Rep. Yusuf Hakeem said he felt the new state hospital site for mental health was being “pushed” on him. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Tennessee officials are reopening searches for mental health facilities sites to replace moccasin bends after dropping consideration of Chattanooga’s Eastdale site.

The State Department entrusted the site from a competition last week, just before hearing concerns about Democrat Rep. Yusuf Heiquam placing the mental health lab in the area of ​​his home’s district to host city hall.

Hakeem opposed the site with a combination of reasons, including the impact of mental health facilities on people’s property, poor communication from the state, and access via two-lane roads without sidewalks. The 150-acre road is also adjacent to the train tracks and quarry.

“It’s like they want to push that in my district,” Hakeem said, adding that he and the community are “ready to fight.”

Hakeem said several other locations should be considered, including locations near Erlanger Hospital and locations at Amnicola Highway.

The state may still see two other properties near Eastdale, but Hakeem is not opposed to them.

Tennessee Building Committee approved new moccasin bend mental health facilities

General Services Department spokesman Michelle Parks confirmed Monday that the state is assessing multiple sites in Hamilton County. She added that state law prevents the department from discussing the sites it is considering.

Sen. Bo Watson, a Republican Hixon, said the state will continue its search for around 50 sites in southeastern Tennessee. The hospital requires at least 15 acres.

Watson said the state “was not actually appreciated” as the state was tied to development requests through a local planning commission and then changed hands.

“Given the pushbacks and concerns our neighbors have, we didn’t get the opportunity to discuss it to a degree,” Watson said.

There was no hearing on the property, he added.

The state built a mental health laboratory in Moccasin Bend along the Tennessee River in 1961, and planned to expand it until advocates were asked to preserve the area as much as possible for Native American history. The area is the site of the National Archaeological District and is part of Chikamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

The state approved the expansion of Moccasin Bend in 2023, but Gov. Bill Lee called for another location in the mental health facility for an archaeological review.