CARTA eyes more parking [Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.]

July 27--Another parking garage could be in downtown's future as CARTA officials look to supply more spaces for the Hunter Museum of American Art and Bluff View Art District.

The Chattanooga Downtown Redevelopment Corp., a city panel, on Monday agreed to consider one idea -- a garage at Walnut Street and Riverfront Parkway next to a new apartment building slated to go up soon.

However, CARTA Executive Director Tom Dugan said there's no city funding for the garage, which was not included in Chattanooga's new budget.

He said CARTA may have to look at a different spot unless funding is found. The CARTA official said he isn't hopeful of securing federal grant money.

If the Walnut Street deck doesn't work out, Mr. Dugan said Unum Group has indicated it will look at selling some of its surface lots nearby for redevelopment after the insurer finishes its employee parking garage.

He said CARTA could join with a developer on one of those lots to put up more public parking.

"There's no question the Bluff View Art District could use additional parking," Mr. Dugan said.

Dan Johnson, Mayor Ron Littlefield's chief of staff and a Redevelopment Corp. board member, said the money for the proposed garage at Walnut wasn't included in the city budget because of fiscal restraints.

But, Mr. Johnson said the need for more parking in the area is real.

Chattanooga businessman John Clark is leading a development team to raise Walnut Commons, a $9 million, 100-unit apartment complex. It's the biggest apartment building planned downtown in decades.

Mr. Clark said Monday that construction on the project could start within 90 days. He said he'd welcome the proposed one-level, 80-space CARTA garage if funding is available.

"We're hopeful," he said.

The Redevelopment Corp. authorized a memorandum of understanding between the parties for the garage, which would cost an estimated $1.5 million.

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