Hotel Chisca is still quite a ways from any breaking news. Its a historic site, therefore when its redeveloped, it has to be done in a way that doesn't harm the integrity of the original design. It could be anywhere from a few months to a couple of years before anything is done. Also the developer(s) private and public (the city) have to develop their budget as far as what can actually be done, and how many tax credits they will receive for restoring a historic property.

The Marriott is still a go as far as I know. The Hilton and Hotel Indigo are probably still securing funding/ planning, although I think Hotel Indigo might be dead as a development, as well as the Hilton.

This could potentially be very good for Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium revenues if this USFL relaunch does indeed come to fruition. I recommend the Washington Post link below for more details. This time around the USFL will not challenge the NFL and will be a 2nd-tier developmental league with the NFL having some access.

Memphis on USFL’s short list for football team in 2013
Memphis Business Journal

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/b...-list-for.html

Photo: MBJ
http://assets.bizjournals.com/memphi...Bowl09.jpg?v=1

More on the story from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...FGU_story.html

i was under the impression that both hotel projects were on the ready w/ funding. at one point, the indigo was, supposedly, only a few months from completing their project. at the time that was announced, the project had been w9ried on well into it's sixth year. reportedly, they were just getting a property finished in atlanta?

i thought the hilton deal was done and completely approved. the chisca project would not get any better for renovation, certainly, if another two years goes past. i've been looking at the south main district and down past the french fort district. i really like so much of what is there, and i would love to see housing and community services for about 20-25,000 people. there is a great deal of potential remaining over there. the recent aerial shots of that area are really nice, as are the photos of the bridges. i hope the marine hospital project can be completed, the horizon filled, and retail put into that area. i love those bridges and the french fort structures.

^I too was under the impression that the Hilton was ready to start well over a year ago or so. Anyways, the Chisca will probably be the first to get going now. The city knows the South Main district is booming, and want to get in while there's still marketable room.

The Marine Hospital is still quite a way from anything happening. I was able to go inside back during March. I'll make a photo thread here in the next few weeks of the Marine Hospital, Sears Crosstown with photos from the interior and roof, and some other abandoned buildings in Memphis.

Looks like this hotel development is moving forward next to the proposed Hilton property. Its' plot is staked off with orange barricade.

Dallas developer prepares site near arena on Linden for possible 'select service' hotel
The Commercial Appeal

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...learing-space/

With the coming 10-story expansion tower for the Downtown Marriott @ Cook Convention Center & this development, make that 370 hotel rooms under-construction in the Convention/ Pinch District.

The Pyramid plan takes shape
Bass Pro design includes hotel; city buys nearby land
The Commercial Appeal

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...n-takes-shape/

INTERIOR Photo by Chris Desmond, EXTERIOR Photo by Jim Weber
http://media.commercialappeal.com/me...mid2_t607.jpeg http://media.commercialappeal.com/me...t_APP_t607.jpg

^While I personally would like to see those hotel rooms be located outside of the Pyramid to spark further development in the Pinch District, adding them inside the Pyramid will certainly bring more money to Bass Pro and the Pyramid, and is a smart idea on their part.

Also, I'm looking forward to see construction start on the hotels south of the Forum.

The Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum is now open. Located inside Central Station on South Main Street.

NOW OPEN
Hours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday & Saturday
Noon - 5:00 PM Sundays
Open other days only by special arrangement

Adults $3.00, under 12 $1.00, 3 and under free.
"At the South End of the Main Street Trolley Line"

http://mrtm.org/

Loeb Makes Progress on Square Plan
Memphis Daily News

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news...n-square-plan/

Ford to propose Memphis taxpayers contribute $2 million to redevelop the Chisca
The Commercial Appeal

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...D=happeningnow

Photo by Nikki Boertman
http://media.commercialappeal.com/me...pcrop_t607.jpg

^I would much rather see the city invest 2 million into the Chisca redevelopment than the 51 million it invested into the Beale Street Landing and American Queen, but it is what it is. If it comes down to a vote, I see a "no" in the 2 million dollar investment.

Found this earlier today; time lapse of the new video board being installed at AutoZone Park.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9DV_...layer_embedded

I was having trouble getting the player to actually play on this page, so you'll have to go to YouTube to watch it.

Historic cobblestones ready to undergo $6 million restoration
Memphis Daily News

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news...erfront-rehab/

(Photo: Lance Murphey)
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/Edit...&maxHeight=600

what makes little rock and nashville, tn so similar in demographics? it seems that many polls pair those two up quite often. could have something to do w/ the country music, a good deal north of little rock, in branson, mo. too, may have to do w/ travel packages. i have gotten 3 of those 4 day weekends this year. before, i have never been bothered w/ them. they both have similar night shots of their skylines.

Memephis and little rock are not the same at all, not even demographically. Memphis had a much larger percentage of blacks than little rock. The two cities are also completely different when you compare their downtowns. Memphis Downtown and the historic areas that surround it are much much larger and intact than little rocks. The architecture is also completely different as memphis had influences from all the major Mississippi river towns.

On another note, I hope this restoration of the cobblestones maintaines their historic character and they don't change it up too much. Its amazing that the cobblestone landing has survived this long. New Orleans doesn't have one, st Louis doesn't have it's left so it's important that Memphis keeps it as intact as possible. There's only one other historic cobblestone landing that I've seen on the Mississippi, and it was in Helena Arkansas. Cairo still might have one but both Helena and Cairo are so far gone and screwed that it doesn't even really matter.

We'll see what happens regarding the cobblestones. The main reason why Memphis still has the cobble stone landing as well as the huge historic building stock is the lack of development, which now is a good thing, but put a choke hold on Downtown Memphis, while other downtowns were booming. You sometimes here people say Memphis is stuck in 1968 and that when MLK was assassinated the city stopped growing, and its somewhat true.

As far as riverfront development now, Memphis is trying to catch up and is failing miserably. The city has invested $42 million into Beale Street Landing, which was supposed to be a $21 million investment. It was supposed to be completed already, but is way behind. The landing is supposed to house the new American Queen riverboat, which the city loaned $9 million. The riverboat is only going to be in Memphis 9 times a year, and the average cruise on the riverboat is $1,200. Dumb investment, but w/e. I don't know who would pay that money to cruise on the Mississippi, when you could pay 1/4 of that a year in advance and go wherever you want in the Caribbean.

Anyways, here are some photos of what's supposed to be there, and what is actually there now:

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/...ll90/BSL_2.jpg

Figured I would include this rendering, including One Beale, which is now shelved.

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/...L-1a200dpi.jpg

^Both of those are from river.freshbits.com

And these are from April 27 at the "Grand Opening" with the landing way behind...I've heard everywhere from 3 months to a year, but I visited back in October, and not much more had been done between then and April.

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_0535.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/...0/DSC_0472.jpg

That's not a lot of bang for your buck, imo. Sorry I don't have any recent photos of the structure which is to house ticket offices, lounges, and a restaurant.

Here's a video from ABC 24 news with a video that shows the unfinished structure.
http://www.abc24.com/news/local/stor...XGBnNWHrA.cspx
I was actually on the news that night at 10 when a friend and myself were interviewed about the landing, but they didn't post that video on their site. I pretty much said that it was nice to have development coming to the riverfront, but it was far too expensive when other issues in the city need to be addressed.

Anyways, I'm done ranting.

sorry to hijack ...photoLith st louis still has its cobblestone landing that goes down into the river, its made of missouri granite. its a little rough in spots.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6...dafa3ef8_m.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6...dafa3ef8_m.jpg

^Centropolis, how does the city address people wandering about on STL's cobblestones? There's some planners in Memphis that want to keep people away from it in a way, saying that its a liability. The article mentions two cases where people have sued, or tried to sue the City of Memphis for injuries they've gotten from walking on the cobblestone landing.

Well, I haven't heard any talk of closing off the cobblestones to walking and parking/driving aside from the various riverfront redevelopment plans that either restored or in some cases removed them alltogether. It is somewhat treacherous....

http://www.builtstlouis.net/riverfro...erfront109.jpg
http://www.builtstlouis.net/riverfro...erfront109.jpg

http://www.builtstlouis.net/riverfro...erfront110.jpg
http://www.builtstlouis.net/riverfro...erfront110.jpg

perhaps i missed it, but i noticed that the downtown marriott, convention center has reportedly announced that the new room addition will be a 10 story addition. are there any drawings? is there any discussion on the possibility of putting the 10 floors on top of the 17 stories or the other 13 story tower? i think it would be good for ht in that area, and i think rotating the addition to a 15 d angle(s) would be interesting. i just don't see stringing another tower along like fish on a line. if one beale were to ever be realized, it might make a nice counter point, as the pyramid, 32 stories, is usually left out of downtown photos.