Loews Hotel | 21 stories, 500 rooms - CANCELED

[VSRJ]

I give this a 1% chance of happening, but it's interesting to imagine nonetheless:

100 N. Main owner plans massive project with Loews hotel, apartments

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/02/08/breaking-100-n-main-owner-plans-massive-project.html

Quote

 

A New York developer is planning to turn Downtown Memphis' tallest building into a 550-room Loews Hotel, with about 220 apartments. The investors are also planning a 34-story office building next door.

Plans for the project inspected by the Memphis Business Journal call for a major transformation of 100 N. Main, the high rise that for several years has been vacant, has been in and out of Shelby County Environmental Court and has been in the hands of several property owners.

The renovations of the building's street-level main floor would include 20,000 square feet of retail space, a 7,500-square-foot hotel lobby and a 10,000-square-foot restaurant and bar. Other floors would include a spa, another restaurant, and the hotel rooms and apartments.

New York-based Townhouse Management Co., doing business as THM Memphis Acquisitions LLC, is the owner and would-be developer of 100 N. Main. According to the company's website, Townhouse acquires, develops and manages residential, commercial, retail and mixed-use properties throughout the New York metro area.

The project plans MBJ reviewed also show 88 N. Main St., located next door to 100 N. Main, with a 12-floor, roughly 1,300-space parking garage at the base of the building. Each of the two floors directly above the garage would contain 35,000-square-foot ballrooms. From there, two office towers would rise, 19 stories each. The towers would contain a total of 467,000 square feet of office space.

New York-based ME Architect PC and Memphis-based ArchInc are the architects for the project.

Hotel consultant Chuck Pinkowski of Pinkowski & Co. confirmed the hotel plans to MBJ, and ArchInc principal Joseph Hagan confirmed Townhouse's plans for the 88 N. Main office and parking project.

However, Hagan cautioned that plans for the buildings have been changing and are still preliminary.

Townhouse purchased 100 N. Main at auction a month ago, Jan. 11, for $1 million. It does not yet own the parcels that would be needed for the 88 N. Main project, though it does have some of them under contract.

"I think they are serious investors in the city by looking at all the parcels they have purchased or put an option on," said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

The developers will likely seek historic tax credits and local tax breaks for the project, according to ArchInc's Hagan.

The closest Loews Hotel to Memphis is the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville. Another Loews is scheduled to open next year in St. Louis. The New York-based hospitality company operates 24 luxury and upscale hotels.

Paul Steenson, Townhouse Management Co.’s director of development, did not respond to requests for comment. Representatives for Loews also did not respond when contacted.

 

 

Edited February 8, 2022 by VSRJ

[jmtunafish]

Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it.  But it would be nice if it happens.

I do think it's a sad commentary of the state of affairs in Memphis that its tallest skyscraper, located in the heart of downtown, sold for only $1 million.

[dxfret]

Highly, highly doubtful about this one.  

It is indeed sad that two of the tallest buildings in downtown Memphis (100 North Main and  Sterrick Building) have both been abandoned for years and are literally falling apart.  The cost of rehab would be hugely prohibitive and the northern end of downtown is like a ghost town  

Memphis is also  a weak convention and tourism market which would seem to be yet another strike against such a hotel project. 

 

[MidTenn1]

On 2/9/2018 at 8:28 AM, VSRJ said:

I give this a 1% chance of happening, but it's interesting to imagine nonetheless:

100 N. Main owner plans massive project with Loews hotel, apartments

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/02/08/breaking-100-n-main-owner-plans-massive-project.html

 

I just saw this elsewhere. Great news and I would give it a much higher chance of happening. It shows interest in Memphis from outside and that they are thinking big. I hope this gives a strong boost to Memphis growth and presents an image of a city poised to be a new sunbelt boom town. I think it's going to happen.

 

PS; Some of the architect's (ME ARCHITECT) work...interesting.

[MetroTN]

Would be awesome if this happens. 

[jmtunafish]

On 2/10/2018 at 10:20 AM, dxfret said:

Highly, highly doubtful about this one.  

It is indeed sad that two of the tallest buildings in downtown Memphis (100 North Main and  Sterrick Building) have both been abandoned for years and are literally falling apart.  The cost of rehab would be hugely prohibitive and the northern end of downtown is like a ghost town  

Memphis is also  a weak convention and tourism market which would seem to be yet another strike against such a hotel project. 

 

The Sterrick is probably my favorite skyscraper in Tennessee.  It is such a graceful and beautiful building.  It breaks my heart that it's been neglected for so long.  At this point it's probably too expensive to ever redevelop, particularly considering the anemic economy of the Memphis region.

As for 100 North Main, when I lived in Memphis my attorney had his office there.  The first time I went to his office, which I think was in 1998, even back then I remember thinking how run down that building was.  As the tallest structure in Memphis it should've been a showplace.   Everything just looked worn and worn out.   I'm glad to see downtown Memphis get some love, but I can see this as being some developer's way of milking a desperate Memphis out of some PILOT money or whatever they call it and then eventually walking away.

[VSRJ]

This is probably the biggest news for Downtown Memphis since the (original) One Beale proposal in the mid-2000s:

Developers set to build 26-story hotel next to City Hall

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/08/14/developers-set-to-build-26-story-hotel-next-to.html

Quote

 

The developers planning to redevelop 100 North Main and the surrounding property made a major announcement Tuesday morning.

Representatives from co-developers Townhouse Management Co. (THM) and Loews Hotels told the Memphis City Council economic development committee they intend to construct a roughly 550-room, 26-story convention center hotel directly east of Memphis City Hall.

 

Convention Center Hotel Planned for Plaza East of City Hall

https://www.memphisflyer.com/NewsBlog/archives/2018/08/14/convention-center-hotel-planned-for-plaza-east-of-city-hall

Quote

 

The city’s new convention center hotel is now planned for the city-owned plaza directly to the east of City Hall, Doug McGowen the city's chief operating officer announced Tuesday at a Memphis City Council committee meeting. 

The hotel is being developed by Townhouse Management Company in partnership with the Lowes Hotel & Co. The plans originally called for converting Memphis’ tallest building at 100 N. Main into the hotel, but representatives with Lowes said the plaza was the best option to create a hotel with a vibrant campus around it.

 

 

Edited August 14, 2018 by VSRJ

[MetroTN]

Thanks for sharing! Great news!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[MLBrumby]

I want this thing to start tomorrow. Get it on! And then renovate 100 Main. 

[dxfret]

Downtown Memphis continues to struggle and the north end of downtown seems especially desolate. The Bass Pro Shop Pyramid is cut off from by the interstate bridge and there is little else nearby other than vacant lots.  There is urban blight all across Memphis, especially the vacant and deteriorating  Sterrick Building and 100 North Main.  The Mississippi Riverfront has so much potential that has never been tapped.  Mud Island is like a ghost town.  Beale Street is empty in comparison to the throngs of visitors we see every day of the week on lower Broadway.  Such a stark contrast to Nashville. 

Edited August 18, 2018 by dxfret
Typo

[MLBrumby]

Yes, but let's not kick Memphis when it's down. I really hope it can change course because it has so much potential. Been said many times before that the city has suffered from very poor leadership (both elected and private) for at least two generations now. Even the person they send to Congress is recognized by his own party as a despicable human being. But they keep elected such people. 

[VSRJ]

On 8/18/2018 at 11:19 AM, dxfret said:

Downtown Memphis continues to struggle and the north end of downtown seems especially desolate. The Bass Pro Shop Pyramid is cut off from by the interstate bridge and there is little else nearby other than vacant lots.  There is urban blight all across Memphis, especially the vacant and deteriorating  Sterrick Building and 100 North Main.  The Mississippi Riverfront has so much potential that has never been tapped.  Mud Island is like a ghost town.  Beale Street is empty in comparison to the throngs of visitors we see every day of the week on lower Broadway.  Such a stark contrast to Nashville. 

When was the last time you visited downtown? Memphis has plenty of problems (as does Nashville), but a struggling downtown is not one of them. In regard to some of your points:

- This plan directly addresses the north end of downtown including 100 N. Main (did you read the article?). Meanwhile, a plan to revitalize the nearby Pinch District is moving along, although at an embarrassingly slow pace. It will make the Pyramid much less of a standalone entity: http://www.highgroundnews.com/features/apinchoftransformation.aspx

- St. Jude, also in north Downtown Memphis, continues to grow, recently pulling a $330 million permit for a new advanced research center: https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/07/27/330-million-building-permit-pulled-for-memphis.html

- The Sterrick Building's land is owned by a separate entity than the building itself, which complicates its redevelopment...that and the fact that it's a 1920s building that has sat vacant for decades: http://gatesofmemphis.blogspot.com/2007/08/jewels-of-memphis-sterick-building.html (if this building was in Nashville, it would have been gone decades ago)

- The Brooks Museum is moving to the riverfront, and an aquarium is slated for Mud Island: https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/05/22/breakingstate-approves-riverfront-aquarium-brooks.html

- I have no idea where you got the idea that Beale Street is a ghost town. It's one of the top tourism destinations in the state. It may seem less packed than Broadway, but that's partly because everyone outside isn't restricted to two sidewalks.

I hope you consider visiting again if you haven't, as your post comes across as being slightly ignorant.

[Memphis4ever]

On ‎8‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 11:19 AM, dxfret said:

Downtown Memphis continues to struggle and the north end of downtown seems especially desolate. The Bass Pro Shop Pyramid is cut off from by the interstate bridge and there is little else nearby other than vacant lots.  There is urban blight all across Memphis, especially the vacant and deteriorating  Sterrick Building and 100 North Main.  The Mississippi Riverfront has so much potential that has never been tapped.  Mud Island is like a ghost town.  Beale Street is empty in comparison to the throngs of visitors we see every day of the week on lower Broadway.  Such a stark contrast to Nashville. 

Not sure what beale street  you were on.  Beale street is the most visited street in the state over 5 million people.  You have to come out at night to see that though.  Plus uptown is empty because st jude owns almost 70 percent of the land.  Main street is always full of people, so is south main, and now overton square and crosstown.  Our downtown has many places for people and a much longer strip almost 2 miles from north main to south for people to spread out.  Not no mention the riverfront is always full along with the harrahan bridge.  We are doing just fine our downtown population alone is close to 30000 people.

[VSRJ]

Preliminary renderings of Loews Memphis released!

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/08/28/loews-releases-preliminary-renderings-for-downtown.html

[Tennessine]

Glossy and attractive. I love it! 

[MidTenn1]

Of course I had to make a card of it.

 

I went to Memphis last week for a brief getaway. In my previous job, I must have made close to a hundred visits to Memphis. I love that town and am excited to see some of the development proposed. I hope this is the beginning of a new era of positive, robust growth that will expand the economy to help all citizens.

But, make sure you manage any traffic growth.

[Memphis4ever]

I guess since the smaller 1 beale building break ground in November it will give me something to ease my mind while I wait for this.  Should be at least Spring before this project breaks ground. with design, and code review etc.

[East Side Urbanite]

I just read dxfret's post from Aug. 18. She/he (perhaps unwittingly) offered a tone that was dismissive. Yes, Memphis has some challenges to transform itself, but Nashville has warts, too. Memphis getting it in gear and most people I know in Nashville want to see the positives for what is the state's most "old school, kind-of-like-a-large-old-Midwestern-city" city.

Keep charging forward, Memphis.

[James Owen]

As of today, Loews and Townhouse are pursuing separate proposals for a convention center hotel along North Main. The Loews proposal has not changed.

City could choose between 100 N. Main and Loews for convention center hotel

By Jacob Steimer and Samuel Hardiman  –  Memphis Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2019/04/05/city-could-choose-between-100-n-main-and-loews-for.html?iana=hpmvp_memp_news_headline

Quote

Townhouse was previously working with Loews Hotels & Co. on its plans to develop a roughly 550-room, 26-story convention center hotel on Civic Center Plaza, directly east of Memphis' City Hall.

Townhouse executive co-chair Arlene Maidman said Friday the company's agreement with Loews and the City of Memphis has expired. Her company is now pursuing a hotel that will do more for the city and cost its taxpayers less in subsidies, she said.

However, Loews said it still plans on developing its convention center hotel on the plaza.

"Our work with the City of Memphis to develop a convention hotel continues uninterrupted, as does our work with our third party contractors. Loews Hotels & Co. has said previously that we indeed believe that Memphis has momentum. We wholeheartedly stand by that statement,” said Alex Tisch, Loews' chief development officer.

Townhouse originally brought Loews to Memphis to help construct a convention center hotel inside 100 North Main. In August, though, Townhouse and Loews announced plans to construct the hotel on Civic Center Plaza instead. In this scenario, Townhouse would have redeveloped the old, iconic tower with apartments and retail. Those plans fell apart because of issues with the structuring of public subsidies and soaring infrastructure costs, according to Maidman.

City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen said the city continues to negotiate separately with Loews and Townhouse on the previously planned pieces of the project — Loews' planned 500-plus room hotel on Civic Center Plaza and Townhouse's retail and residential redevelopment at 100 N. Main.

Unless something changes and Townhouse offers a different hotel brand in competition with Loews for the city to consider, the administration still plans to negotiate on the separate planned projects, McGowen said in an interview Friday afternoon. Townhouse said it is in discussions with "at least" four separate hotel brands.

When asked about Loews moving forward with a separate pitch, Maidman said it went against what the hotel company had told Townhouse.

In Townhouse's new plans, the majority of 100 North Main would be slimmed down from 86 feet by 182 feet to 66 feet by 182 feet, by removing the entire northernmost structural bay of concrete floors and exterior columns. On the land just to the south, an eight-story annex would be added onto the historic building. On the first two floors of both buildings would be retail and commercial space — about 153,000 square feet worth. An 1,100-space parking garage would sit in both buildings on the four floors above the retail. In the new building, ballrooms and meeting space would sit above the garage.

The City has been stuck in a months-long legal battle over its plans to subsidize the Loews project. The owner of another Downtown hotel, the Sheraton, has sued the city twice over what it contests are illegal subsidies. Loews, according to documents submitted to the State of Tennessee, would receive about $90 million in subsidies from the City.

 

Edited April 5, 2019 by James Owen
Forgot to add link to the story.

[James Owen]

Copy and pasting from what I had already posted in the Loews thread. Townhouse has decided to pursue converting 100 North Main into a full-service hotel (separate from the one Loews has pitched for Civic Center Plaza) on its own and under a different hotel flag.

City could choose between 100 N. Main and Loews for convention center hotel

By Jacob Steimer and Samuel Hardiman  –  Memphis Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2019/04/05/city-could-choose-between-100-n-main-and-loews-for.html?iana=hpmvp_memp_news_headline

(Source: Townhouse Management Co. / Architect P.C.)

Quote

Townhouse was previously working with Loews Hotels & Co. on its plans to develop a roughly 550-room, 26-story convention center hotel on Civic Center Plaza, directly east of Memphis' City Hall.

Townhouse executive co-chair Arlene Maidman said Friday the company's agreement with Loews and the City of Memphis has expired. Her company is now pursuing a hotel that will do more for the city and cost its taxpayers less in subsidies, she said.

However, Loews said it still plans on developing its convention center hotel on the plaza.

"Our work with the City of Memphis to develop a convention hotel continues uninterrupted, as does our work with our third party contractors. Loews Hotels & Co. has said previously that we indeed believe that Memphis has momentum. We wholeheartedly stand by that statement,” said Alex Tisch, Loews' chief development officer.

Townhouse originally brought Loews to Memphis to help construct a convention center hotel inside 100 North Main. In August, though, Townhouse and Loews announced plans to construct the hotel on Civic Center Plaza instead. In this scenario, Townhouse would have redeveloped the old, iconic tower with apartments and retail. Those plans fell apart because of issues with the structuring of public subsidies and soaring infrastructure costs, according to Maidman.

City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen said the city continues to negotiate separately with Loews and Townhouse on the previously planned pieces of the project — Loews' planned 500-plus room hotel on Civic Center Plaza and Townhouse's retail and residential redevelopment at 100 N. Main.

Unless something changes and Townhouse offers a different hotel brand in competition with Loews for the city to consider, the administration still plans to negotiate on the separate planned projects, McGowen said in an interview Friday afternoon. Townhouse said it is in discussions with "at least" four separate hotel brands.

When asked about Loews moving forward with a separate pitch, Maidman said it went against what the hotel company had told Townhouse.

In Townhouse's new plans, the majority of 100 North Main would be slimmed down from 86 feet by 182 feet to 66 feet by 182 feet, by removing the entire northernmost structural bay of concrete floors and exterior columns. On the land just to the south, an eight-story annex would be added onto the historic building. On the first two floors of both buildings would be retail and commercial space — about 153,000 square feet worth. An 1,100-space parking garage would sit in both buildings on the four floors above the retail. In the new building, ballrooms and meeting space would sit above the garage.

The City has been stuck in a months-long legal battle over its plans to subsidize the Loews project. The owner of another Downtown hotel, the Sheraton, has sued the city twice over what it contests are illegal subsidies. Loews, according to documents submitted to the State of Tennessee, would receive about $90 million in subsidies from the City.

[VSRJ]

Whatever it takes to get this thing off the ground and some life injected into 100 N. Main. But I'm very skeptical. We've been burned too many times by both local and out-of-town developers.

I went ahead and merged these two threads (100 N. Main and Loews) until they take on separate identities. Right now they're still considered more or less related.

[dxfret]

Once again another Memphis mess has resulted in zero progress.  Ideally both 100 North Main and the Sterick Building both get totally renovated. They are two of the tallest buildings in town, both are long empty and literally crumbling pieces of urban blight  It would be hugely expensive and financially risky to properly fix either.  A big financial gamble.  Plus,100 North Main is hampered by a poorly designed, parking structure at the base of the building.  I’m guessing someone will develop  a standard issue, smallish new convention hotel appropriate to the market for the Cook Convention Center which is also getting a facelift.  Finally, the One Beale Street project keeps getting scaled back.  Still slow in downtown Memphis today. 

Edited April 8, 2019 by dxfret

[VSRJ]

I didn't realize this was a rendering of a re-skinned 100 N. Main. I've always thought it would be a good candidate for all (or mostly) glass.

[Memphis4ever]

Project submitted to Land Use Control Board for Special Use Permit New Renderings.  They did knock off 7 floors but still a beautiful project.

[VSRJ]

The tower's height has been decreased from 26 stories to 21, but it appears to have a much higher likelihood of being built. I'll take it.

Loews submits new plans for Downtown hotel

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2019/09/04/loews-submits-new-plans-for-downtown-hotel.html

Quote

 

Loews Hotels is pushing forward with a shorter version of the convention center hotel it has proposed for Downtown Memphis.

The New York-based hotel company is seeking the Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board's approval for a roughly 500-room, 21-story tower at 140 N. Main St., which is currently part of Civic Center Plaza. Loews had previously announced it would pursue a 26-story, 550-room tower.

 

New renderings: