Memphis Metropolis

The Griggs Business College building,  at the corner of Vance Avenue and Danny Thomas Boulevard, isn't as well known as other historic structures. But that's about to change. Emerging real estate developer Stephanie Love and partners literally saved the Griggs Building from the wrecking ball (it was set to be torn down for a gas station) and now the former Black-owned college will be redeveloped to serve the community. Stephanie visited Memphis Metropolis to explain how she got interested in the building, and the long journey that led to her company's eventual acquisition of it. Later in the program, commentator Cole Bradley returns to reflect on the role of champions like Stephanie in redeveloping some of the city's important (and cool) older buildings. 

In this program, Memphis Metropolis welcomes Tonya Meeks, new district coordinator for Urban Land Institute (ULI) in Memphis. ULI is an international organization made up of real estate and land use professionals with a shared vision to shape the built environment. 

Tonya brings years of work in nonprofit consulting to her new role, as well as experience in the real estate industry. Emily and Tonya talk about the role of ULI in the community and highlight upcoming programs that will focus on receivership (a tool to redevelop blighted properties) and housing for refugees coming to Memphis. 

Resources and Information

Urban Land Institute - Memphis

Planning for a whole city's future development is critically important but the process can seem abstract to many participants. That's where small area plans come into play. In this program, Memphis Metropolis is joined by Susannah Barton, administrator of comprehensive planning at the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development (DPD). DPD recently completed small area plans around important anchors in eight Memphis neighborhoods, from South City and Soulsville to Hollywood-Hyde Park and Highland Heights. Susannah explains how the community was engaged in setting its own priorities and how funding has already been set aside to implement some of the top recommendations. Later in the program, regular commentator Charlie Santo returns to talk about the city's welcome new era of planning and to reflect on a favorite Ry Cooder song about cities and baseball: 3rd Base, Dodger Stadium.

Information and Resources

Memphis 3.0 (Office of Comprehensive Planning

If you've driven around the Memphis Medical District recently, you've probably noticed new housing development projects, spiffed up storefronts, and improvements to the neighborhoods streets and public spaces. Plus there's lots more going on behind the scenes. Learn about it in our interview with Alex Feldman of U3 Advisors and Rory Thomas from the Medical District Collaborative, as they reflect on the results of the "anchor strategy" being implemented in the area - and share their wishes and plan for the next five years. 

More information

MMDC Five Year Report

Several transformative development projects are coming to the Frayser neighborhood, including a brand new Ed Rice Community Center. In this program, Memphis Metropolis speaks with Todd Walker, architect and principal at Archimania, and Shelly Rice from the Frayser Exchange Club. Todd, Shelly, and Emily talk about why Ed Rice is so important to the Frayser community, and how the new community center is all about connectivity - between inside and outside spaces and between people. 

Later in the show, regular commentator Cole Bradley joins in to talk more about connections and why urban design is so important in civic spaces.

Many elders want to stay in their homes as they age, but poor housing conditions and lack of accessibility can be significant barriers. Christin Reeder, senior research and evaluation manager for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, visits the program to discuss these challenges and how Habitat’s Aging in Place home repair program has helped many Memphis seniors stay in their homes and improve their quality of life. Later, regular commentator Austin Harrison shares his thoughts on the many benefits of staying in place, including familiarity and stability, and other topics.

More information

Habitat for Humanity Aging in Place

Ashley Cash and Mary Claire Borys from the City of Memphis Divison of Housing and Community Development visit Memphis Metropolis to discuss the new Liberty Park community and youth sports complex being built on the former site of the MidSouth Fairgrounds. Ashley, Mary Claire, and Emily discuss the land's interesting history - as a race track, casino, municipal swimming pool, among many other uses - and plans to knit the new facilities into the broader campus that also includes the Kroc, Children's Museum, Tiger Lane, and the Liberty Bowl. 

More information about Liberty Park:

https://www.libertyparkmemphis.com/

Architect Jacob Davis from Archimania visits Memphis Metropolis to explain the firm's innovative efforts to reimagine Cooper Street as a "carbon neutral corridor" by renovating its aging building stock in a sustainable and connected manner, beginning with their own headquarters. Later in the program, commentator Charlie Santo comes by to discuss other strategies - from street trees to micro-transit - that could reduce the carbon footprint of Cooper and similar streets. 

Resources and Information

Visit the Archimania website for more information about their work on carbon neutral corridors. 

https://www.archimania.com/all-projects/carbon-neutral-corridors

What neighborhood or zip code families live in can have huge implications for how well they live, in terms of health and longevity, income, transportation, and access to economic opportunities. This week Memphis Metropolis welcomes Jamilca Burke, chief strategy and impact officer for Seeding Success. Seeding Success is helping facilitate a multi-sector initiative called Place Matters that aims to "define the challenges of our social and economic systems and policies, and identify sustainable solutions that make a shared vision for a thriving community a reality. The goal will be to improve the connection between the systems that support families like housing, community development, economic development, education, transportation, health, and workforce development and allow residents to access these resources efficiently."

Later in the show, regular commentator Cole Bradley returns to do a deeper dive into the disparity between places and the elements of a neighborhood where everyone can thrive. 

Read more about and get involved with the Place Matters initiative here. 

Land Installment Contracts (LICs) are a dangerous rent-to-own scheme that can leave potential homebuyers in the lurch instead of leading to homeownership. Although not a new kind of agreement, LICs have proliferated in Memphis in the wake of the foreclosure crisis, after which many single-family homes were purchased by large out-of-town investors. This week, Dr. Andrew Guthrie from the University of Memphis Dept. of City and Regional Planning visits the program to discuss some research he and U of M colleagues are undertaking around the impact of LICs on Memphis families and neighborhoods. Later in the program, regular commentator and housing expert Austin Harrison returns to talk about what's happening around LICs in other parts of the U.S., in terms of both research and activism. 

Further information

A Memphis Mirage: How Home Mortgage Alternatives and Increased Equity Firm Ownership Diminish Wealth in Low-Income Communities” by Wade Rathke (founder of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) and Diné Butler examines how large equity firms diminished home wealth in low-income neighborhoods in Memphis and the nation in the years following the Great Recession. White paper from the Hooks Institute. 

United Housing. For help or resources if you think you have or are being offered a land installment contract.