CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The First Baptist Church on East 8th Street, one of Chattanooga’s most historic congregations with roots dating back to 1866, is embarking on an ambitious plan to bring affordable housing to its downtown neighborhood.
Church’s Vision for Affordable Housing
The church’s leadership is taking bold steps to redevelop its property, including transforming part of its basement into 12 affordable housing units. If structural or logistical challenges prevent basement construction, church leaders are also considering converting the space into a community-use area to serve local residents.
Deacon LaMonte Vaughn, a fourth-generation member of the church, confirmed that an additional 45 housing units are proposed for development on the church’s adjacent parking lot.
“Right now, we’re still in the planning stage of that initiative,” Vaughn explained.
The church is collaborating with the Strategic Capacity for Advancing Local Economies, an initiative that supports innovative community-based development projects.
Preserving History While Planning for the Future
Because of the church’s age and historic significance, leaders say careful planning is crucial.
Trustee Kitty Williams acknowledged the project’s slow but steady progress.
“We’re moving in a snail path,” she said. “Because of the building being as old as it is, we have to take into concept what we may run into.”
The church’s dedication to revitalization has drawn support from community partners, including the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, which praised the initiative for its forward-thinking approach.
Community Support and Broader Impact
In a statement to Local3 News, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga highlighted the importance of such efforts amid the city’s ongoing housing challenges:
“Like many communities across our country, it is well-documented that Chattanooga currently lacks an adequate supply of affordable housing options. Solving this problem will require innovative solutions, impactful investment, and creative partnerships such as this initiative being led by First Baptist Church. The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga is proud to support initiatives expanding affordable housing supply across our community.”
The partnership emphasizes the need for collaboration between faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and local agencies to address Chattanooga’s housing shortage and create lasting community impact.
Looking Ahead
Although the redevelopment is still in its planning and design stages, the First Baptist Church’s effort reflects a growing trend across the country — historic congregations repurposing their properties to serve pressing community needs.
If successful, the project will not only provide new homes for dozens of families but also preserve one of Chattanooga’s most historic landmarks as a place of faith, service, and renewal.
Residents and community members are encouraged to share their thoughts and hopes for the project in the comments below.
