MEMPHIS | Development News

[arkitekte]

Don’t Take Ballpark, Team for Granted
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news...m-for-granted/

Here's a pretty good article about the ownership changes of both the Redbirds and Autozone Park.

[Wayward Memphian]

Originally Posted by arkitekte

Don’t Take Ballpark, Team for Granted
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news...m-for-granted/

Here's a pretty good article about the ownership changes of both the Redbirds and Autozone Park.

I think the Cardinals understand that they are the most popular team in this area and leaving would be bad. They own their AA club as well in Springfield Mo. The Royals, owned by former Walmart CEO was instrumental in moving their AA club to Northwest Arkansas. Smart move as they want us in NWA come up to KC for a weekend game. I've often mentioned KC and some of it's recent developments as examples for Memphis. Watching the Cardinals play in KC started my going to KC. I'm wanting to see the success of the mini entertainment district they are putting in adjacent to the new Busch and I'm sure the Cardinals will market better. Here's the thing to take from Autozone, with new ball parks going in at El Paso and even Nashville, by all my takes on the renderings, Autozone is still the most attractive and as nice as any AAA ballpark in America and you are about to come to a stopping point on the new build out. That's saying something about Autozone, 13 years and many new parks later, she is still a jewel.

[Huntsvillenative]

It looks like the new owners of EPE plan to tone down the tacky merchandising and deliver a more contemporary image globally to what they have with Marilyn Monroe, which in return will only help impact Memphis' economy.

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/n...r.html?ana=RSS

[nashvol85]

Originally Posted by Wayward Memphian

Here's the thing to take from Autozone, with new ball parks going in at El Paso and even Nashville, by all my takes on the renderings, Autozone is still the most attractive and as nice as any AAA ballpark in America and you are about to come to a stopping point on the new build out. That's saying something about Autozone, 13 years and many new parks later, she is still a jewel.

I agree. If there is one single thing that can be unanimously agreed that 'Memphis did right', it's the ballpark. It is a fantastic urban ballpark, both in setting and design. I would not only rank it at the top of AAA, but probably mid way through the MLB ranks as well.


Nashville is supposed to get a new ballpark...but I personally think the preliminary renderings suck. Hopefully we can get something with a better design -- and set to the street grid. I don't want an exact copy of Auto Zone, but I certainly wouldn't mind a sibling.

[Wayward Memphian]

Originally Posted by nashvol85

I agree. If there is one single thing that can be unanimously agreed that 'Memphis did right', it's the ballpark. It is a fantastic urban ballpark, both in setting and design. I would not only rank it at the top of AAA, but probably mid way through the MLB ranks as well.


Nashville is supposed to get a new ballpark...but I personally think the preliminary renderings suck. Hopefully we can get something with a better design -- and set to the street grid. I don't want an exact copy of Auto Zone, but I certainly wouldn't mind a sibling.

I will not hold back, it's horrid from what I've seen and I don't like the location. Noticed that the Braves dropped it's entertainment district plans yesterday, 400 million and they are talking about doing all that on their own. Made me think of the FedEx Forum and Beale with my pipe dream of a downtown stadium for football, soccer, special events and convention exhibit space. El Paso is doing better on their park. Man, I just read about Richmond's proposed new park, smack dab in the slave trade area and the historians are pitching a huge fit. Part of that development is a Krogers. There's a AA park down in Texas that went out of it's way for families in the outfield with a nice splash pad, dry play structure and a couple of small scale amusement rides like a small Ferris wheel and carousel. I've seen parks with inflatables like our park up here in NWA and even outfield wiffle ball diamonds. Like what St. Louis is finally doing with it's ballpark village area though it reeks of a Wrigley ripoff.

Has Memphis ever approached the Chickasaw Nation about a casino, How would that work with the state if an Indian Nation bought some of it's ancestral land back? A Hard Rock Hotel and Casino would seem like a fit around Beale. BTW, I've said this before, where the hell is the Memphis House of Blues still?

[arkitekte]

Originally Posted by Wayward Memphian

Has Memphis ever approached the Chickasaw Nation about a casino, How would that work with the state if an Indian Nation bought some of it's ancestral land back? A Hard Rock Hotel and Casino would seem like a fit around Beale. BTW, I've said this before, where the hell is the Memphis House of Blues still?

I'm not sure about the casino, but as far as the Memphis House of Blues, the city council's downtown priorities are too messed up for anything that makes sense...I still can't wrap my head around Beale Street Landing; especially since they got pretty much half of what it was proposed to be at double the cost. What a joke.

[Wayward Memphian]

Here's a pic of Constellation Park down in Sugarland. Amazing how many minor league parks there are down around Houston and Dallas given they have a major league club but hey, KC even has the independent T-Bones out by the nascar track.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by arkitekte

I'm not sure about the casino, but as far as the Memphis House of Blues, the city council's downtown priorities are too messed up for anything that makes sense...I still can't wrap my head around Beale Street Landing; especially since they got pretty much half of what it was proposed to be at double the cost. What a joke.

I had heard a while back that the owner/founder of House Of Blues is either from Memphis or does not like Memphis and it why there's no HOB there. At least that's what I was told by a close source. If true then that's just messed up.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by Wayward Memphian

Has Memphis ever approached the Chickasaw Nation about a casino, How would that work with the state if an Indian Nation bought some of it's ancestral land back? A Hard Rock Hotel and Casino would seem like a fit around Beale. BTW, I've said this before, where the hell is the Memphis House of Blues still?

It's hard to wrap my head around why Memphis does NOT have a Hard Rock Hotel to this day. I do understand that some feature casinos. But not all. San Diego has one and no casino. Neither does Chicago or Orlando's. In fact, only 6 of their 17 destination hotels actually have casinos with them. Which makes it even more harder to believe that Memphis does not have a HRH. With Graceland a international tourist mecca and Beale Street the most popular music & club strip in America, with the FedExForum, Rock & Soul Museum, etc all downtown, you would think that HRH would want to have a destination hotel there.

But, that also falls on the city officials for not pushing for one. They rather have a Marriot or some mid level hotel chain come to the city.

[East7thStreet]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

Beale Street the most popular music & club strip in America

I like Beale Street but this is not even close to being true.

[Wayward Memphian]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

I had heard a while back that the owner/founder of House Of Blues is either from Memphis or does not like Memphis and it why there's no HOB there. At least that's what I was told by a close source. If true then that's just messed up.

One of the founders is from Jackson TN, Isaac Tigrett one of the big investors in the beginning was also Dan Aykroyd, you know the comedian, film star, blues show host. Tigrett also started Hard Rock. Tigrett and co sold out some time ago.

If you get past the front loaded commercials, here's an interview where he's talking Nashville fairgrounds revitalization in 2012

http://talkapolis.com/show/music-bus...-isaac-tigrett

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by Wayward Memphian

One of the founders is from Jackson TN, Isaac Tigrett one of the big investors in the beginning was also Dan Aykroyd, you know the comedian, film star, blues show host. Tigrett also started Hard Rock. Tigrett and co sold out some time ago.

If you get past the front loaded commercials, here's an interview where he's talking Nashville fairgrounds revitalization in 2012

http://talkapolis.com/show/music-bus...-isaac-tigrett

Okay, but why Nashville and not Memphis? It makes no sense how Memphis keeps getting overlooked with such a HUGE impact on pop culture then and now.

[DoomJ]

I don't know what all this talk about whether "chain restaurant x" has or doesn't have or should have a presence on Beale Street is about, but I don't like it.

In other news, this was published in the CA:

Tennessee plans to move all the state employees now working in the Donnelley J. Hill State Office Building in Downtown Memphis a few blocks away into the One Commerce Square Building.

State officials had indicated that some workers or departments may move to other state office spaces around Shelby County. But late last week General Services spokesman Kelly Smith confirmed that all 596 employees in the Hill Building will be moved to One Commerce Square.

The relocation is to occur by June 1.

Tennessee is leasing 104,673 square feet in the One Commerce Square tower, at Main and Monroe. The fate of the state-owned Hill Building, with 14 stories and 121,505 square feet, has not been determined.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...rkers-to-stay/

[DoomJ]

Also:

Central Station’s next chapter is taking shape, 15 years after a $23 million renovation rescued a dilapidated, nearly empty landmark at 545 S. Main.

A team led by Henry Turley Jr. and Archie W. Willis III has been tapped to articulate a vision for the century-old building and five adjoining acres of vacant land. The lone respondent to a Memphis Area Transit Authority request for proposals is expected to submit development and management plans to MATA administrators in a couple months.

While apartments seem to make sense for the station’s back yard, on Front Street next to the seasonal Memphis Farmers Market, it’s unclear what other development opportunities will be identified. Any proposal must pass muster with administrators, MATA’s board and the Federal Transit Administration, which bankrolled much of the original renovation.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...ation-to-next/

[VSRJ]

Originally Posted by DoomJ

Also: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...ation-to-next/

I'm really looking forward to this. The Central Station area is one of my favorite parts of Downtown, but I feel like there is definitely an opportunity to enhance its offerings. Central Station alone is a beautiful structure.

On a somewhat related note, what do you guys think the odds are of some sort of national grocer or Target-like business coming to downtown? I really want to live in the South Main area, but having to drive 15+ minutes to go to the grocery store is a detractor.

[DoomJ]

Originally Posted by VSRJ

I'm really looking forward to this. The Central Station area is one of my favorite parts of Downtown, but I feel like there is definitely an opportunity to enhance its offerings. Central Station alone is a beautiful structure.

On a somewhat related note, what do you guys think the odds are of some sort of national grocer or Target-like business coming to downtown? I really want to live in the South Main area, but having to drive 15+ minutes to go to the grocery store is a detractor.

There must be a place for a Target-like retail location somewhere in the core. Between South Main, Downtown, Harbortown, and Midtown, there should be a more than adequate consumer base. Personally I favor a Medical District location- it's central to all of those points, and could serve as a catalyst for redevelopments/infill between Downtown and Midtown

[DoomJ]

So there's an article in the Daily News today about the purchase price for Autozone Park:

The price tag for the city of Memphis to acquire AutoZone Park would be “south of $24 million,” according to two sources familiar with the negotiations.

Around $57 million remains owed on the original bonds used to build the stadium, but Fundamental Advisors acquired the debt for $24 million in 2010.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has said he wanted a deal structured so that the city would not be forced to dip into general fund revenues to purchase the stadium, which has won recognition as one of the country’s premier minor league ballparks.

Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the Redbirds would enter into a long-term lease agreement with the city for the ballpark at Third Street and Union Avenue. The lease payments and sales tax rebates on items bought by fans at the ballpark as well as money the city gets from payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements – the tax freezes that are used in economic development projects – would be used to pay for the bond issuance.

And then there was an interesting blurb at the end about a completely different project:

In addition to the AutoZone Park purchase, the council will also be asked to consider a $15 million request for the ambitious effort to redevelop the long-vacant Sears Crosstown property. City officials believe they have identified state and federal funding sources for the $15 million request.

Entire article here: http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news...of-24-million/

[Johnny Ryall]

Whole Foods unveils Germantown store design
Memphis Biz Journal

Whole Foods Market, moving to open a store in Germantown, today gave us a sneak peek at the designs it hopes to present to the city's planning commission next week. The store will go before the commission Dec. 3. to get approval for the look of the 41,000-square-foot grocery store on the southeast corner of Poplar Avenue and Pete Mitchell Road.

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/b...ry-design.html

Greenberg Farrow

[Johnny Ryall]

West Cancer Center plans revealed
Memphis Biz Journal

The proposed $60.5 million project includes a full array of cancer services and programs and involves approximately 8,050 square feet of new space and 101,235 square feet of renovated space.

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/n...-revealed.html

West Cancer Center

[kingchef]

i fail to understand why---seemingly---all projects in memphis proper are shrouded in mystery, barely outlined, w/ details later. if not out-right conflict, then rumblings, various factions of groups and/or alliances. it seems that so much is tied up by personal vendettas, spite, and personal gain. really, vary little of the peoples' business is carried on from day to day. whether it be staues, or the renaming of a park, or the halting of a building, touted to be the tallest skyscraper complex in the city. the reason: to take into consideration the opposition of a few, whose view of the afternoon sun might be obstructed by a handful of those living in a highrise across from the proposed construction.
the above is simply the tip of the iceberg.