The Medal of Honor Heritage Center proposed for Coolidge Park could change in both size and location.

On Friday, retired Maj. Gen. Bill Raines, Heritage Center chairman, said all options are open.

"This project is bigger than what we first thought," he said. "We've looked at a lot of alternatives in consideration of quality of exhibits and attendance."

Raines and other Medal of Honor Heritage Center proponents previously declared the park as the facility's ideal location. Coolidge Park, located on the north shore of the Tennessee River, was established in 1999 in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Charles Coolidge.

The project initially called for a 6,800-square-foot, two-story building to honor Coolidge and other Medal of Honor recipients, according to the center's website. The facility's footprint measures 4,000 square feet. Of the park's 10.3 acres, the facility would occupy one-tenth of an acre. Raines confirmed a larger facility is now under consideration.

Opponents have voiced concerns that a building at Coolidge Park will inhibit usage of the park's green space and questioned whether its white domes and columns clash with existing nearby architecture.

On Aug. 30, an ad hoc panel of business executives, community leaders and veterans, co-chaired by Chattanooga City Councilman Jerry Mitchell and Raines, announced it would make final recommendations to Mayor Andy Berke and the City Council after the conclusion of a 60-day study.

"The ad hoc committee is reviewing options on locations, design and business plans," Mitchell said Thursday in an email. "We are making progress, but aren't ready to announce anything yet."

Neither Mitchell or Raines identified any potential alternative sites for the heritage center.

"We have a bigger story, a bigger mission, a bigger opportunity," Raines said, also citing the need to build consensus within the whole Chattanooga community.

Medal of Honor Heritage Center organizers initially asked the city to lease 1 acre of Coolidge Park space near the Tremont Street cul-de-sac for $1 per year for 99 years, but the request hit a snag during a City Council vote in late June. Instead of authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute the lease, the council instead stipulated it must give final approval of any deal.

At the time, Mitchell, who represents the district where the park is located, said he had received "a lot of communications from folks in this district and around the city who feel more public input is needed before making that decision."

"I tend to agree with that, although I love the idea of honoring Mr. Coolidge," he said.

In early August, 200 people, including veterans, attended a public forum on the proposed center.

"[The center] will be an enhancement to what the focus [of the park] was intended to be," Raines said at the event.

The Medal of Honor Heritage Center business plan includes a $2 million endowment to ensure its sustainability and now does not call for "approaching local government about contributing to the capital campaign," according to the organization's website.

Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow on Twitter @pleach_tfp.