Change is a-comin' to East Ridge

East Ridge is not known as a hotbed of progressive ideas and great housing but city officials are setting out to change that while capturing hearts and minds with a new public relations campaign starting soon.

The Come Home to East Ridge ummm, Welcome to the New East Ridge errr, There's More to East Ridge than the Flood Zone!* program is aimed at making Hamilton County residents, new & old, think about East Ridge as a great place to live and own a home. Plans are to emphasize East Ridge's proximity to downtown Chattanooga & East Brainerd businesses while showcasing its affordability, stable home prices, lower taxes and revitalization plans. Low crime rates and lickety split emergency services response times were also mentioned as pluses for those who already live in the 37412.

While the city has a lot to overcome if they truly want to change the image of their fair city, it sounds like they are headed in the right direction with plans to beautify the I-75 Exit #1 area as well as both the Chattanooga & East Ridge sides of the tunnels. Sprucing up the de facto entrance and exit to the city will go a long way toward making East Ridge a player in the competition for Chattanooga real estate dollars. Efforts toward tighter codes enforcement designed to make landlords, and the businesses along Ringgold Road, clean up their properties are already underway. If you ask me, storm water management to help control flooding in those areas that are prone to it would be even better.

Having said all that, these guys really do have a point. Prices are rock bottom in East Ridge but without the crime and marginal schools that you might see in other areas with similar home values. There aren't many areas in Chattanooga where you can find a nice home for sale at less than $100,000. East Ridge is one of the few. Hey, even if you end up having to pay for flood insurance, your new home is probably going to cost you less each month than something comparable elsewhere. With 100% financing by using THDA grant money, the low overall cost of ownership here might be enough to turn some renters into honest-to-God homeowners. Who knew?

Do you want to be a part of East Ridge's renaissance? Click to see homes for sale.

*I just made up those names myself. Hmmm, wonder why they didn't hire me to do the PR?