Community business owners receive city grants to revive deteriorating buildings

11/1/2002

Chattanooga, TN—Mayor Bob Corker today announced that 13 business owners will receive City of Chattanooga grants to restore and put into productive use buildings throughout the community.

Funded through the City’s Commercial Façade Initiative, a Community Development Block Grant program, owners of new or expanding businesses apply for the grants which are used to supplement their own investment in their buildings.

Mayor Bob Corker said, “I am pleased that we have been able to fund several worthy projects through the Commercial Façade Initiative this year.  This program is designed not only to revitalize deteriorating properties in our community, but to aid in creating new businesses and jobs in prime areas of our city.  All of these properties are also located within our Strategic Neighborhood Initiative communities and many in the RC zone… helping us reach our goal of creating dynamic business districts in these important business corridors of Chattanooga.”

Businesses throughout the city competed for the grants and all applications were evaluated by a review committee consisting of Jerry Konohia, Ann Coulter, Gary Rudolph, Karen Hundt, Amy Walker Cherry, and Rayburn Traughber.

"The city's commercial façade program provides great incentive for business owners to revive buildings in need of revitalization throughout our community,” commented Chattanooga City Council Chairman, Ron Littlefield.  “The 13 projects which have been funded through the program this year are exciting because they put back into productive use some great properties in our city's core."

Bill Speek, a partner with the law firm Massey and Speek Attorneys at Law, received a grant to complete two storefront projects at the corner of MLK Boulevard and Central Avenue. 

According to Mr. Speek, “We were not planning to relocate our practice in the downtown area until the Mayor began implementing aggressive initiatives to revitalize the area.  Because of the help we received through the Commercial Façade Program, the Renewal Community tax credits that are available to businesses like ours and because of the great momentum that is occurring in the central city, we wouldn’t dream of begin anywhere else.  The Mayor talks about bringing business downtown and I can say for sure that he brought us.”

Mr. Speek indicated that of the two storefronts his firm is rehabilitating in the area, his law firm plans to move into one, and a local advertising agency will occupy one of the other spaces.  He also owns a third building and will lease that property when the renovation is complete. 

Consideration was given to applicants based on the following criterion:

• New or expanding businesses seeking to rehabilitate properties located in the Renewal Community Census Tracts (Alton Park, Southside, M. L. King , and Central Business District), properties located in the city’s Strategic Neighborhood Initiative communities, or Community Impact Fund Neighborhoods.
• Number of jobs created as a result of the revitalization.
• Areas in the city with concentrated populations and high visibility, creating the greatest impact potential.
• Dollar value of amount invested in rehabilitated properties
• Economic impact of the created by the business in the community.

 

 Business owners awarded grants were:

Property Owner/ Address                  Total rehab cost         Award

Teressa McIntosh/2523 Glass Street                  $21,480       $19,200

Melissa Hefferlin/1405 Williams Street               $269,350       $19,200

Rob/Susan Robinson/601 Main Street                 $31,518       $19,200

Curtis Drake/734-736 M.L. King Blvd.                  $61,237       $38,400

Bill Speek/903 Central Avenue                          $150,000       $38,400

Gary Ball/2520 E. 14th Street                              $25,510       $19,200

Eli Cameron/332 & 334 M.L. King Blvd.              $210,800       $38,400       (M. L. King CDC)

Stephen Harper/25 & 27 E. Main Street             $204,000       $38,400

Erin Yon/11 Custom Street                                  $95,145       $19,200

Jamie Cunningham/47 E. Main Street                $455,418       $38,400 (Mixed Use)

Neeld Messler/51 & 55 E. Main Street               $638,634       $38,400 (Mixed Use)

Richard/Bobbie/West  2100 Chamberlain Ave $255,270       $38,400 (Mixed Use)

Barry Robertson/114 W. Main Street                  $30,175      $19,200

 

For more information, contact Todd Womack, Communications Director, at 423-757-5168

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