riverfront Parkway
sidewalk 25’
25'
3’
3'
on street parking 10’
10'
drive lane 10’ 10'
drive lane 10’ 10'
on street sidewalk parking 10’
10'
3'
10'
+ Riverfront Parkway currently acts a connector to the greater city and is a central roadway in the Westside, as such there is an opportunity for it to become a meeting ground for the Westside while serving the larger Chattanooga community.
BIG IDEAS 53
10 URBAN HIKING TRAILS
Bluff Trail Infill Development
54 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Mitigating the topographic barrier between Boynton Drive and Riverfront Parkway by creating an urban hiking trail to explore the bluff by bike or foot.
Nature Trails
Cross Walk
Urban Landscape
Trail Connection at Street
Trail Connections
+ Trail crossing at street
+ Physical health opportunity
+ Splicing of urban and natural landscapes
+ Potential to connect to larger trail system BIG IDEAS 55
SHORT TERM GOALS
Westside resident, by photographer Erin O. Smith
56 CHATTANOOGA WESTSIDE
Photograph by Lane Wood Studio
1. Vision for the Arts
+ Connect and launch conversations between a coalition of artisans and makers that could lease spaces in the underutilized James A. Henry building, following the example of the Newtons and Splash Youth Arts. + Curate a common vision among local Artists that can share this space and can rally behind a common message of art education and training.
2. Community Conversations
+ Having Westside residents be a part of the beautification and enhancement talks is essential since they are the most direct recipients of the benefits of this endeavor and the effort should not be outsourced or disconnected from the people it is serving.
3. Safe Routes
+ 12th Street Underpass enhancements for the safety benefit of Westside residents that walk to downtown. + The quality of enhancements for the underpasses could be a starting point to reflect the identity that the Westside wants to have for itself and attract others to for it to be a more vibrant and accessible neighborhood.
BIG IDEAS 57