Artist’s eviction from Main Street under appeal
The Madison Hotel’s eviction of an artist from a Downtown loft has been appealed to Circuit Court.
An attorney for artist Christopher Reyes and his mother Vernice Kuglin on Wednesday filed an appeal of last week’s General Sessions Court ruling against his clients.
The defendants believe Kuglin bought developer Henry Turley Jr.’s interest in an upstairs condominium at 1 South Main in 1993, but hotel owners maintain they bought the entire building in 2016.
Reyes, a visual artist and founder of the Live from Memphis arts website, lives there with his partner, film director and producer Sarah Fleming, and their two small children.
Judge Lonnie Thompson on March 27 upheld the eviction and ordered the defendants to pay about $102,000 in back taxes and maintenance and legal fees. Reyes and his mother had 10 days to appeal.
It was unclear whether the appeal buys the family more time before it has to move out.
The eviction proceeding came as the hotel ownership undertakes a top-tobottom renovation of the Madison and a renovation of the adjoining building at 1 South Main.
Memphis Women in Film has planned a rally in support of Reyes and Fleming from noon to 2 p.m. Friday on Civic Center Plaza, on Main Street north of Adams.
Also, the Downtown Memphis Commission issued a statement of support for the couple via Facebook.
“We have expressed our concerns to the stakeholders of 1 S. Main LLC and hope that our appeal and those from other community leaders will help them to want to find a solution that works for all,” said the post by DMC president and chief executive officer Jennifer Oswalt.
Oswalt also wrote, “The Downtown Memphis Commission has a long history of collaborating with Chris and Sarah on multiple projects and supporting their work in Downtown. We believe their contributions have made Downtown better. The investors who purchased the Madison Hotel were no doubt attracted to the neighborhood in part because of its authentic Memphis vibe, a vibe that Chris and Sarah helped create.”
The DMC had a role in 1 South Main’s ownership over the years through its tax abatement program. Starting in 1986, the building’s owners got their taxes reduced as an incentive for revitalization.
Reach reporter Wayne Risher at (901) 529-2874 or wayne.risher@commercial appeal.com.