Good morning!

Today is the first day of June, and the Memphis City Council is expected to delay final votes on budget resolutions and tax ordinances and the Germantown Planning Commission will review Glasgow, the planned development on the former Germantown Country Club site.

Also happening in Germantown? Groovin’ and Grillin’ at Municipal Park. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

This model of Downtown buildings features the 100 N. Main Building (center). Developers will soon have the opportunity to pursue their vision for the vacant skyscraper. (Brad Vest/Special to the Daily Memphian)

Top of the 100: Intrepid Daily Memphian business reporter Tom Bailey toured the vacant 100 North Main Building, or as Downtown Memphis Commission vice president of planning & development Brett Roler describes it “two acres of prime opportunity.” Things you might currently find in the 38-story building include discarded furniture from the revolving rooftop restaurant, remnants from Shelby County SWAT team training, graffiti and law books. Later this month, the DMC will issue a request for proposals for the skyscraper.

A ‘North Star’ of South Memphis neighborhoods: Speaking of vacant skyscrapers, plans for another in the city have been revealed. Art organizations Tone and Unapologetic are converting the former United Equipment Building and surrounding site on Lamar Avenue into a mixed-use project called Orange Mound Tower. The developers are planning affordable housing and commercial space. They say they will keep community residents at the center of their plans.

Equipment arrives to begin repairs on the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. (Courtesy Tennessee Department of Transportation)

One More Bridge to Cross: The movement to build a third bridge to Memphis over the Mississippi River is picking up momentum while residents and travelers wait for the Hernando DeSoto Bridge to be repaired. The bridge’s crack has garnered the attention of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who is expected to visit Memphis on Thursday. Bobby White, Greater Memphis Chamber chief public policy officer, said the third bridge effort must be bipartisan: “There’s no Democratic way to drive a barge under that bridge or a Republican way to drive a truck over it.”

A lingering question: If we wind up with a third bridge, what will we call the New Bridge that is no longer the newest bridge?

QUOTED

Jack Sammons, seen here at a PGA Tour press conference in 2018. (Brandon Dahlberg/Special to the Daily Memphian)

“The fact (that) Amazon, Nike and Ampro have now invested millions of dollars — many millions of dollars — in their facilities, perhaps other companies will entertain Frayser as a viable opportunity to locate their industrial campus. We’re close to two different interstates. Not that far from the Mississippi River bridge, when it’s open. There’s a lot to offer out there.”

— Jack Sammons, Ampro president

Daily Memphian neighborhoods reporter Omer Yusuf explored the potential economic development impact the significant expansions of Ampro, a Memphis-based company that makes both hair gel and hand sanitizer, and Amazon, could have on Frayser.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Before the May 2021 repair, the beloved sign was refurbished back in 2016. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)

Now it’s time for a little razzle dazzle: One of my top two favorite neon signs in Memphis has returned to its proper place in Midtown. Joe’s Wines & Liquors’ rotating “Sputnik” was remounted Friday after being absent for most of the month to be repaired. Balton Sign Company re-installed the nearly 60-year-old sign.

Youth development: The NBA Foundation is supporting a local program created by CodeCrew and the Collective Blueprint to train 17-30-year-olds as entry-level software developers. The full-time program, called Code Collective, lasts for nine months and has capacity for 25 students. There are plans for the program to grow in the future.

A state grant will help prepare Collierville students to pilot both drones and airplanes. (Courtesy FedEx)

Taking flight: With a $2 million state Department of Education grant, Collierville Schools will help prepare students for aviation mechanics, as well as drone and airplane pilot careers. The school district will partner with Memphis-based FedEx, Iowa City, Iowa-based Rantizo Drones and Collierville-based Helena Chemical. Twenty-one Tennessee school districts received an Innovative High School Models Grant.

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Game 4 of the NBA playoff series of the Memphis Grizzlies versus the Utah Jazz.

That’s all for today! See you back here bright and early tomorrow.

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