CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- A move by the City of Chattanooga could put people
living in the Westside Community on the streets.
The City plans to revive the neighborhood, the homes and those living there.
But residents say the idea is unwelcome and that they're being pushed out, a
notion Mayor Ron Littlefield says is absurd.
Like many of his neighbors, Victor Leftwich doesn't call the buildings off Grove
Street "College Hill Courts."
To Victor, this has just been home for 30 years.
"I grew up here, I know what it could be like, I know when it was good, and I
can live with it when it's bad," he says.
Soon 'it' could change.
Mayor Ron Littlefield wants Atlanta-based Purpose Built Communities to bring
its model for community revitalization to Chattanooga.
The Westside, made up of only public and subsidized housing, is one of three
neighborhoods Littlefield is eyeing.
"This is the reaction any time you talk about change," the Mayor says. "People
perceive change as being something that's going to affect them negatively."
Tuesday, dozens of troubled residents showed up to voice their concerns and
hopes for a better community.
While gaining a police precinct and safer playgrounds sounds nice, residents
are more worried about what they could lose.
"They don't care where you live," says Victor. "Where are these people going to
go if you tear this place down?"
"That's something that has to be given a lot of thought," says Betsy McCright
with the Chattanooga Housing Authority. "We'll work very closely with the
residents to come up with a relocation plan if, and when, we get there."
The housing authority has not taken a stance on the mayor's proposal, but is
preparing for what could come.
Residents remain skeptical at best.
"Really I think they are going to do what they want to do anyway," resident
Banilla Walker says. "Regardless of what we say, or what they write down, they
are going to do what they want anyway."
"What we say really don't mean nothing to these people," says Victor.
City officials have also listed the Harriet Tubman Housing Development and
the former Maurice Poss Homes.
College Hill Courts is the only active development under consideration. City
council will have to vote to hire Purpose Built Communities.
It could be a few months before that happens.
