Memphis – Hickory Hill Potential

Memphis, the third largest city in the Southeast and the 19^th largest city in the United States, seems to be forgetting about its ethnic population. Many ethnic pockets within the city realm are being pushed into the background, rather than being embraced, supported and nurtured. Hickory Hill area is just one example of an area with a high concentration ethnic population of a Latino origin. Due to the area's fairly low income level without a variation of mixed-uses and different income level housing types, conventional zoning and underutilized properties, the area is full of vacant or underperforming lots.

Hickory Hill

In the recent years, the Hickory Hill area has been swept by economic and demographic changes, during which the majority of the white residents left, allowing for a concentration of African-American and Hispanic residents. Many major businesses have left this urban decay area. Signs advertising vacancies are visible on every corner, several lots are vacant altogether.

Another Empty Mall?

The Hickory Ridge Mall, opened in 1981 and during the 80’s prosperous and thriving place, is now deserted, with only Sears remaining in business. With its size of 855,000 square feet (450,000 square feet not including the big-box anchor stores), the mall is considered ‘super-regional’. It was hit hard by a tornado on February 5, 2008, and bought by the World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church shortly afterward. Plans for its rebirth have been introduced, including not only shopping but also job training opportunities, social service programs and family entertainment uses.

The Commercial Appeal published in January 2009 that ‘While the redevelopment plans are still fluid, the first floor of the Macy's building will be dedicated to the congregation's young people - with an "Incredible Pizza-like" recreational area, a performing arts center, tutoring classrooms, computer labs, a skating rink and a place for youth worship services all among the possible uses.’

With the initial plans of having Phases I and II, containing about 50 stores up and running by May of 2009, the construction seems to be going slow and it is now uncertain when the ambitious project will be finished. As for today, the vast parking of 43.5 acres sits empty.

The declining community had a great impact on the value of the mall property, as well as others. In 1986, the Hickory Ridge mall was sold for $50.3 million, in 2003 for $13.5 million and finally in 2008 for only $1.4 million to the World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church.

The Hickory Ridge Mall serves as an anchor in the predominantly residential area surrounding it. Once back on its feet and running, it will serve as a catalyst for revitalization of the neighboring area.

Ethnic Neighborhood

There are several strip malls located nearby, from which many display Spanish-signs advertising virtually anything, from ethnic restaurants to small mom-and-pops grocers, clothes and Servicios Bilingual Services - immigration / tax services. The Christ Community Hickory Hill clinic and others, such as Medicos Para la Familia and CentroSalud, offer bi-lingual medical services in the area, targeting the vast Latino population.

El Mercadito de Memphis, a Hispanic shopping mall nearby holds annual Mexican festival Las Posadas, right before Christmas. Many immigrants gather for this week-long event to celebrate. Extended families gather to nurture, support and celebrate their heritage.

Local school enrolls high percentage of Spanish-speaking children, while offering English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for their parents.

Opportunity

With its wide ethnic population and its influence, the Hickory Ridge area seems underutilized. There is an opportunity for embracing and celebrating the population, while creating attractive and thriving node within the City of Memphis.

The area is slowly changing from its grassroots, serving the needs of its population; however, the re-opening of the Hickory Ridge Mall would serve as a catalyst for community uplift. The new mall providing shopping experience, as well as social services (Christian singles' club, restaurant, childcare, baby thrift store, prenatal services, 1,500-seat banquet hall, movie theater, employment services, adult education, fitness center, pharmacy and a family entertainment center), would once again serve as an anchor for the community and support for smaller shops within the area.