The City of Chattanooga’s Economic & Community Development (ECD) Department will launch a new initiative, called DeCode Day, on Friday, to enhance Chattanooga neighborhoods.
The event, which will be the first in ECD’s new initiative, will focus on two blocks in the Avondale Neighborhood. Volunteers from the City of Chattanooga, including code inspectors and representatives of the Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments, will join together with Avondale neighborhood residents to help preserve homes on Windsor Street. Friday’s efforts will include trimming trees, clearing debris, repairing mailboxes, and applying new coats of paint to trim, railings and columns.
Prior to Friday’s inaugural DeCode Day, crews will be on Windsor Street throughout the week to demolish two houses in disrepair, which will increase safety and help return the property to productive use.
DeCode Days is a new ECD initiative that aims to promote safety, beautify neighborhood blocks and strengthen community relationships. In order to improve the quality of life for residents, city employees and volunteers from neighborhoods across Chattanooga will join together on established days to make home frontage upgrades such as landscaping, painting, power washing and repairing mailboxes. The idea of DeCode Day came directly from an employee of ECD’s codes enforcement division.
Looking for a way to encourage property upkeep and ensure safe housing, Lamont Chapman suggested a day of service in which codes inspectors would help residents within blighted blocks bring their home up to code.
In August, ECD identified 23 properties along two blocks in Avondale in need of repairs. Even before the work has officially started, DeCode Day has inspired residents to started making improvements from maintaining yards to fixing front porches.