Rendering details plan for Snuff District
$200 million project revealed
A new rendering of the Snuff District site in Uptown where Memphis developer Billy Orgel is planning a $200 million project was revealed late Wednesday, making Orgel's vision for the area more clear.
The digital map of the historic site starts on Saffarans Avenue between North Main Street and the Wolf River. Along the riverfront, Orgel plans to build a series of two-story, single-family townhomes that will be surrounded by a park. Running through the park will be an extension of the Riverwalk pedestrian trail with an observation deck near Keel Avenue. The trail, which will stretch north to Waterworks Avenue, will also connect to the Greenline bike path.
Along Saffarans Avenue and Front Street, Orgel is planning a six-story building with two floors dedicated to parking and the remainder used for apartments.
Another building along Main Street between Keel and Henry Avenue will be redeveloped as a parking garage in the middle with a mixed-use building wrapped around it hiding the cars.
This will likely be the new home of dance and cheerleading apparel maker Varsity Spirit, which has committed to taking up about 80,000 square feet of space in Orgel's new development. The remainder of the building will likely be remade into apartments.
Among other things, Orgel also plans to create several outdoor courtyards and a promenade for residents, office workers and visitors. An event space will also open.
While the riverfront development stretches to Waterworks Avenue, much of the inland part of the project ends about a half block before Henry Avenue. The rendering shows that part of the development could continue another two blocks to Waterworks as well in future phases. It could also stretch east past Main Street, the rendering shows.
The new rendering was included in an application to the Downtown Memphis Commission's Design Review Board. Orgel and his team will go before the board on Wednesday at 4 p.m. to get the design of the project approved, a necessary step to receive tax breaks needed to make the plan real. The Design Review Board meeting is open to the public. It will be held at in the main conference room at the office of the Downtown Memphis Commission at 114 N. Main St.
Desiree Stennett covers economic development and business at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at desiree.stennett@commercialappeal. com, 901-529-2738 or on Twitter: @desi_stennett.
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