Big glass storefront windows, new lighting, new doors, repaired masonry, revamped landscaping, removal of chain-link fences and much more are coming to three vacant buildings scattered across the resurgent Edge District.

The Center City Development Corp. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, approved three exterior-improvement grants of up to $80,000 each to support the aggressive vision for the Edge District by a team of architects and developers.

Downtown Memphis Commission interim president Ray Brown praised the development team of PKM Architects and project-management firm cnct for committing “to the community so much of its time, energy and resources to bring back an area of the city that has so much potential and promise.”

3 renovations, 1 gelato shop coming to Edge District

Brown thanked them “heartily for being such an important part of the Downtown renaissance. You guys are practically, single-handedly bringing back an area that can benefit from your imagination and, frankly, investment.”

The board also approved up to a $50,000 exterior-improvement grant for 653 Mississippi, where nonprofit Mustard Seed Inc. will continue providing social and other services in the impoverished South City neighborhood.

In addition, the board approved a new grant program that will provide up to $2,500 to help Downtown businesses weather the challenges posed by the pandemic. The Downtown Business Continuity Grant program’s $50,000 pool of money could help at least 20 businesses.

And the board voted to convert all existing forgivable loans into grants because of the problems caused by COVID-19.

New businesses are already committed to open in two of the three Edge District buildings that will be revived by PKM Architects and cnct.

Inkwell, a new cocktail lounge, will front the south side of Madison at 631 Madison.

That’s a 6,199-square-foot building erected in 1938. Attached to the rear are four apartments that also connect to the now-closed adult entertainment business Spectrum that fronts Marshall. The apartments will be renovated and leased.

With the main building, the apartments form a rear courtyard that will serve both Inkwell patrons and apartment tenants.

The total renovation budget is $800,000, with $195,000 of that for the exterior renovations. The $80,000 CCDC grant will comprise part of the $195,000 exterior renovation budget. The Memphis Medical District Collaborative is also providing a $5,000 façade grant.

“Being adjacent to the Sam Phillips (Recording) Studio, we think there’s an opportunity to encourage musicians and artists to use the courtyard space to relax and play in conjunction with the cocktail lounge,” John Halford of the development team told the board in the online meeting. 

Board member Anton Mack thanked the developers for their “exceptional creativity and the adaptive reuse of these historic properties. It’s a significant investment in the neighborhood and I think it will contribute greatly to the broader community.”

The board also approved up to an $80,000 grant to help the same developers renovate 655 Marshall, a 5,152-square-foot building.

Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. will occupy one of two bays fronting Marshall. The frozen-treat store had operated in the Puck Food Hall at 409 S. Main before that site closed due to the pandemic.

The developers are footing the bill for the rest of the $198,000 in exterior renovations. The total renovation cost, inside and out, is $815,000.

The $80,000 exterior-improvement grant for 644 Madison will help restore a 13,200-square-foot building facing the north side of Madison, which is nearly across the street from where Inkwell cocktail lounge will be in 631 Madison.

The 67-year-old building is more directly across Madison from Sam Phillips Recording Studio and the newly restored building for the Karen Adams stationery business.

The building had been prepared to house a dog day care, but that business never opened, according to the Downtown Memphis Commission staff.

Planned are two retail spaces of 2,500 each, two apartments in the back and a third apartment in the basement.

The developers will match the $80,000 exterior improvement grant with $170,000 of their own. The Memphis Medical District Collaborative is also providing a $5,000 façade grant. Their budget for the total renovation, inside and out, is $1.45 million.

“We think that the first step in sustainability is taking care of what we have,” Halford said. “We think that’s exactly what we are doing with each one of these projects.

“… As we are working with potential tenants and future partners in these projects, we become incredibly excited about what the next chapter will be,” Halford said.