Contradicting the wishes of local officials, the federal government has identified a 4-acre block on Vine Street as the most advantageous location for a new courthouse in Chattanooga, according to a news release from the U.S. General Services Administration.
This comes after city leaders sent a note to General Services in December urging it to choose the 1.4 million-square-foot TVA office complex in downtown Chattanooga for the project.
The new courthouse would total about 190,000 square feet and include seven courtrooms, nine chambers and 40 secured parking spaces. The federal government has set aside about $239 million for the project. General Services expects the design of the new courthouse will begin in spring 2025 and construction will start in spring 2027.
In a statement, River City Co. CEO Emily Mack said she is disappointed the federal government ignored "clear and consistent local input" by selecting the Vine Street site.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga officials expected to seek developer interest in Hawk Hill neighborhood)
"Local leaders — including the city mayor, the county mayor, a retired U.S. senator and Chattanooga mayor, Unum, River City Co., the chamber of commerce and the University of Chattanooga Foundation — explained to the federal agency why the TVA site is ideal for a courthouse and why the Vine Street site shouldn't even be considered," Mack said. "This decision hurts our collective work to build a vibrant city center and create synergy between UTC and downtown employers. We urge GSA to reconsider its decision."
Unum officials said they were also disappointed by the federal agency's decision. The company owns much of the property on the Vine Street site and has previously said it does not plan on selling the land.
"Unum has clearly and consistently informed the GSA that its Vine Street properties are not for sale," the company said in a statement. "Additionally, local civic and business leaders have identified a viable alternative site for the new federal courthouse.
"For decades, Unum has invested in real estate near our headquarters to meet the long-term needs of our business and support the growth of the riverfront and downtown neighborhoods. The GSA's selected location for this project does not align with or support that vision or the expressed interests of our community."
A spokesperson for the General Services Administration did not immediately respond to a phone call Thursday.
The Vine Street site is bound by East Fifth Street to the north, Lindsay Street to the east, Vine Street to the south and Georgia Avenue to the west. The land holds a multitenant office building and garages, as well as some undeveloped property with maintained lawns and limited trees. Most of the remainder of land is surface parking. It's one of the three sites the agency was considering for the project.
Debbie and Perry Underwood, of Jones Title Co. in Chattanooga and Choice Title Co. in Ringgold, purchased the office building at 518 Georgia Ave. about a year ago. It sits in the footprint of the proposed courthouse location. Reached by phone, Debbie Underwood said they had no comment on the federal government's plans.
Local officials preferred the TVA office complex because they hoped a project there could help enliven the downtown area. Downtowns across the country are struggling after the pandemic, which changed how many businesses function. TVA's office complex was once home to thousands of workers who would eat lunch at local restaurants or visit parks during their breaks.
"Today, only a fraction of those workers remain, and small businesses in our core have struggled as a result," officials wrote in a Dec. 17 letter to General Services. "The health and vibrancy of our downtown is critical to the future growth and success of our city, and we believe that the new federal courthouse could animate interest in our city center."
The federal government was also mulling whether to build the courthouse on Hawk Hill, which is home to the Chattanooga Lookouts stadium. The minor league baseball team will soon move to a new facility in the Southside, and officials have unveiled plans for a new downtown neighborhood on Hawk Hill.
Not everyone is disappointed with Vine Street.
"I am relieved and gratified that this important milestone is now behind us," former U.S. District Court Judge Harry "Sandy" Mattice said in a phone call. "I appreciate GSA's deliberate process. Now, the real work is ahead, and I urge the community and its leaders to come together to make sure that this major federal investment results in a building in which all Chattanoogans can take pride."
(READ MORE: TVA studying possible alternatives to downtown Chattanooga complex)
Mattice said Vine Street is a fine spot for the project, and any of three locations under consideration would have been good. It's an underused parcel in Chattanooga, and with the federal and county courthouses being so close to each other, this project could make that area a major civic center.
"I'm just glad we're now finally moving forward," he said.
The process has taken decades, and there have been many advances and setbacks over the years. He compares the project to a marathon.
"We're at about the 20-mile mark," he said. "We're about to get into what I think is the hard work. We're either going to hit a wall, or we're going to get the energy to sprint to the finish."
In an assessment, General Services said it received 115 comments about the Vine Street site, and the vast majority were supportive. Commenters cited accessibility and the property's proximity to the Hamilton County Courthouse, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and existing law offices.
It also mentioned the savings in time and money that would come with constructing the courthouse on land that now primarily serves as parking.
Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.
Staff photo by Abby White / The proposed lot for a new federal courthouse is seen in downtown Chattanooga on Dec. 3, 2024. The lot is bounded by East Fifth Street, Lindsey Street, Vine Street and Georgia Avenue.