This is part of our Neighborhood Associations series. Know an association you want spotlighted? Let us know.
If you live within the bounds of Barton Avenue and Old Dallas Road, you have a new local resource right on your street in the form of the North Chattanooga Neighborhood Association (NCNA).
Spearheaded by a four-person team that includes President Alison Poole and Treasurer Ben Connor, the association recently held its first meeting earlier in February to connect with the community and gain interest while establishing guidelines for how it will operate.
Poole said that recent news that directly impacts the area (think: Frazier Avenue reconfiguration + Hamilton County Schools Facilities Plan) sparked the interest to gather folks so the neighborhoods could have a unified voice.
“I think the potential impact is going to be far reaching because we are going to be community-led to address issues,” she said.
Connor added that one of NCNA’s biggest goals is to offer a space that is inclusive and shows fair representation when going to civic forums. He added that when drawing up the boundaries, they also wanted to include the folks in the nearby apartments and gated communities.
NCNA encompasses Old Dallas Road/East Dallas Road, the homes just north of Frazier Avenue, Barton Avenue, Hixson Pike, Market Street, and Dallas Road. Read up on the bylaws. Note: The association’s officials are serving as interim until an election can be held at a later time.
Five committees also make up the association. Let’s dive into the focus areas.
Beautification + Environmental Sustainability | 15 members
Working in three steps — eliminating eye sores (conducting bi-annual trash pickup days, addressing abandoned cars in neighborhoods, etc.), educating residents on resources like 311 + how to streamline issues, and creating and maintaining green spaces with future development, monarch way stations, etc.
Road Safety + Repairs | 40 members
Focusing on Frazier Avenue while identifying other focus areas and specific needs — some key short-term solutions the committee identified in a recent statement about the NorthShore street include restriping to one lane in each direction, updating traffic light + crosswalk timings to be more pedestrian-centered, and prioritizing stroller and handicap access on the sidewalks.
Responsible Growth | 15 members
Helping bridge the gap between ordinances and zoning to educate + be a part of decision making, establishing a system for reporting suspected illegal Airbnbs, and working with the North Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce to help bring in more businesses.
Schools | 12 members
Diving into the proposed schools facilities plan to relay to residents what it means for surrounding schools (Normal Park Elementary + Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts) in relation to funding, the vote, and what the schools are saying.
Social | 15 members
Connecting neighbors through initiatives like a potluck (first one on Saturday, April 20 at 12 p.m.), Neighborhood “Watch,” creating a mobile, city-funded crisis team for high-need residents, and working on community center ownership.
“We want our presence to be as loud as it needs to be and where our group thinks it needs to be,” Connor said. “A consensus for advocacy.”
Is this your neighborhood? Get connected and stop by the next meeting on Thursday, April 4 at the Frances B. Wyatt Community Center starting at 7 p.m.
