in this issue:
Downtown SchoolNeighborhood Profile
New Condos inthe South End
City's First "Smart Park"
Outreach Centerin SoFo District
Downtown Visionaries Honored
Development Briefs 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.
Neighborhood Profile Focuses on Redevelopment Opportunities Around Downtown Elementary School
The Center City Commission has completed a development profile for the neighborhood around the Downtown Elementary School, roughly bounded by Jefferson, Madison, Third and Danny Thomas. The profile is intended to serve as a comprehensive guide to developers and investors interested in learning about buildings and sites that present prime development opportunites in this area.
An analysis of the area concludes that several under-utilized surface parking lots would be better used as residential and mixed-use development sites. In addition, there are several large vacant or under-used buildings in the neighbhorhood, including The Sterick Building, The Hickman Building, and the Toof Building.
Information also includes an overview of current zoning, land use, landmarks and recent public and private investments.
Click here to view the Downtown School Neighborhood Profile. (It may take several minutes to download). For a hard copy of the profile, contact Dawn Vinson, CCC Development Coordinator, at 901.575.0555.
For more information on neighborhood profiles, contact Andy Kitsinger, CCC Director of Planning & Development, at 901.575.0592.
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New Condos Abound in South End
Residential growth in the South End of Downtown continues at remarkable speed. To date, seventeen residential projects, totaling $246 million, are either under construction or in the planning phase. Combined, these projects will bring nearly 900 new residential units to this area within the next two years.
Following is an overview of the projects with a corresponding map.
For more information on current projects in Downtown, visit CCC Current Projects List.
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SoFo District Gets New Youth Outreach Center
Street Ministries, a religious affiliated afterschool program, has announced the construction of a new 34,500-sf outreach and recreation center on Vance Avenue in the SoFo District, the area south of the FedExForum. The $4.2 million center will feature a recreation room, an education wing for Streets' afterschool tutoring programs, and a fully equipped double gymnasium. The Center will service the children in Foote Homes and Cleaborn Homes communities. Currently Streets interacts with 350-400 inner-city youth each week.
The Center City Commission recently created a redevelopment plan for the SoFo District. The redevelopment plan recommends the creation of a residential neighborhood using Uptown as a model.
For more information on current projects in Downtown, visit CCC Current Projects List.
Click here to view a draft of the South Forum Redevelopment Plan. [back to table of contents]
The City's First "Smart Park" Opens Downtown
At its 2005 Annual Meeting on May 5th, the Center City Commission unveiled $640,000 of renovations to Court Square to bring the park back to its original turn of the 20th century design.The Center City Commission spearheaded the renovations which include new walkways, sidewalks, park benches, period streetlights, gazebo renovations and wireless internet access. Landscaping was reconfigured to give park users more access to grassy areas and to make way for public events.
The Center City Commission received generous financial support from the City of Memphis and several other partners that made the renovations possible. Funds for gazebo renovations were provided by the Memphis Rotary Club and Memphis Rotary Foundation and the period lights were paid for by Marriott Springhill Suites and Sleep Inn at Court Square. Road Runner Business Class and LAN ONE installed wireless internet access capability for laptop users, making Court Square the city's first "smart park".
For more information on new development projects in Downtown Memphis, click here to view the Center City Commission's Current Project List.
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Downtown Visionaries HonoredThis year's Center City Commission Vision Award honorees were announced at the CCC's 2005 Annual Meeting on May 5.
Jack Belz, chairman and chief executive officer of Belz Enterprises, received the CCC's first Lifetime Achievement Award for his vision and drive that changed the face of Downtown. Among Belz's accomplishments are the reopening of the Peabody Hotel in 1981, his work with Henry Turley on South Bluffs and Harbor Town, and the redevelopment of the 8-block Peabody Place, which includes the retail center, Peabody Place Office Tower and AutoZone Headquarters.
Preston Lamm was honored with a Vision Award for his hand in shaping Beale Street, the state's number one tourism revenue generator that now attracts 5-6 million visitors a year. The Memphis Housing Authority and Housing and Community Development was the corporate Vision Award recipient for their work on the Uptown project.
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Development Briefs
Construction is underway on a new condo project across from the Pyramid Arena. Harbor Lights is a $6 million, 24-unit condo complex being constructed on Front near Auction by Blue Group II.
Phase 2 of the Center City Commission's streetscape improvements continues on:
Union Avenue from Riverside to Third;
Monroe Avenue from Front to Third;
Center Lane Alley from Union to West Court and from Gayoso to Barboro Alley;
Barboro Alley from Front to Second; and
November 6 Alley from Gayoso to Barboro Alley.
Improvements will include new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, streetlights and alley lighting, and trash containers. Street trees and concrete planters will also be added as well as new banners on Union Avenue. Businesses in this area will remain open throughout construction. Construction is expected to take approximately one year. Click here to view details.
The UrbanArts Commission has selected a preliminary design for a new Tom Lee Memorial to be installed in Tom Lee Park this year. Tom Lee gained heroic status in 1925 when he carried 32 survivors of a sinking steamer in the Mississippi River to shore in his boat. The original memorial was destroyed in the June 2003 windstorm. The new memorial will be sculpted by artist David Alan Clark of Wyoming.
The Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission, the Memphis Music Foundation and the Center City Commission have partnered to present a 16-week local music concert series in Court Square. Court Square Concert Series starts on Wednesday, May 18 from 5 - 7 pm and runs through August 31. The concerts are free and open to the public, and will take place every Wednesday night in the newly renovated Court Square. Click here for a list of musical acts.
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New Downtown Business
LoLo's Table is now open for lunch serving Mediterrean cuisine at 128 Monroe. 901.522.9449
Ride the Ducks, a new interactive, land and water touring company of downtown sights is now offering tours from AutoZone Park. 901.521.9700
Cordelia's Table, a new deli in the expanded Cordelia's Market in Harbor Town Square, is now open. 901.526.4772
Simply for Me, a home-cooking restaurant and bakery, is now open for lunch at 151 Jefferson Ave. 901.525.4775
Karaoke Kafe, a karaoke bar and full multimedia recording studio, is now open at 26 S Main near Monroe. 901.521.8402
Footlocker, an athletic shoe and apparel store, recently opened in Peabody Place Retail & Entertainment Center. 901.528.1650.
Alice's Urban Market is now open at 513 S Front between Blue Monkey and The Corkscrew. The market features meals-to-go, fresh-baked bread and a small grocery for daily needs.
Shelton Clothiers, an upscale men's clothing store, is scheduled to open in early June at 147 S Main. 901.722.8333
Corky's Express will open this month at 175 Peabody Place.
Hooter's Restaurant will open this month at 250 Peabody Place.
Spiritual Freedom, a metaphysical bookstore, has opened at 1320 Madison. 901.276.0076
Aldi's Grocery, has announced plans to open a store on the southwest corner of Poplar and Cleveland.
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Available Property Spotlight:777 South Main
This two-story structure, built in 1943, is located in the South Main Historic Arts District at Main and Virginia Avenue.
The building is approximately 30,000-sf and sits on a .61 acre lot. The building has both grade and dock doors and lots on both sides for on-site parking. The property would serve as an excellent site for a residential development. Asking price is $600,000.
For more information, contact Tucker Beck at Crye Leike Commercial, 901.378.1300 .
To review other available properties in Downtown Memphis, click here.
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Upcoming Meeting Schedule
Downtown Parking Authority: Tues, May 17 at 3 pm
Center City Commission Board: Friday, May 27 at 12 noon
Design Review Board: Wednesday, June 1 at 5 pm
Center City Revenue Finance Corporation: Tuesday, June 14 at 9 am
Center City Development Corporation: Wednesday, June 15 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.
The Center City Commission office will be closed on Monday, May 30 to observe Memorial Day.
The South Main Association will meet on Wednesday, May 18 at 6:30 pm at the Power House. Guest speakers are Barry Yoakum and Todd Walker of Archimania who will present their proposal to convert the Pyramid into an aquarium. For more information, visit the South Main Assn website at www.southmainmemphis.org.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association will meet on Thursday, May 19 at 6:30 pm at Felicia Suzanne's. For more information, visit their website at www.memphisdna.org.
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Center City Commission Staff
Executive
Jeff Sanford, President
Nicole Hernandez, Director of Executive Programs
Jerome Rubin, M/WBE Coordinator
Development
Andy Kitsinger, Director of Planning & Development
Brad Elmer, Development Project Manager
Molly Frey, Real Estate Analyst
Jaske Goff, Development Project 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:
Fred Beckham
Eugene Brassel
Mary Fleming
Fannie Garner
Sally Hayes
Mika Hilliard
Charles Jackson
Bobby Parker
Richard Richardson
Johnnie Willis
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Email your questions or comments to Leslie Gower, Editor.