In the last several days more than 150 business and community leaders have signed an ad supporting the South Broad Redevelopment that also includes a new stadium, business and elected officials announced today.
“We need a new gleaming gateway to Chattanooga that welcomes people,” said Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s time to talk realistically about how we appear at first glance when people approach downtown from I-24.”
“We asked our top investors where they stood on this important project. An overwhelming majority are eager to show their full support,” she said. “As more people begin to understand the many benefits for the entire community, we invite them to sign on as well.”
Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger welcomed the support from business leaders.
“There comes a time when leaders need to stand for progress, this is now that time,” Coppinger said.
“This is a moment after years of effort where all things have come together in support not only for an anchor for the South Broad Street Development but massive economic development. We currently have businessmen and women who are already committed to invest $200 million in new development on this site,” Coppinger said.
“The reluctance of some to support this project is bewildering, but I suspect they also would have rejected our effort to redevelop downtown with the Tennessee Aquarium or the wise decision to purchase what we now know as Enterprise South, home to thousands of jobs. This project will also house businesses, retail stores, restaurants and homes. It is the next chapter in the evolving story of Hamilton County and it needs to happen now before this moment slips away,” Coppinger said.
Mayor Tim Kelly agreed.
“I am grateful for the support of Chattanooga’s business community, which clearly recognizes what an incredible opportunity we have before us to revitalize the rusting eyesore currently serving as our city’s western gateway,” Kelly said.
“The bottom line is this is a great deal for the people of Chattanooga and Hamilton County that will generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue to support our schools and civic infrastructure, all without using one penny of existing tax dollars. I was in business for years, and let me tell you, deals like this don’t come around every day – the time to move is now,” Kelly said.
As part of an annual legislative survey, the Chattanooga Chamber asked about support to keep the Lookouts in Chattanooga. A resounding majority – 78 percent – said yes, Gillenwater said.
SouthBroad.info offers a place where people can add their names to the growing list of leaders who support moving forward, as well as providing facts about all of the potential projects, an economic impact study, and renderings, Gillenwater said.
Barry Ruffalo, President and CEO, Astec Industries, Inc., said his family has been driving past the site for vacations since he was 6 years old – on their way from Wisconsin to Florida.
“The dilapidated state of the site and its buildings has been burned into my memory for years. I’m in favor of doing something about it that would not only look better but would also have so many positive benefits for the city,” Ruffalo said.
Gillenwater said she is inviting our community to speak up in support.
“We enjoy a history of working in partnership to make great things happen here in Chattanooga and Hamilton County and we’re excited about these possibilities,” Gillenwater said.
“Most of us have had that moment that Barry Ruffalo talked about – where we drive into town from I-24, look left at the beautiful expanse of river, then look to our right and wonder why that property has yet to be redeveloped – especially with a city as prosperous and forward-looking as Chattanooga,” Gillenwater said.
“The South Broad Redevelopment project is a dream that has been decades in the making and now this is finally being realized – Chattanooga revitalized from the Riverfront to Lookout Mountain.”
Some 140 acres with river views will transform industrial sites into pedestrian and picnic areas, conveniently situated next to new office spaces, where businesses will invest, and welcoming spaces where people will enjoy walkable shopping and entertainment. One of the focal points is a world-class entertainment venue, where baseball will be played, the new home for our beloved Lookouts.
The multi-use outdoor venue can host family events, business gatherings, concerts, high school sports teams, holiday events and parties, community health/fitness programs. When the multi-use stadium is not in use for events, it will be open to the public as a park where people can walk the concourse, picnic outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.
“The South Broad Redevelopment promises to position us as a global model for placemaking,” Gillenwater said. “For many years, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and many of our community residents and leaders have worked in partnership to transform our community into one of America’s Best Towns. Our Riverfront, Tennessee Riverwalk, and Enterprise South, have rightfully garnered acclaim and emulation over those years.”
“Now is the time for this project,” she said.
“The potential prosperity spurred by this redevelopment has local business leaders championing Chattanooga’s next transformative moment. We must move ahead together in partnership to keep up with other communities who are planning ahead,” Gillenwater said.
Show your support, here.
Over 160 South Broad Champions and Counting
Julie Alcantara, Realtor
Michael Alston, Esq., Office Managing Partner, Husch Blackwell, LLP
Jeremy Alumbaugh, CEO, Chattanooga Football Club
Steve Anderson, Senior VP of Administration & Investor Relations, Astec
Jeff Badgley, President International and Military, Miller Industries, Inc.
Frank Baker, Owner, Stone Source, Inc.
The Barclifts, Owners, Lakeshore Grille
Bob Bethel, Owner, 3-2 Capital, LLC
Allen Bible, President, Noon Health
John Blake, Specialists in Pain Management
Bryan Bledsoe, Managing Partner, Dwell Designed Construction
Tony Boals, Vice President, Wright Brothers Construction Company, Inc.
Kevin C. Boehm, Boehm, Real Estate and Investment Co.
Misty Bolt, Owner, Medicare Misty
Platt Boyd, Founder & CEO, Branch Technology
Ryan Breneman, CEO, Generation Property Management
Benjamin G. Brock, President & CEO, BROCK, LLC
Tripp Brown, Vice President, Brown Bros. Inc.
Erika Burnett, Executive Director, Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga
Logan Carmichael, Program Director, WFLI 96.1FM, WKWN 101.3FM/1420 AM, WJTW 106.1FM/ 1480AM
Emma Tracy, Carpenter Owner, TPRG, LLC
Jeannine Carpenter, Director of Research and Policy, Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga
Allen Carter, Athens Insurance
Tressa Cassetty Administrator, QualityPRO Power Washing
Chanda Chambers, President & Owner, Chambers Welding
Karlene Claridy, Claridy Communications
Will Clegg, Partner, Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough, PLLC
Keith Clingan, GM/Partner, Abra Autobody & Glass
Mickey Cloud, Executive Director, The Sasha Group, a VaynerX company
Brad Cobb, President, Bowers Automotive Group
Nic Cornelison, President, P&C Construction
Royce Cornelison, Chairman, CEO, P&C Construction
Steve Cox, President, Steam Logistics
David Curtis, Corporate Tax Associate, PlayCore
Jay Dale, Market President, First Horizon-Chattanooga
Daniel Deas
Thomas Decosimo, Managing Principle, Decosimo Corporate Finance
Kent DeReus, President, Perry Homes
David F. DeVaney, SIOR, CCIM, President, NAI Charter Real Estate Corp.
Gina Dhanani, COO & CMO, Double Cola Co.- USA
K.C. Dyer, Orthodontist, Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of Chattanooga
Andrew Faw, President, Fulmer Concrete Construction
Jamey Flegel, Noon Real Estate
John Foy, Chairman, Noon Management, LLC
Eric Fuller, CEO, U.S. Xpress, Inc.
Thomas Gallant, Executive Vice President, Marion Environmental, Inc.
Briana Garza, Owner/Co-Founder, Chatt Taste Food Tour, LLC
Christy Gillenwater, President & CEO, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
Jerod Gilley, Vice President, Construction Consultants
Malcolm Godwin, Chattanooga Home Inspector
Chris Goforth
Leslie Gower, CEO, AGC East Tennessee
David Grass, PE, Geotechnical Group Leader, S&ME, Inc.
Russell “Rusty” W. Gray
Marion Griscom
Tom Griscom
James M. Haley IV, Immediate Past Chair, Chattanooga Chamber , Miller & Martin PLLC
Casey Hammontree, Partner, Resolute Capital Partners
Mike Harrell, Owner, Latitute Advisors, LLC
Randal Harrell, Market Executive, Synovus Bank
Nathan Harwell EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, U.S. Xpress, Inc.
Johanna, Heywood, PE, PG, Chattanooga Office Principal, Environmental Group Leader, S&ME, Inc.
Scott Hibberts, General Manager, Reagan Outdoor Advertising
Wade Hinton, Hinton & Co.
Craig Holley, Regional Chairman, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Heath Hornsby, Branch Manager, Lansing Building Partners
Mary Beth Hudson, Executive Director, Smart Factory Institute
Matt Hullander, Owner/President, V2 Strategy
Steve Hunt, Owner/Principal Broker, Hunt Commercial Real Estate, LLC
Kerrie Hunter
Michael Hutchins, Managing Partner, Pursuit IQ
Hamp Johnston, President & CEO, RockPoint Bank, NA
Monica Maples Kinsey, Caravan Tribe, LLC
Shawn Kurrelmeier-Lee, Chief Reading Officer, Read 20
Paul Leath, Region Director of Operations, Chattanooga Gas
Robert Long, President & CEO, Bridges Consumer Healthcare
Jeff Lynn, Personal Line Advisor, Rock Creek Insurance
Tonya Lytle
Travis Lytle
Brandon Malone
Patricia Martinez, General Manager, The Chattanoogan Hotel- CURIO Collection by Hilton Ascent Hospitality Management Co., LLC
Michael Mathis, President – Chattanooga, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Adam McAnulty , Owner, Pedego Chattanooga
Kamrie McAnulty, Owner, Pedego Chattanooga
DeWayne B. McCamish, DDS MS
Matthew McGauley
Jim McKenzie, Market President, FirstBank
Jason Medeiros, President, Point General Contractors/ Chair of the Board AGC East Tennessee
Elaine Merritt, Executive Director, BNI
Will Miller, CEO, Miller Industries, Inc.
Chrissy Mincy, Attorney, Mincy Law
Carolina Molloy, Owner, Adventure Sports Innovation
Patrick Molloy, Owner, Adventure Sports Innovation
Miguel Morales, Owner, 1885 Grill
Kenny Morgan, Founder, Goodstory
Glenn Morris, President/CEO, MM Container
Nick Murray, Owner, CertaPro Painters
Hugh Morrow, President & CEO, Ruby Falls and R&R Outdoor Advertising
Ryan Naegele, Owner, Right at Home
Greg Nieckula, CO, MBA , Community Physician
Kym Ott, PlayCore
Mike Otterman, President & CEO, Lodge Cast Iron
Jonathan Oxford
David Parker, Chairman, CEO, Covenant Logistics
Larry S Parks, Chairman and CEO, T. U. Parks Construction Co.
David Paschall, CEO, Ntracts
Mitch Patel, President & CEO, Vision Hospitality
Tony Perry, CEO, A. Perry Homes
Matt Phillips
Todd Phillips, President, Noon Management, LLC
Roger Pickett, President, MurMaid Mattress, Inc.
John Picklesimer, Major Account Sales, RJ Young
Reggie Piercy, Vice President, Sandler Training
Jason Provonsha, CEO, Steam Logistics
Dave Puzan, Plant Manager, Buzzi Unicem USA
Janelle Reilly, Market CEO, CHI Memorial Hospital
John Riley, Chief Revenue Officer, Ntracts, Inc.
Tiffani Robinson
Josh Rogers, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Wholesale Supply Group
Barry Ruffalo, President & CEO, Astec
Emerson Russell, Owner, ERMC/Emerson Properties
Keith Sanford, President & CEO, Tennessee Aquarium
Kimberly Scafe, Accounting Manager, Spectrum Aquatics
Ryan Scafe, LTL Manager, Steam Logistics
Matt Schroeder, CEO/co-founder, Shelly Cove, LLC/Tidalwave Screen Printing
Henry Schulson, President & CEO, Creative Discovery Museum
Rick Schumacher, Director, SVB Financial Group
Catherine Seat
Rebekah Elkins Sharpe, Transparency Health
Jack Silberman, CEO,Silberman Group
Lucas Simington, PE, Construction Group Leader, S&ME, Inc.
Geoff Smith
John Sorrow, Regional Executive, McGriff Insurance
Gretta Spaulding, Regional Director of Sales, LBA, Larry Blumberg & Associates, Inc.
Britton Stansell, CEO & Founder, Bright Base Management
Jared Stehney, Vice President/General Manager, Cumulus Radio WGOW AM/FM, WSKZ, WOGT
Doug Stein, CEO, Black Creek, Stein Wood Products
Micah Stockett
Andrew Stone, President, Black Creek
Piper Stromatt, Partner, Director of Design, Boutique Living by Curate
Rebecca Styles, President-Elect, Downtown Chamber Council
Kacey Swindell, Director of Sales & Marketing, MOXY Chattanooga Downtown
Nick Topping, President, Chattanooga Tractor and Equipment
Chas Torrence, Executive Vice President, EMJ Corp
Will Tutton, General Manager, Southeast Painters, Inc.
James Tyson, President & CEO, Tyson & Associates Construction Company Inc.
Reggie Vachon, Jr., Executive Vice President, Equitas Management Group
Alex Vaughn, Owner, River City Athletic Fields
Jim Vaughn, Market President, Truist
Mike Vaughn, Owner, River City Athletic Fields
Cathy Walker, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Black Creek Club
The Rev. Ann Gammon Weeks, President Emeritus, South Broad Redevelopment Group
Tom White
Paul Wilkinson, Professional Engineer, Reflective Tennessee
Arch Willingham, President, T.U. Parks Construction Company
James Wingard, President & CEO, Wingard Quality Supply, LLC
Joseph Wingfield, President, Wingfield Scale Company, Inc.
Bobby Winnie, President, Quality Fence Company
Todd Womack, President & CEO, Bridge Public Affairs
Christopher Wood, Co-Owner, (Be)Caffeinated
