in this issue:
FedEx Forum BringsArea Improvements
Court SquareRevamped
More Hotel Roomson Main Street
City Commons
Condo Complex
St. Jude Campus Continues Growth
Development Briefs New DowntownBusinesses
Available PropertySpotlight
Upcoming 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.
FedEx Forum Brings Area Improvements and Development
With the opening of the $250 million FedEx Forum just months away, the Sports & Entertainment Task Force, a group comprised of representatives of various city organizations and other area stakeholders, have joined forces to make sure that the public realm surrounding the new arena is clean, safe, accessible, and prepared to meet the challenges of increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
To that end, members of the Task Force have hired Butch Eder, former Director of General Services for the City, to serve as Project Manager for the Sports & Entertainment District. In this position, Eder will act as the liaison between the Task Force and the public and private sector organizations that will be implementing infrastructure and environmental enhancement projects around the FedEx Forum.Priority infastructure upgrades around the arena have been identified by the Task Force and include more than $2.8 million in street improvements and paving, curb and sidewalk repair, new and upgraded lighting, transportation and parking plans, signage and area clean-up. Funding for these projects will go before city council for approval this month.
Blues AlleyBeale Street businesses with property along Blues Alley, also known as Beale Street Alley, the public space that serves as the connector between the FedEx Forum and Beale Street, are making substantial investments to enhance their buildings and to create an animated outdoor space.
Wet Willie's, Alfreds and the Hard Rock Cafe have plans to add rear patios that will open up to Blues Alley, making their businesses more accessible to arena visitors. Other Beale Street businesses are cleaning up their backdoors to make the FedEx Forum area more aesthetically pleasing.
To support these intiatives, the Center City Commission is investing $250,000 towards the public improvements on Blues Alley to make it more pedestrian friendly and provide ADA access.
Lee's LandingConstruction is expected to begin next month on a significant new development called Lee's Landing, a project due west of the FedEx Forum.
Lee's Landing will encompass an entire city block and include a $55 million, 11-story, 202-room Westin Hotel equipped with a 520-space parking garage. More than 13,000-square feet of restaurant and retail tenants will occupy first floor space, including Sleep Out Louie's, which is relocating from its Union Avenue location, and a new restaurant by actor Morgan Freeman, whose Madidi restaurant in Clarksdale, Mississippi has garnered national acclaim. An upscale national steakhouse will also be housed in the new development. Construction of this project is expected to be complete in mid-2006.
For more information on the public improvements around the FedEx Forum, contact Butch Eder eder@downtownmemphis.com or 901.575.0592.
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Court Square Area Revamp
After weather delays and utility infrastructure difficulites, the Center City Commission's $1.2 million initiative to beautify the Court Square neighborhood, "the living room of Downtown", is finally taking shape.
New sidewalks, landscaping and specialty lighting will serve as the background for the two major improvements to Court Square Park: restoration of the gazebo and Hebe Foundation. Restoration of the gazebo will begin soon and includes new paint, concrete repair, installation of new railings and period lighting fixtures, and an updated electrical system. These improvements are made possible by a $160,000 grant from the Memphis Rotary Club.
Work is in process to install new tree-lined, brick-paved sidewalks along Second Street and South Court Street. Parallel parking spaces and curbs will be added to South Court and drainage issues will be fixed. Improvements to November 6 alley will include new concrete brick pavers and lighting. Work to North Court Street will be postponed until Court Square Center project is complete.
Renovations to Court Square are timely as progress begins on new developments around the Park that will soon welcome new residents:
For more information on Court Square improvements, contact CCC Director of Development Laura Morgan at (901) 575-0584.
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Marriott Makes a Splash on Main
Three Marriott hotel projects on Main Street will add 340 hotel rooms to Downtown, with two of the projects expected to be complete this summer.
The Downtown Marriott will unveil its 200-room expansion in early June, making it the largest hotel in Memphis with a total of 600 guest rooms. A skybridge over Main Street will connect the new $14 million tower to the Memphis Cook Convention Center which recently received a $92 million renovation.
A new Marriott Residence Inn will also open in June in the site of the former William Len Apartment Building. Designed for "extended-stay" visits, the Marriott Residence Inn will offer guest-friendly amenities including a full kitchen in each room and
complimentary grocery shopping for all guests. The renovated hotel (which served as the William Len Hotel before it was converted into apartments in the mid-80's) will add 90 new hotel suites to the Downtown Core on the corner of Main and Monroe.
Construction recently began on a third Main Street Marriott project. A $6 million historic renovation of the Kress Building will serve as a 50,000-square foot annex to the Marriott Springhill Suites. The renovation will add 48 more suites and a total of 6,000-square feet of restaurant space, a 2,500-square foot ballroom and meeting space. A pedestrian crosswalk will connect the third floor of the existing Springhill Suites building to the second floor of the Kress building. The annex will be operational in spring of 2005. This project received a 15-year tax freeze from the Center City Revenue Finance Corporation. (View the "available properties" section for details about the restaurant space.)
With the addition of the 202-room Westin Hotel near the FedEx Forum and new 30-room bed & breakfast in Harbor Town called River Inn, 572 new hotel rooms will be available in Downtown Memphis by 2006.
Learn more about new projects in Downtown Memphis on the Center City Commission's website at www.downtownmemphis.com.
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City Commons Condos
Construction has started on an upscale condominium complex south of the South Bluffs community.
Developers Chamberlain, McCreery and Rice have cleared land and cut the streets that will run through their new project, City Commons. The seven building complex will include 42 condominiums that can be modified to include garages and outdoor patio spaces. Units will range from 650 to 2,250-square feet and $110,000 - $350,000.
The project site is on the northeast corner of Tennessee and Georgia behind South Bluffs in the area that has been named South End. New apartments and condominiums planned for the South End are expected to bring more than 3,000 new residents over the course of five years.
For information on condominium sales, contact Debbie Ellison at Remax at 901.759.4012.
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St. Jude Continues Campus Expansion
The $1.2 billion St. Jude campus expansion continues with a new $80 million, 7-story tower that will serve as a diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology facility. The tower is part of a two-phase construction project and will be reviewed for approval by the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency in the next couple of weeks.
St. Jude's campus expansion project has already added:
- $13 million ALSAC building that serves as the fundraising arm for St. Jude,
- $10 million Memphis Grizzlies House, an extended stay residence for patients and their families
- $130 million Integrated Research Facility and
- $36 million Good Manufacturing Practices facility that manufactures vaccines and other therapies
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Development Briefs
Hundreds of people attended the Center City Commission’s New Main Block Party on April 15. With Mid-South Grammy winners Free Sol performing, refreshments by Gordon Biersch and Krispy Kreme, FM100 on site, and great weather, the event was a big success. Attendees also were able to see plans for over $60 million in development projects on the block. For more information about New Main and upcoming projects, click here.
The Bristol on Union Apartments is now leasing. This $20 million, 180-unit apartment complex is the largest multi-family community to be built in the medical district in more than two decades. For leasing information, floor plans and other details, go to www.thebristolonunion.com.
The 113-year old Victorian Village mansion, The Lowenstein Mansion, will go up for auction on May 13. Click here for more information.A new upscale nightclub called The District is coming to 326 Beale Street. The Center City Development Corporation approved a $56,000 development loan for this minority-owned business that will include dining facilities, an elevated dance floor, a patio and retail space. Building renovations are estimated at $100,000.
Renovation plans will transform a 6,800-square foot building on South Main into a new three-space retail and office building. The Center City Development Corporation approved a $61,000 development loan for the building located at 385 South Main.
The Blue Suede Brigade has initiated a "Downtown Merchant of the Month" program designed to recognize Downtown businesses that excel in customer service and presentation. Carabella's, a gift store on Second Street, is recognized as the Downtown Merchant of the Month.
The Center City Commission is seeking a Development Project Manager. To learn more about this position click here.
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New Downtown Business
Westy's Bar and Grill is expected to open in the former site of The North End this summer.
The Main Dog, a kosher hot dog cart, is set up for business near Court Square.
Sports Avenue, a retailer of licensed sports apparel, is now open in Peabody Place Entertainment & Retail Center.
Memphis Grits, a restaurant specializing in down-home southern cooking by the former chef of the Memphis Hunt & Polo Club, is opening at 22 South Main Street this month.
Cafe on The Edge, a coffee bar and lounge, is now open at 704 Madison in The Edge.
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Available Property Spotlight:
Marriott Springhill Suites Annex: The Kress Building
The Springhill Suites is seeking a restaurant tenant for space in the hotel's new historic annex, The Kress Building.
More than 4,000-square feet will be available on the ground floor of this 48-suite addition which opens up to Main Street and Court Square Park. Beautiful architectural features include 18-foot ceilings with historical details and a granite and marble staircase to the 2,000-square foot basement that is available for additional restaurant or bar space.
The first floor space connects to a 2,500-square foot ballroom and there is an additional 4,000-square feet of other meeting space that the restaurant could use to cater their own functions.
The space could be occupied and open within six months.
For information on this property, contact Greg Averbuch at 404.816.9331.
To review other available properties in Downtown Memphis, click here.
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May Meeting Schedule
Center City Revenue Finance Corporation: May meeting canceled
Center City Development Corporation: Wed, May 19 at 8:30 am
Center City Commission Board: Fri, May 28 at noon
Design Review Board: Wed, June 2 at 5 pm
The above meetings will be held at the Center City Commission, 114 North Main Street. For more information, contact Nicole Hernandez at (901) 575-0542.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, May 20 at 6:30 pm at the Lincoln American Tower with guest speaker June West of Memphis Heritage. Call 527-DNA1 or go to www.memphisdna.org for more information.
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Center City Commission Staff
Executive
Jeff Sanford, President
Nicole Hernandez, Special Assistant to the President and
Manager of Stakeholder Relations
Development
Laura Morgan, Director of Planning & Development
Brad Elmer, Planning & Development Coordinator
Jaske Goff, Development Project Manager
Dawn Vinson, Development Assistant
Financial
Jim Street, Chief Financial Officer
Marketing
Lee Warren, Senior VP of Marketing
Leslie Gower, Director of Communications and Editor
Sridhar Sunkara, Director of Information Systems
Jerome Rubin, Business Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
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 Brassell
Fannie Garner
Mika Hilliard
Jarvis Jenkins
Bobby Parker
Richard Richardson
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Email your questions or comments to Leslie Gower, Editor.