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in this issue:
2006 Year End
Review
New MainBlock Blooms
UptownUpdate
CCC OffersHands-On Program
Get Inside Downtown
Development
Briefs New
DowntownBusinesses
Available PropertySpotlight
Upcoming
MeetingSchedule
CCC
ContactInformation
The Downtown Developer
is a bi-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.
2006 Downtown Year End Review
2006 was an exciting year in Downtown with highlights such as:
The Downtown renaissance continued on course in 2006 with roughly $133 million in new development projects completed.
More to Come ...
Downtown has $1.7 billion in projects currently under construction that will bring:
- 429 new hotel rooms (and 190 renovated rooms at the Holiday Inn Select);
- 200 new single-family homes;
- 318 apartment units;
- 556 condo units;and
- more than $1 billion in new medical and bioscience facilities.
Other key initiatives planned for 2007 include Downtown Works, a collaborative campaign with private and public partners to bring more office users to Downtown. The Center City Commission is also commissioning a retail consultant to develop a comprehensive retail recruitment strategy for Downtown, as well as hiring a Public Safety Coordinator to work on safety and crime initiatives and strategies.
Click here to view Downtown's current development project list.
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New Main Blooms
The Downtown Parking Authority (DPA) is reviewing proposals for a development project to fill the hole in the ground on the corner of Main and Gayoso.
DPA issued a request for development proposals for projects that will include a new DPA parking garage at the site. A committee of DPA met in December to hear the four development proposals that were submitted for the site:
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Henry Turley, Greenhat Partners, and Slovis Associates are proposing a 5-story, mixed use structure that will include 96 multifamily residential units (85,000-sf), 9800-sf of ground floor commercial space, and 215 parking spaces. The estimated project cost is $18.8 million.
Dallas-based EFO Residential Partners proposes to bring Aloft Hotels to the Memphis market, along with 160 luxury apartments in "New View" - a 28-story, mixed-use building. The proposed $51+ million project would also include 361 parking spaces and 7815-sf of commercial space.
The Centennial, the 24-story facility proposed by Nelson CNC, would include a 120-suite, 4-star hotel, 100,000-sf of Class A office space, and 7,000-sf of ground floor retail space. The $36.8 million project would also include a 585-space parking garage.
Riverside Partners proposes "River View at Gayoso", a 202-unit apartment tower. The 20-story, $43 million structure would include 390 parking spaces and 14,000-sf of commercial space.
In Other New Main News...
For more information on current projects in Downtown, visit CCC Current Projects List.
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Uptown Update
The award-winning Uptown neighborhood, a 150-acre transformed community between Auction and Chelsea and Main and Manassas, has launched Phase III of the $200 million redevelopment project.
The neighborhood serves as a national model for a multi-level income community with equal thirds of workforce housing, Hope VI housing, and market-rate homes.
Uptown's Phase III will add 124 single family-homes (including 78 contract homes) to the existing new 156 homes, as well as a 69-unit senior facility at Third and Looney.
Newly constructed homes are adhering to MLGW's Ecobuild program to conserve energy and reduce costs. On average, Uptown homes are finding 56% energy savings as compared to other newly constructed homes, a benefit that is especially important for many of Uptown's first-time homeowners in managing mortgages with increasing energy costs.
When Phase III is complete in mid-May, Uptown will have more than 3,000 residents. Uptown planners will then move into programs that will ensure long-term sustainability of the neighborhood, addressing issues like infrastructure projects on blocks that have been untouched by new development. Planners have hopes that the neighborhood will continue to grow with an additional 100 market-rate homes after Phase III is complete.
For more information on new development in Downtown Memphis, visit the Center City Commission's online downtown projects listing.
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CCC Offers Hands-On Development Demonstration Project for Aspiring Developers
The Center City Commission is presenting an exciting hands-on opportunity for aspiring minority developers.
To help new and hopeful developers understand the construction process, the CCC is conducting a "demonstration project" that will engage participants in all facets of construction of a single-family home in the Uptown neighborhood. Participants will learn and contribute to all decisions necessary for the completion of this project in classroom settings with scheduled visits to the construction site.
Partners in this endeavor include Henry Turley, President of Henry Turley Company; Alexandra Mobley, Operations Manager of Uptown; and Marty Boscaccy, Deputy Executive Director of the Memphis Housing Authority. Facilitators of the project include Tim Bolding, President of United Housing, Inc.; Jimmie Tucker, Principal of SelfTucker Architects; and Andre Jones, Principal of Populace Builders.
Interested parties are encouraged to attend a public meeting on Thursday, February 1 at Bridges (477 North Fifth) at 5:30 pm for detailed project information. Registration will be open for the month of February. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on March 8. Registration is $200 per person and includes all class and training materials.
For more details, contact Jerome Rubin, Minority Outreach Manager, at 901.575.0581
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Making A Difference Inside Downtown
It's YOUR downtown ... so how can you get involved? Last year, the Center City Commission launched a new program to engage Downtown employees in the growth of Downtown. The program, called Inside Downtown, is a monthly networking event that incorporates a discussion of issues affecting downtown.
More than 350 people representing 200 companies in downtown are participating in this program. Members range from artists and small business owners to corporate executives who are encouraged to offer input and suggestions on how to make change for the better in downtown.
Inside Downtown is gearing up for its spring series focused on catalytic development that is reshaping our Downtown. The spring series will include hard hat tours, panel discussions about cutting edge industries, and meet and greets with development leaders. The first meeting will be held on March 1 at 4:30 pm.
Topics and venues will be announced when details are finalized. Meetings are held in various venues throughout downtown on the first Thursday of each month at 4:30 pm.
If you are interested in participating, click here to download a registration form, or contact Nicole Hernandez, CCC Director of Executive Programs, 901.575.0542.
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Development Briefs
According to statistics provided by the Memphis Police Department, Downtown remains the safest precinct in the city reporting only 4% of all crime citywide in 2006. Click here to view the 2006 report.
The Center City Commission has completed installation of the new Downtown Wayfinding Signage program. The program includes vehicular and pedestrian signs to parking and key Downtown attractions, as well as pedestrian kiosk maps.The Peabody Place Museum has changed its name to Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art. The museum showcases rare Chinese art treasures and artifacts. The museum is one of 18 in Downtown.
To make way for the new Law School, which is moving Downtown in 2009, the Downtown Post Office is relocating to the Peabody Office Tower and is expected to be open in June.
Owners of two sites that were destroyed by the fires that broke out in Downtown last October are moving forward with rebuilding plans. The First United Methodist Church has completed demolition of the church and left the facade facing Second street to be incorporated into its new design. The new development project Court Square Center lost one of its three historic buildings but has continued with construction on the other two buildings. New site plans are being designed to replace the demolished building. When complete, Court Square Center will include ground floor retail, office space, and 79 apartments.
Trust One Bank has purchased a 13,125-acre lot at Talbot and South Main to construct a full-service bank. Trust One is also scouting Court Square Center as a potential location for another branch.
The Blue Monkey plans to reopen its restaurant this spring at 515 South Front, the former site of Alice's Urban Market and Blue Sky Couriers. The owners had originally intended to rebuild at the site that burned in a fire last year. The owners have not determined if they are going to develop the vacant lot or sell it.
The Carlisle Corp. has named the design, sales and marketing teams for One Beale, a sign that the $175 million mixed-use development located at the foot of Beale Street is moving forward. The team includes:Hnedak Bobo Group, architectural firm;
John Harrison Jones Architects, custom residential designs;
Martin Group Realty, condo sales;
Paradigm Productions, marketing;
Seigenthaler Public Relations, communications and public relations.
One Beale is scheduled to break ground at the end of 2007 and is scheduled for completion in 2010.
Gibson Beale Street Showcase has reopened its lounge as a venue for live music, and is making room for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame On Tour, a traveling exhibit from its parent museum in Cleveland, OH. The new satellite exhibit will occupy 13,000-sf of Gibson's first floor.
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New Downtown Business
Crave, Catering and "gourmet to go", 317 Madison Ave (901) 526-1899, orders@cravecateringandevents.com
Spindini, Italian cuisine, 383 S Main St
Boscos Corporate Office/Roma Pomodori, Inc., Brewery and corporate headquarters for Boscos franchise, 827 S Main St, (901) 278-0087, boscos@boscosbeer.com
Mode du Jour, Women's apparel and accessories, 509 S Main St, (901) 527-7970, www.modesomain.com/
Crepe Maker, 175 Peabody Pl, (901) 569-7154, www.crepemaker.com
Cadence Bank, 119 S Court St, (901) 576-1577
Sauces, 95 S Main St. (901) 473-9573, www.saucesmemphis.com
EP Delta Kitchen and Bar, 126 Beale St, (901) 527-1444
Gallery 136, Art gallery featuring works by John Childress, Shane Boling and CB Jolley, 136 GE Patterson, (901) 490-7904, www.136gallery.com
Julian Law Practice, Legal services, 140 N Third St
Premier Cleaners III, Dry cleaning services, 440 N Front St Ste 101, (901) 521-3477
Court House Deli has moved to 22 S Main St, (901) 527-2253
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Available Property Spotlight:South Front at Georgia
A 1.58-acre prime piece of vacant land is for sale in the burgeoning South End district. The property is located on the southwest corner of Front and Georgia. The site has been approved for the Front and Carolina Subdivision, a 25-lot gated community. The property is zoned for mixed-use and can include a commercial retail/development as well.
The property is located less than a mile from the Beale Street Entertainment District and within proximity to the South Main Historic District and Central Station.
For information, contact Gary Shanks at the Shopping Center Group, 901.869.2720 or 901.210.9999.
To review other available properties in Downtown Memphis, click here.
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Upcoming Meeting Schedule
Design Review Board: Wednesday, February 7 at 5 pm
Center City Revenue Finance Corporation: Tuesday, February 13 at 9 am
Center City Commission Board: Friday, February 16 at noon
Center City Development Corporation: Wednesday, February 22 at 9 am
The above meetings will be held at the Center City Commission, 114 North Main Street. Meeting times and dates are subject to change. For more information, contact Dawn Vinson at 901.575-0555.
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Center City Commission Staff
Executive
Jeff Sanford, President
Nicole Hernandez, Director of Executive Programs
Jerome Rubin, Manager, Diversity Outreach
Development
Andy Kitsinger, Director of Planning & Development
Lorie Chapman, Development Assistant
Jaske Goff, Development Project Manager
Katrina Shelton, Business Recruitment Manager
Dawn Vinson, Development Coordinator
Financial
Jim Street, Chief Financial Officer
Marketing
Lee Warren, Senior VP of Marketing
Tiffany Amore, Marketing Administrative Assistant
Leslie Gower, Director of Communications and Editor
Sridhar Sunkara, Director of Information Systems
Stephanie Ziemba, Marketing and Special Events Manager
Operations
Janet Pfaff, Senior VP of Operations
Dave Rice, Parking Manager/Environmental Coordinator
Christine Taylor, Office Manager/Administrative Assistant
Gaston Davis, Blue Suede Brigade Manager
Blue Suede Brigadiers:
Eugene Brassel
Fannie Garner
Sally Hayes
Charles Jackson
Bobby Parker
Carl Hible
Christopher Mason
Johnnie Willis
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Email your questions or comments to Leslie Gower, Editor.