East Memphis and University District News & Developments

[The Guardian of Memphis]

On 9/1/2022 at 11:18 PM, TheKernel91 said:

In honesty, that's more likely the truth. Kind of wishing we get more daring projects. If we had that growth, it would be changing before our eyes because of demand. What Memphis developed into now have been because of the current growth rate, give or take with a few things that got built or not. If one day it change to high growth, East Memphis would benefit greatly from chnage.

 

Definitely agree. Change is inevitable, needed and resisted. Case in point, I always liked the old school lane arrow lights on Union back in the day - used to think it was unique and cool. Hated to see them go, but it was necessary, because it was no longer functional, plus outdated. Old school Memphians need to accept this change. Union can't be the Mulberry/Andy Griffith style street anymore. Memphis can't be that as a city either. Maybe a little, but definitely not all. As long as the charm, hospitality, work ethic, determination, toughness, resilience, music and strength that makes Memphis unique isn't lost. Poplar and Union need to change. The Kroger on Union is another good example. For one, it is closer to the street, more engaging. Hopefully that theme will be continued on this street and eastward.

[VSRJ]

University of Memphis and the Highland/University District corridor:

[VSRJ]

Of the (admittedly few) developments I hope do not move forward, this is near or at the top of the list:

EDGE board approves Parkside extension, three inner-city loans (behind paywall)

https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/33052/memphis-edge-board-approves-parkside-at-shelby-farms

[BnaBreaker]

On 12/23/2022 at 9:20 AM, VSRJ said:

Of the (admittedly few) developments I hope do not move forward, this is near or at the top of the list:

EDGE board approves Parkside extension, three inner-city loans (behind paywall)

https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/33052/memphis-edge-board-approves-parkside-at-shelby-farms

Why don't you hope it moves forward?  Not being argumentative, just legitimately curious!

[James Owen]

The article is behind a paywall, but the hotel component of the 35 Central development (on the former Third Church of Christ, Scientist property next to the U of M) will now be under Hilton's Tapestry Collection brand, with the entire project expected to get underway later this year.

Hilton-branded upscale hotel coming to development near University of Memphis campus

By Stephen MacLeod - Reporter, Memphis Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2023/03/14/hilton-branded-upscale-hotel-35-central-project.html

Edited March 14, 2023 by James Owen

[VSRJ]

^ That's great news as hotel options in the University District are limited aside from the Holiday Inn at the UofM.

[MDC26]

17 hours ago, James Owen said:

The article is behind a paywall, but the hotel component of the 35 Central development (on the former Third Church of Christ, Scientist property next to the U of M) will now be under Hilton's Tapestry Collection brand, with the entire project expected to get underway later this year.

Hilton-branded upscale hotel coming to development near University of Memphis campus

By Stephen MacLeod - Reporter, Memphis Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2023/03/14/hilton-branded-upscale-hotel-35-central-project.html

112 Hotel rooms, 72 apartments, 2 restaurant/bar areas, free standing fitness center, and outdoor pool.  

[MDC26]

Memphis Botanic Garden announces it is moving forward with a new Youth Education and Tropical Plants Glasshouse.  Will be along Cherry road and have colorful lighting system.  

https://storyboardmemphis.org/community/new-youth-education-and-tropical-plants-glasshouse-to-be-built-at-memphis-botanic-garden/

 

[VSRJ]

First AC Hotels in Memphis coming to Poplar. No renderings yet.

Hotel developer moving forward with new-to-market AC Hotels by Marriott flag on Poplar Avenue

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2023/07/12/hotel-developer-progress-ac-hotels-marriott-poplar.html

Quote

 

Maryland-based Baywood Hotels plans to erect a 116-room AC Hotels by Marriott in East Memphis. The development would be the first property in the Memphis market to carry that particular flag from Marriott International.

A letter of intent, dated July 7, to the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development stated that Poplar Hospitality LLC wants to develop a new hotel within the Poplar Oaks Planned Development. The property is located adjacent to the north of 6584 Poplar Ave.

The existing lot is vacant and is next to a commercial property to the south. The two-acre parcel of land is located behind Plough Towers and between the Memphis Jewish Community Center and Poplar Place Townhomes.

 

[The Guardian of Memphis]

On 7/13/2023 at 9:27 AM, VSRJ said:

First AC Hotels in Memphis coming to Poplar. No renderings yet.

Hotel developer moving forward with new-to-market AC Hotels by Marriott flag on Poplar Avenue

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2023/07/12/hotel-developer-progress-ac-hotels-marriott-poplar.html

Good. Hopefully more will come. Buckhead/Peachtree here we go!

[James Owen]

Some concrete plans for the old Racquet Club property have been revealed today:

Carlisle proposes $500M-$700M Mid-City mixed-use at former Racquet Club

By Stephen MacLeod – Reporter, Memphis Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2023/09/11/carlisle-mid-city-memphis-site-plan-racquet-club.html

It's behind a paywall, but here are some of the details that were mentioned:

Quote

Carlisle plans to build two high-rises, five mid-rises, and a total of more than 1.5 million square feet of new development at the former tennis club in East Memphis, according to a site plan filed with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development.

Mid-City Memphis' filing outlines the high-rise and mid-rise buildings in the western section of the footprint and about 16 townhouses in an eastern section.

Here are the overall Mid-City proposed uses and approximate amounts of space for each:

• Multifamily housing: 320,000 square feet
• Hotel: 260,000 square feet
• Office: 175,000 square feet
• Age-restricted housing: 170,000 square feet
• Single-family townhouses: 75,000 square feet
• Retail: 50,000 square feet
• Parking garage: 500,000 square feet

 

Edited September 11, 2023 by James Owen

[The Guardian of Memphis]

4 hours ago, James Owen said:

Some concrete plans for the old Racquet Club property have been revealed today:

Carlisle proposes $500M-$700M Mid-City mixed-use at former Racquet Club

By Stephen MacLeod – Reporter, Memphis Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2023/09/11/carlisle-mid-city-memphis-site-plan-racquet-club.html

It's behind a paywall, but here are some of the details that were mentioned:

 

Let’s see if Mr. Carlisle can come through with ALL phases of this development. Wonder how tall these structures will be? Hope there won’t be any NIMBYs to halt it either. Buckhead, here we come!

Waiting on nothingspectacular……

[MDC26]

Will be interesting to see how it's laid out and how tall the buildings will be.  The property is about the size as 4 square blocks downtown.  

It would be nice if they make it more pedestrian friendly and connect it with Clark Tower area/Brookhaven Circle.  

[TheKernel91]

On 9/11/2023 at 8:49 PM, The Guardian of Memphis said:

Let’s see if Mr. Carlisle can come through with ALL phases of this development. Wonder how tall these structures will be? Hope there won’t be any NIMBYs to halt it either. Buckhead, here we come!

Waiting on nothingspectacular……

I remember calling it back in 2019 that they will probably erect 4-5 high/mid rises, but 7 is amazing. I see what they planning and that'll be Memphis's "Buckhead". Downtown for the wealthy. 

I like it, and hope they can develop to the fullest without the oppositions. I want to see a 2nd downtown in the city. Its unique, even though it's sprawling. For the South its not abnormal, but we'll stand out from a cities with that added.

[The Guardian of Memphis]

On 9/14/2023 at 12:04 AM, TheKernel91 said:

I remember calling it back in 2019 that they will probably erect 4-5 high/mid rises, but 7 is amazing. I see what they planning and that'll be Memphis's "Buckhead". Downtown for the wealthy. 

I like it, and hope they can develop to the fullest without the oppositions. I want to see a 2nd downtown in the city. Its unique, even though it's sprawling. For the South its not abnormal, but we'll stand out from a cities with that added.

Agreed. As long as it doesn’t take away from the 1st downtown.  So many amenities within a walking distance. Whole Foods, Kroger, Houston’s, Paradiso. Makes a lot of sense. Knowing Carlisle, everything will probably be glass. LOL. Good thing is, it will kind of fit, if it was closer to the Hilton on Ridgeway. 

[TheKernel91]

Does anybody have a subscription so we can see what updates they have for the Racquet Club and Hickory Ridge Mall? 

https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/38908/inked-mid-city-racquet-club-hickory-ridge-mall

[James Owen]

4 hours ago, TheKernel91 said:

Does anybody have a subscription so we can see what updates they have for the Racquet Club and Hickory Ridge Mall? 

https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/38908/inked-mid-city-racquet-club-hickory-ridge-mall

The Hickory Ridge Mall part of the story has to do with the repurposing of a former Sears into an indoor self-storage facility.

As for the redevelopment of the Racquet Club property into mixed use, the LUCB is supposed to review the proposal at tomorrow's meeting.

Here's a link to the application that was sent, along with conceptual layouts: https://shelbycountytn.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/13556

[TheKernel91]

8 hours ago, James Owen said:

The Hickory Ridge Mall part of the story has to do with the repurposing of a former Sears into an indoor self-storage facility.

As for the redevelopment of the Racquet Club property into mixed use, the LUCB is supposed to review the proposal at tomorrow's meeting.

Here's a link to the application that was sent, along with conceptual layouts: https://shelbycountytn.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/13556

Thank you

[JTM1]

On 10/11/2023 at 9:41 AM, TheKernel91 said:

Does anybody have a subscription so we can see what updates they have for the Racquet Club and Hickory Ridge Mall? 

https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/38908/inked-mid-city-racquet-club-hickory-ridge-mall

https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/39153/land-use-control-board-approves-mid-city-memphis

The board unanimously moved to approve the project with an amendment that requires a buffer along the eastern property line, which borders the Lexington Condos at the corner of Sanderlin Avenue and White Station Road...

The project is expected to cost somewhere between $500 million to $700 million...The project is intended to complement nearby landmarks such as Clark Tower, the DoubleTree Hotel, the Malco Paradiso Cinema Grill and Brookhaven Circle. 

According to the DM, there is some opposition, because of the increase level of traffic this project will bring.

 

[James Owen]

1 hour ago, JTM1 said:

https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/39153/land-use-control-board-approves-mid-city-memphis

The board unanimously moved to approve the project with an amendment that requires a buffer along the eastern property line, which borders the Lexington Condos at the corner of Sanderlin Avenue and White Station Road...

The project is expected to cost somewhere between $500 million to $700 million...The project is intended to complement nearby landmarks such as Clark Tower, the DoubleTree Hotel, the Malco Paradiso Cinema Grill and Brookhaven Circle. 

According to the DM, there is some opposition, because of the increase level of traffic this project will bring.

 

The issue is with Wheelis Drive (which, like Brookhaven Circle, was once residential) and the possibility of a cut-through connecting to that street. Other than that, everyone appears to be in wait-and-see mode until some actual renderings come about.

[MDC26]

11 hours ago, JTM1 said:

https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/39153/land-use-control-board-approves-mid-city-memphis

The board unanimously moved to approve the project with an amendment that requires a buffer along the eastern property line, which borders the Lexington Condos at the corner of Sanderlin Avenue and White Station Road...

The project is expected to cost somewhere between $500 million to $700 million...The project is intended to complement nearby landmarks such as Clark Tower, the DoubleTree Hotel, the Malco Paradiso Cinema Grill and Brookhaven Circle. 

According to the DM, there is some opposition, because of the increase level of traffic this project will bring.

 

Why'd they leave out White Station tower?

Funny how traffic is always the point of concern with investment, development.  If people want a ghost town, they need to move out in the country.  

[JTM1]

20 hours ago, James Owen said:

The issue is with Wheelis Drive (which, like Brookhaven Circle, was once residential) and the possibility of a cut-through connecting to that street. Other than that, everyone appears to be in wait-and-see mode until some actual renderings come about.

I was reading another article and I believe it mentioned there would be a gated entrance.  

 

[JTM1]

10 hours ago, MDC26 said:

Why'd they leave out White Station tower?

Funny how traffic is always the point of concern with investment, development.  If people want a ghost town, they need to move out in the country.  

I remember reading that there would be a gated entrance to it  and they will have to add sidewalks to Wheelis. 

[James Owen]

Some promising news in regards to the future of Oak Court Mall in East Memphis:

Developers of Shops of Saddle Creek to acquire Oak Court Mall

By Sophia Surrett, Daily Memphian

https://dailymemphian.com/section/neighborhoods/article/39731/memphis-poag-development-group-oak-court-mall-memphis-shops-of-saddle-creek

Quote

Poag Development Group is buying Oak Court Mall for an undisclosed price in a deal that is expected close by mid-December.

Known for developing the Shops of Saddle Creek in Germantown 36 years ago, one of the first “lifestyle centers” nationwide, the developer has not finalized its plans for Oak Court.

For those unfamiliar with Poag, they also played a role in the development of what is now Tanger Outlets in Southaven. The company also currently owns Carriage Crossing in Collierville.

[TheKernel91]

These aren't quite official. These are some of the plans for the Racquet Club site vision. 

With this, Oak Court Mall redevelopment, the development on Mendenhall south of the tracks, and The Standard in Germantown. The Poplar corridor will get stronger financially.

Edited November 12, 2023 by TheKernel91