UPDATE 8/14/18 at 7:45 PM: The council voted to table the resolutions and wait for more information about the potential financial impact of the proposed building sale.
The Chattanooga City Council is scheduled to vote this evening on declaring three city-owned buildings as surplus, but a citizen coaltion is questioning the process.
TRANSCRIPT:
Chattanooga officials hope to sell three city-owned buildings to private developers, which could create affordable housing downtown… but a citizen coalition ISN’T sold on the idea.
The three buildings are located near city hall. If sold, they could be renovated from government offices into apartment buildings, generate more tax revenue, and enhance the Innovation District… an area meant to help start-ups and other businesses thrive.
However, the group Accountability for Taxpayer money is questioning WHY the three buildings are potentially being declared surplus, if city employees are currently using them to work.
At last Tuesday’s city council meeting, group members questioned whether selling the buildings would benefit developers more than taxpayers. They also say the public hasn’t received much information about the proposed sale. For them, the issues are government transparency and wise use of taxpayer dollars. Franklin McCallie spoke forcefully into a microphone:
MCALLIE: Citizen concerns and the planning of our city are just as important as those of developers.
Michael Gilliland also voiced concerns… he is the board chair for Chattanooga organized for action.
GILLILAND: This surplusing of city property is another instance where, as a member of the public, there’s been continued calls for a more clear definition of the public interest.
Officials say selling and transforming these properties will help accomplish key strategies planned for the Innovation District, including maintaining a diversity of uses, demographics and price points.
The city council is scheduled to vote on declaring the buildings as “surplus” this evening.
