Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, November 29, 2019

New Avondale Youth and Family Development Center opens




Avondale Neighborhood Association President Ken Smith welcomes people to the new Avondale Youth and Family Development Center. - Photographs by J. Adams of the City of Chattanooga

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, District 8 Councilman Anthony Byrd and the Department of Youth and Family Development celebrated the opening of the Avondale Youth and Family Development Center on Nov. 23.

“Over the last few months, I’ve talked about how East Chattanooga is rising to make this part of our city stronger and safer for all the people who live, work and worship here,” Berke said. “For years, a big part of that vision has been to replace the Avondale Youth and Family Development Center with something special and state-of-the-art.”

The former Avondale Center was built in 1949, making it one of the oldest in the city. The new center, designed by H+K Architects, is 22,550 square feet, which is more than four times the size of the old center. For perspective, the old center could fit inside the new Avondale gym.

“We’re seeing East Chattanooga rise in many ways,” Councilman Byrd said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the youth and adults in the area utilize this great new space.”

Source: City of Chattanooga