Sometimes we need to stop, look around for a moment, and just take it all in. When we founded RockPointBank, we already believed in Chattanooga, but the volume and velocity of the growth in the Scenic City over the last few years has been breathtaking at times. The projects that are being started and those in progress are developments that will solidify this city’s reputation as a dynamic and innovative urban center, with progress reflected in technology, housing, and community revitalization sectors.
Silicon Valley of the South?
We got dubbed the “Gig City” over a decade ago when we were the first city to offer gigabit-speed internet through our public utility, EPB. That action sparked unprecedented growth with startups and established tech companies coming to Chattanooga. One recent example of that is iFixit, a company that shows people how to fix their own tech products. They were founded in California in 2003 but recently completed renovating a building in the Onion Bottom neighborhood where they have established a new distribution center and office complex.
This influx of tech companies is expected to increase as EPB starts to build out their Quantum Network…an internet system that will provide for even higher data speeds, along with a massive broadening of the bandwidth available. This has prompted proposed upgrades to the Convention Center where hundreds, or thousands, of people at a time could be connected to a common Wi-Fi network and all could have extraordinarily fast internet speeds.
Real Estate Boom
An area that has benefitted from the burgeoning tech sector in Chattanooga is that of real estate development. One report said that there could be upwards of 46,000 new housing units built in Chattanooga and the larger Hamilton County area over the next 20 years. This takes the form of developing new areas from scratch—areas where old farmland has been sold and large tracts of houses are being built—as well as the transformation of older structures and neighborhoods—such as Milltown, where iconic old buildings are renovated while newer homes are built around it.
One of the most visible projects is The Bend. Urban Story Ventures is developing land previously used for steel and iron work, intending to turn it into a fully integrated neighborhood including housing for several socio-economic levels, as well as retail, restaurants, offices, and recreational spaces.
A little further down the river, the Chattanooga Lookouts recently broke ground on a new stadium complex that will include some 140 acres of redevelopment on the site of the old U.S. Pipe and Wheland Foundry facilities.
Community Involvement
It’s heartening to see that while the city grows, native Chattanoogans are not being ignored, either. The city government is working to invest in arts and culture to build community ties while attracting tourists. This takes the form of a variety of public events like Rock the Riverfront, Nightfall, and Riverfront Nights.
The city’s famed Riverwalk is being improved and expanded…connecting it to other communities so people will have the opportunity to walk, run, or bicycle to other neighborhoods with more ease. They are working to make parks more accessible and welcoming to every citizen…places to relax and play in safety.
We invite you to stop and look around when you get a chance. Take in all that is happening in this amazing city at our doorsteps. It is an impressive display and represents opportunities for people from all walks of life. We at RockPointBank are proud to be part of this transformation.