Suburbs

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Every few years or so, a new idea arises for the Arthur property on the west end of Germantown’s Central Business District.

And yet, the 33 acres, owned by the late-Mayor Boyd Arthur Jr. and his kinfolks, still sits as a parcel of trees, weeds and a few houses.

Located between Poplar and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and stretching west from Saddle Creek to the homes on Miller Farms south of Poplar, several mixed-use concepts have been presented for the site. None have even reached the point of breaking ground.

Reporter Abigail Warren wrote about the latest plan last week, and delved into the property’s history on Monday. On Thursday, the AM/DM podcast featured Editorial Director Mary Cashiola and me talking about the land, its past and its importance.

The site has the potential to be a strategic location. There is retail and office space on the recent sketch plan presented by High Mountain Investments last month. There are some townhouses and single-family dwellings in plan.

And 250 apartments.

That seems to be a sticking point. But not as readily cast aside as the 400 originally suggested when High Mountain’s first plan was unveiled in December.

“When I see the 400 units, I’m done,” Alderman Tony Salvaggio said in December. “... It doesn’t get us started on the right foot.”

Apartments are always going to lead to hands being thrown up to slow the discussion. The term usually draws a suspicious eye, not only in Germantown, but in many places.

Then there is another problem to the west. There are a handful of houses on the west side of Miller Farms, which are downhill from the Arthur property. Those residents worry about drainage from parking lots cascading into their back yards.

That concern has existed so long that a proposal or two over the years has even included an offer from developers to purchase those residences to eliminate the issue.

There are still a number of city reviews left before any consideration of breaking ground on the latest idea. The one currently on the drafting board is sort of a feeling-out concept.

To see if it is palatable.

Or if there are still concerns.

I’ll stick with Germantown

For weeks, there were political rumblings that Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo was going to announce a run for Shelby County mayor.

Palazzolo clarified the question this week. Despite the study and consideration, he will forego the county leadership role and seek another term as the suburb’s mayor in 2026.

A Palazzolo run for the county seat would have been an interesting commentary. A Republican suburbanite trying to overcome the strong Democratic foundation in county government. Oh, would it have been a challenge. A steep hill for Palazzolo, who now plans to seek a fourth term as Germantown mayor.

Let’s just say FanDuel probably wouldn’t have Palazzolo as the favorite in such a political race.

But while it would be a tough hurdle to overcome, it could have been an interesting challenge against whoever emerges on the Democratic side of the ballot.

Are there enough Republicans around the county, primarily in the suburbs, for Palazzolo to mount a significant fight? Could Palazzolo, who is known to campaign hard through the streets of Germantown, expand his team to make an impact throughout Shelby? Could suburban voter turnout make a dent in the Democratic strength inside the Memphis city limits?

And could Palazzolo have overcome the anti-Germantown narrative that is part of the suburb’s reputation?

These are some of the questions the mayor probably pondered as he weighed all the possibilities.

In the end, he decided it was best to run again – in Germantown. - Suburbs editor, Clay Bailey

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