Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (The BLVD) unveiled a $310-million master plan to transform its ”23-acre Midtown campus into thriving hub for education, entertainment, healthy urban living.”
The project includes 603 multi-family housing units, a 125-key hotel, spaces for medical offices, fitness centers, and other health-focused amenities. It also includes retail space for the possibility of coffee shops, restaurants, and a full-service grocery store and a 1,000-space parking facility.
The BLVD project will also bring a new 73,000-square-foot sanctuary ”right-sized for 21st century worship and located at the corners of Poplar and Montgomery streets.”
“For more than 100 years, The BLVD has been a catalyst for positive change in Memphis,” BLVD senior pastor J. Lawrence Turner said in a statement.”In these days of uncertainty and upheaval for our city, the members of The BLVD are gratified to ignite the Medical District’s possibility and promise with a transformative new community that will enrich the lives of our neighbors. This is the type of development that Memphis and the people who call it home deserve.”
Here’s a list from The BLVD with details of the components of the project:
• Housing: 603 multi-family units for a total investment of $196 million will appeal to residents across a range of lifestyles and income levels.
— Workforce housing that meets the needs of Memphians working in or near the medical district and earning 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).
— Student housing for graduate and medical students attending nearby universities, which caters to their lifestyles and living patterns.
— Multi-family housing that will provide a range of market-rate options for singles, couples and families.
• Hotel: 125-key, select-service hotel, estimated at $34.7 million, that will accommodate the needs of the medical community and others visiting the district.
• Health and Wellness: 90,000 square feet dedicated to fostering a holistic approach to health and well-being estimated as a $32 million investment, including a range of services such as medical offices, fitness centers, and other complementary health-focused facilities.
• Retail: 45,000 square feet of retail at a projected investment of $15 million will incorporate a range of amenities essential for creating vibrant and dynamic communities. Possibilities include coffee shops, restaurants, and a full-service grocery store, with priority given to local business owners.
• Parking: The development will have a new $35 million, 1,000+-space parking facility, which will incorporate EV chargers, state-of-the-art technology, and safety-conscious design; and will accommodate the additional density the development will bring.
• Sanctuary: The development will have a new 73,000 square-foot sanctuary right-sized for 21st century worship and located at the corners of Poplar and Montgomery streets.
The church’s new home will have capacity for 2,200 worshipers and incorporate a cafe as well as various multi-purpose areas, including spaces designed expressly for children and teens.
No timeline for the project was given in the news statement. The BLVD said it would name its first partner sometime this month.