Ridgedale

Through a series of neighborhood meetings, the Ridgedale residents and business owners identified and prioritized a number of issues. They also consolidated their vision for the future of Ridgedale into four general goals.

Neighborhood Goals
A Safe Community An Attractive and Pleasing Neighborhood A Neighborhood of Increasing Property Values A Neighborhood with Adequate Business Services

The Plan

Adopted by Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission: November 9, 1998
 

Adopted by Chattanooga City Council: December 8, 1998
 

graphic by: Winsetta P. Ford

Map Key: Yellow-Residential, Orange-Mixed Use Residential, Violet-Industrial, Red-Commercial, Blue-Institutional, Dark Green-Parks & Greenways, Gray-Parking, Dark Gray-Utilities

Plan Recommendations:

• Residents & Property Owners
• Business & Industry
• Government
• Non-Profit Groups & Instistutions

Residents & Property Owners

Responsibility

• Actively supports the Neighborhood Association
• Properly maintain houses and yards
• Strengthen the litter & trash reduction program
• Start a Crime Watch program
• Create a neighborhood "identity" & publicize it
• Maintain vacant lots

1 - 2 Years

• Form a non-profit organization to maintain small neighborhood "greens."
• Start a neighborhood newsletter
• Start a yard-of-the-month award program
• Replace chain-link fences with picket fences
• Schedule some neighborhood celebrations, such as block parties

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Business & Industry

Responsibility

• Improve the appearance of properties by landscaping or screening materials stored outside
• Strat a local Merchant's Association to address the needs of existing businesses and solicit new neighborhood-oriented businesses such as grocery stores, drug stores, banks, etc.
• Notify the Neighborhood Association of expansion activities
• Sponsor and support neighborhood events

1 - 2 Years

• Rehabilitate building exteriors & landscape parking lots

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Government

Responsibility

• Increase police presence
• Strongly enforce City codes
• Demolish vacant, dilapidated houses promptly
• Remove illegally stored junk vehicles
• Conduct timely street cleaning & trash removal
• Reclaim back tax properties & establish a re-use program with incentives
• Properly maintain street trees
• Revisit City's "Alley Policy"
• Increase animal control
• Expand the "Commercial Facade Improvement Program" to include Ridgedale

1 - 2 Years

• Conduct systematic housing code compliance inspections
• Correct stormwater drainage problems
• Initiate streetscape improvements as identified on the Plan
• Start a greenways and safe-walk program
• Upgrade Ridgedale Park
• Review existing zoning & update to match this Plan
• Create incentives to make infill housing financially competitive
• Maintain alleys for use by City services, police, residents, & businesses
• Develop new recreation facilities at Eastside Elementary
• Program cultural activities for seniors

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Non-Profit Groups & Institutions

Responsibility

• Market CNE's home improvement programs in Ridgedale
• Share appropriate facilities with the Neighborhood
• Coordinate recreational facilities with the Neighborhood Association, City agencies, and local businesses
• Encourage increased student & faculty involvement in the neighborhood

1 - 2 Years

• Identify potential new uses for underutilized industrial properties & market them when appropriate
• Help fund and develop new housing to fit neighborhood plans & goals
• Limit campus expansion for athletic fields to the properties west of Woodward Street

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