Walden Voters Reject the $2.1 Million Totten Property Purchase, 533 to 499
Walden voters said no on Tuesday to buying the $2.1 million, 42-acre Totten property across from Town Hall, 533 to 499. Here is what each side argued, what the owners said about value and zoning, and the latest Signal Mountain and Red Bank results.
Walden will not buy the Totten property. On Tuesday, voters in the small town on Walden's Ridge rejected a plan to buy the 42-acre tract across from Town Hall for $2.1 million.
The vote was close. According to Chattanoogan.com, 533 people voted against the purchase and 499 voted for it.
We previewed the question before Election Day in Walden Voters Decide Nov. 3 on Up to $1.4 Million in Debt for the 42-Acre Totten Tract. Here is how it ended, what each side argued, and what the owners said about the land's value.
The result
| Walden Totten property referendum | Votes |
|---|---|
| Against the purchase | 533 |
| For the purchase | 499 |
Source: Chattanoogan.com.
What each side argued
Against
Mayor Lee Davis opposed the purchase. He cited concerns about debt for the small community near Signal Mountain.
Supporters said private, unnamed donors had offered to pay $1.7 million of the price. Opponents said that arrangement could fall through.
For
Vice Mayor Lizzy Schmidt and Alderwoman Angela Cassidy supported the purchase. They said it would give the nature-focused town more greenspace and prevent an unfavorable development from going in.
The owners' view on value and zoning
Before the vote, members of the Totten, McCown and Ansel family, who own the property, issued a letter. They said the town approached them about buying the land and put it under contract in May. Since then, the family said, it had stayed out of the public debate.
The family has deep roots in the town. Its letter noted that one generation back was Billie Bennett Ansel, a former mayor of Walden who helped incorporate the town. The family said it had always preferred that the land be used in a way the town would be pleased with.
The letter also said questions about the donors and whether the town should control the land were ones on which reasonable minds can disagree.
The family said it decided to respond after some opponents argued the town would overpay. Those critics pointed to an appraisal of $1.85 million, which is $250,000 less than the $2.1 million price.
The appraisal assumed today's zoning
The family wrote that the appraisal assumes the current A-1 zoning, which prohibits development of the property. If the land were rezoned with an appropriate development plan, they said, it would become significantly more valuable.
They also pointed to Walden's Land Use Plan. According to the letter, that plan envisions the property being rezoned and developed as a mix of Town Center, Town Center Neighborhood and Countryside Residential uses.
A competing offer
The family said that when it accepted the town's $2.1 million offer, it had a competing offer from a private developer at a "meaningfully higher price." They said they chose the town's lower offer partly because they believed town ownership would better match what Walden residents want.
In the family's words, it "left money-on-the-table" so the town could buy the site if it wanted to. The letter called the vote "local democracy at its finest" and urged residents to vote with an accurate sense of the property's value.
The letter was signed by Ardian Totten, Jim Ansel, William McCown, Marilyn McCown and Thomas McCown.
What happens to the land now?
With the town's purchase rejected, the property stays with the family for now. No new plan for the site has been announced. Based on the family's letter, a few things are worth watching:
- Zoning: The land is zoned A-1 today, which the family says prohibits development. Any building would need a rezoning first.
- The Land Use Plan: Walden's plan already imagines town center and residential uses on this site, according to the family.
- Private interest: The family said a private developer had offered more than the town.
Any rezoning would have to go through the town's public process. Residents who care about the site's future should watch Walden's planning and board agendas.
Signal Mountain Town Council results
Next door, Signal Mountain voters filled four Town Council seats from a crowded field. Clay Crumbliss, Andrew Coyle, Austin Scofield and Jami Wolbers received the most votes. Crumbliss and J. Miles Jorgensen were the incumbents.
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Clay Crumbliss | 2,603 |
| P. Andrew Coyle | 2,025 |
| Austin Scofield | 1,619 |
| Jami Wolbers | 1,569 |
| Rufus Marye | 1,512 |
| J. Miles Jorgensen | 1,349 |
Source: Chattanoogan.com. Top six of ten candidates shown.
Red Bank: new commissioners and a property sale
In Red Bank, Hollie Berry, Jamie Fairbanks-Harvey and Chad Bullard won three open seats on the Board of Commissioners. Berry received 2,648 votes, Fairbanks-Harvey 2,647, Bullard 2,024 and David R. Smith 1,824.
Red Bank also announced it has approved selling the former sewer plant property at 614 Hudson Road to Marion Environmental Company for $314,000, the property's appraised market value. Marion Environmental and its predecessors have leased the site since 1995 under an agreement that included an option to buy. Commissioners formally approved the sale on Oct. 6.
Commissioners first discussed the sale at a work session on June 16, 2026, where they reviewed the appraisal, the lease and other details. Granum said Red Bank will not return to the sewer utility business, and that the sale lets Marion Environmental make the capital investments it needs for long-term use of the site.
City Manager Martin Granum said the sale turns an asset the city no longer needs into money that can be reinvested through Red Bank's recently developed Capital Improvement Plan.
Other Hamilton County town results
| Town | Winners |
|---|---|
| Soddy Daisy Commission | Jay Branum (2,474), Mark Penney (2,345) |
| Collegedale Commission | Jessica Fields (1,161), Tonya Sadler (1,084) |
| Lakesite Commission | Wayne Behlau (497), Michelle Wilson (439) |
| Ridgeside Commission | Robert E. Steel III (199), Liz Doescher (189), Shawn Ryan (173) |
Source: Chattanoogan.com.
What it means for homeowners near Walden and Signal Mountain
Large open tracts near town centers are rare on the mountain. What happens to the Totten land could shape traffic, views and nearby home values for years. If you own nearby, stay informed and know what your home is worth today.
For local numbers, see How much is my Signal Mountain home worth in 2026? and How fast do homes sell in Signal Mountain?. For Red Bank, read Red Bank Approves Three Zero-Lot-Line Rezonings as Chattanooga Prices Slip.
Thinking of selling on the mountain or in Red Bank?
Get a free home valuation to see where your home stands. If you would rather sell fast without repairs or showings, request a cash offer. Our proven system helps Chattanooga-area homeowners sell with confidence.
Did Walden voters approve buying the Totten property?
No. Chattanoogan.com reported 533 votes against and 499 votes for buying the $2.1 million, 42-acre Totten property across from Walden Town Hall.
Why did some Walden leaders oppose the Totten purchase?
Mayor Lee Davis opposed the purchase, citing debt concerns for the small community. Opponents also said a donor arrangement to fund $1.7 million could fall through.
What was the Totten property appraised for?
Opponents cited an appraisal of $1.85 million. The owners said that appraisal assumed the current A-1 zoning, which prohibits development, and that the land would be worth significantly more if rezoned.
Who won the Signal Mountain Town Council race in 2026?
Clay Crumbliss, Andrew Coyle, Austin Scofield and Jami Wolbers received the top votes for four seats, according to Chattanoogan.com.
Who won the Red Bank Commission seats in 2026?
Hollie Berry, Jamie Fairbanks-Harvey and Chad Bullard won the three open seats on the Red Bank Commission, according to Chattanoogan.com.
Source links
- Chattanoogan.com — Walden Votes Against Effort To Buy $2.1 Million, 42-Acre Totten Property (Nov. 3, 2026)
- Chattanoogan.com — Crumbliss, Coyle, Scofield And Wolbers Win In Crowded Signal Mountain Town Council Race (Nov. 3, 2026)
- Chattanoogan.com — All Votes In For Red Bank, Collegedale, Soddy Daisy, Lakesite, And Ridgeside (Nov. 3, 2026)
- Chattanoogan.com — City Of Red Bank Approves Sale Of Former Sewer Plant Property (Nov. 3, 2026)
More from Kings of Real Estate
Related local news:
- Walden Voters Decide Nov. 3 on Up to $1.4 Million in Debt for the 42-Acre Totten Tract
- How much is my Signal Mountain home worth in 2026?
- How fast do homes sell in Signal Mountain?
- Red Bank Approves Three Zero-Lot-Line Rezonings as Chattanooga Prices Slip
- Is Red Bank TN a Good Place to Live in 2026?
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