Market District - revitalization of Lower Dexter/Court Square

[Southron]

Foshee Management Company announced the creation of a pedestrian-friendly Market District in the lower Dexter Avenue area. The Market District (Market Street was renamed Dexter Avenue in 1884) will contain more than 100 loft apartments and space for more than 20 retail stores or restaurants. Overall, a total of 14 buildings will be redeveloped by Foshee to house restaurants, entertainment venues, loft apartments, office space and more.

 

Construction began with the removal of the canopy in front of the former Belk building, which will be renovated to include 30 lofts and 30,000 sq ft of commercial space. Renovations will later begin on four more buildings along the south side of Dexter, converting upper floors into loft apartments and leaving the ground floor and basement available for commercial uses.

 

Lower Dexter Avenue from Perry Street to Court Square will be closed to vehicles on weekends to provide opportunities for events such as street festivals, farmers’ markets and concerts. The area could be ready for weekend activity as early as spring 2015.

 

 

Website:  Market District

 

City plans to develop pedestrian-friendly Market District along Dexter Avenue

 

Downtown Redevelopment and Dexter

 

 

[Southron]

Work has begun on the Market District project. Here are a couple of renderings of the Belk building renovation.

 

 

[Southron]

Site photo update 21 Dec 2014:

 

Based on the map above, all of these buildings are part of the Market District project. The Belk Building (referenced above) is on the far left.

 

Entire south side of lower Dexter Ave block. At least a couple of the buildings between the Irish Bred Pub and the Belk Bldg are part of the project as well.

[Southron]

Not officially a part of the Market District, but on the opposite side of this block of lower Dexter Ave another company purchased several buildings and plans to renovate them with a mix of commercial and residential uses.

 

Mark Buller of MarJam Supply Co. in New York formed an Alabama company, ELSAJA Properties, to buy 35 Dexter Ave, 39 Dexter (Kress Bldg), 61 & 67 Dexter, 71 Dexter, 52 Monroe St and One Court Square. He previously renovated buildings in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Bridgeport, CT.

 

Interestingly, ELSAJA plans to add a couple of floors on top of the Kress Building for additional residential space. Renderings and details on some retail tenants are supposed to be coming in the next few weeks.

 

Combined with the Foshee renovations on the other side of the street, these projects will turn lower Dexter from total dud to happening hotspot within the next two years. Can't wait to see it!

 

Renovation plans for Kress Building

 

Lower Dexter project in the works

 

City approves sale of One Court Square

 

Preliminary rendering courtesy of WSFA-TV

 

Kress Bldg interior

 

 

Some of these buildings were purchased by ELSAJA

 

Older pics of the Kress Building's facades on Dexter Ave and Monroe St

[brad0022]

According to this article, 45 lofts are in the works in the Market District for 2015. http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/downtown-montgomery/2015/01/17/dining-options-hundreds-apartments-coming/21932623/

[nashmoney]

Thanks for posting updates about what's happening in Montgomery. The Market District seems like it will be a cool little place once all of the projects are complete. Lots of street level retail. Glad those historic buildings are being saved too.

 

Btw, we have a Kress building here in Nashville that was rehabbed into lofts with ground floor retail. Looks like you guys have to Kress buildings and both will be saved. Good to hear.

[Southron]

Thanks for posting updates about what's happening in Montgomery. The Market District seems like it will be a cool little place once all of the projects are complete. Lots of street level retail. Glad those historic buildings are being saved too.

 

Btw, we have a Kress building here in Nashville that was rehabbed into lofts with ground floor retail. Looks like you guys have to Kress buildings and both will be saved. Good to hear.

Yes, that area should be really cool when it's all done. Definitely looking forward to it. It's really amazing that all of this is being done at once - 20 buildings or so - after waiting for years for something to happen down there and seeing several potential projects fall through.

 

The Kress building here is actually one long building with two facades, the main one on Dexter Ave and another on Monroe St. I like the facade on your Kress building in Nashville. There's an old photo thread here at UP on historic Kress buildings in the South, although sadly many of the image links are dead now.

[Southron]

Newer images of the Kress building and renovation plans:

 

[Southron]

Renovations continue on lower Dexter, with one building completed. Cuco's moved from around the corner on Court St. and is now open next to the Irish Bred Pub.

 

 

Momma Goldberg's new location will be in the Belk building instead of the Montgomery Theater

 

Island Delight, a small Jamaican restaurant on Air Base Blvd, will open a larger second location on lower Dexter

 

Other renovations

[Southron]

Renovations and construction are now well underway on lower Dexter Avenue.

[Southron]

Front and rear of the Kress Building on July 4th.