Preserve Chattanooga has launched a new community-wide historic preservation planning process designed to help guide how preservation can support Chattanooga’s continued growth while protecting the places that define the city’s character and history. It is the first citywide preservation plan effort since 1977.

The Chattanooga Historic Preservation Plan will serve as a roadmap for identifying, protecting, and celebrating the city’s historic and cultural resources, including neighborhoods, landmarks, landscapes, and historic buildings.

The process is being led by preservation consultants Walker Collaborative in partnership with Thomason and Associates and Common Ground.

A key component of the planning effort is public input. Preserve Chattanooga is encouraging residents across Hamilton County to complete a brief community survey by June 30, 2026. The anonymous survey takes approximately seven minutes to complete and will help shape priorities related to local historic districts, design review, preservation incentives, neighborhood conservation, and future planning strategies.

“We have a generational opportunity to pause, take stock of what we have, recognize what may have been overlooked, and make thoughtful, collective decisions about how we grow,” said Todd Morgan, executive director for Preserve Chattanooga.

Chattanooga’s previous preservation plan was completed in 1977 for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission. Preserve Chattanooga’s leaders say the city’s rapid growth makes a new community-driven preservation strategy especially important now.

“Preservation is not about stopping growth,” said Mr. Morgan. “It’s about guiding growth thoughtfully so Chattanooga can retain the authentic places and stories that make the community unique.”

The preservation plan is funded through generous support from the Lyndhurst Foundation and the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Community members can learn more about the planning process, review the previous preservation plan, and complete the survey at https://www.preservechattanooga.com/plan.

For more information about Preserve Chattanooga, visit www.preservechattanooga.com