memphian

I have been to Fox's Culinary Dropout in Phoenix. Good food and good atmosphere. I'm more excited about the other concepts they have though.

Back in 1985 downtown shopping was still in [pretty] full force with Cain Sloan, Castner Knott and plenty of other stores so maybe they were pushing people towards the more desirable part of town?

Very sad for Memphis but that city is broken. I lived there for 16 years (moved back to the Nashville area last month). I’m glad to be gone. This might Really set them back, again.

Park Hyatt is their luxury brand. Grand Hyatt might be a stretch but it would compare to JWMarriott. Many times the press just doesn’t know anything about hotel segmentation so they just call everything “upscale” to bait readers.

I was there in the mid and late 1990’s. It was a great, albeit sleepy, place back then. I remember the streetscape stuff. It got a big boost during the Tennessee Bicentenial. Also, the college kids at that time were infatuated with the coffee shop culture (FRIENDS) so that helped to put younger folks on the square when Poets opened. That had to help in some way, I guess by allowing developers to see the hidden gem that was in plain sight.

I like the colors!

Wow, Cedar was gritty back when I was in college but that was a different time. It’s fun to see Cookeville grow. The concerts downtown at the bandstand add to the charm and the hotel downtown will definitely change things. Will this be the smallest downtown in TN to have a hotel and conference center? I guess Clarksville has the riverside inn but the population is considerably larger. I don’t think M’boro has one downtown. Franklin is building one or two. Anyway, rambling on but it makes Cookeville unique.

The condo market really doesn't surprise me since Cookeville has, in the past 20 years, really embraced its university town status. It doesn't hurt that TECH is really close to downtown and the two districts along with the medical district are naturally merging. It will be fun to see how it all matures. It wonder if city leadership ever visits other university towns to gather ideas on smart growth (growth which will generate tourism dollars and further development)? I am in Cambridge, England this week and this city is amazing. You can't quite compare Cambridge to anything in the US but there are elements which can be borrowed. Closer to home Oxford, MS or Athens, GA would be good places from which to learn.

It’s funny, there’s a condo market in Cookeville but it basically doesn’t exist in Memphis. Lots of nice development, I need to get back up there at some point and take a look around. I’d guess that location and TECH are the main catalysts for development in Cookeville.

It will be whatever the developer wants it to be, as long as it meets design requirements from Hilton. Hotel companies typically don't have a height requirement. Its good though, Canopy will be a nice addition to the Nashville Hotel Scene.

I completely agree. This thing tries too hard to showcase its 3 different personalities.

Ooh this will be a nice terminal [D]. How many gates?

Way to go, TECH! Success like this can’t be underestimated. It can eventually lead to enrollment growth and the development of better athletic facilities,.

I like that canyon look - it gives downtown two distinct skylines.

Is that where Maddox Hardware used to be?