FAST FACTS:
danya.bacchus@wreg.com
(Memphis 10/14/2009) After years of talking about what to do with the Mid-South Fairgrounds, it looks there has finally been a breakthrough.
Wednesday, city officials broke ground on what's being called phase one of the fairgrounds redevelopment project. A 175 million dollar demolition of the unused structures once a part of the fair and a greening of the area.
So what will go there? That question has yet to be answered. The city council has only approved this first step. Developer Henry Turley was picked to give the grounds a makeover but no contract was ever signed.
"He did his best job to do it but the council didn't approve so that's why I presented this new proposal to City Council and they have accepted Phase 1," said Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery.
Different proposals on what should go here are on the table including a sports park and urban village with office, retail and residential units. But no matter what most are just happy the ball is finally rolling.
"It's a great day because we're starting to see some forward momentum on turning this pace into something that will be more beneficial than it currently has been in the past couple of years," said City Councilman Shea Flinn.
Demolition starts in January. The entire project is expected to take four years to complete. No word yet on when city council will vote on the other phases of this project.
- Groundbreaking At Mid-South Fairgrounds
- Phase I Of Redevelopment Project
- City Council Hasn't Approved Other Phases
danya.bacchus@wreg.com
(Memphis 10/14/2009) After years of talking about what to do with the Mid-South Fairgrounds, it looks there has finally been a breakthrough.
Wednesday, city officials broke ground on what's being called phase one of the fairgrounds redevelopment project. A 175 million dollar demolition of the unused structures once a part of the fair and a greening of the area.
So what will go there? That question has yet to be answered. The city council has only approved this first step. Developer Henry Turley was picked to give the grounds a makeover but no contract was ever signed.
"He did his best job to do it but the council didn't approve so that's why I presented this new proposal to City Council and they have accepted Phase 1," said Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery.
Different proposals on what should go here are on the table including a sports park and urban village with office, retail and residential units. But no matter what most are just happy the ball is finally rolling.
"It's a great day because we're starting to see some forward momentum on turning this pace into something that will be more beneficial than it currently has been in the past couple of years," said City Councilman Shea Flinn.
Demolition starts in January. The entire project is expected to take four years to complete. No word yet on when city council will vote on the other phases of this project.
