General Memphis Photos, Past and Present

[VSRJ]

Let's keep this focused on sharing and discussing Memphis photos. I'm not opposed to a civil Memphis/Nashville debate, but this isn't the place.

[East Side Urbanite]

On 8/22/2019 at 10:27 AM, dxfret said:

No negativity towards Memphis but these are two vastly different cities.  Catching up with Nashville simply is not going to happen.   By every measure (economy, corporate, employment, education, tourism, conventions, etc.) Nashville is light years ahead.   Nashville and it’s MSA is one the nation’s fastest-growing cities, while the Memphis MSA remains stagnant and the city of Memphis has a declining population.  

DXFret,

Everybody posting on this board knows all this. So for you (or me or anybody) to note it ... not necessary. A lot of Nashvillians (myself included) are pulling for Memphis to make a comeback. You might be too as you have said some positive things about both the Sterrick and 100 North Main buildings.

VSRJ and Memphis4Ever are doing a strong job of providing us with updated info and I would politely ask that we all stay positive. This is not Nashville vs. Charlotte, where the playful one-upsmanship and "mild trash talking" can be both fun and even productive. This is Memphis, a city that has suffered and is now making a solid comeback.

I ask that we keep this very positive.

 

[BnaBreaker]

On 8/22/2019 at 11:27 AM, dxfret said:

No negativity towards Memphis but these are two vastly different cities.  Catching up with Nashville simply is not going to happen.   By every measure (economy, corporate, employment, education, tourism, conventions, etc.) Nashville is light years ahead.   Nashville and it’s MSA is one the nation’s fastest-growing cities, while the Memphis MSA remains stagnant and the city of Memphis has a declining population.  

Whether that's the case or not, Nashvillians should have enough confidence in their city to not feel the need to bite back at Memphis like that.  In my opinion Memphis is our sibling and we should be sending nothing but positive energy their way. 

[LA_TN]

On 8/20/2019 at 2:42 PM, dxfret said:

I know of no other US city with such large downtown towers that are sitting empty for years

Just go upstream and you will find a city with an empty tower with 1 million sq ft of office space inside

Memphis may not be 'booming', but it's very obviously moving forward, not stagnant, and certainly not going backwards

[VSRJ]

I took a stroll through the newly opened Central Station Hotel this afternoon. It's a stunningly beautiful example of adaptive reuse. I highly recommend checking it out next time you're in the area:

[East Side Urbanite]

Stellar. I like it!

On 11/30/2019 at 10:18 AM, VSRJ said:

I took a stroll through the newly opened Central Station Hotel this afternoon. It's a stunningly beautiful example of adaptive reuse. I highly recommend checking it out next time you're in the area:

 

Edited December 26, 2019 by East Side Urbanite

[MLBrumby]

Remarkable website containing lots of information on historic buildings in Memphis. The city has some great structures. Hopefully those remaining can be saved/preserved/restored/renovated. 

http://landmarkandlegend.com/

[DRG901]

4 hours ago, MLBrumby said:

Remarkable website containing lots of information on historic buildings in Memphis. The city has some great structures. Hopefully those remaining can be saved/preserved/restored/renovated. 

http://landmarkandlegend.com/

 

Great site.  Some on the threatened list have been renovated/redeveloped since that page was updated.

Tennessee Brewery:

Historic Brewery Gets New Life in Memphis (multihousingnews.com)

See inside: Tennessee Brewery's nearly completed first phase - Memphis Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

 

 

 

Towery Building on Union, back building renovated with a new build up front (The Citizen apartments) 

The Citizen apartments in Midtown filling up - Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian

 

[MLBrumby]

Good to know. I actually stayed at that Holiday Inn, but was too young to remember. It was in 1977 and remember a trip my family took out west. We spent the last night at that hotel. Barely remember it... there was underground parking in (what seemed like) a very very tight garage. I remember we had two rooms joined by a common door. There was a restaurant (I guess on the main level). I remember falling asleep in a booth there. It was late. That's all I remember about our 'trip' to Memphis. 

[VSRJ]

Another fascinating website to check out if you're interested in Memphis history related to buildings, neighborhoods, architecture, etc. http://cremedememph.blogspot.com/

[bnacincy]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread to post this but unlike Nashville a lot of Memphis neighborhoods including poorer areas apparently have the electric and phone cables buried underground. I never really thought about it when I lived there but now my slow brain finally took notice.

Anyone know when that all began?

I have to say it really is pleasant not seeing utility poles in these areas.

Edited January 13, 2021 by bnacincy
Content

[DRG901]

On 1/13/2021 at 1:01 AM, bnacincy said:

I'm not sure if this is the right thread to post this but unlike Nashville a lot of Memphis neighborhoods including poorer areas apparently have the electric and phone cables buried underground. I never really thought about it when I lived there but now my slow brain finally took notice.

Anyone know when that all began?

I have to say it really is pleasant not seeing utility poles in these areas.

This is true in a lot of neighborhoods closer to the core (Cooper-Young/Evergreen come to mind)-  I am not sure the history.  I always sort of guessed it was part of revitalization attempts of those neighborhoods in the late 80's/90's perhaps?   Again, just a guess on my part and wasn't really around when those areas saw more investment (I'm close to 40 now).   I would love to see more of this across the city someday.

[MDC26]

On 1/13/2021 at 1:01 AM, bnacincy said:

I'm not sure if this is the right thread to post this but unlike Nashville a lot of Memphis neighborhoods including poorer areas apparently have the electric and phone cables buried underground. I never really thought about it when I lived there but now my slow brain finally took notice.

Anyone know when that all began?

I have to say it really is pleasant not seeing utility poles in these areas.

Yeah, I have no clue when some areas buried their utilities.  Even the Pinch district still has overhead power lines, but I think they are planning on burying those if the big Pinch project moves forward.  But I agree, it looks so much better without them.  You also aren't restricted  with planting trees along the street with the powerlines gone.  I also think they look worse than they used to, because fiberoptic lines have been run on the poles too, so there are twice as many lines running across as there use to be.  

[MLBrumby]

My wife's grandfather (deceased) was from Memphis. He used to proudly talk about his hometown and two things that "Boss Crump" did for the city, buried power lines and paved alleys.  Don't know that to be the case, but I did read something online just now that Crump was a powerful influencer long after his mayoral term ended in 1915.  He didn't trust private utility companies because he thought they would compete against his power. He negotiated a deal in the late 1930s to bring the power of MLGW under the city's ownership and TVA via a distribution line. That said, I don't know if the u/g power lines were done by the private entity or the city did them after that deal. 

[chris holman]

 

[VSRJ]

Went to Mud Island yesterday and got some photos (as well as a couple from Madison).

 

[VSRJ]

I was in Memphis over the weekend and saw the newly completed Madison@McLean apartment building. It's added some nice density to the Madison/McLean corner and contrasts well with the older building across the street.

[KJHburg]

First time visitor to Memphis today walked around downtown between rain storms.

Did catch the Peabody ducks in the fountain and it stopped raining long enough for the Pyramid observation deck to open.  Great views.  Love all the older historical buildings downtown.  

[VSRJ]

Thanks for sharing! The concentration of historical architecture downtown certainly is impressive.

[VSRJ]

I took my new drone on a test flight over the weekend:

[MDC26]

4 hours ago, VSRJ said:

I took my new drone on a test flight over the weekend:

Nice!

[VSRJ]

Downtown seen from a recent drone flight:

Edited November 21, 2021 by VSRJ

[VSRJ]

Downtown from another angle:

[Memphis4ever]

Nice photos from my walk friday.

[VSRJ]

^ Nice to see some new infill in the already dense South Main riverfront area!