SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — The City of Memphis is updating its "Memphis 3.0" plan first established in 2019 and intended to build up and revitalize the Bluff City's most established neighborhoods. Five years later — this time around — a major focus is on re-zoning key areas to encourage new homes, businesses and office developments.
“I don’t know what this used to be. I think this used to be a barbershop right here. Then you got a club right here,” said South Memphis resident Joseph Conrad, pointing to vacant buildings near the intersection of Mississippi Boulevard and Walker Ave.
Conrad welcomes any additional development that might be on its way as a result of re-zoning and the updated Memphis 3.0 plan.
"We need a lot more activities in this neighborhood. Its not that bad, but it could use a lot of work," Conrad said. "I’d say like a gym, a workout gym. Just activities for the community," he said.
City Planning and Development Director John Zeanah says the South Memphis intersection is one of many across the city being targeted for development as part of the updated Memphis 3.0 plan.
"The central recommendation is that we want to see targeted investment around anchor areas, central nodes of every community across the city," he said of the plan.
According to Zeanah, The Four Way Restaurant on Mississippi Blvd is considered a key anchor node for the South Memphis area.
"Essentially, they’re places where the community comes together frequently," Zeanah said. "Whether they come together because there are already a mix of community assets that bring the neighborhood in, or its where people come together sorta organically."
Other key anchor areas that will be targeted for further development include places like the former Raleigh Town Center and Whitehaven Plaza.
Public workshops will begin in August and be held in all Memphis neighborhoods to get feedback about what initiatives will be most impactful in each area.