Hospital relocation shouldn’t slip away
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp have worked with state Sen. Bo Watson tirelessly as a nonpartisan team to support the best new location for the state mental hospital, as it moves off Moccasin Bend. Black Creek developers, many Black Creek residents and former Congressman Zach Wamp have all made public statements in support of the Birmingham Highway site. A large majority of Chattanoogans support the move.
No location pleases everyone, but this one is as close as you can come. It is zoned industrial, and the seller is said to be planning a chicken plant. That could be far worse. In fact, the hospital will require sewers brought to that end of the county, which adds value to local residents.
Moving the hospital to Birmingham Highway presents the best opportunity to unleash the spectacular opportunity on Moccasin Bend. The national park will highlight 12,000 years of Native American life as well as an important Civil War engagement, all at Chattanooga’s doorstep. Economic projections show millions being added to the local economy.
We must not let this opportunity slip away.