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in this issue:
On the Riverfront
Historic Renovationson the Mall
A New Hotel for Sofo
Downtown Rocks withAlley Jams!
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.
On the Riverfront
Projects Enhance Public Experience of the River
UrbanArt Commission is installing a public art sculpture/pavillion on a plaza at Beale Street Landing. Designed by Chicago-based artist Evan Lewis, the 52-foot tall, concrete and stainless steel structure, which will include wind-powered kinetic parts, will serve as a gateway to the $29.4 million docking facility and park. Installation of the sculpture is scheduled for fall of 2010.Nearby, design plans have been finalized for the U of M Law School – Confederate Park Public Access project, and work is scheduled to begin later this year. Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC) is coordinating construction of a 10-foot wide, concrete walkway along the top of the bluff behind the new University of Memphis Law School. The walkway will connect across Court Avenue with a pedestrian bridge – 200 feet in length – to Confederate Park. The project will also include an overlook terrace, landscaping, and lighting improvements. Ritchie Smith Associates designed the $1.2 million project, which is scheduled for completion by summer 2010.
In conjunction with the City of Memphis and the Memphis City Council, RDC has also recently completed a walking trail and other public enhancements at Chickasaw Heritage park in the French Fort neighborhood.
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Historic Renovations on the Mall
Construction has begun on The General Washburn, the $7.8 million renovation of the historic Lawrence building at 60 S Main St into 42 apartments and approximately 5,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Downtown Developers LLC plans to complete work on the project by the end of the year. Habiterra is the architectural firm for the project; Naylor Construction is the contractor.Right next door, plans have been announced to renovate and re-brand One Commerce Square. Forty South Main Street Corporation has named a development team that includes Commercial Alliance Management, Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, and Grinder Tabor & Grinder to overhaul the iconic, 31-story building. Work is scheduled to begin later this year and to be completed in 2010.
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A New Hotel for Sofo
Royal Phoenix Development LLC plans to build a new luxury hotel and parking garage at the southeast corner of Linden and Fourth in the South Forum neighborhood. Project plans were approved by the Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board in August. The 11-story, 298-room hotel will cost approximately $77 million and is scheduled for completion in 2011. Bounds and Gillespie Architects will design the project; Hardin Construction company is the contractor.
Click here to download the South Forum Master Plan for more redvelopment opportunities in the area.
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Downtown Rocks with Alley Jams!
Downtown Alley Jams, this year's fall concert series kicks off this month. September events in the seven-week series include the NeoSoulville Alley Party on September 23 featuring such artists as Candace Ashir, Tonya Dyson, and The City Champs and the REG Alley Party on September 30 featuring The Dempseys and The Soul Shockers.
All shows will take place on Wednesdays with vending starting at 4:30 pm and live music at 6 pm. The events are free and open to the public.
Click here to view the complete Alley Jams program line-up.
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Development Briefs
Work is almost complete at Metro67 the 157-unit luxury apartment project at 67 Madison Avenue. The units are available for lease, and the first residents have already moved in. EFO Residential Partners developed the $28 million project along with the $7.5 million renovation of the adjacent garage in the former AutoZone Annex at 60 Madison. Hnedak Bobo Group designed the project; Standard Builders is the contractor.Sneak Peek, a boutique that specializes in men's urban street wear, is the newest addition to South Main. The store recently received a Retail Forgivable Loan for Existing Businesses in the amount of $17,460 from the Center City Development Corporation (CCDC). CCDC also awarded Forgivable Loans for Existing Businesses to Sauces restaurant, located at 95 South Main, in the amount of $30,000; Eel, Etc. at 333 Beale Street – $19,076; and, Delphinum, 107 GE Patterson, in the amount of $14,000. For more information about Downtown retail financial incentives, please contact Lisa Brumleve, Business Recruitment and Retention Manager, at 575.0552.
EmergeMemphis has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). The EDA grant will be used to help finance the $1.5 million expansion and renovation of the fourth floor of the business incubator's offices at 516 Tennessee Street. The renovation will provide space for up to 14 additional early-stage, high-growth companies at the site. Work is scheduled to begin this fall and to be completed in spring 2010.
Work continues on Barboro Flats at 100 South Main Street. The $18.1 million project will include 92 apartments, approximately 7,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and a 215-space public parking garage (owned by the Downtown Parking Authority). The development team consists of 100 South Main Partners, Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, and Montgomery Martin. The project is scheduled to be completed by September 2010.The final meetings for public input on the Mud Island Land Use Study are scheduled for September 29 at the Botanic Gardens and October 1 at Harbor Landing. Click here for more information about the meetings.
Work has begun at 581 North Third Street. This project is the renovation of two existing buildings for mixed office and restaurant/retail use. Uptown Investments, LLC is the developer of the project, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of October. The project cost is $177,300.Clean Memphis is organizing a clean-up day for Downtown on Saturday, October 17 from 9am to noon. Downtown residents, employees and business owners, and other people who care about Downtown are encouraged to volunteer. The event will serve as a kick-off for quarterly clean-ups in the Downtown area. Interested volunteers or sponsors should contact Janet Boscarino at (901) 488-6786 or janet@cleanmemphis.org.
View the latest Downtown development and event photos on Flickr! Add Downtown Memphis as a contact, and join the Downtown Memphis Flickr pool to add your own photos and video clips that show why Downtown Memphis is a great place to live, work, and play!
www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos and videos from DowntownMemphis. Make your own badge here.
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New Downtown Businesses
Lulalyn Downtown: Art gallery, 80 Monroe Ave, ((901) 489-3963
SOB | South of Beale: Memphis' first gastropub, 361 S Main St, (901) 526-0388
Republic Nightclub & Restaurant: 126 Beale St, (901) 526-1883
Sneak Peek: Men's urban street wear boutique, 515 S Main St Ste 101, (901) 605-8853
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Available Property Spotlight:
Winchester Building, 8 S Third St
Built in 1903, this six-story office building is located at Third and Madison near AutoZone ballpark. Approximately 3,122 square feet of first-floor space is available for lease at $12 per square foot.
For information on this property, contact Michele Harris at Crye-Leike, (901) 578-5765 or visit the building's website: www.thewinchesterbuilding.com.
For more information about downtown properties that are for sale or lease, click here to view the CCC's Available Properties list. To add your commercial property to the list or to update a listing, please contact Dawn Vinson at 575-0555 or send the pertinent information to vinson@downtownmemphis.com.
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Upcoming Meeting Schedule
Center City Commission Board: Thursday, September 24 at noon
Design Review Board: Wednesday, October 7 at 5 pm
Center City Revenue Finance Corporation: Tuesday, October 13 at 9:00 am
Center City Development Corporation: Wednesday, October 21 at 9 am
Downtown Parking Authority: TBD
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
Planning & Development
Andy Kitsinger, VP of Planning & Development
Jaske Goff, Director of Development & Diversity Outreach
Lisa Brumleve, Business Recruitment and Retention Manager
Lorie Chapman, Urban Planner
Dawn Vinson, Development Project Manager, Editor
Financial & Administrative
Jim Street, Chief Financial Officer
Christine Taylor, Office Manager/Administrative Assistant
Marketing
Leslie Gower, VP of Marketing and Communications
Sridhar Sunkara, Director of Information Systems
Stephanie Bennett, Marketing and Communications Specialist
Operations
Jerome Rubin, VP of Operations
Larry Bloom, Public Safety Coordinator
Dave Rice, Parking Manager/Environmental Coordinator
Gaston Davis, Blue Suede Brigade Manager
Blue Suede Brigadiers:
Fannie Garner, BSB Field Supervisor
Robbie Farmer
Hugh Grogan
Sally Hayes
Carl Hibler
Charles Jackson
Terry Johnson
David Martinez
Johnnie Willis
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Email your questions or comments to Dawn Vinson, Editor.