Smarter Code Update

Eric had asked whether the UDC had passed. The Land Use Control Board passed it unanimously but it doesn't have a date set for a vote with the Memphis City Council or with the Shelby County Commission. It needs approval from both bodies to become official.

The final votes are waiting on negotiations between the UDC drafters and MLG&W (perhaps other agencies) to get beyond differences like this.

By the way, I understand the huge cost of retrofitting all of Memphis for underground electric cabling -- all at once. However, unless we know that the underground water systems will last forever, why not use their repairs as opportunity for burying cables?

For instance, here's work being done in the last few weeks along the public median of Sycamore View by MLG&W.


Why not bury the electric lines (see background) that run up and down the street at the same? A twofer.

It may take a hundred years but a long-term beautification is preferable to a forever ugly.

The Very Visible

You might have seen the good news that the Visible School is purchasing Frances Gassner's endangered masterpiece, the C&I Bank Building:

Beside the saving of an icon, the Visible School's purchase and move adds to the further redevelopment and reVITALization of central downtown Memphis. Within 4 blocks we'll have 2 colleges adding their students to the same street and into the urban mix. An unprecedented number of young adults on the streets of downtown Memphis during business hours.

Public Input about Dis/Connections

From Shelby Farms Park Conservancy and the Greatest Memphis Greenline:

Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, Shelby County Government and Greater Memphis Greenline have announced two public input meetings for discussion of the design and management of the new urban greenway connecting Midtown Memphis to Shelby Farms Park.

• July 6 from 7pm-9pm at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue.


• July 7 from 6pm-8pm at Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Road.

The meetings will be an opportunity for citizens to talk about the opportunities and challenges that come with greenways and will feature national trails expert Robert Searns. Representatives from Ritchie Smith Associates, the trail designer, will also be present.

The greenway—a former rail corridor being converted into a multi-use path—will stretch from Tillman Street at Walnut Grove Road to Shelby Farms Park, connecting neighborhoods and providing a safe opportunity for people to recreate, commute and exercise.

Shelby Farms Park Conservancy will manage and operate the greenway, with support from Greater Memphis Greenline—a nonprofit organization whose mission is to collaborate in a public-private partnership with local government in the development of unused railway right-of ways and easements in Memphis and Shelby County, and to create a world-class recreational park/hiking-biking trail system.

And from the Memphis Regional Design Center:

Are you concerned about the designs of our highway interchanges?

Then plan to attend the

TDOT Public Hearing to review proposals for the I-55/Crump Blvd. interchange Tuesday, July 7th, 6 to 8 pm Central Station Corner of S. Main & G.E. Patterson

The redesign of the I-55/Crump interchange will have a major impact on the future of the Historic Marine Hospital, the National Ornamental Metal Museum and surrounding developments. Please plan to attend this important meeting that will clearly impact this important Downtown Memphis neighborhood.

There's a FAQ from TDOT on their proposed changes.