Tuesday, January 26, 2010
City Council to Discuss Midtown Overlay at Next Meeting
Posted by Mary Cashiola on Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 2:13 PM
The Memphis City Council's planning and zoning committee moved forward today on a plan for a Midtown Overlay District.
The council directed the Office of Planning and Development to work with the Memphis Regional Design Center and the Midtown Development Corporation to develop the overlay, a way of setting design and development guidelines for an area.
At least one of the council members, however, had concerns about the overlay.
"I'm not sure that's always the answer: to redo a whole area because of one project," said councilwoman Barbara Swearengen Ware. "The feedback I'm getting from some people in Midtown is that they want to see development. They're tired of buildings sitting there closed."
Flinn said he had discussion with the owner of the Overton Square property and he was in favor of an overlay.
"He thinks this would be helpful on the front end. It lets the property owner know what residents want," Flinn said. "It's not anti-development; it's smart development. Everyone wants development in the Midtown area, but they don't want to destroy the Midtown character."
The resolution is scheduled to go before the full council for discussion at its next meeting, Tuesday, February 6th.
Comments (13)
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It's more likely that Barbara heard from property investors that heard she listened to money.
I'm sure everyone who attended the Dec 9th meeting hosted by Shea Flinn at City Hall would be shocked to learn that the overwhelming sentiment was in favor of the proposed Overton Square development. Gee, we wish Councilwoman Ware had been there to get the "real" feedback from real citizens who care about their neighborhood.
Gordon Alexander, Save Overton Square
Gordon, I'm one of the people who would like to see Overton Square redeveloped and I think things were headed in the right direction with the weight brought to bear by Memphis Heritage and others.
The Midtown Overlay, if properly done, will make it easier for potential investors and developers to realize their goals without knee-jerk battles over each and every project.
I agree w/sbanbury. An overlay will give direction to developers and help move the area forward. It's time to stop clinging to what used to be. We need to focus on developing the area's potential as a showcase for urban infill design.
I also attended the Dec 9th meeting at City Hall, and I suspect that councilwoman Ware's sample was not representative of the Midtown population. The overwhelming majority of Midtowners seem to be in favor of preserving the history and culture of our neighborhood. We would all love to see something happen with Overton Square, but we also know that "something" isn't necessarily better than nothing. Let's not lower our standards here. I agree with councilman Flinn, and I applaud him for spending so much time and energy gathering feedback and representing the residents of Midtown. We want smart development. Hopefully, the overlay will aid us in this endeavor.
Everybody who's a part of this discussion needs to visit the new rooftop garden (still in progress) at Playhouse on the Square and look out over scenic Union Avenue. Look out of this incredible facility's massive windows at landmarks like Ikes (which I love and use but... ugh) and at the grand church on the corner that's in danger of becoming yet another pharmacy. The old Memphian theater charms. Then there's a parking lot. Then there are the interesting, if not outstanding, buildings of Overton Square. The views from the new Playhouse drive home how little "character" Midtown has left, and the importance of smart urban development.
Before the first play has even opened this theater is holding a mirror up to its community. Take advantage of the views.
I, for one, am not optimistic that an "overlay" of any kind will actually work. I'm reminded of the plan developed by OPD, and adopted by Council, some years ago to deal with congestion in the Poplar corridor. That "plan" was routinely ignored whenever a planned development wended its way through this city's byzantine (and corruptible) zoning process (i.e., Board of Adjustment, Land Use Control Board, City Council).
As long as the politicians get their dirty mitts into the process, and as long as they routinely ignore the advice of the people they pay for planning advice, there is little hope for sane, sensible zoning/planning decisions in this city.
AE,
To what plan for the Poplar Corridor are you referring? Do you remember a date for that plan?
Unfortunately I have to agree with AliasElias. Four decades of living in Memphis tends to destroy one's sense of optimism.
I too am interested in redevelopment of OS, but it should be done properly with due regard to the heritage and history of the neighborhood. I do not believe that the recent plans from Sooner were up to that standard, therefore they pulled out (just my hypothesis). I truly feel that if the Square is redeveloped properly, the results would eventually spread west along Madison and even north along Cooper possibly connecting with CY one day. But thinking like this requires vision and a sense of hope. Qualities that the majority of our politicians do not possess.
The Poplar Corridor plan is at least 10 years old (and possibly older). Its most noteworthy reference was by a councilman (at the time) who said he didn't care what the plan/study recommended, he would vote for any project that came before the council that would increase traffic congestion. His view was that increased traffic was synonymous with progress. I'm not sure that attitude has changed much in the intervening years.
I never thought I would agree with Barbara Swearengen Ware on ANYTHING, but she is right about this. The people of Midtown, except for a few loud mouths, supported the Overton Square redevelopment. Midtowners prefer development over rot and decay.
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