The Medical Arts Building on McCallie Avenue is a 1929 architectural gem designed by Reuben H. Hunt and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Now, First Presbyterian Church plans to demolish it and replace it with a smaller, modern structure.

We are calling on the community, the Church, the City of Chattanooga, and preservation authorities to immediately halt demolition plans and consider alternative solutions - such as adaptive reuse, fundraising, or selling the building to a preservation-minded buyer.

Historic buildings are not inconveniences to be erased. They are irreplaceable works of art and anchors of our city’s identity. Once destroyed, they can never be rebuilt. We must protect Chattanooga’s history.

If you believe that cultural preservation matters, and that Chattanooga deserves to retain its architectural treasures, please sign and share this petition. Together, we can send a message that we won’t stand by while our history is quietly torn down.