Urban Redevelopment

Sustainable Urban Redevelopment

Collier Construction has emerged as one of the most respected construction and development companies in the region. When Collier moves, Chattanooga follows, and as Collier identifies an area for redevelopment, smaller companies move quickly to purchase and redevelop adjacent property at market-rate, thus driving market-generated gentrification.

To combat this issue, Collier has forged a critical partnership with Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE)—the city’s non-profit leader in affordable housing, and the Benwood Foundation – a place-based foundation committed to shared prosperity in Chattanooga. Each partnership provides a particular point of focus in mixed-income sustainable redevelopment that supports all Chattanoogans. 

Success depends on the acquisition of property to support affordable housing, market-rate housing, and commercial development simultaneously. To support this acquisition phase, Collier has established a land acquisition holding company of investors (including private equity partners and foundations) to purchase available surrounding properties.

A part of the acquisition and development plan includes the permanent relocation of Collier Construction’s main offices adjacent to the Standard Coosa Mill building in the heart of the redevelopment. The 300,000 sq ft mill building will also serve as a mixed-use facility that will house ground-level parking and retail, a shared office hub to support Chattanooga’s many non-profit leaders and visionaries, and 100,000 square feet of apartments, with a mix of conventional and low-income residents.

The Roundtable will work to identify community challenges and opportunities for growth and look to Mill Town as an example of how future development should occur in the city.

A Lasting Investment

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) believes the future of Chattanooga is rooted in the vibrancy of our neighborhoods and the prosperity of our people. The Mill Town development creates the opportunity for CNE to participate in the creation of a new dynamic neighborhood within Oak Grove, one that provides affordable housing options while working with neighborhood residents to identify and advocate for improvements that benefit the entire community. CNE hopes that Mill Town and the partnership with Collier Construction create a model for future developments in Chattanooga. 

The Oak Grove community will benefit most by having residents engaged in the process. Currently, Oak Grove does not have a neighborhood association or any other traditional leadership networks. Without an identified leader or central point for neighborhood communication, it is difficult to present a unified voice when advocating for improvements such as street lighting, sidewalks, park maintenance, etc. To foster engagement, CNE is working to create resident involvement in the neighborhood. First and foremost, this involves building trust and relationships with the residents. CNE has partnered with the local elementary school, a trusted resource in the neighborhood, to meet parents and hear their stories. CNE has worked with a local mercado to hold a meet and greet with local residents. Through these various community engagement efforts, they have collected information from the neighborhood and identified potential resident leaders. 

CNE is bringing those individuals and other community partners together to form the Oak Grove Roundtable. The Roundtable is a resident-led neighborhood group whose primary goal is to empower community members and elevate their collective voice to bring positive change to their neighborhood.