Groups break off negotiations to gain community benefits from Lookouts ballpark project

Leaders of a coalition of local organizations that has worked for the past year and a half to negotiate a community benefits agreement for the new Chattanooga Lookouts stadium said Thursday they are ending talks with officials.

A city official, however, said it's still happening.

Geoff Meldhal, of the nonprofit Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality and Benevolence, said a committee formed to negotiate with the South Broad District landowners and the baseball team has decided to break off talks.

He said in a phone call the group was not able to get "meaningful safeguards" for the community on contracting for the stadium construction and the larger development on the 120-acre former U.S. Pipe/Wheland Foundry site. The minor league team is proposing to move there from AT&T Field on Hawk Hill, its home field since 2000.

Meldhal said the budget for the stadium has also been a factor. Earlier this year, officials revealed the cost of the project had increased from an initial estimate of $80 million to approximately $120 million, although the public exposure has since been reduced to $115 million.

​The coalition of community groups includes the South Chattanooga Community Association, Iron Workers Local 704, Chattanooga Building Trades and others.

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