Local Historic Landmarks of Chattanooga
Chattanooga has an ordinance in place that can lead to Local Historic Landmark (LHL) designation for our most significant buildings. LHL designation requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission (CHZC) when an application for a permit is submitted for construction, alteration, rehabilitation, or demolition.
SHAVIN HOUSE BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
Wright’s only work in Tennessee is located on historic Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga on a site commanding beautiful views of the city and Tennessee River. An excellent example of an all-masonry Usonian design, it is the 1951 dream-turned-reality for Seamour and Gertrude (Gerte) Shavin. The property was designated a local Historic Landmark in 1995.
Wyatt Hall (CSAS)
The next promising candidate for Landmark status is Wyatt Hall, currently home to the Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences. Wyatt Hall was designed by Chattanooga’s “Master Architect”, Reuben Harrison Hunt, in 1920. Named in honor of Henry D. Wyatt, founder in 1872 of the city’s public school system, Wyatt Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
From 1963-1983, the building was known as Riverside High School which counts the actor Samuel L. Jackson and NFL wide receiver Mike Jones among its graduates.
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Georgian in style, the brick building is graced with a wealth of limestone trim. R.H. Hunt’s creation looks more like an 18th century English manor. It served as the city’s main downtown high school until 1963. Beautiful details can be seen throughout the interior of the building as well. Wyatt Halll is significant for its history and architectural pedigree.
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Over 8,000 people have signed a petition to obtain Landmark status for Wyatt Hall. Alumni raised over $1,800 to facilitate the nomination process.
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The Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission approved a resolution supporting LHL for Wyatt Hall at their July 2023 meeting.
A City Council workshop is planned forr October 17.
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Here is waht you can do to support LHL for CSAS:
Contact your City Council representative(s) and encourage them to support this nomination. Learn more about Council members and how to contact them at this LINK.
Contact your Hamilton County School Board representative(s) and encourage them to support this initiative. A School Board contact list can be found at this LINK.
Watch this page and Preserve Chattanooga social media pages for when the desigantion will be voted on by City Council. Mark your calendar for that date and plan to attend and voice your support during the meeting.
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Hamilton County Schools applied to have CSAS added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This placed the building under maintenance and construction guidelines set forth in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties in order to maintain that designation.
If designated LHL, the Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commision will review any major changes propesed to the exterior of Wyatt Hall. The same guidelines currently in place will be used by the CHZC.
There should be no hardship placed on the school as the owner of a LHL designated property. In fact, the ordinacne for LHL provides for an economic hardship hearing in order to not deprive the owner of reasonable use or economic return, of the property.
The main reason for pursuing LHL designation is to ensure that school maintains its National Register status and that if the property were to be sold to a private develooper, that entity would have acccess to grants and tax credits associated with that status.
The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties must be followed in order to maintain that designation. However, there is currently no local review process or guidance provided. LHL designation would provide that.
“By the banks of the Tennessee
On a hilltop shining bright;
Stands a school we love and cherish
That’s glorious to the sight.”
- CSAS Alma Mater