Chattanooga City Council will allow a blighted former motel at 7725 Lee Highway to be rezoned and rebuilt into permanent supportive housing for 70 Chattanoogans in need.
The project is intended to transform a dilapidated, boarded-up building into a community asset that will create housing for formerly homeless residents.
“The revitalization of Airport Inn is an essential part of our strategy to provide homes for Chattanoogans in need,” says Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “There’s no silver bullet to solving homelessness – and it’s not a problem we can solve alone – but by working together, we can help residents experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives.”
The process for converting the motel relies on an established formula already deployed across Hamilton County and in all nine council districts – and which nationwide has a 97% success ratio of keeping residents housed, the city says in a news release.
Residents will be screened and referred from area service providers to the property based on preestablished eligibility criteria and an ability and willingness to live semi-independently. Residents will also be required to abide by the terms and conditions of their lease, as with any other apartment complex.
From the outside, the building will be indistinguishable from any other apartment complex. But on the inside, residents will be able to receive counseling and other supportive services that will help them stay housed.
Residents’ transportation needs will be served by CARTA’s on-demand services to allow them to access groceries, employment, health care and other needs, and the supportive service providers will assist residents in accessing those and other services.
Because every person faces different circumstances, some residents will move on to other forms of housing once they have secured gainful employment and their lives are stable, while others will live in permanent supportive housing for years to come.
The administration will continue to refine its plans through two community roundtable sessions held at Shepherd Community Center. The first roundtable discussion will be held Nov. 30 at 2 p.m., with the second to follow Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. Residents who are interested in attending can register at chattanooga.gov/mayors-office/airport-inn/next-steps.
Residents can learn more about the project at www.chattanooga.gov/airport-inn.
Contract with the community
In response to feedback on the project from the local community, the Kelly administration also created a contract with the community that includes outcomes the administration is committed to pursuing to ensure residents’ concerns are addressed.
The administration took this additional step because this will be the largest supportive housing complex yet built in the city.
The contract includes the following provisions:
• The Chattanooga Police Department will increase enforcement efforts and resources around the area to reduce incidents of violence or criminal violations, including allocating additional patrol officers to Charlie Sector, which includes patrol of the property located at 7725 Lee Highway.
• No one with a serious violent felony conviction, drug manufacturing charge, or on the sexual offender registry will be eligible for a lease.
• The city will retain the ability to shut down any dysfunctional permanent supportive housing facility, including this one, based on proof of violations that continue to occur after notice.
• There will be a no-camping buffer on any government-owned property surrounding the supportive housing property the city owns.
• The operator of the facility will be required to provide around-the-clock professional security services while there are permanent supportive housing services on-site.
• CARTA will provide dial-a-ride services that will pick up at the front door of the facility.
• There will be no on-site registration for these residences.
• The city will form a community advisory committee to include leadership from local churches, neighborhood residents and local schools.
Frequently asked questions
• Is the city purchasing the other motels in the area to turn into permanent supportive housing?
No. The city does not own the two extended stay motels next to the Airport Inn and has no plans to purchase them.
• What is happening to the other two extended stay motels near the Airport Inn?
An applicant has applied to rezone the properties for multi-family residential use. The result of that request is between the applicant and the Regional Planning Commission, and if approved will proceed to city council for a vote. The administration is not involved in this process.
• How will the city ensure the surrounding community, including the children in the surrounding schools, are safe?
The Chattanooga Police Department will increase enforcement around the area to further reduce incidents of violence or criminal violations – the majority of which are linked to the two remaining extended stay motels operating in the area.
To assist in increased enforcement, the CPD’s most recent cadet class will graduate to Charlie Sector, which includes patrol of the property located at 7725 Lee Highway.
Once open, the new permanent supportive housing complex will be staffed with security on-site, as well as include security cameras linked to CPD’s real-time intelligence center.
• What will happen to the stretch of property behind the Airport Inn the City also owns?
The city has no plans to develop the 3.16-acre tract of land behind the Airport Inn, which was automatically conveyed to the city and Hamilton County in 2020 as a result of the property owner’s failure to pay taxes.
• When did the city buy the Airport Inn and for how much money?
The city purchased the Airport Inn in October 2021 for $2,785,000. The city originally offered $2 million for the property, which was rejected. The city accepted a counteroffer for $2,785,000.
With over 70 rooms available for conversion into single occupancy apartments, the cost equates to $40,000 per unit, which is lower than the market rate of new construction, which averages nearly $200,000 per unit in Tennessee.
• Who will manage the renovation?
The city will issue a request for proposals outlining the scope of work for the renovation. The proposals will include requirements that are informed by national best practices, as well as include stipulations from the city’s contract with the community to ensure the community’s needs are recognized.
City officials will review all submitted applications and will make a selection based on preestablished scoring criteria.
• How will the city engage the community throughout the process to address ongoing issues or concerns?
The city will form a community advisory committee, to include leadership from local churches (including Silverdale Baptist Church), neighborhood residents and representatives from Silverdale Baptist Academy and other local schools.
The advisory committee will meet regularly with the city and the organization selected to manage and staff the facility to discuss and address any issues or concerns that arise as the project progresses.
• What transportation options will be available to the residents?
The on-site support staff will assist residents in using CARTA’s shared ride service, CARTA GO, to travel to the grocery store or to any needed supportive services appointments off-site.
The city is also exploring the inclusion of two commuter vans in its request for proposals for staffing and management of the facility, which would allow staff to schedule planned group trips to the grocery store and other safe outings for the residents.
• How will residents be screened for eligibility?
The organization selected to manage and staff the facility will screen potential residents off-site to determine if they are eligible to lease a unit in the complex.
• What types of measures are in place to ensure the accountability of residents once they move in?
Every resident will have to sign a lease agreement that holds them accountable under certain stipulations, like any other lease agreement with a property owner. Residents will not be able to share their unit with another individual, have more than one guest at a time and must follow noise, waste and smoking regulations.
As with any lease, if a resident breaks the terms of the lease, they will be held accountable up to and including termination of the lease. Criminal behavior will be referred to law enforcement for prosecution, in addition to termination of the lease.
• Who will run and manage the facility?
The city will issue a request for proposals for a service provider to manage and staff the facility. City officials will review all submitted applications and will make a selection based on preestablished scoring criteria.
Source: City of Chattanooga