Pedestrian skybridge nears completion
If you visited Downtown Memphis recently, you likely heard the daytime construction sounds or at least saw the crane hoisting up Front Street’s newest addition: a block-long Autozone Skybridge.
Construction for Autozone headquarters’ pedestrian skybridge has been underway for the last few weeks. (It’s been a hard miss for me as I walk into our Commercial Appeal offices, though I usually hear the construction before I see it during my morning jaunt to the office.)
The walkway will connect the fifth floor of the Downtown Mobility Center at 123 Front St. with the third floor of Autozone headquarters at the Front Street and Peabody Avenue intersection.
The $40 million Mobility Center opened in August 2023 (the search for ground-floor commercial tenants is still ongoing). The Autozone Skybridge was always in the plans for the Mobility Center. In March 2023, the Design Review Board, an affiliate board of the Downtown Memphis Commission approved the bridge’s design.
Memphis-based LRK designed the skybridge. The firm also designed the Downtown Mobility Center. The pedestrian walkway, however, has been completely privately funded by Autozone.
When plans for the walkway were announced last year, some of the feedback I heard from readers and fellow Downtown residents was the bridge was counterproductive for Downtown Memphis’ goals toward creating density; and getting more residents and visitors on the street. With the bridge being a privately funded project, and for use by Autozone workers, it creates a little bit of a Downtown debate.
So, I’m curious what y’all think about the Autozone Skybridge. You like it? Does the bridge add something to the Front Street skyline? Do you hate it? Do you feel it takes away from the streetscape in anyway? Let me know (contact info is at the end of the article), I want to hear more about it.
For now, though, let’s get into the rest of Mane Street and what else is happening outside of Front Street.
Former Commercial Appeal building getting ready for ... storage?
On Feb. 14, a final plat permit was filed with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development for the former Commercial Appeal Building at 495 Union Ave. The permit was filed by New York-based 495 Union Ave. LLC.
The permit outlined the same subdivision plan submitted in September 2023. The plan would split the 6.48-acre property into two separate lots.
According to the permit application, the 2.95-acre office building lot will be 128,773 square feet and the adjacent 4.12-acre warehouse lot will be 179,612 square feet.
Additionally, on Feb. 12, a zoning permit was filed for the property. According to the zoning permit, the owners are exploring potential use for storage space, however, it is unclear which portion of the property could be used for such purposes. (Often with zoning permits, it is a preliminary look at how or if a property/ site could be used and does not guarantee that will be a future use.)
Connecticut-based Twenty Lake Holdings Inc. purchased the property and former five-story Commercial Appeal office building in 2018, along with the nearby parking lot located at 597 Beale St. for a total of $3.9 million, according to the Shelby County Register of Deeds.
Twenty Lake is a subsidiary of the New York-based hedge fund Alden Global Capital. In 2019, Alden, then known as Digital First Media, made an attempt to purchase Gannett. Gannett is The Commercial Appeal’s parent company (Gannett purchased The CA in 2016). Twenty Lake operates as the real estate entity for Alden.
The Commercial Appeal first began operating out of the 495 Union Ave. property in 1932. A production plant was built in the 1970s, and the office building was renovated in 1977. The Commercial Appeal relocated out of the Union Avenue property in 2019 and is now located at 120 S. Front St.
The real estate firm Colliers is handling the sale. The Colliers website has the properties listed separately: The office building portion is listed for $4.9 million, and the warehouse section is listed for $3.5 million.
In October, Shelby County officials expressed interest in the property and discussed future uses for the site including a shared-used building for municipal departments.
Memphis International Airport sets record in 2023
On Feb. 15, the Memphis International Airport announced it had set an all-time record in 2023 with 4.79 million origin and destination passengers. (The figure refers to the number of passengers traveling through the airport for departures and arrivals.)
The total number of travelers was 4,796,717, a 10% increase compared to 2022, and higher than pre-pandemic figures, according to the news release.
“2023 was a tremendous year for Memphis International Airport as our
passenger growth exceeded pre-pandemic numbers and the airport and its staff achieved many significant milestones,” said Terry Blue, Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority president and CEO.
Earlier this month, the Memphis International Airport was awarded $16.1 million in federal funds for improvements and renovations.
Boshi Botanicals in Chickasaw Gardens expands
Boshi Botanicals, located at 3092 Poplar Ave., is expanding. The organic, zero-waste retail store opened in late 2023 and is expanding its operation to include herbal soaps, workshops and a bulk beauty product section where customers can fill their own reusable containers.
The workshops will offer patrons a chance to make their own organic bath bombs along with instructional classes on the therapeutic benefits for essential oils, herbs and other natural remedies.
A grand opening will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 29, according to a news release.
Paragon Bank opens Atlanta office
On Feb. 13, Memphis-based Paragon Bank announced it would be opening a new office at 293 Pharr Road in Atlanta.
Paragon Bank opened in 2005 and opened first entered the Atlanta market in September 2014. The local banking institution operates eight locations throughout the Memphis, Atlanta, Oxford, Mississippi, and Wilmington, North Carolina.
Lakeshore Learning opens new East Memphis location
Youth education retailer Lakeshore Learning held a grand opening celebration on Feb. 23 for its new 1213 Ridgeway Road location. The 9,867-square-foot store is located in Park Place Centre shopping center. This is Lakeshore Learning’s first Memphis location and second in the state.
Dermon Building moves forward with Holiday Inn Express plans
On Feb. 7, the Design Review Board, an affiliate board of the DMC, approved design plans for the historic Dermon Building in Downtown Memphis.
The 10-story building dates back to 1925 and is located at 44-46 N. B.B. King Boulevard. The approved design will renovate the building into a 159-room Holiday Inn Express with commercial ground floor space. Memphis-based cnct design is the architect for the project.
On Feb. 5, cnct design filed a commercial alteration permit with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development for the 98,370-square-foot property. The renovation work will include the 159 guest rooms, a grand lobby, great room, meeting and office space along with a fitness center and laundry service area in the basement of the building. The estimated cost for the project is $13,542,100, according to the permit filed.
Additionally, cnct design filed a special use permit with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and
Development on Feb. 9 for hotel services and accommodations at the site.
In September 2023, the Center City Revenue Finance Corp., an affiliate board of the DMC, approved a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) for the renovation. The project was then announced as a 150-room hotel.
The site owners and developers are Dermon Building OZ, which consists of Nick Patel and Sam Patel. Dermon Building OZ purchased the property in September 2022 for $1.5 million. The company also purchased the adjacent parking lots along Court Avenue for $1.75 million, according to the Shelby County Register of Deeds.
Neil Strebig is a journalist with The CAL. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-4260679 or via X: @neilstrebig