Chattanooga

Chattanooga Council Weighs City Hall Landmark Bid and Final Vote on 100 E. 38th Street Rezoning

Chattanooga City Council’s Oct. 20 agenda includes resolutions to seek Local Historic Landmark status for City Hall and to study more landmarks, plus a final reading on rezoning 100 E. 38th Street in Alton Park from RN-2 to C-NT.

Tracy King

19 Oct 2026 • 6 min read

Chattanooga City Council takes up landmark and rezoning items on Oct. 20. Illustrative photo.

Chattanooga City Hall could become the next Local Historic Landmark in the city. The City Council’s Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, agenda includes a resolution for the council to apply for Local Historic Landmark status for the Chattanooga Municipal Building at 101 E. 11th Street, and a second resolution directing staff to research more landmarks and prepare applications.

The same 3:30 p.m. meeting includes a final reading on rezoning a vacant building at 100 E. 38th Street in Alton Park from RN-2 Residential Neighborhood to C-NT Neighborhood Transition Commercial, a version recommended by the Planning Commission and staff.

City Hall landmark application

The resolution lists City Hall as Tax Map No. 145E-B-010 in District 8, and the agenda says it was added with the permission of Chairman Davis. The companion resolution directs city staff to research Local Historic Landmarks, conduct outreach to owners and constituents, and prepare applications for designation.

Chattanoogan.com reported Sept. 15 that Councilman Dennis Clark said the city can begin the process on City Hall because it owns the building on East 11th Street. Clark said owners of other properties on the list are being notified of the process, which includes a public hearing and approval by the Historic Zoning Commission.

Clark tied the effort to recent losses. “The Medical Arts Building is being bulldozed as we speak,” he said, adding that the Car Barn is being torn down for a Drury Hotel and that UTC is demolishing Engel Stadium.

He also pointed to the city’s architectural legacy, noting that Chattanooga is the home of architect R.H. Hunt, “and we are probably one of the only cities tearing down R.H. Hunt buildings, which is very sad.”

Other sites on the list

According to the same report, sites for future landmark consideration include eight cemeteries, among them Beck Knob, Pleasant Garden, Forest Hills, Mizpah, Citizens and Brainerd Mission. Others named were the Tivoli Theatre, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, Walden Hospital, Lincoln Park, First Baptist Church on E. Eighth Street, the Chattanooga Public Library, the Brainerd Golf Course and four buildings in the MLK District.

The report said the only locally designated historic site now is the Frank Lloyd Wright home on Missionary Ridge, which recently sold.

100 E. 38th Street: final reading in Alton Park

Case 2026-0107 would rezone 100 E. 38th Street in District 7 from RN-2 to C-NT. Chattanoogan.com reported Sept. 17 that new County Commissioner Montrell Besley plans two office or commercial spaces and two studio apartments with a rooftop view above, and wants the property to become a gathering spot for Alton Park residents.

Which zone, and how the name is spelled

The city documents and the news report differ on two points:

Zone. The Oct. 7 Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee agenda lists two versions: RN-2 to C-NT, recommended for approval by the Planning Commission and staff, and an applicant version, RN-2 to C-N Neighborhood Commercial, recommended for denial. Chattanoogan.com wrote that the Planning Commission recommended approval for C-N. The Oct. 20 final-reading item is the C-NT version.
Name. City agendas list the applicant as Montrell Belsey. Chattanoogan.com spells it Besley.

Item	Location	Request	Recommendation listed
City Hall landmark application	101 E. 11th St. (District 8)	Local Historic Landmark	Council resolution
2026-0107 (final reading)	100 E. 38th St. (District 7)	RN-2 to C-NT	Approval by Planning Commission and staff
2026-0107 applicant version (Oct. 7 committee)	100 E. 38th St.	RN-2 to C-N	Denial by Planning Commission and staff
2026-0109 (first reading)	2411 Awtry St. (District 9)	RN-1-5 to C-C	Denial by Planning Commission and staff
Raccoon Mountain Road waterline	District 1	Deposit agreement, $4,545,157.00	Public Works resolution

Sources: Chattanooga City Council agenda for Oct. 20, 2026, and Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee agenda for Oct. 7, 2026.

More on the Oct. 20 agenda

An applicant version for 2411 Awtry Street would rezone the lot from RN-1-5 Residential Neighborhood to C-C Commercial Corridor. The Planning Commission and staff recommend denial, and the item was deferred from Oct. 13.

Three other final readings share the night with 100 E. 38th Street. One lifts Condition #2 from a 2016 rezoning ordinance for 6745 Customer Delight Drive in District 6. Another amends Condition #3 of Ordinance No. 14199 for 6516 Hunt Drive, also in District 6. Both are recommended for approval by the Planning Commission and staff. The third closes and abandons portions of two sanitary sewer easements in the 1200 block of Poplar Street, a total of 844 linear feet in District 7.

A Public Works resolution would authorize a deposit agreement with Tennessee-American Water Company for the Raccoon Mountain Road Waterline Extension Project, Contract No. E-26-005-201, for $4,545,157.00 in District 1.

Four first-reading rezonings deferred from Oct. 13 return as well. We covered them earlier: Chattanooga Council Takes Up Reflection Riding Garden Road Rezoning Oct. 13 (2026-0106), Chattanooga Council Takes Up 3935 Cromwell Road Rezoning Oct. 13: RN-1-6 to C-N, Planning and Staff Recommend Approval, Chattanooga Sets Oct. 13 Hearing on Old Lee Highway RN-3 (2026-0113) and Chattanooga Council Takes Up 2102 Vance Avenue Rezoning Oct. 13 After Staff Urged Denial.

Chattanooga dates to watch

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, 3:30 p.m. — City Council: City Hall landmark resolutions, 100 E. 38th Street final reading, first readings.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, 3:30 p.m. — Proposed agenda lists final readings for the first-reading items.

What it means for homeowners and buyers

Landmark status starts with a process. Clark described notice to owners, a public hearing and Historic Zoning Commission approval.
Neighborhood commercial is coming to Alton Park corners. If 100 E. 38th Street passes, a vacant building could add small offices and apartments.
Raccoon Mountain Road. A $4,545,157.00 waterline extension deposit agreement with Tennessee-American Water Company is on the Oct. 20 agenda, so owners along that corridor may want to follow the vote.
Selling near a listed site? Ask how a landmark application or nearby rezoning could affect what buyers can do with a property.

Own a home in Chattanooga or anywhere in Hamilton County? Get a free home valuation, or request a cash offer if you would rather skip showings.

Is Chattanooga City Hall becoming a historic landmark?

The Oct. 20, 2026, City Council agenda includes a resolution for the council to apply for Local Historic Landmark status for City Hall at 101 E. 11th Street. Clark described a process that includes a public hearing and Historic Zoning Commission approval.

What other sites could become local landmarks?

Chattanoogan.com reported a list that includes eight cemeteries, the Tivoli Theatre, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, Walden Hospital, Lincoln Park, First Baptist Church on E. Eighth Street, the public library, Brainerd Golf Course and four MLK District buildings.

What is planned at 100 E. 38th Street?

Chattanoogan.com reported plans for two office or commercial spaces and two studio apartments with a rooftop view in a vacant building, with the goal of a gathering spot for Alton Park residents.

Is 100 E. 38th Street being rezoned to C-N or C-NT?

The Oct. 20 final-reading item is RN-2 to C-NT, recommended by the Planning Commission and staff. An applicant version to C-N was recommended for denial on the Oct. 7 committee agenda. A Chattanoogan.com report said C-N.