On Thursday, January 23rd, founders Derek Sieg and Ben Pfinsgraff announced the development of Common House Chattanooga with a tour through the old, historic YMCA building in Southside for their Chattanooga neighbors.
Virginian businessmen Sieg and Pfinsgraff are co-founders of Common House, a modern take on social clubs with houses already in Charlottesville, VA, soon-to-be Richmond, VA, and now right here in Chattanooga.
Common House describes itself as “an inclusive space designed to bring people together through vibrant shared experiences. It's more than just a membership, the house is a place to play, dine, work, and discover — an opportunity to form new connections and create a new kind of community.”
Located on Mitchell Avenue right off of Main Street near Chattanooga favorites, Bluegrass Grill, Neidlov’s, and The Local, the 30,000-square-feet, four story white stucco establishment dominates the area.
The original YMCA building was raised in 1929, but ceased functioning in the 1980s. The YMCA had a swimming pool, basketball court, and dorm rooms for people using the facilities, yet it quickly deteriorated over the years.
NOOGAtoday reports that Jack Kreusi bought the dilapidated building in 1999. Kreusi resisted efforts to transform the space into another apartment complex, and there was talk about it becoming a hostel in the subsequent years.
However, the old YMCA building went back on the market in 2016. Chattanooga Times Free Press (TFP) reports that Walk2Town, a holding company, bought it in 2018 for $2.75 million.
Sieg and Pfinsgraff partnered with Walk2Town to bring their vision to life and revive the space. TFP indicates that Matthew King, Walk2Town’s chief executive, is a member of Common House in Charlottesville, VA and is excited about the new development will bring to the area.
Several of the amenities listed on their website include networking events, an outdoor pool, a gym, co-working spaces, restaurants, a podcasting studio, and many more.
Typical House membership fees include an initiation fee of $300 for an individual and $500 for a couple, and additional personal and couple monthly dues of $150 and $225, respectively.
However, Common House offers a discounted rate for individuals who are under 30 and/or students because “you are only young once and we'd hate for you to waste it.” That discounted membership fee is a $100 initiation fee and $75 per month.
Common House Chattanooga will undergo renovation and reconstruction throughout the year and is expected to open in late 2020.