Timothy Burney

Chattanooga’s planned outdoor center, slated to go in place of the controversial Coolidge hotel near the Walnut Street Bridge, won approval from a city design panel Thursday.

“I’ve had several residents say they’re in favor of the design,” said Mary Eastman of the North Shore Design Review Committee.

Timothy Burney, a principal for designer Artech, said the renovation of an existing building into the new center will likely be done by late fall.

A key element to the design is the roof, he said.

“The mayor wanted it to be visually appealing looking from the bridge,” Mr. Burney said.

Part of the roof on the one-story building, which will hold the headquarters of Outdoor Chattanooga, will be “green,” or covered with a grass-like material. The remainder will be a sloped to mimic other buildings at nearby Coolidge Park, Mr. Burney said.

“Part of our charge was to make it an attractive facility, including from the bridge,” he said.

The work involves renovating the 6,000-square-foot River Interiors & Floorcovering building at 200 River St. The cost is estimated at $942,000, a city official has said.

In 2006, Mayor Ron Littlefield and developer Bill Young finalized a land swap that gave the city the River Street site in exchange for property at Cherokee Boulevard and Manufacturers Road near Renaissance Park.

In 2005, Mr. Young had proposed raising an 80-room, $7 million hotel on River Street. The project received approval from the Design Review Committee, but it drew vocal opposition from residents. Some worried the four-story hotel would hurt views of the bridge and park.

Mr. Young later sold his Renaissance Park land to Vision Hospitality Group, which plans to put a hotel at that site.

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