in this issue:
Prime Development Opportunity on Main
Competition for New Waterfront Space
New Schools Coming to Downtown
Development Briefs Available PropertySpotlight
February MeetingSchedule
CCC ContactInformation
The Downtown Developer
is a monthly publication
produced by the
Memphis Center
City Commission
114 North Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103
phone 901.575.0540
toll free 888.303.0002
fax 901.575-0541
downtownmemphis.com
All rights reserved.
Prime Development Opportunity on Main Street
The Downtown Parking Authority (DPA) is requesting proposals for the design and construction of a new public garage and the purchase and development of air rights above the garage on a quarter block of nearly vacant property on Main Street.
"Main Street Gayoso Block", located on the corner of Main and Gayoso Avenue, is the principal development project on the Main Street Demonstration Block.
The property measures 175' x 148' and includes six vacant parcels and one four story building. A request to demolish the existing structure (formerly Cook and Love Shoes) will be reviewed by Landmarks Commission in March.
Click here to review a summary of the request for proposals. Please contact the Center City Commission at (901) 575-0584 to request a complete packet. A prebid conference and tour of the property is scheduled for February 19 from 1 - 2 pm at the site. Final proposals are due no later than 4 pm on April 18.
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Design Competition Announced to
Create New Waterfront Space
The Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC) is holding a competition for design visions for "Beale Street Landing", a new five-acre, waterfront public space at the foot of historic Beale Street and the Mississippi River. This project represents RDC's first major project in the comprehensive reshaping of the riverfront. The goal of the competition is two-fold:
- To create a unique public space and destination at the end of Beale Street linking the grid of the city to the riverfront and Tom Lee Park.
- To function as a world-class docking facility capable of accommodating large river cruise vessels, excursion boats, and pleasure craft.
The design competition is an international invitation to architects, designers, landscape architects, urban designers, public artists, and students and faculty in university level professional programs. Five winners from stage one will be awarded cash prizes to develop their ideas during an invited second stage. It is RDC’s intention to select a design team from the second stage to develop their proposal for implementation.
Entries will be accepted from February 10 - April 23. Registration is required. Click here for competition details.
For more information on the RDC Design Competition, contact David Meckel, Competition Advisor, at (901) 312-9190.
New Schools Opening in Downtown
In addition to the city's new K-6 Downtown optional school opening this September, two other new schools are opening in Downtown this fall as well.
The Catholic Diocese of Memphis has started construction on St. Patrick's Jubilee School, a private school that will accommodate up to 180 inner-city children in grades K-6 when complete. The $2.4 million school is being built across from the new FedExForum site next to St. Patrick's Church and will open this fall to pre-K and kindergarten students. A new grade will be added each year. The school offers financial assistance and scholarships to give inner-city children a private school option who otherwise could not afford tuition. In conjunction with the Jubilee School, St. Patrick's Learning Center, a center providing programs in adult education, literacy, parenting and workforce development, will also open this fall.
In the Medical District, The Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, the first charter school approved, and to open, in Tennessee, will serve as a high school specializing in life sciences for grades 7 - 12. The school is being sponsored by the Memphis BioTech Foundation which will be responsible for the daily operations of the school. Grade 7 will open this fall with a new grade opening each year. A site has not been announced for the school, but it will be located in the Medical District in an existing structure.
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Development Briefs
Memphis City Council approved with conditions the transfer of the Rhodes Jennings and Court Annex Buildings to the Center City Revenue Finance Corporation (CCRFC). This transfer of property allows development of the property to proceed. CGI Partners/Chandler, developers for the site, have begun stabilization efforts on the property and has plans to transform the vacant buildings into a residential complex complete with basement level parking, ground level
retail and office space, and loft-style residences.
Plans to begin implementing $5 million in Downtown Streetscape Improvements are being reviewed by the City. Implementation of the improvements are hoped to begin this summer, beginning on Union and Monroe Avenues, and November 6th and Center Lane alleys. Improvements include new lighting, sidewalks, minor landscaping, cobblestone installation in alleys and installation of "Sidewalk Stories", bronze plaques that identify historic locations.
A $455,000 development project at 18 North Second Street (across from Court Square) received a $90,000 development loan from CCDC and a 10-year PILOT from CCRFC in January. Plans call for renovating the 10,300 square foot building into commercial space for up to three tenants and 4 residential apartments.
The Edge Community has hopes of building a new gateway park and affordable housing for artists on vacant, underutilized land on Union Avenue's approach to Downtown.
Cafe Soul, a club/restaurant offering soul and southern cuisine and jazz, opened at 492 South Main in the South Main Arts District.
Downtown businesses are encouraged to contact Center City Commission's Existing Business Specialist Leigh Ann Simmons with questions about running your business in Downtown. For relocation, leasing, or general maintenance questions, contact Leigh Ann at 575-0581.
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Available Property Spotlight
Businessmen's Club: 81 Monroe Avenue
The Memphis Businessmen's Club, circa 1906, is located in the Downtown Core at 81 Monroe Avenue. This historic red brick and stone office building was built to house the operations of the "Club," which in 1913 became the Memphis Chamber of Commerce.
Architecturally significant because of its Sullivanesque stylistic features, the six-story Memphis Businessmen's Club was renovated in the early 1980s as office space. The building has a rooftop deck and garden with beautiful views of the Mississippi River.
Four suites in the building are available for lease, ranging from 2,810 - 3,180 square feet for $14 per square foot. For leasing information, contact Linda Dunaway at Henry Turley Company, (901)255-2131 or ldunaway@henryturley.com.
To review other available properties in Downtown Memphis, click here.
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February Meeting Schedule
Center City Revenue Finance Corporation: cancelled
Center City Development Corporation: Wed, February 19 at 8:30 am
Center City Commission Board: Fri, February 28 at noon
Design Review Board: Wed, March 5 at 5 pm
The above meetings will be held at the Center City Commission, 114 North Main Street. For more information, call (901) 575-0540.
The Pinch Business Association will meet on Tuesday, February 11 at 6 pm at Precious Cargo (381 North Main). For more information, contact President Julie Ray at 578-8002.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association will meet on Thursday, February 20 at 6:30 pm at the Puccini & Pasta in Peabody Place Retail & Entertainment Center. For more information, call (901) 527-1DNA.
A Brown Bag Luncheon for neighborhood association leaders to share ideas will be held on February 27 at 12 noon at the Center for Neighborhoods, 619 N. Seventh Street. Call 526-6627 for info.
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Center City Commission Staff
Executive
Jeff Sanford, President
Development
Myron Hughes, VP of Development and Planning
Brad Elmer, Business Development Analyst
Jaske Goff, Development Project Manager
Laura Morgan, Director of Planning & Development
Leigh Ann Simmons, Existing Business Specialist
Lillian Smith, Development Coordinator
Financial
Jim Street, Chief Financial Officer
Marketing
Lee Warren, Senior VP of Marketing
Leslie Gower, Director of Communications and Editor
Dena Owens, Marketing Manager
Sridhar Sunkara, Information Systems Manager
Operations
Janet Pfaff, Senior VP of Operations
Dave Rice, Operations/Environmental Coordinator
Christine Taylor, Office Manager/Administrative Assistant
Gaston Davis, Blue Suede Brigade Manager
Blue Suede Brigadiers:
Derrick Burnett
Eugene Brassel
Fannie Garner
Kaye Jennings
Bobby Parker
Michael Williams
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We want to know what you think about this publication - email your comments to Leslie Gower, Editor. And thanks to those who have already responded with their suggestions!