How do you imagine downtown Memphis to look in the next 10 years?
In less than a month, the Downtown Memphis Commission will release its “Build Downtown Master Plan” but before the presentation is finalized commissioners want your input.
The Downtown Memphis Commission wants to make downtown one of the most walkable places in America, a place where people can enjoy themselves, feel safe and of course spend money.
“A lot of offices that are here but it gets really quiet at night and we have a lot of great old buildings that we want to re-inhabit here and so just leveraging the stuff that’s already there and preserving that great stuff. That’s a big focus of what we’re trying to do,” said Project Manager Craig Lewis.
Downtown Memphis has grown tremendously over the past 10 years and city leaders hope to excel the growth for the next decade.
“I actually love it down here, I thought about moving down here several times I just haven’t, I don’t want to leave my grandchildren,” said Westwood resident, Stephanie George.
What better way to get great ideas than from Memphis residents? That’s why all week long the commission hosted sessions to exchange ideas.
“A lot of the investments are being made sort of outside of the core. One of the areas we are focusing on is the core, really the area we are right now. The main area, so where the main street mall is,” Lewis explained. “Their focus group meetings so lots of different topics, parking and infrastructure. Traffic and transportation even had some discussions about scooters and the value that they’re bringing to the downtown.”
Ideas like more parking, a pedestrian bridge near Beale Street Landing and a Mud Island Connector were suggested. Of course, attracting a grocery store remains a top priority.
“Particularly the grocery business is very competitive. They also need a decent size space to be able to come in. We think we’re going to get there,” Lewis said.
A team of designers are here from across the country to help bring this master plan to fruition.
“I think they should because there’s some other areas that they can build up versus putting so much in one place,” George said.
The commission will finalize the ideas and have a “first look” presentation of the Build Downtown master plan in April.