MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – North Main Street hasn’t been vibrant in quite some time, but recently announced $1.1 billion development for this area is about to give it a life all its own.
Without even touching historic buildings occupied by Westy’s and Alcenia’s restaurants.. Here’s what developers with 18 Main are proposing for the future of what’s known as the Pinch District.
Jennifer Oswalt of the Downtown Memphis Commission says the mixed use project that will change the skyline of the Downtown Memphis.
“It is a big project,” said Oswalt. “It has about 850 apartments. It has some smaller hotels contemplated, which really does add to that vibrancy all times of the day, some office space.”
The first phase of the project is expected to be complete in about two years costing about $600 million with high rise residences, restaurants, and two hotels.
Oswalt says developers at 18 Main sees the key to this new neighborhood is retail space.
“They feel like if this neighborhood has a lot of things for your to do, a lot of places for you to eat, places to shop, you’ll want to live near there,” said Oswalt.
Longtime Uptowner Tanja Mitchell fells she’s been gifted a double bonus with the soon to open Snuff District District taking shape steps from her front yard.
“To find out that it is happening and the announcement that was made today it is really exciting for Uptown,” Mitchell.
Exciting because the Pinch development will connect Mitchell and her Uptown neighbors to the rest of Downtown.
“And like our friends on the south end we want somewhere to go when we get off work. We want somewhere to go and have dinner, entertainment. We want all of that,” said MItchell.