Councilman won’t vote on brother’s project
The next phase of One Beale, the project being developed by Carlisle Corp., will come before the Memphis City Council Tuesday — a body which includes a member of the Carlisle family.
Councilman Chase Carlisle said he will not participate in any discussion about or vote on the project his brother is developing.
“I've been fully transparent about it,” he said, adding he will likely sign out of the virtual meeting when the item comes up and rejoin the meeting afterward.
The City Council will have to approve the developer's request for a 5% surcharge tax on One Beale's hotel and restaurants as part of a Tourism Development Zone to help pay for the debt incurred to build the development.
Developer Chance Carlisle said he and his brother have talked about the project in a general sense but have not discussed details.
“We've stayed out of the particulars, but Chase knows the site and Downtown and more about economic development than most folks,” he said.
Chase Carlisle, who left the family business before he ran for council, said they discuss the project in the way anyone discusses work with their family but they do not get “into the nitty-gritty.”
“We talk a lot, we're brothers,” he said. “I don't know that we ever really get into the specifics.”
Chase Carlisle said he did share Councilman Edmund Ford Sr.'s cellphone number with his brother on Chance's request — after checking with Ford if it was OK to do so.
Chase Carlisle said he did — not participate in any discussion between the two and did not arrange meetings or discussions between his brother and any officials.
Chance Carlisle said he and James Maclin, principal owner of M&M Enterprises which is involved in the One Beale project, have relationships with city council members that predate his brother's tenure on the legislative body.