Why does Chattanooga look the way it does?

A modern condominium development might sit right next to a building from 1920; a former train station is now filled with restaurants + retail;an old department store is turned into offices; and a former house of ill repute in the late 19th Century is now your go-to spot for a good burger + beer.

The reason is “adaptive reuse,” the process of reusing an old site or building for a purpose other than what it was designed for. And you can see it everywhere throughout the city. Buildings with historical and architectural significance that are worth keeping instead of tearing down. 💡

Leading the adaptive reuse charge, Cornerstones Inc. is the city’s only nonprofit historical preservation organization. Led by Executive Director Ann Gray, Cornerstones seeks to “promote the importance of restoring the buildings of our past for today’s use, while bringing together the resources required to effect such change.”

Most recently, Cornerstones is leading a $1 million renovation of the historic Terminal Station, which hasn’t been used for its original purpose (train travel) since 1970. And although more than 20 properties have been saved so far — including St. John’s Hotel (1916) and the Mayfield Annex (the early 1900s) — many properties are still endangered. For example, the Ellis Restaurant at 1415 Market St. + Engel Stadium, are both currently seeking revitalization.

Southern Saddlery Building — 3001 Broad St.

Then: You guessed it, the building was previously a tannery which processed raw materials for saddles. Just after the Civil War, Robert Scholze, a German transplant started Southern Saddlery in 1878. The enormous complex remained a saddlery until about 1930. Cars replaced horses and the saddle industry dwindled.

Now: These days, the building is used for commercial space and, notably, Boccaccia Ristorante Italiano. In addition, the building is also home to marketing agency ThreeTwelve Creative and AllianceShield Insurance Brokerage Inc.

Warehouse Row — 1110 Market St.

Then: A Civil War fort called the Old Stone Fort eventually became a part of the thriving Warehouse District in the 20th Century. The two buildings are a part of the National Register of Historic Places, which runs along the 1100 block of Market Street. These buildings — originally seven buildings — also served as a textile mill.

Now: In 1989, the buildings were repurposed for retail, mirroring the outlet concept popular at the time. However, the glory was short-lived and by the time it was purchased again in 2006, only about 20 of the available spaces were used for retail. Flash forward to 2014, when powerhouses J.Crew and Anthropologie were added to the mix joining popular restaurant Public House + other local retailers.

Baggage Depot — 12 W. 13th St.

Then: The oldest building still standing from Chattanooga’s history (circa 1870), it served as the baggage depot for the Queen & Crescent Railroad. With the exception of Terminal Station, the Baggage Depot remains one of the most symbolic of Chattanooga’s railroad past.

Now: In 2011, restaurateurs Mike and Taylor Monen opened their popular Urban Stack restaurant in this location.