Proposed parking structure draws criticism
Garage project for St. Jude’s hospital has some in Uptown concerned
Some Uptown residents are raising concerns about a proposed seven-story parking garage for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and ALSAC, the hospital's fundraising arm.
Parks Not Parking 901, a group that describes itself as a coalition of concerned residents, held a press conference Monday at The Office @ Uptown coffee shop to share their discontent for the plans and to reveal survey results that, they say, were gathered from Greenlaw and Uptown residents.
Valerie Peavy, a longtime Greenlaw resident and owner of The Office @ Uptown coffee shop believes that building the seven-story, 1,640 passenger car garage for St. Jude employees conflicts with plans to revitalize the community. The parking structure would take the place of the green space located at the intersection of A.W. Willis Avenue and Third Street.
"It's concerning to us that — as community members and citizens who have put our time and effort in envisioning our future — that a variant can come in and change everything."
Tanja Mitchell, an Uptown resident, said she was disappointed St. Jude had not done more to seek community input on the matter.
"The proposed parking garage was planned with no consultation or consideration of the residents of Uptown and Greenlaw, but we have great concerns," Mitchell said.
In the survey the group conducted of nearly 100 neighboring residents, Mitchell said 90% of those surveyed didn't support the structure, and 95% of respondents cited concerns about loss of green space, need for housing, pedestrian safety and increased traffic and pollution.
At the news conference, Mitchell encouraged St. Jude and ALSAC employees to live in the Uptown neighborhood.
"We love St. Jude. We respect the work of St. Jude, and the contribution of the city is to have St. Jude. We would like
to have more of your employees living in our neighborhoods, doing life with us: walking, playing, living. We'd like more of your jobs. We'd like more of your employees to live here. We don't want your cars," Mitchell said.
St. Jude has not responded to the Commercial Appeal's request for comment.
The press conference comes before a Wednesday Board of Adjustment meeting to vote on the size and zone of the parking lot.
Jerred Price, president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, asks the Board to reject this proposal.
He cites the vision of the Community Redevelopment Agency's draft of their development for the Memphis Uptown
Community Plan which envisioned the neighborhood to be a walkable urban district and the lot to become a park with single or multi-family homes.
"They want to see their community improved by new construction, not diminished. The CRA plan that was developed by the community...shows a wonderful mixed-use space of multifamily or single-family homes backed by a wonderful green space and a bayou. The community spoke to develop that plan. And we hope that the Board of Adjustments make sure that that plan stays in place," Price said.
Price said that the coalition can
"hopefully work together closer with St. Jude to develop an alternative site for their need for parking as we all love and support St. Jude."
While the group still supports St. Jude's expansion in the neighborhood, Peavy said, the parking structure would be harmful for the community.
"We're not against change," Peavy said. "When you talk about growth, there's smart growth, and for this garage to be located where it is proposed, it will change the character of a historic area within Memphis."
Astrid Kayembe covers South Memphis, Whitehaven and Westwood. She can be reached at astrid.kayembe@commercialappeal.com, (901) 304-7929 or on Twitter @astridkayembe_.