Dixie Greyhound project hits speed bump
Some board members were concerned the outside aesthetic of the Dixie Greyhound building would not fit with the existing facades. (The Daily Memphian)
The $40.7 million mixed-use development at the historic Dixie Greyhound complex in Uptown hit a slight delay with the Design Review Board on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
During the board meeting, members approved the mixed-use development’s site plan under a condition that might delay the initial construction for the project.
November 6 Investments is building the 2.8-acre development located at 475-525 N. Main St. The developer plans to restore two historic buildings including the Dixie Greyhound Bus Lines building and former Schlitz Brewery horse stable. In addition, two new buildings will be added adjacent to the bus lines and brewery sites. A new four-story building named Uptown Studios will be constructed at 475 N. Main St. The latter building proved to be the reason for the board’s delayed decision.
Several Design Review Board members, including Mario Walker and Colin McDoniel, voiced concerns over the Uptown Studios building design and how it fits into the rest of the development’s design and the existing neighborhood. Board members suggested using a different composition or more wood than metal for the building’s facade.
Walker said the new building’s design and facade doesn’t match the traditional warehouse vibe the rest of the surrounding neighborhood has.
“This just feels disjointed,” Walker said.
Plans for the Dixie Greyhound Conplex include 68 apartments, 38,840 square feet of commercial space, 15 artist studios, and a self-storage place to the 2.8-acre complex. (Courtesy LRK)
Gabe Velasquez of November 6 Investments said the team planned to break ground as soon as the design plans were approved at this meeting. However, any delays to the Uptown Studio building would disrupt the developers anticipated construction timeline, he said, since it is the first building to be constructed.
“We have to build that first and move tenants into it before we get started on the other buildings,” Velasquez said. “Even though it isn’t the centerpiece, it is the key piece in adaptive reuse.”
Currently, Downtown Ministorage LLC operates out of the Dixie Greyhound building at 525 N. Main St. The storage company also has several outdoor units on the southern half of the site. November 6 bought Downtown Ministorage in January 2020. The developers also bought the property at 475 N. Main St. in 2021 for $600,000, according to the Shelby County Register of Deeds.
The plan is to build the 80,000-square-foot Uptown Studios at the vacant lot at 475 N. Main St. and relocate the existing tenants and artist studios at Downtown Ministorage into the new building. November 6 then plans to work on restoring the historic Dixie Greyhound and Schlitz Brewery sites along with demoing the existing outdoor storage units to make way for two new buildings (one building will be used for commercial, and the other will have multifamily units).
“I don’t think we should say how a building will look,” board member Roderick DeBerry said. “It is a separate parcel. It looks different, but it is still part of the process.”
DeBerry voiced concerns over holding the development up and forcing the developers into a position where construction costs go up and jeopardize previously approved incentives. Not all buildings are expected to look the same, he said, adding that this particular project has five buildings over two blocks, including new construction and preservation work.
In September, the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. board members approved a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) for the development. In October, the Memphis and Shelby County Economic Development Growth Engine approved a $2,185,000 Community Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACER) loan for the development’s Uptown Studios and Storage development at 475 N. Main St. It is the first C-PACER incentive awarded in Shelby County.
In August, Georgia-based Stinard Architecture Inc. filed a new construction permit with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development for work on the Uptown Studios portion of the development. The four-story building will be used primarily for storage, with 19,576 square feet on the ground floor for artist studios.
November 6 plans to open the entire campus in late 2023. Memphis-based LRK is the architect for the project.
With the Design Review Board’s decision, the four buildings at 525 N. Main St. are approved. The Uptown Studios and Storage building requires a revised plan with simplified composition that is contingent on administration approval.
Board chair Joyce Selina Love said that once the updated plans are submitted, the process can take up to a week to be approved.
Downtown Mobility Center lighting, Madison Ave. projects
Plans for the Downtown Mobility Center’s lighting and signage were approved by Design Review Board members. (Submitted)
In addition to the Dixie Greyhound campus, the Design Review Board members approved design plans for improved lighting and signage for the Downtown Mobility Center.
The $40 million, 960-vehicle parking center is under construction and is expected to open in July 2023. The mobility center will also include 11,000 square feet of commercial space on its ground floor. LED lighting will be included around the building and along the pedestrian walkway leading to its Beale Street entrance. Parking and tenant signage will also be added along with a three-foot by seven-foot “Beale Street” sign.
“It does feel very well thought out for such a large project,” Love said regarding the various designs in lighting and signage for the property. “I’m excited to see how impactful it will be on that little dark corner near the Orpheum.”
Board members also approved exterior renovations and facade improvements for two separate projects at 307 Madison Ave. and 629 Madison Ave. Mike Todd of Premiere Contractors Inc. is the general contractor for both projects. Todd also owns the property at 629 Madison Ave. The 12,741-square-foot building was built in 1925 and was the previous home to Southern Motor Co. The building is currently an event space known as Premier Palace.
The two-story property at 307 Madison Ave. was purchased by ServiceMaster by Stratos in 2021 and will be used as the company’s Downtown headquarters. The building was the former site of Junior Achievement Memphis.
Both Madison Avenue properties were previously awarded exterior improvement grants from the Center City Development Corp. in 2021.
Topics
Design Review Board Dixie Greyhound Station downtown mobility centerNeil Strebig
Neil Strebig is a chef turned journalist covering economic development and commercial real estate for The Daily Memphian. He grew up in Pennsylvania and has worked at media outlets including the York Daily Record/USA Today Network and most recently as Report for America Corps Member with Lookout Santa Cruz. He is a graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh.
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