2007 in Review

   A Plan for the Pinch

   urbanArt Anniversary

   New Officers for
       DNA & SMA

   Temporary Construction
       Banner Program

   Development Briefs

   New Downtown
       Businesses

   Available Property
       Spotlight

   Upcoming Meeting
       Schedule

   CCC Contact
       Information

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.

• The Center City Commission celebrated 30 years of Downtown redevelopment and revitalization.
• Work began on the first buildings that will make up the new UT Baptist Research Park on the former Baptist Memorial Hospital site.
• An $80,000 Tennessee Roadscapes grant was awarded to assist with landscape improvements along Riverside Drive near I-40 and signage at the Tennessee Welcome Center.
• South Main was voted one of CNNMoney.com's "Best Places to Retire".
• The inaugural RiverArtsFest took place in the South Main Arts district, drawing more than 40,000 attendees.
• Implementation of the Downtown Storefront Project began with public art installations by local artists on Main Street
• Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for both the $12 million Hilton Garden Inn at GE Patterson Place on the historic Chisca Hotel site and the $90 million, skyline-changing Horizon residential project on Riverside Drive.
• City and state officials gave the green light for work on the $29.4 million Beale Street Landing project to begin.
• There was heightened interest in the Pyramid as both Bass Pro Shops and a group led by Memphian Greg Ericson publicly proposed redevelopment plans for the iconic structure.

• 260 apartments;
• 782 new condominiums and condo conversions; and,
• more than 83,000 square feet of retail space.

• expansion of the Downtown Wayfinding Program;
• implementation of streetscape improvements in the area around the Court Square Center project;
• publication and implementation of the new Downtown Retail Strategy; and,
• completion of an updated Downtown Market Study.

The Center City Commissission is spearheading an effort to create a new master plan for the Pinch district and a portion of the Uptown area.

In partnership with the Memphis/Shelby County Division of Planning and Development as well as several other public agencies, the CCC will analyze existing conditions in the study areas and, with input from the public and area stakeholders, will create a master plan for redevelopment of the neighborhood. A moratorium on new construction in the area will be in effect until the new plan is completed. Public meetings are planned in the future to garner stakeholder input, and the final plan will be completed by May.



Click here to view a map of the Pinch Master Plan area.



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UrbanArt Commission Commemorative Art Installations



urbanArt Commission is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a special temporary public art initiative that is designed to visibly distinguish the agency's mission with the local public.

Interactions/Interruptions: 10 Years of Public Art in Memphis is a multi-faceted exhibition that will include ten temporary public art projects throughout the city. Local artists will participate in the celebration with art installations in South Main.

"Modern Hieroglyphs" will incorporate the visual symbols that are a ubiquitous part of 21st century living. The project's aim is to make conspicuous the mundane, modern symbols that might otherwise be overlooked. Artist Anthony Lee will apply a series of these symbols to alternate panels of the Central Station wall near South Main and GE Patterson to create a lengthwise composition.

The project will be installed during the month of January and will be on display indefinitely.

Artist Dwayne Butcher is creating a series of paintings to be installed on sidewalks throughout the South Main Arts district. Each piece will consist of two painted panels attached together at the top like traditional "sandwich board" signs, bringing to mind the advertisement displays that small businesses have been using along the Main Streets of America for years.

The sandwich board pieces will be installed along South Main at the end of March.

Click here to learn more about urbanArt Commission.

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Changing of the Guard

Both the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the South Main Association have new officers for 2008.

Downtown Neighborhood Association Board of Directors

Tommy Volinchak, President
Cathy Simmons, Vice President
Jim Murray, Secretary
Erin Eckel, Treasurer
Paul Morris, Liaison Chairman
Shara Lynn Goldin, At-Large Representative
Brian Hodges, Business Representative
Susanne Heartsill, Mud Island Representative
Jeanne Palmer, Mud Island Representative
Cheryl Stephany, North District Representative
Rob Levine, North District Representative
Jim Williams, Central District Representative
Darcy Harris, South District Representative
Bob Lundy, Immediate Past President

click here to visit the Downtown Neighborhood Association website.

South Main Association Board of Directors

Memrie Lary, President
Emmye Walker, Secretary
Matt Different, Treasurer
Dr. Matt Hayden, Business Representative
Sheri Neely, Arts Representative
Ed Sandy, Monthly Meeting Coordinator
Linda Granell, Membership Chair
Lorie Chapman, Community Development & Public Art Representative
William Moore, Safer Downtown Coordinator
Joan Robinson, Special Events/Public Relations
Sharon Leicham, Advisory Board
Diane Gordon, Immediate Past President


click here to visit the South Main Association website.

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Developer Resource Spotlight:
CCC Project Sign Template

The Center City Commission wants to help Downtown development projects get noticed!



In order to show the millions of Downtown visitors the tremendous growth that is taking place within the urban center, the Center City Commission is encouraging developers to display signs at their project sites that include information about upcoming development projects.

Informing visitors of upcoming activity in vacant buildings and lots will create a more inviting Downtown environment. In addition, early awareness of a project leads to early sales and leases for the developer.

The CCC has created a customizable, 4'x 4', banner template that includes space for a brief description of the project, renderings (if available), and contact information for the broker or leasing agent. The sign can then be printed on fade-resistant vinyl by the sign company of your choice.

Project signs that are created with this template can be expedited through the design review process. Simply complete the application page - indicate "CCC project sign template" for the description - and fax it to Dawn Vinson at (901) 575-0541.

Please contact Dawn Vinson, Development Project Manager, at 575-0555 to request the project sign template.

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Development Briefs

Downtown remains the safest precinct in the city. Click here to download the latest Downtown crime stats for 2007.


The Center City Commission welcomes new staff members Eric Robertson, Chief Administrative Officer and Stephanie Bennett, Marketing and Communications Specialist. Leslie Gower has been promoted to Marketing and Communications Director.


The U of M Cecil B. Humphreys School of Law has cleared another benchmark toward its relocation to Downtown. The school has finished raising $5.3 million in funds to move to the historic Customs House building on Front Street. Construction is scheduled to begin later this month.


Construction has begun on the UT College of Pharmacy building at Madison and Dunlap. The $43 million, 200,000-sf facility is the second building underway in the new UT Baptist Research Park.


The Center City Commission is seeking proposals for landscape maintenance on the Main Street Mall. The maintenance area also includes a portion of Union Avenue. Click here to download the complete Request for Proposals.


The Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (MASE) has plans for expansion in 2008 to create a separate space for ninth graders. Campus dorms and a gymnasium are also planned for the charter school, which is currently split between two campuses.


MPACT Memphis has relocated its offices to the Falls building at 22 North Front. The organization hopes to take advantage of the new proximity to other organizations such as Leadership Academy, Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Tomorrow, Riverfront Development Corporation, and Volunteer Memphis.


Pat and Gina Neely of Neely's Bar-B-Que will host a new show on the Food Network. "Down Home with the Neelys" will make its debut on February 2 and will show viewers how to recreate their favorite dishes from the restaurant.


The Center City Commission is planning a pilot program to combat aggressive panhandling in and around Court Square. The program will launch this spring with four specially-trained security officers covering the park from 8 a.m. to midnight. The CCC has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to contract a private security firm for the program. Click here to download the complete RFP.


The National Civil Rights Museum has been tapped for Hampton Hotels' Save-a-Landmark program. Volunteers from the company will restore and refurbish interior exhibit spaces and exterior walls, sidewalks, and gardens at the museum. Work is scheduled to be completed by April 4, 2008 - the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination at the Lorraine Motel.


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New Downtown Businesses

Pa Pa Pia's, Italian cuisine, 83 Monroe Ave, (901) 521-4331

Divine Rags, Fashion apparel and art , (901) 572-7241

Roma Pizza, Pizza and Italian cuisine, 22 N Third St, (901) 578-2916

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Available Property Spotlight:
St. Martin Place at GE Patterson

This 0.3160-acre parcel is conveniently located in the heart of the South Main Arts district right next to the National Civil Rights Museum. It is a commercial lot with 132.5 feet of frontage on St. Martin.

For sale at $300,000, the property is suitable for many different types of commercial development.

For more information, contact Sam Bond at Re/Max on the River, 901.522.9290.



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Upcoming Meeting Schedule

Design Review Board:  Wednesday, February 6 at 5 pm
Center City Revenue Finance Corporation:  Tuesday, February 12 at 9:00 am
Center City Development Corporation:  Wednesday, February 20 at 9:00 am
Center City Commission Board:   Friday, February 22 at noon

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
Eric Robertson, Chief Administrative Officer
Jerome Rubin, Manager of Diversity Outreach
Development
Andy Kitsinger, VP of Planning & Development
Lorie Chapman, Urban Planner
Jaske Goff, Development Project Manager
Dawn Vinson, Development Project Manager, Editor
Financial
Jim Street, Chief Financial Officer
Marketing
Lee Warren, Senior VP of Marketing
Leslie Gower, Director of Marketing and Communications
Sridhar Sunkara, Director of Information Systems
Stephanie Bennett, Marketing and Communications Specialist
Operations
Janet Pfaff, Senior VP of Operations
Larry Bloom, Public Safety Coordinator
Dave Rice, Parking Manager/Environmental Coordinator
Christine Taylor, Office Manager/Administrative Assistant
Gaston Davis, Blue Suede Brigade Manager
      Blue Suede Brigadiers:
      Fannie Garner
      Sally Hayes
      Carl Hibler
      Charles Jackson
      Terry Johnson
      David Martinez
      Tara Maxwell
      Bobby Parker
      Timothy Parks
      Johnnie Willis

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Email your questions or comments to Dawn Vinson, Editor.