Top 20 Things You Need to Know!

Accelerate Memphis: Invest in Neighborhoods
Recently Mayor Strickland gave a speech about some plans he had for the city of Memphis. "Accelerate Memphis: Invest in Neighborhoods", could include giving Mud Island some much-needed TLC, new green lines, rebuilding parks, mixed-used plazas, and possibly tearing down 100 N. Main which is the tallest building in Memphis. One of the planned libraries will be for Orange Mound. If you did not know the original Melrose High School sits facing Dallas Street and has been vacant for years. The plan states that funds will be spent to redevelop the building into a library and include senior housing units. The cost of this plan is $200 million! Please click here for the full article on what the plan includes.

Byhalia Pipeline
I am sure you all have seen the post about a possible oil pipeline being constructed that would run through predominantly black neighborhoods in our city. The problem with the pipeline is that it would run above the Memphis Sand aquifer and wellfield owned by MLG&W. This pipeline proposes a risk to our water supply and could possibly create a situation similar to the Flint water crisis. This is one of the times where we as a community must do our part to keep our city safe! Currently, there is a petition you can sign to oppose the pipeline, Protect Our Aquifer has a list of key individuals you may contact as well as talking points to bring up when contacting! Update: As of yesterday, Memphis City Council has delayed the vote on what will come of the pipeline so, there is still time to support the opposition. There is a Facebook page called MCAP (Memphis Community Against the Pipeline) that has a ton of helpful information. I will include a link to that page and other links with helpful information below.   
Protect Our Aquifer
Byhalia Pipeline Article
02/23/21 Memphis City Council Meeting
MCAP
 
Slim and Husky’s
Late last year Memphis got a Slim and Husky’s downtown and it is open for business. Slim and Husky is a gourmet pizza beeria founded by 3 friends who graduated from Tennessee State University together. The friends have opened a total of 7 locations! I have heard great things about the restaurant, and I can’t wait to try it out! This restaurant is black-owned so be sure to add them to your black-owned businesses to support. The Memphis location is at 634 Union Ave Memphis, TN 38103. See the link to Slim and Husky’s website here

Trap Fusion
Last November, Trap fusion opened a new location! 670 North Germantown Suite 14 gives the thriving restaurant its second location. You may visit the first location at 4637 Boeingshire Memphis, TN 38116
 
Whitehaven Development
Plans are in the works to turn the former Graceland elementary location into a gated subdivision. The LeMoyne-Owen College Community Development Corporation is developing the subdivision and has offered Shelby County Schools $350,000 for the property. The subdivision will offer three, four, and five-bedroom homes and have prices ranging from $116,000 to 255,000. For more details on the subdivision click the link provided here.

Tillman Cove
A mixed-income apartment and townhome complex with retail space may soon find its way to Binghamton. The complex will replace the old Tillman Cove apartments and will be addressing the shortage of quality affordable housing in the area. The project would include a commercial space, a fitness room, apartment leasing office, central green space, community garden, and a pedestrian connection to the green line. For more information on the project click here.
 
Hero Empowerment Center
A $50 million superhero themed Empowerment Center may be making its way to Hickory Hill. The Heal the Hood Foundation of Memphis started a crowd-funding campaign through GoFundMe for the project which will be an entertainment, education, and community-service complex. Construction for the project may start this year as the land for the project has already been secured. For more information on this project and its creator click here

Maciel's
Maciel’s has a new location in Cooper-Young. 820 S. Cooper St. has patio seating that will be available during the warmer months. We can expect specialty cocktails to be added to the offerings at this location with a selection of limited beers. See the link for the full story here

Chick Fil A
Summer is getting a Chick Fill A at 449 Summer Ave! The popular fast-food restaurant will be built where The House Grimes Memorial United Methodist Church used to be.

Adopt a park
Remember how you could Adopt-A-block? Well, you can adopt a park too! If you are looking for an opportunity to give back and to help keep neighborhoods looking and feeling beautiful this is an initiative to get involved with. Contact Memphis City Beautiful about adopting a park as well as to obtain more information about the program. I have also provided a link to an article where park adopters talk about the difference them adopting a park has made and why other people should adopt a park too! See link here!

MGLW Update
Please continue to conserve and boil your water. We are still under the precautionary boil water advisory where we are to bring our water to a rolling boil for three minutes. Please call 901-528-4465 if you see water coming out of the ground or out of homes and businesses. See the link to MLG&W’s website here.

Food Desert Initiative
Neighborhoods that are considered food deserts may soon have an initiative in place that would supply them with a new food option. An organizer by the name of LJ Abraham wants to place refrigerators with free food in high-poverty areas. Refrigerators located in communities such as Binghamton will have access to FREE frozen, pre-made, and non-perishable meals. The refrigerators will be stocked, cleaned, and maintained by volunteers! Businesses, community centers, or volunteers willing to donate or partner with this initiative can email [email protected]
For the full article click here!

Emergency Rental & Utility Assistance
On March 1, 2021, an application for emergency rental and utility assistance will open for people in Shelby County. The application provided by http://home901.org/  will be online and applicants will have to provide proof that the pandemic has impacted their ability to pay. The $28.1 million was given by the federal government and will be split between the city of Memphis ($19.5) and Shelby County ($8.6). Memphis and Shelby County are also working with other entities to help with evictions. Click here for the full article. 

Delinquent Utility Accounts
If you are homeless and looking to move but cannot obtain new utility services because of an old or delinquent account Shelby County Community Services Agency has funds available to assist with your delinquent account. Please call 901-222-4200 for assistance and more information.

DGX
Earlier this month DGX, a spinoff of the Dollar General brand, opened at 113 S. Main Street taking the place of Yao’s China Bistro. The store is said to offer fresh fruits, vegetables, cleaning supplies, home décor, a health and beauty section, and more. See more about the DGX brand here!  
 
Medical District
 The medical district is seeing a lot of new development, so I decided to group these three development projects and make them apart of the bonus.
 
 1030 Poplar Ave
A vacant apartment complex at 1030 Poplar Ave. has caught the eye of a developer. If acquired the developer plans to tear down the current building and put up 66 studios and some one-bedroom units. Construction for that project could start next month if approved. For more information click here.

Uptown’s Malone Park Commons
Uptown’s Malone Park Commons, a vintage-style walkable neighborhood, will be welcoming its first set of residents on March 1, 2021. The homes are called cottages and have will rent from $600 to $1,400. The residence sits in the middle of a busy area as the Pinch District and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Snuff District, Grind City Brewery, and Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid are all within walking distance. If you work in the Medical District housing incentives are available for you! For more information on this unique housing project click here!

URBN on Union
A 55.7-million-dollar mixed-used development may soon be happening near Methodist University Hospital. URBN on Union would include 270 apartments, retail space, and a parking garage. The address for the project would be 1338 Union Ave if approved. Read the full article by clicking here.
 Links to all 3 articles can also be found here!
 
Vendor Sign Up
​ If you are interested in being a vendor at the Memphis Farmers Market, located at S Front & W GE Patterson, the vendor application is open. Click on the link provided for more information! 2021 Vendor Link

Here is a link to where you can find water distribution sites!
Free Water Distribution Sites