Meritan plans to start renovation Downtown by April
The social services agency Meritan expects by April to start its $2.5 million renovation of an old building at the edge of Downtown.
The social services agency this week filed construction documents for the project to make 345 Adams its new headquarters. The agency will move from its longtime offices at 4700 Poplar in East Memphis.
“We applied for the building permit and are finalizing stuff with the bank,” executive director Melanie Keller said Wednesday. “When we do that we’ll have an official groundbreaking kickoff.”
Meritan provides social services for the elderly and children. As it starts the renovation, the nonprofit will also launch a capital fundraising campaign to keep from dipping too far into its reserves, Keller said.
“I’d prefer not to deplete the reserves, especially with uncertainty now with social service funding,” she said.
Meritan’s ground lease at 4700 Poplar expires Dec. 31.
Work crews already have gutted the building to prepare for a renovation designed by architecture firm archimania. Chris Woods Construction will carry out the renovation.
The old lab building at 345 Adams is just east of Danny Thomas Boulevard, a major north-south corridor, and stands at the seam between Downtown and the Edge and Medical districts.
The old Woodson-Tenent Laboratories has been vacant seven years. Memphis Bioworks sold the 17,000square-foot building on nearly 1.5 acres to Meritan for $120,000.
Meritan employs about 50 people in its office, but another 200 report to the regional headquarters. The organization offers home health care, employment services for seniors, care for those with intellectual disabilities, residential and day care services, and foster care.