MDC26

I knew some work had been going on, but didn't know it'd be open so soon. Glad this is being done. I don't think its the best name for it, but they get to name it whatever they want. https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/146889/flats-at-soma-va-hospital-turned-housing-redevelopment-set-to-open-spring-2024

I think it looks great. It’s unique and not like the generic 5-8 level multi-family design you can find in every city. The only bad thing is all those empty lots around it. If this an the walk could fill up all those lots it would be amazing.

I hope they don't ever tear down that old Fire House, but one thing they could do instead of having that L shaped parking lot between the Music Initiative and the Gosset Garage is put up some basketball courts for locals to play on. I wouldn't say taking the lead. The Zoo would probably be over an aquarium, but nothing is happening until there's some major capital donated by someone to build it.

They could hang some string lights down the alley between FEF and get food trucks to set up during the weekends or game nights. They could do a legit makeover to Church Park to make it useable. Then you’ve got 3 surface parking lots lining MLK, adjacent to FEF that could be developed. Would have been nice if the Clipper with hotel & office got developed.

The missing piece to downtown! https://dailymemphian.com/section/neighborhoods/article/39792/chick-fil-a-downtown-memphis-board-of-adjustment-fast-food

Announced opening for October 27th. Will employ 400 (that seems like a lot, but a lot of that may be part time) https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/business/development/2023/10/23/memphis-topgolf-is-opening-heres-when-and-where/71289820007/

I think there's a shortage of large full-service hotels. If a convention with 4,000 attendees wants to come, they might want room blocks for half of the attendees. And they don't want it amongst 10 hotels, they want to have 2 or 3 hotels close by the convention center. Memphis doesn't have that.

Ouch! After being humiliated for being so wrong, nothingspectacular won’t be able to show his face around here anymore…until he comes up with another screen name.

It's a Music festival Coup! Mempho has announced they have agreement in place with MRPP to hold a Music Festival in Tom Lee Park, the first weekend in May 2024. https://dailymemphian.com/section/arts-culture/article/39179/new-music-festival-coming-to-tom-lee-park-2024

I read where more of the damage came from BBQF as opposed to BSMF. Heard that the Music Fest went well, even with all the changes, just lower attended. But, Music fest probably has a higher operating costs with the fees of all the musicians, and if you aren't going to recover that from low ticket sales, it makes sense that they would pause the event. BBQ fest probably probably takes care of itself with operating cost and not as dependent upon ticket sales. Regarding why BSMF has gotten to this point is probably a multitude of factors. COVID has greatly disrupted people's patterns and spending habits. Cancelling Music Fest two years in a row, then having it at Liberty Park has resulted in not having it at its usual location for 3 years. This has probably broken the pattern of many people who attended it every year, and prevented many people from the coming of age point to where they would have attended their first Music Fest. That window has passed and something else in their lives could have filled in that gap. I also think it is impossible to deny that there is a not so insignificant effect from the Tom Lee Park redesign. From the beginning, I knew it would forever change Music Fest as it would not be able to have the same setup with the same stages, and could not hold the same capacity. The park is much better now, and has better layout for year round and varied usage. It has just had a trade off in negatively affecting MIM. I don't fault anyone for on which side they stand: Either favoring a historically successful two weekend music & BBQ festival that is important to downtown, or favoring an incredibly well designed river front park with high and variable uses. It could also be that Mempho Music Fest has taken away from BSMF, or even that BSMF has lost its luster and run its course. Hopefully there will be some new blood on the BOD and come up with some ideas and changes that can breath new life into BSMF. Also of note, River Fest, which was downtown Little Rock's festival that included concerts, food, activities, and other vendors shutdown in 2017 after 40 years. They cited not being able to deliver the same quality product that attendees have come to expect, as performers fees have increased and other competing festivals around the country.

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.

5,000-7,000 would be perfect size for the MSC. I think its renovation plans to update to ADA compliance has it at 4,999 fixed seating and could easily have 2000 or more temporary/floor seating. Just need someone to pay for the renovation.

Brooks Museum name will stay with current building. The Hyde's bought the naming rights for the new building for $20 million and will be the Memphis Art Museum. https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/38166/brooks-museum-of-art-renames-new-downtown-location

Plans for Dental/Vet schools. Lyon college released this photo. Building's 4 & 5 are parking garages. 2 is the College of Dentistry. 3 is the College of Veterinary Science. 1 & 7 are the current Heifer buildings. Not sure what 6 is. The building above #4 is the under construction Arkansas Symphony Orchestra building. https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/lyon-college-new-veterinarian-school/91-2444b7e8-9562-4371-8ec9-f62d72e61c53

I saw another article that said part of the property was under contract. Don't know if its the offices or the warehouse portion or both.

WNBA announces expansion team will be located in San Francisco, and likely 2nd expansion team will be Portland.

https://downtownmemphis.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Memphis_Report_revised-December-reduced.pdf

I think the post is referring to the sight lines in parts of the upper deck. The overhang obscures the view in some seats because the ice rink is larger than the basketball court. I wonder if this could be corrected with the renovation that is being planned.

So just put a gag order on local media about reporting crime? I don't disagree that the local media is more open about reporting all the crime as opposed to other cities, but the crime is happening. The statistics of crime rates per capita are top 10 in the nation for larger cities. I'd rather take measures to reduce the crime rate and have safer downtown/tourism areas.

If the Sterick was all hotel, I wonder how many rooms it would be. There was a recent article saying the lack of large full service hotels in downtown is holding the downtown/convention center back. That's why the Loew's and Grand Hyatt plans that fell through were such a big loss. The previous owners of 100 N Main had plans for it to be just a hotel w/ retail on ground floor. It had 400-500 rooms. I wish the new owners would do that, as 100 N Main is fairly close to the convention center. Any office or residential they were planning could be built in the vacant parking lot next to it. Honestly, I would like to see 100 N Main hotel, new residential at the vacant lot, and office at a renovated Jefferson Plaza, all with ground floor retail. Sterick would be good with residential and ground floor retail too.

Construction is continuing. You bring nothing of value to this forum. Every single one of your posts is negative and takes a dig at Memphis. Please go back to the Nashville forum and stay there, since that is your city of preference.

Details for the rooftop park. Hearing for lawsuit by Friends for Our Riverfront will be tomorrow. https://dailymemphian.com/section/arts-culture/article/38595/brooks-museum-reveals-details-for-rooftop-park-downtown-memphis

I saw on Facebook that the exterior of The Sterick has been relit. Nothing fancy, but showing there’s life.

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.

Holiday Inn Express…blah. I liked it better as apartments, but if you’re going to do a hotel in such a historic building, do a boutique hotel. Or at least Curio/Tapestry/Autograph/Vignette Collection if you want to be associated with Hilton, IHG or Marriott.