Memphis: Happily Ever After

Fairy tales typically begin with a damsel in distress looking for a good-looking, knight in shining armor to rescue her from evil people. In this story, the City of Memphis is the damsel in distress and it is in search of a knight in shining armor. With the upcoming election only weeks away, voters need to reflect on who will be the best candidate for Memphis. A recent documentary on the City of Newark, New Jersey entitled, “Brick City” presented many similarities between Memphis and Newark. However, New Jersey has one key element that Memphis lacks, leadership. This leadership has come at the hands of its dedicated mayor, Cory Booker.

A scene in Newark, prior to the election of Cory Booker, is depicted with crime (particularly a high murder rate stemming from a rampant gang population), unemployment, poverty, and blight but more importantly, it was a city without hope. “Brick City” documents the everyday struggles of the mayor in his efforts to combat one of the nation’s highest homicide rates in the country, solicit stakeholders and investors in a downward turning economy, address affordable housing needs and inspire the youth. The mayor, with the help of the Director of the Newark Police Department, Garry McCarthy along with the many other dedicated support staff successfully reduced the 2008 annual murder rate by 32%.

Mayor Booker takes a hands-on approach to address the various issues within the city. A fundamental component of Mayor Booker’s character and one that will be essential for the new mayor of Memphis is honesty. Throughout the documentary, it was clearly evident that Mayor Booker understood that although he was giving his blood, sweat and tears, it was still not good enough for everyone and he would always be susceptible to criticism. “I will not let finite disappointment undermine infinite hope,” said Mayor Booker. Likewise, the future mayor of Memphis will be scrutinized but he should and needs to remain positive in order to keep moving towards progress.

Another quality depicted in the documentary was Mayor Booker’s passion for interaction with people, specifically the elderly and the youth. His eloquent words often resonated well with the elderly and offered them a glimmer of hope. Similarly, Booker spent a majority of his time interacting with the youth in Newark. He organized programs that offered teens alternatives to the gang and violent lifestyles common in the community. During the summer, Mayor Booker participated in basketball tournaments that took place weekly at midnight in different Newark neighborhoods offering prizes to those individuals that were able to beat him. He would also personally help these young people gain employment while finding time to mentor them. It is quite clear that Booker feels providing these teens with hope and alternatives to the drugs, gangs and violence will be essential to turning Newark around, and this method is already seeing success.

In Memphis, the Summer Youth Employment Program provided area teens with summer employment opportunities, which taught these individuals real-life skills that will be used to secure gainful employment in the future. Although many of these positions were entry-level, they provided an opportunity many inner-city youth rarely are offered, a chance to shine. However, it became news worthy recently that many of the participants in the program have yet to be paid for their work, while some were even overpaid. How can we continue to shatter the hopes of these young, brave, strong individuals and not expect them to hold contempt for the system?

Memphis needs someone that offers hope for all of its residents. Not hope that is sold by a medicine man with a slithering tongue. Memphis has real issues that need to be addressed and they can no longer be ignored. Is there a need for another loop that will only continue to drive its residents, development and employment centers further to the east when our core of the city is hurting? Pushing development further east will only amplify the need and cost of infrastructure improvements while the city’s budget shortfalls continue to increase. Our school system needs more funding, wouldn’t a fraction of the millions of dollars being invested into this outer loop improve the school system?

Memphis needs someone like Cory Booker to make these difficult decisions (if that is what you call them). We need someone that will not line the pockets of special interests and turn Memphis into the prominent staple of the South it once was. We need someone that will eradicate crime, and blight. We need someone that will address the need for more economic investment that is not just limited to the downtown core and out east. Why not have an advocate for all of Memphis, South Memphis, Midtown, etc. We need a visionary that can inspire Memphians to want a better quality of life, and not one defined by false pretenses.

It is up to Memphians to examine the mayoral candidates to determine if they have the qualities to turn Memphis around. I urge you not to judge these candidates by the color of skin, or by what political party they are affiliated. Get involved! Ask the candidates the tough questions that will help provide the insight of what type of a mayor they will become. Will Memphis find its knight in shining armor and live happily ever after? That is for you to decide on October 15th.

The Belz Factory Outlet Mall Lost But Not Forgotten

The Smart Growth Initiative’s guide for revitalization and redevelopment of older areas fits well on the City of Lakeland’s eye sore – the Belz Factory Outlet Mall. This mall, owned by Gilad Development Inc., based in Woodland Hills, Calif., is long overdue its revival. It is one of those ‘functionally obsolete’ commercial structures, patiently waiting for a new wave of business or a thorough redevelopment.

The business is long on decline, and even though plans for turning the mall into a multi-functional town center were presented back in 2004, nothing has been done. In 2008, the Lakeland Design Review Commission approved a new plan, changing the face of the mall into a train station motif and turning the sea of asphalt into a greatly landscaped area, including a lake. A plan for a 25,000 square foot mall addition was also included. Once again, nothing has happened since.

With curiosity, I contacted the owner of the mall, Gilad Development Inc., asking for their plans for this area. Even though it is a corporate policy to keep their plans secret, the ‘between the lines’ answer was that there is a plan to bring life back to the empty building. Newly remodeled, the mall would still remain a shopping center. Being left with a question ‘Why?’, I said goodbye.

The location of the 80,000 square foot property is ideal. It is nested on the I-40 interstate and Canada Road exchange, with a mature wooded area surrounding it. In this past- famous vibrant place, which was in its hey day, visited by 2.5 million shoppers a year, only a handful of retailers remain. The anchor store, Old Time Pottery, is still present, along with Van Heusen, The Memorabilia Store, Overstock Merchandise and a few others.

The indoor mall is accompanied by a strip mall development, which is also greatly in decline. Center Point Church bases itself in one of the large shops at the strip development. A large sea of parking surrounds the development, reminding visitors of a once viable destination. The economic life in this area is virtually non-existent.

The Belz Outlet Mall, created in 1979, is considered the first, fully enclosed factory outlet mall, constructed in the United States. Once popular, these enclosed malls offered protection from weather elements and secure shopping environment to its customers. However, as the trend changed, newly constructed malls were becoming multi-use mall facilities, including offices, hotels and atrium shops. The Belz mall had none of these amenities.

Since 2006, only one enclosed mall has been built in the United States. Even over the multi-functionality of designs (restaurants, movie galleries, and recreational activities), the trend of malls continues to decline and today, many ‘dead malls’ sit unused for many years, waiting for restoration or demolition. Once again it is fashionable to build open-air malls. The question rises, what to do with large mall complexes, such as the Belz Factory Outlet Mall? The malls advantage is its prime location along the major artery. It is easily accessible and visible off of the intestate.

As Ellen Dunham-Jones points out, ‘The primary trend in mall retrofitting is the tear-down of most or all of an aging enclosed mall and its replacement with a mixed-use town center development.’ The Belz Factory Outlet Mall, no longer profitable, could still support regional retail. Turning it into a mixed-use neighborhood retail facility, with included civic activities, such as a local performance center, could create a lively place. The proposed redevelopment should target all age and occupation groups, while promoting the feel of a community. The City of Lakeland, incorporated by 1977, is stretched out and has only scattered pockets of residential cohesion. A centrally located place, where the community could come together, would be desirable. While promoting sustainability and connectivity, the Belz outlet mall could become a landmark.

Lake Forest

Directly south of the mall site is located a new development by Belz, called Lake Forest. Currently put on hold due to the economic situation, the 128-acre project is to become a green New Urbanist node. The plan includes a variety of approximately 500 housing units, a small hotel, and commercial and office space. This development forced the widening of Canada Road, a major connector to the I-40 interstate, to four lanes. Designed on the old Lakeland International Raceway, the Lake Forest development could support the retail existence of the Belz Factory Outlet Mall.

Based on my conversation with the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, communication among involved parties, Belz Enterprises and the Gilad Development Inc., is desirable and both are willing to cooperate. By including the Belz outlet mall into the overall design of the area, this could become a center for the entire City of Lakeland. Since Lakeland does not have any downtown area per se, the development of a vibrant, up to date town center in this strategic location could gain public interest once again.

Cutting the Ribbon

Posts will begin soon. We are reviewing our facts and sorting the subjects to present our view of Memphis_ its economy, its neighborhoods, and its plans.