Developers Broke Ground on The Collective North

The 30-acre lifestyle center in Chattanooga has entered its construction phase.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A yellow bulldozer parked on a dirt lot surrounded by wooded hillsides, representing the early stages of a new commercial development project. — Developers officially began construction on The Collective North, a 30-acre commercial and recreational lifestyle center in Chattanooga's East Brainerd area. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Developers have officially broken ground on The Collective North, a new 30-acre lifestyle center located at East Brainerd Road and Morris Hill Road. The project is designed to provide a new retail and green space destination for the growing population in southeastern Hamilton County.

Why it matters

The development aims to accommodate the increasing number of residents in southeastern Hamilton County by creating a centralized hub for commerce and recreation. It serves as a major investment in the regional infrastructure to support ongoing local growth.

The Collective North spans a 30-acre site with a total project budget of $150 million. The development is scheduled to be completed by early 2028.

The details

The project will feature a blend of national and local retail storefronts alongside integrated green spaces. Located across from Hurricane Creek, the site aims to blend commercial density with environmental design in the East Brainerd area.

Groundbreaking for The Collective North occurred on September 30, 2026.
Construction is expected to be finished by early 2028.

Market Landscape

The project reflects a broader trend of decentralized commercial expansion in Chattanooga as developers target suburban growth corridors. It positions the East Brainerd area to compete with established city-center hubs for both regional retail tenants and consumer foot traffic.

Residents can anticipate new retail and recreational options in East Brainerd once the project reaches completion in 2028. Construction activity at the intersection of East Brainerd Road and Morris Hill Road may create localized traffic changes for commuters during the build phase.

The takeaway

Large-scale lifestyle centers are increasingly shaping the suburban footprint of Hamilton County. Local shoppers should monitor future tenant announcements to see how the mix of national and local brands will serve the East Brainerd community.