Remember Hamilton County’s old jail? It closed in 2021 and has been empty ever since — but that could soon change.
Local developer Urban Story Ventures wants to transform the downtown building into Jailhouse Studios, a film and music production hub.
“Chattanooga stands as a rare unicorn in the production landscape, ideally located between Atlanta and Nashville, two of the nation’s top creative hubs,” said Dan Kretz, president of Optic 8, which would help build the studios.
The proposal includes residential space for artists and a helipad on the roof to fly them in and out.
On the tech side, the studios would be “quantum-ready,” meaning each production would get its own private, encrypted digital workspace — keeping films and music secure.
“There’s nothing like it. Chattanooga will be in the global spotlight for technology and entertainment like never before,” said Jimmy White, president of Urban Story Ventures.
The project could take about 18 months if approved by county commissioners. We’ll keep you posted on their decision.
