MDC26

Automotive supplier Avancez will build assembly plant near Stanton to support Blue Oval. The plant will employ 501. https://dailymemphian.com/section/business-ford-megasite/article/43456/avancez-bring-500-jobs-west-tennessee-blueoval-city

I was told that they were looking at another site outside of LR, but in Central Arkansas. Maybe Maumelle or NLR.

I do like how they put the marker with the year and last name on the building. It was pretty standard pre-WWII.

When pulling up google earth, it looks like they can get a tiny glimpse of the river from the roof, but nowhere close to seeing Tom Lee Park.

No, no stop further (West) on Madison, closer to Main St (Trolley line doesn't go to Front). Between 2nd and Main, the two tracks merge to one, and the middle lane on Madison. It could easily just stop there and reverse, but any passengers getting on/off the trolley would have to cross a lane of traffic, and there'd be no disability access, so that would not work.

Ribbon cutting for Baptist College of Osteopathic Medicine will be April 6th. Students will start in August. Up to 81 students per class. That could be 324 new medical students in the medical district in a few years. Their mascot is the Blue Healers. https://www.actionnews5.com/2024/03/25/baptist-college-osteopathic-medicine-open-memphis/

Yup, Mid-South Coliseum. I’ve seen some videos online of some places in NYC & Tokyo that are giant playgrounds for adults. You can pay by the hour or have a membership. They have basically every game inside - baggo, giant beer pong, frisbee, bocce ball, darts, archery, trampolines, flag football, basketball, bowling, and many others. They also have food and adult beverages. There’s one in St Louis too called the Armory https://www.armorystl.com/

I agree. If you try to go too big, there’s not enough funding and nothing happens.

Don’t get me wrong, I would totally like to see it as something better. I just don’t see a market for it as something else right now. Since you’ve gotten to tour it, what do you think it could be? If someone was going to pour some money into something for transformation, I’d rather see the MSC be brought back to life.

Maybe, maybe not. It's going to require a lot more than $15 million to make it happen. Last I heard, they hadn't even paid the architect that drew the plans shown above.

That's great. Will be right next to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and will be more visible than over at the FEF. I wonder what the Grizzlies/FEF will do with the space they vacate.

I'll partially disagree. I agree that storage facility isn't the best use for the area. However, its an empty warehouse with no other realistic prospects that has sat empty for many years. It's not the nice pre-WWII warehouse that is brick and can be converted to residential. There's not a lot it can be used for, and storage would be the easiest. I definitely don't want it storage for a long-term use. Tearing it down to build a storage facility, or building a storage facility on an empty lot would be a definite no to me, but they aren't really changing anything except the inside. So, I'm ok with it, if it can change to something for a better use when someone is willing to do that. My original idea for the area was to keep the office portion, tear down the warehouse and build a Top Golf. The next best use would be a soccer stadium. Maybe the office portion could be incorporated into the stadium design.

I agree, I think it should be developed for multi-use. Not surprising that this isn't coming to fruition, it was very ambitious. I hope his other plans work out such as the Dream Hotel, and the residential infill on Front & South Main. I really don't think the Pinch needs something on such a grand scale as Intrator was planning. 5-6 story midlevel development would be just fine. I wonder if the Memphis born/Miami based architect guy still plans on going forward with the one hotel project and that really tall building that he proposed in the Pinch.

The first trolley stop on Madison is almost 3 blocks from Main, just past the Visible Music College. There is a stop at Main & Madison, but on the Main St Line for the side for North bound trolleys. There's another stop on the South bound side close to the Court St intersection. With the way the lines cross over and locations o f the stops, I figure the Madison Line car will have to turn left onto Main St, onto the South bound track, cross over to the North bound track side, reverse direction to get to the Main/Madison stop, pickup/drop off passengers, then reverse direction back again to get back to the switchover point, change direction again to switch back to the South bound track, and turn right onto Madison. While the switching tracks, reversing direction is going on, any Main Street Trollies going by will have to stop and wait for this to complete.

I don't believe NWA is part of a CSA. CSA combine two separate Metropolitan areas or a metropolitan area with a micropolitan area. Fayetteville doesn't have a micropolitan area nearby to combine with.

Yeah, that could be it. Just making a wider opening to get construction materials into each floor. One of the previous renderings that redesigned it with a glass façade would have required doing that to the entire building.

Wow, they are stripping off all of the outer wallS.

100 N Main developers are planning the hotel portion to be a premium Marriott branded hotel. It will be in the Autograph collection (if approved), so it will have a unique name. Don't know what that will be yet. https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2024/03/13/downtown-100-north-main-marriott-brand-ccrfc-bonds.html https://autograph-hotels.marriott.com/about/

One article said their going from 69,000 sqft to 12,000 sqft. There's now two empty office buildings next to each other on Danny Thomas. I wonder if these could be an option for MLGW.

That, and Viking has entered the market. With probably much nicer amenities. I'm sure that has cut into their bottom line too.

American Queen Voyages is shutting down. They are filing for bankruptcy and looking for a buyer. I don't remember how many passengers they bring to Memphis, but it will be a hit as its not insignificant. Hopefully a new operator gets them back up and running. https://www.travelandleisure.com/river-cruise-line-american-queen-voyages-shuts-down-8597898

Goodness! That's a lot of international flights. Last year All-Star weekend was in Salt Lake City that has 12 international flights. Indianapolis (where it was just at) only has 3. With these requirements, Memphis has no chance of hosting. Honestly, half the teams in the league may not meet these requirements. So is it flights per day, or destinations? I don't know what the importance is in having a bunch of flights to Cancun and Montego Bay to be able to host an All-Star game.

Was this article written by AI? I found it comical. "The AutoZone Skybridge transforms the Memphis skyline" "a symbol of the modernization gripping Downtown Memphis" "architectural marvel" "Residents and urban planners alike are engaged in a spirited discussion about the bridge's potential effects on urban density and street activity, questioning whether it may lead to a less vibrant streetscape by diverting foot traffic away from the sidewalks below." "This boom extends to the realm of retail and hospitality, highlighted by the expansion of Boshi Botanicals, the arrival of a new Lakeshore Learning location" Seems like a lot of extreme exaggerations. https://bnnbreaking.com/local-news/skybridge-sparks-urban-debate-in-downtown-memphis And then I see this article from the Commercial appeal that looks like an AI bot stole all the info from. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/business/development/2024/02/20/autozone-skybridge-downtown-memphis-holiday-inn-express-dermon-building/72542867007/

Yes. The new hotel planned as well as The Walk on Union would accomplish that, but who knows if/when that will happen. It would be really nice if they could do a complete makeover for Robert Church Park to where it was actually used, something that would be appealing to walk through, gather.

Details on Holiday Inn Express at Dermon building. Also, Ballard & Ballard building getting exterior upgrades. a basement level: mechanical systems, staff areas, a fitness center, and a meeting and business center, the ground floor: reception, dining area, kitchen, management offices, lounge and express market, meeting room and 1,500 square feet of leasable space, levels 2-9: one and two-bed hotel units, the rooftop: a common area overlooking the Mississippi River and Tom Lee Park. https://dailymemphian.com/section/businessreal-estate/article/41709/dermon-ballard-ballard-co-building-designs-approved