[Johnny Ryall]

City Files Permits For Fairgrounds Projects
Source: The Daily News Online & Chandler Reports – Eric Smith

The city of Memphis has filed a pair of building permits with the city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement for part of the roughly $10 million in upgrades it will perform at the Mid-South Fairgrounds. City officials filed a $9 million permit to build concessions and restrooms as well as make asphalt parking improvements at 940 Early Maxwell Blvd. And they filed a $200,000 permit to install ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) restrooms and ramps at 945 Early Maxwell.

The fairgrounds will see a transformation over the coming years, including the Kroc Center of Memphis being built on 15 acres of private land on the northwest corner of the property. The Salvation Army of Memphis is building the 100,000-square-foot, multimillion-dollar facility, slated for completion in 2011. Meanwhile, the Memphis City Council is considering funds for the creation of a seven-acre green space at the fairgrounds dubbed “Tiger Lane” after University of Memphis athletic teams. These projects are part of the city’s larger fairgrounds redevelopment plan. For more details on this story, see the article “Proposed ‘Tiger Lane’ Features Surprises” and also at The Daily News Online.