The Location

US Pipe and Foundry Co. was founded in 1887 and established the foundry on South Broad in 1899. US Pipe was recognized as one of the nation's finest iron fabricators. Wheland Foundry operated in Chattanooga from 1866 to 2003, producing a variety of cast iron products including automotive parts.

US Pipe and Wheland Foundry were each large and important employers to thousands of Chattanoogans for over 100 years.

The South Broad commercial corridor and Southside Gardens grew up around the foundries, predominantly employing and supporting African Americans while connecting Chattanooga to communities on Lookout Mountain.

The Howard School is Chattanooga’s first public school, founded in 1865 by the Freedman’s Bureau. It carries a significant legacy from the Reconstruction era and the Civil Rights era. The school moved to its Market street campus in 1954.

The Wheland Foundry closed in 2003 followed shortly thereafter by US Pipe in 2006. For nearly 20 years, both sites have been largely abandoned.

The site is so large and complicated that it requires a significant catalyst project (such as a new stadium/event venue) to make the land valuable to Chattanooga again.

The loss of nearby jobs devastated the neighboring communities — specifically the African American population — leading to lower property values and a dramatically decreased overall population.

The decline in economic activity at the site has been starving the city and county of tax revenue that could be supporting schools, roads, and other essential services for our citizens.

The site’s strategic location as a gateway to Chattanooga via I-24, and its proximity to Broad Street and the Tennessee Riverwalk (which already runs through the site), makes the area ideal for major investment. Timing for redevelopment is also ideal, as a new nearby exit off of I-24 has recently opened.

The land owner, Perimeter Properties, has already donated 12 acres of land so the Riverwalk could be extended through the site.

Phase one of this project will attract over $300 million in investment, with a conservative expectation that the total economic impact will exceed $2.3 billion.

This enormous boost to the regional economy will improve neighborhoods near and far in many long-term ways, including through new jobs, fun new amenities, increased property values, and significantly more tax revenue for schools and roads.