MEMPHIS | Development News - Page 175

Dr Nevergold · #**3481** Posted **Mar 21, 2015, 7:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingchef

#3470 post by dr. nevergold. my sentiments exactly, dr. nevergold. i wrote about my feelings a few weeks ago on this very subject. this building was one that was used for students in the various departments of medicine. i stayed in it one summer, and it was very convenient to my campus needs, down-town, midtown, and public transportation, should i wanted to use it. although i haven't check the dates, this building is either a few years younger than the 170 building at civic plaza, or a few years older. in any case, they were closely related in appearance and age. i attended sseveral medical symposiums and trainings in that particular building. parking wasn't that much of a problem.

it is this kind of political maneuvering that works against both present and future students. demolishing structurally sound or important buildings that tell our long history do nothing but add to the cost of post secondary education, as well as in other needed (many right at the moment). there is no way that that building could not be repurposed, especially for individual offices, etc. these actions, and some of those at the university of memphis carry tremendous costs, which, ultimately, have to be paid by the student. the various bells and whistles added to the recreation/student activities building, as well as several other new and planned buildings, add cost to the students payments. some use the excuse that many students would rather live in individual private housing or small group housing. some of these students receive their checks for the purpose of housing and sustainance. naturally, many times this can and does go wrong, when those who have rarely been responsible for paying bills for themselves suddenly find problems, when semester bills come due. nevertheless, much of the rising costs of education can be attributed to some of these issues. finally, i don't remember seeing a demolition project occurr as rapidly as the one involving the randolph building. w/ the exception of the preparation of the fairgrounds, a few years ago. well, i , too, hate to see the mmc become a squatty, ho-hum presence, when many of us remember the presence of baptist memorial.

I hope they replace it with a larger structure, to destroy a high rise that could have been repurposed with a lesser building would be a tragedy. Well, I suppose technically it was a mid-rise, but still it wasn't that old. Randolph wasn't as ugly as the current old Holiday Inn structure, it had a pretty traditional internationalist look. It was worth preserving. But since its gone, what is done is done an can't be undone.

Wayward Memphian · #**3482** Posted **Mar 21, 2015, 9:54 PM**

I recently posted a San Diego proposal as something Memphis needs on it's riverfront (along with giant wheel proposals). Damn is a near identical as San Diego's proposal hasn't popped up in Nawlings

Chris Warren · #**3483** Posted **Mar 21, 2015, 11:33 PM**

I just sent emails to the riverfront and Mud Island staff about adding a permanent Ferris Wheel.

Wayward Memphian · #**3484** Posted **Mar 21, 2015, 11:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Warren

I just sent emails to the riverfront and Mud Island staff about adding a permanent Ferris Wheel.

I'll give Memphis this, there's some good music coming thru this spring and summer, Robert Plant joins Beck to the Mud Island line up.

Dr Nevergold · #**3485** Posted **Mar 22, 2015, 1:50 AM**

That thing looks rather gimmicky.

VSRJ · #**3486** Posted **Mar 22, 2015, 3:30 AM**

Yeah, I'd be happy with just a nice-looking large ferris wheel. See: http://www.skyviewatlanta.com/

Wayward Memphian · #**3487** Posted **Mar 22, 2015, 5:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Nevergold

That thing looks rather gimmicky.

Nah, that tech isn't anything earthshattering, there's been spiral lifts on coasters available for a while.This is just a play on that. The company that is proposing that in San Diego and Nawlins also pushes the Polarcoaster. Looks like the first one of those will be in Orlando and at about 600ft. While it's their concept, Intamin will be doing the track and trains. They have added a drop tower to this as well but it's going to run 300 million, that ain't happening in Memphis. But here is a preview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Wg2taAxV8

Johnny Ryall · #**3488** Posted **Mar 23, 2015, 4:39 AM**

The Pyramid doesn't specifically address the "ride" aspect of a ferris wheel or vertical coaster, but we definitely get the elevated view of both those attractions with the finally-realized observation deck(s). The skeletal structure that contains the elevator shaft, etc. with 2 occupied levels on top actually gives Memphis its first observation tower with a glass atrium pinnacle of 321' and a proposed flag spire which looks to be around 350'+. Although not as tall as Seattle's Space Needle or Dallas & San Antonio's observation towers, I would put it right on par with those, if not surpassing them altogether. This considering the observation tower component is the center piece of a quarter-billion-dollar development that boasts hotel, retail and entertainment including an aquarium & museum below. The Pyramid has long been one of the iconic & contemporary features of Memphis' skyline and is now even more so because of actual occupied floors that are equivalent height to a 30+ story building.

Bass Pro Shop

CsaStructures.com

Johnny Ryall · #**3489** Posted **Mar 23, 2015, 5:59 AM**

The Pyramid is Memphis' first *public* high-rise observation tower. Let's not forget the United States' 3rd tallest control tower at MEM Int'l. standing 336' tall.

photo by Joe Luther/ aiamemphis.org

Sooper_rebel · #**3490** Posted **Mar 23, 2015, 12:55 PM**

I would have loved to have seen them put the inclinator on the outside of the Pyramid. The flat part on one of the outside corners was for this reason. They ended up using the inclinator that was made for the original Pyramid construction on the Luxor pyramid in Las Vegas. Either way, I'm just glad that after 25 years, they've decided to use the observation deck.

Sooper_rebel · #**3491** Posted **Mar 23, 2015, 1:01 PM**

The new arena in Oxford is coming along nicely:

Wayward Memphian · #**3492** Posted **Mar 23, 2015, 1:13 PM**

The Pyramid is more like the Arch in that it's static in motion but get how that covers "observation". I still like the wheel concept but would lean toward a Star Flyer concept like you can find over in Scotland for signature skyline ride

But you could do both

I've posted my thoughts about the Island several times before

Wayward Memphian · #**3493** Posted **Mar 23, 2015, 1:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sooper_rebel

The new arena in Oxford is coming along nicely:

I like Okie State's set up with the area at the end of one end zone. Always thought that if a school endeavored in a new construction it could kill two birds with one stone by designing a stadium /arena combo where suites and club seating for each would share common areas. I believe that Auburn did this a bit when some of their arena suits can double up as tailgating areas for football.

DoomJ · #**3494** Posted **Mar 24, 2015, 6:05 PM**

Some blurbs out from the Daily News:

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news...-get-brighter/

Quote:

Memphis civic and business leaders are in the early stages of talking with an anonymous donor about lighting the Harahan Bridge while a Memphis-based movie theater titan is exploring building a new theater Downtown.

In addition, Downtown officials and developers are making progress on bringing another grocery store to the area, which has largely been transformed from the city’s old central business district into a high-growth residential market over the last 15 years.

According to U.S. Census numbers, Downtown’s population grew by roughly 18 percent from 2000 to 2013 and the development pipeline remains full. Those new residents are clamoring for amenities and services and local officials say individuals and companies are poised to deliver them.

kingchef · #**3495** Posted **Mar 25, 2015, 9:35 AM**

post #3488, by j. ryall is well worded and actually takes us to the "lighthouse" re: this project. i hope more and more city leaders read this article, and realize the importance that the pyramid has played in the city all along. it has always been a structure that separates memphis from most other cities, because of its shape, size, and beauty. as w/ this post, it seems that the pyramid has finally found remarkable number of business sectors, which will really give both the family and individuals experiences that had not really been seen prior to this point.

perhaps, other projects will rise from this project, lead to national boat tournaments, bass tournaments, and sother types of water sports. the observation tower, i feel, will be quite the tourist attraction, and hopefully, some of these companies that could help populate the skyline w/ buildings, of which our city can be proud, and their companies receive some incentives for coming to downtown, the notice of their logos, names, presence, etc. i really wish that fedex, medtronic, wright, international paper, and others would have built at least some of their administration buildings, human resources, etc., donwtown.

VSRJ · #**3496** Posted **Mar 27, 2015, 11:26 PM**

Exciting news for Downtown Memphis!

Developers unveil plans for Central Station hotel, movie theater

(http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...eater_18184451)

FULL PLANS: http://www.documentcloud.org/documen...ml#document/p9

Plans Revealed for $55 Million Central Station Project

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news...ation-project/

Quote:

Conceptual plans were revealed Friday for the widely anticipated redevelopment of Central Station.

Archie Willis of Community Capital and developer Henry Turley outlined the $55 million plan for the finance committee of the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

The proposal for Central Station includes replacing existing apartments in the train station building with a boutique hotel being developed by the Kemmons Wilson Cos.; building a five-screen Malco movie theater onto the power station building; and possibly adding a new Downtown grocery store run by the Canale family.

The full MATA board is scheduled to vote on the development plan and agreement at its April 27 meeting.

The plan presented Friday is the first confirmation of the speculated details.

Willis said the grocery store portion is the most tentative and began just this week with no specific site on the train station property.

But talks on the hotel and movie theater are so far along that Willis said Malco executives are “ready to go” with a target for construction to begin in the first quarter of 2016 with a fourth quarter 2016 opening.

Memphis Daily News first reported Monday, March 23, that Malco was considering a Downtown site. Malco executive vice president Jimmy Tashie confirmed the theater company was in discussions on a Downtown theater similar to its Studio on the Square and Ridgeway Cinema Grill.

The Malco would be built onto the power plant building up to the corner of Front Street and G.E. Patterson Avenue as a freestanding structure.

The target date for the hotel opening is August 2017.

Of the $55 million, $52 million would be private investment. The remaining $3 million would be anticipated federal transportation grants. A required $600,000 local match from the city could include capital funding and donated or philanthropic grants.

The property would include a market plaza with a relocated Farmers Market along Front Street. When the Farmers Market is not being held, the space would be used for additional parking.

An annex building to the train station that currently houses apartments would remain apartments in the plan.

Chris Warren · #**3497** Posted **Mar 27, 2015, 11:32 PM**

Same post (look above)

Dr Nevergold · #**3498** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 12:17 PM**

I very much support the project; however, I don't understand why Peabody Place wasn't utilized. There's already a theatre there, which could be re-carpeted and spruced up quite cheaply yet still looks new because it is a relatively new property.

But, if this is going to be where a grocery store and theatre appear, so be it.

arkitekte · #**3499** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 7:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Nevergold

I very much support the project; however, I don't understand why Peabody Place wasn't utilized. There's already a theatre there, which could be re-carpeted and spruced up quite cheaply yet still looks new because it is a relatively new property.

Mainly because people will get behind this with much more enthusiasm than they will Peabody Place, plus this would be "new" and out in the open, not tucked away inside of Peabody Place.

I support this 100% as well. They'll be able to take advantage of quite a few tax incentives. I think if the funding is in place this will be quite the destination in South Main, and if we can't already say South Main is hitting a "boom" then this will for sure kick it off full speed. Now we just need more mixed use infill.

Wayward Memphian · #**3500** Posted **Mar 28, 2015, 8:42 PM**

I recently read where someone introduced a bill to allow a vote on casino gambling in Tennessee and where the state's cut would go to school funding. I haven't seen the particulars like the number allowed and such. If this was to pass, big if, and this is the start of what might be many tries, and someone proposed a casino on or just off Beale or Mud Island, would this be a plus or negative.