Not Another Arts District, Please

37 Comments

1. 

   -jb. on April 25, 2011 at 7:25 am

   I would love to see an education district, where teachers could live in a village together. Imagine what could happen in our schools and our classrooms if we had a space for dynamic collaboration. Even within the same school, it is difficult for teachers to find time to share ideas and plan together, but a community of teachers would allow that to happen at other times (e.g., 10:00pm or Sunday afternoon).

   Of course, it is always good when teachers live in the same community as the students (and parents) they serve. But most MCS teachers aren’t living near their school. Rather than have teachers spread all over the city and region, let’s create a space for them to live together.

2. 

   Anonymous on April 25, 2011 at 10:57 am

   Ideas ?

   well yes, forget about that old tired approach, i.e. clustering of ‘interests’…Memphis is way too spread out for that….lawyers downtown, lawyers midtown, lawyers are on the Poplar corridor…lawyers are everywhere, and taking down more space in the suburbs..

   ditto accountants

   bankers ?? financial ? heck, the big players are all over the metro…Morgan Keegan is DT, First TN is east, Suntrust is east, Vining is east in his own building, so are very big insurance companies (Ridgelake), lots of Wall St wirehouses are scatterred aroung in brank offices mostly east, Carty is on the Poplar corridor, even smaller/niche players like Wunderlich is east…..forget that idea…perhaps most of these players really don’t seek to be ‘clustered’ in high denisty in the first place because a number of them cut have cut unbelievably cheap er square foot deals for floor space in already, sorta-dense areas…but they did not…as I said, some even built their own buildings like Vining ! Even years earlier the powerhouse UP Invt group located on Primacy, the old UMIC was even on Ridgelake….and that trend did not stop, with several accountancies and other major broker-dealers in places such as the Crescent Center. Memphis, if anything is known nationally for its investment securities businesses and innovation. Check out the Memphis Bond Dealers Association. At one time First TN was the largest underwriter of FNMA debt, off Wall Street. The revenues they generate in this econmy is stagerring, yes, stagerring, and most Memphians don’t have a clue about their national and global influence in today’s bond markets….ditto Morgan Keegan…ditto the old Union Planters Investment Group-turned Vining, et al. But these groups are competitors, and probably don’t want to be lumped together in close proximity to a bunch of others like on Wall Street…Memphis mentality is not Wall Street mentality, and never will be, so again , llet’s stop pretending that Memphis is going to transform itself into something it’s not.

   Until education is culurally valued, it won’t become Mecca for the truly inspired seeking to leverage their education for the future…..not when they have a plethora of much better choices in cities as ‘destinations’.

   Blues and BBQ ain’t going to do it…neither is Elvis…but Memphis is too slow to fully understand and act upon the realities that there are more attractive alternatives for young people and other professionals, and families .

   What can Memphis do ? first is stop pretending and becoming delussional about its prospects. Get real. Deal with the basics of education. Fine tune early childhood initiatives. Dump lousy local teachers…import master teachers and pay them for coming to Memphis…Require higher standards…teach how to speak English…how to behave..how to write well….reward great teachers….build on adult educational opportunites…

   The efforts must start at the grassroots level, early childhood, grammar school and high school….that’s your foundation for the future. a top-down approach ain’t working either.

   In short, stop trying to put a ‘fifty dollar hat on a nichel head’, and start at the very BOTTOM. It’s going to take at least 3 generations, because Memphis is that far behind to any smart, objective observer.

   My thought is to ‘set you sights LOWER’, steeped in reality, and accomplish and maintain basic/smaller more meaningful accomplishments.

   Get you heads out of the academic/planning clouds, and first accept where you are on the totem pole, then carefully build the minds and infrastructure to make you way out of the muck and mire.

   Stop suggesting “we can do all of these things at the same time”, or “we can walk and chew gum at the same time”….well APPARENTLY we can NOT, or there would be evidence abound. Being distracted by the ‘built environment’ is a trap…Art Districts ?? …give me damn break……..yeah buddy, in a city where many residents can’t even speak clear English, or pass a 7th grade math test…….open your EARS ! can you actually hear and listen to some of these people ?? And I’m talking about one race or another, either .

   Memphis’ attraction won’t be in the physical or built environment….get over that nonsense, that’s pure self-aggrandizing crap….it’s also not going to transform itself into some sort of super, model urban environment.

   That’s just wrong-headed given the far more important deficiencies to be cured over time…a long time.

3. 

   Urbanut on April 25, 2011 at 12:35 pm

   JL- great commentary on the importance of districts and the communities they can create and define. Arts districts are a contemporary take on the silver bullet mentality discussed in an earlier post. They have done a fine job at supporting renewal on South Main and Broad, but as you pointed out at some point (probably very soon), we will reach market saturation and other interests will need to be tapped to fulfill that role. A cluster has definitely developed in the Ridgeway/ Poplar area but the development pattern in that area muffles the potential benefits gained from close association and interaction.

   “Stop suggesting ‘we can do all of these things at the same time’, or ‘we can walk and chew gum at the same time’….well APPARENTLY we can NOT…”
   There are only two things that are apparent, one that you have not ventured into downtown recently. First Tennessee still maintains its headquarters there as anyone will testify including the employees. You continue to show a real lack of experience where the actual day to day activities of businesses and their employees are concerned.
   Secondly, you may not be able to multi-task but we as a city can and do just that on a daily basis. The fact that potholes are filled, trash is collected, crimes are investigated, and RFPs are issued every day proves just that. Different groups have focused on various activities and initiatives for a while, re: Broad Avenue, downtown, CY, the Greenline, Shelby Farms, the Zoo and the Grizzlies. Of course, I realize you are making a blanket statement and in no way base your opinion on reality or facts. Education is definitely a key issue which has and will affect the city’s evolution. However, it is by no means paramount and suggesting a myopic focus is rather blind to the city’s underlying issues. You are entitled to your opinion, but the portion that is so quick to write off clusters and the quality of the built environment as important factors continues to reflect a real lack of knowledge or experience on these topics.

4. 

   Urbanut on April 25, 2011 at 1:11 pm

   As if written on command in relation to this article here is a new ranking:

   “Memphis is now among the world’s eight “Best Cities for Young Artists,” according to Flavorwire.

   “Move over Austin, ’cause with a cheap cost of living and lots of public art works, Memphis is attracting your hipsters,” writes the blog of the online culture guide called Flavorpill.

   Embraced in a list that’s as global as it gets, Memphis shares the company of Macau (China), São Paulo, Montreal, Las Vegas, Brussels, Jakarta and Dresden”.

   http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/25/memphis-named-one-top-eight-cities-world-young-art/

5. 

   Anonymous on April 25, 2011 at 2:23 pm

   John,

   Along the lines of the Memphis in May district, what about an international district to celebrate the various cultures of the immigrant community in Memphis. The anchor could be the old Sears Crosstown building. Imagine an international mart, restaurants, shops, markets there open year round. It would be a stone’s throw from where a great deal of our immigrant community is settled here by Catholic Charities, providing economic and job opportunities for them, as well as shopping opportunities.

6. 

   Anonymous on April 25, 2011 at 2:48 pm

   Surprise, surprise- Anon 10:57 posts another wildly off topic tirade… twice.

7. 

   John on April 25, 2011 at 2:52 pm

   Now we are cooking. I like the International District idea. Perhaps an educational component is part of it to also start addressing some of the issues Anon 10:57 is concerned about. And to expose generational Memphians to other cultures, experiences and opportunities.

   When you think about the International Market at Winchester & Kirby, some of the Indian markets popping up & the Hispanic base along Summer… many of the components exist but not in a destination district form.

   If some of this were consolidated, it becomes an a attraction and a resource base dense enough to provide more comprehensive services maybe?

   Fun stuff.

   Any other interesting ideas floating around out there.

8. 

   Urbanut on April 25, 2011 at 2:54 pm

   Anon-
   If you think architects and urban planners are the only individuals advocating the importance of the built environment as part of a holistic approach to building and sustaining quality communities, then I will once again thank you for indentifying yourself as an individual that knows very little about which they post.
   Then again, as a local rabi, I continue to be surprised by your total disconnect from what the “real deal on the ground” actually might be, or at least your willingness to admit as much.

9. 

   Urbanut on April 25, 2011 at 3:00 pm

   Agreed with the International District. As long as we are clustering, what about an Entrepreneurial District? A whole district catering to start up businesses with spaces and rent levels reflecting as much. Other activities and businesses that provide services would be encouraged to setup shop within the neighborhood due to the number of potential clients and classes, expositions and shows could easily serve to support the new business owner.

10. 

    John on April 25, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    Love it. The Entrepreneurial District is an awesome idea.

    Question: Does this differ significantly from Emerge Memphis, the Biotech Center and the FedEx Institute of Technology? In my mind, the answer is… kind of. I think those institutions have great models. But they are contained inside buildings that insulate them from outside influences. If these incubators would start pushing some of these businesses out of the tower onto the storefront level, maybe it would inspire more growth just from the visibility of entrepreneurial activity?

    But, Urbanut, your idea sounds even bigger. Do you think there are enough budding businesses? What would it take to get them in there? Space? Cash Subsidy/tax incentives? Or do you think just the idea of being in the hot, young business spot is enough?

11. 

    Urbanut on April 25, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    John-
    You read my mind, or at least recognized my unstated starting point. Emerge is too small to house and support the great untapped potential on the streets and its limited size misses the ability to create the critical mass of ideas and the variety of businesses that could be found in a district built upon a similar idea. While the Biotech Center is wonderful, its focus is clear in its name. There needs to be a place where any strong candidate for a start-up feels comfortable, even encouraged, to actually take their idea from concept to a working model. Regardless of the start-ups focus, a neighborhood where everyone is growing there idea into a viable commercial entity could serve as not only a valuable source of employment, but these entrepreneurs would be able to share their experiences with each other on a daily basis instead of waiting for the next workshop or expose.

    To answer your questions, I think there are always dozens upon dozens of small businesses either just emerging from a napkin into a small rented space in the back of a forgotten office park or are on the cusp and simply need an encouraging nudge to take the great leap. I personally believe simply working out support via space would be enough to draw many entrepreneurs, but special financing packages and guaranteed tax credits would speed the process along. Additional help would be via the same concepts found at Emerge but on a larger scale. Shared services, utilities and even support personnel all have their benefits. These shared services might themselves become small businesses. A paper supplier who has the low overhead and contacts to out maneuver the big guys. A computer service company that has the edge because of a dedicated client base which enables rapid response. An individual gifted with the talent for creating and managing small business financials. A messenger/ delivery company who capitalizes as USPS shrinks their services. I could go on, but the best ideas and business plans are not on this list, but out there ready to happen. Eventually, being in that district might/would be enough to sustain growth and the concept. If and when the district proved to double or triple the success rate of small start up businesses, everyone would want to be “there” simply to improve their odds.

    Perhaps the most valuable asset will be the sharing of the what works and what doesn’t approach these individuals will develop. As mentioned earlier, what would be more valuable than for Nancy to be able to walk across the office, building or street and ask Jim how he managed to get that brochure out so fast and cheap? When Bob is able to ask Frank what he did to get the financing to buy the used truck that has enabled him to double his delivery area? Really the possibilities are endless… and talk about energy!

12. 

    John on April 25, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    Over a year ago a meeting was convened at the University of Memphis to explore starting an Urban Mainstreets Program in Shelby County. Currently, Tennessee supports only rural Main Streets and the most urban one is probably Collierville because the area has grown around it.

    I have often thought that Whitehaven, Raleigh, Cordova, North Memphis, South Memphis, etc. need a Central Identity. While I tend to be a Midtown/Downtown person… do you think districts must be in the urban core? Or, could different districts be the anchors that help different areas create their own Town Squares, Main Streets, Identities? If the Memphis region were a compilation of five, seven, nine unique districts (or towns), would we look at it differently than the sprawling faceless place we perceive it to be now?

    Are districts an appropriate vehicle to deal with this?

13. 

    Smart City Memphis on April 25, 2011 at 5:32 pm

    Thanks, John, for a provocative topic.

    We got a couple of emails asking why we didn’t post best cities for young artists ranking. We do often post these kinds of rankings, but since this one lacked any data, factual basis, or criteria, we decided not to post it. Just wanted to let you know.

    Regardless of the thin justification, it would still look good on a billboard like those best zoo ones.

14. 

    Urbanut on April 26, 2011 at 8:52 am

    John,
    Not to hog the conversation and I really hope some others will chime in here, but this is right up my alley…
    I totally agree per the multiple Main Street approach. Each “region” of the city not only deserves, but needs its own Main Street. This need is actually reflected in the malls of today and yesterday as well as their locations. The traditional concept of the mall might be dying, but their identification of areas in which to build their artificial, climate controlled, pedestrian only Main Streets is still very much with us. Raleigh, Whitehaven, East Memphis, Hickory Hill, the Northeast (Bartlett, Cordova and Arlington) and the Southeast (Germantown & Collierville) all either once or continue to be served by a mall. Reverse engineer these structures by placing their establishments on existing streets/ blocks and voila- instant Main Street. Build a parking garage and expand Collierville’s town square by a few blocks and you would have Carriage Crossing. The city/ county along with the neighborhood organizations of Raleigh have been championing the redevelopment of the Raleigh Springs area and the adjacent stretches of Austin Peay along the pattern of a “Main Street”. This would include pulling buildings closer to the street and reinforcing the entire area’s pedestrian potential through additional lights, bike lanes and generous sidewalks. Germantown is actively seeking to redevelop its low density core in order to create a more identifiable urban district which would include a mix of office, retail and residential spaces. It is so committed to this idea that it has even approved the necessary mechanisms to fund a parking garage to facilitate such development.

    Along with the two examples above, there is potential for such “Main Streets” in several areas of the city (some of which are either being discussed or are actually in some of the city/ county’s planning documents). These would include Elvis Presley between Raines and Shelby, Summer at Perkins, Frayser Blvd. between Overton Crossing and Mountain Terrace, Winchester and Kirby, and the Clark Tower superblock.

    You can even take this concept to a more local level. Every neighborhood needs a retail corner or strip, just as every “region” or “super neighborhood” needs its own Main Street just as every city needs a vibrant downtown. Each step up the ladder increases the scale, number and variety of shops and businesses appropriate for that location and the population it serves.

15. 

    Aaron on April 26, 2011 at 10:08 am

    I’ve seen your vision Urbanut. My parents place in Oakland/Berkeley functions precisely as you describe. Granted they have a little higher people density.

16. 

    Batphone on April 26, 2011 at 10:47 am

    My one question/comment is why tax abatements are always on the table. I mean, it’s clear that they can be a lure, but I wonder about the actual return for a city on such deals. What do we get for providing what is essentially a subsidy? Often, it seems to me, not much either in jobs or general revenue.

17. 

    John on April 26, 2011 at 11:37 am

    The question that came in via the Batphone is a good one and deserves its own post.

    I have been a strong advocate for tax abatements based on property improvement and construction in targeted areas. I am not so bullish on blanket tax abatements across the county and I am not so sure that basing abatements on job creation is the best strategy. However, it is tough for me to be too critical of one when I have pounded my fist for the other.

    I am for tax abatements administered for property improvement within targeted areas like the Center City Revenue Finance Corporation was designed to do for two basic reasons. One is practical and one is purely philosophical (I guess).

    Inner city projects do not pencil out as good short to mid-term investments most of the time due to existing market conditions. Not when they are built to levels that create positive density and leave a building that is designed to stand for more than 20 years. There is extraordinary risk in bucking the trend. The rents/prices are what they are. Construction costs are what they are. This usually leaves a financial gap in the range of 25% on almost every worthwhile project.

    The issue is more complicated than this but here is my simplistic version.

    Practical
    In most cities, the taxpayers are not really giving up anything. This is not a grant coming out of the city coffers. But it often has the same effect to the developer. A piece of property valued at $100,000 today pays $2,875 in taxes. If the development is going to increase the value of that property to $500,000, it will likely only bring in enough revenue to justify $375,000 worth of investment in most 2nd tier markets. But we want the project… right?

    So let’s abate 75% of the NEW taxes for 15 years. The government will receive twice as much as it did yesterday because the taxes will still double immediately but the developer/investor is still getting a fat break which will total $125,000 over 15 years… filling the gap.

    In year 15, the public really wins when it begins to collect $14,400 a year from the property. Plus we got the quality of structure we wanted in the neighborhood we wanted without having to write a check for anything. When I say that many developments would not happen without this (or some form of subsidy), I really believe it. I think tax abatements done correctly can be a big win-win for everybody.

    Philosophical
    For 60 years, inner city taxpayers have been subsidizing sewers, streets, electrical utilities and everything else that has enabled the abandonment of the city. We cannot afford to maintain our infrastructure, police & fire departments and sanitation services because of the blight and sprawl that has resulted. If I can offer a redevelopment opportunity in an important but neglected area while simultaneously keeping even a little tax revenue closer to home, while simultaneously preventing another substandard/disposable development to be built in the suburbs… I am okay with that.

    Here’s the rub.
    Over time, all incentives get cooked into the deal. Property owners know they don’t have to reduce their price. Investors demand the extra security. Construction companies and architects get less creative. They all know the public cushion is available and they all try to work it and it winds up less effective. This is why it has to be constantly revisited, tweaked and debated… publicly.

    Also… when your main criteria is job creation (like the Shelby County Industrial Development Board), your measure of cost/benefit is not as simple and direct as when your criteria is property improvement/tax payoff. This often looks like a gift to someone for doing business in your town.

    I am 100% for eliminating all subsidy to everyone. But until we stop subsidizing the suburbs, we have to subsidize inner city development.

18. 

    John on April 26, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    I have had a few people mention the Garment District idea with some curiousity. If any of you other urban planning nerds have any fashionable friends or designers in your loop, it would be nice to get some informed thoughts.

19. 

    Batphone on April 26, 2011 at 3:35 pm

    Perhaps soething like this Saturday Gymnasium Bazaar could be a starting point for a fashion district.

    http://www.themarketnyc.com

20. 

    GatesofMemphis on April 26, 2011 at 11:51 pm

    Memphis has an existing cluster not mentioned — the thrift store cluster on Summer between National and Highland. It’s a shame we’re going to lose BoJos (for the business and the building) but we will still have a strong, organically Memphis agglomeration remaining on both sides of Summer.

21. 

    Anonymous on April 27, 2011 at 10:25 am

    Gatesof Hell;

    we have a fried chicken cluster near Knight Arnold as well

    That what we really really need : we could cluster Memphis BBQ into “BBQ CITY” or “BBQ ROW”, maybe “BBQ VILLAGE”
    and maybe another cluster around whitehaven and do an “ELVIS cluster”. That would be a neat idea for whitehaven !

22. 

    gatesofmemphis on April 27, 2011 at 11:06 am

    I love Gates of Hell! Nice ring to it.

    Is Hell where you’re supposed to abandon hope, or where hope has been abandoned?

23. 

    Sarah Beth on May 1, 2011 at 9:37 am

    We don’t have a proper gay district like big cities do… maybe because law enforcement discriminates against our GLBT community. We could have a cultural arts district, as opposed to strictly visual, that fosters the film, dance/performance arts, musical and other complimentary talents of our city (POTS is making a start at Cooper-Union). A crafts & handmade/local products retail & wholesale district would be ideal on Broad, to round out what they’re trying to do with their identity.
    I second the Int’l District–when I visit large cities, Chinatown is always on my list, and we have a great opportunity with our Asian, Mid East, and Hispanic communities on the rise. Thanks for getting the conversation started.

24. 

    Anonymous on May 1, 2011 at 11:47 am

    Yeah, that’s what we NEED ! a proper HOMOSEXUAL District !

    does that mean we should have also a HOMOSEXUAL sodomite-FREE district in Memphis as well ??

    why on EARTH, should the Memphis community celebrate Homosexuality with an exclusive ‘zone’ ?

    Sorry, that’s crazy and hardly a priority for Memphis, TN.

    whew !

25. 

    Urbanut on May 1, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    Sarah- a neighborhood that follows that premise has come together in Philly. It is actually called the “Gayborhood” by it’s proponents.

    Yikes- a sensitive topic for anon- the former marine, rabbi and resident of South Florida. Me thinks thou dost protest too much. You seem quite obsessed with the topic.

26. 

    Not homo on May 2, 2011 at 7:48 am

    somebody should protest such an idea of an exlcusive homosexual community !

27. 

    Smart City Memphis on May 2, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    We’re reminded of the research a couple of years ago that linked percentage of gay population with neighborhood revitalization. They have been in fact the leading urban developers in so many cities’ neighborhoods.

28. 

    Anonymous on May 3, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Surely no one should suggest that just because homosexuals appear to be ‘involved’ in alleged urban ‘revitalization’, the projects are somehow automatically desirable, competent or meet the needs for any general population in a city or anywhere else really. Their supposed ‘involvement’ speaks to nothing other than their own agenda. It certainly doesn’t connote ‘value-added’ or even appropriateness. It could be argued by some that their alleged disppportionate ‘involvement’ may in fact diminsh a true positive perception on the part of the majority non-homosexual population. It too may serve as an implicit effort to further segregate and bifurcate neighborhoods into those dominated by homosexuals, and those dominated by others. The element of having present an active group of homosexual urban developers, may indeed have a negative effect on other cloesby development. Everyone in an urban community does not actively seek to be closely associated with homosexuals and the homosexual lifestyle, agenda or ‘involvments’ within a neighborhood, community, city, or region. To suggest that their is some automatic endorsement by heterosexuals is patently a lie built upon the false notion that if homosexuals are involved in a cause or a project affecting a neighborhood or community, then the ’cause’ or project “must have” some so-called merit or worth. That is also patently bullshit. Homosexuals don’t have some sort of ‘lock’ on the ability to participate in those activities that build solid communities and solid families. Again, to some degree, some of their activites might be antithetical to some communites, families, faith, and relgion. Their are many successful urban and suburban communites within these United States of America, that flourish without a requisite amount of ‘homosexual input’, ‘homosexual flavour’, or ‘homosexual contribution’. Perhaps that’s a novel concept for some self-aggrandizing homosexuals within a few neighborhood reviatlization/urban planning milieus.

    Some of us in the community are not required to drink that kool-aid.

29. 

    John on May 3, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    I do think that the idea of segregating any group away from the rest of society can have legitimate negative connotations that are valid for discussion here… as this is a post about creating districts, perhaps some districts (concentrations or clusters of like things) can have the unintended consequence of alienating as opposed to attracting.

    Regarding the GLBT discussion. Some districts are created by a group that is left out or considered on the fringe. If that group organizes (or just organically draws together) and rehabs homes, establishes businesses and creates a destination due to the opening of shops and restaurants that appeals to those with similar characteristics without excluding others (with different interests or orientations) who may want visit or invest… I have a hard time finding anything wrong with that. I suspect the surrounding property owners would welcome it.

    When people speak of Gay investment, this is often what they are talking about. Someone took a chance no one else would take to create an opportunity for a group that may not have what they want in a community. The byproduct is often that more than just the gay population is interested in what transforms in the revitalized area.

    This post could very well have asked, which markets are underserved and how can we organize to squeeze more commerce from them? Or who feels disenfranchised and can a district help more people find a comfortable place in Memphis society?

    The interesting conundrums for me sometimes rest in whether exclusivity is always good or bad, whether or not inclusivity can be heightened and does the creation of districts remove otherwise viable groups from diverse neighborhoods (diversity is also probably an important goal). It is fair to wrestle with that here but I still think districts of some sort are sorely needed to create an identity (or many identities) within our sprawling landscape of growing sameness.

30. 

    Urbanut on May 3, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    The more Anon protests, the more merit the concept seems to possess.
    Their head might literally explode should they ever find themselves in one of the nation’s urban centers such as NYC, Miami, Atlanta or LA. So much to find offensive yet so little time.

31. 

    Anonymous on May 3, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    Re: Anonymous the Notorious

    You are famous for flaming this site with negative tirades of drivel supported loosely, if at all, by facts or any research whatsoever. This is a post that started with a discussion of the arts district model which has been proven to work in pockets, but is probably being over-done in cities everywhere, including Memphis. That’s a very interesting topic of discussion and John’s thesis is probably correct. I, for one, am glad to hear someone finally say it.

    You then struggled to stay on topic at all, fluctuating back and forth between theorizing that an office cluster of financial professionals only makes sense in New York and claiming that Memphis’ urban problems are so unique and insurmountable that a discussion about arts districts or what other clusters might work isn’t worthwhile. Thanks for your recommendations to cure all evils “from the bottom up,” but the point of this blog, which somehow escapes you, is to discuss possibilities and new ideas. Sure, some of the things that are talked about may not be realistic or doable, but the rules of brainstorming have never been that in order to think about a new idea, all the details have to be worked out from the beginning.

    You’ve got an ego problem. I’m speaking plainly. You are an annoyance, because of your inflated self-importance. You might try adopting a dose of humility, because not one single person you’re preaching to values what you have to say. Your tirade about gays is nearly as offensive and uninvited as it gets for internet comment section least common denominators. To your dismay, obviously, some research has CORRELATED (look that word up please and ponder it’s nuance) the vitality of gay communities and the vitality of city economies (again, clearly you’re unaware of this, because you distorted the argument, only to then bash it – the idea has almost nothing to do with gays in and of themselves, but is that social glass walls prevent economic self-determination and prosperity and places with more tolerance/less bigotry enjoy more economic freedom and success – that was just a little FYI, but you’re gonna have to pick up a book if you want really know what you’re screaming about). Therefore, Sara Beth quite casually made her comment, which caused you (and someone else who is tag-teaming you – look at your excellent company) to again launch into a bluster, this time defending the rights of communities to not “drink the kool-aid” of the importance of homosexual liberty.

    Quite frankly, as much as you talk about the need to address problems in this community, you are presenting yourself as representative of the worst among us. Look in the mirror, you, yourself, are a social ill, because of your anger and vitriol for your neighbor, your egotistical perspective that poisons your ability to communicate, and your borderline, but probably just thinly-veiled, bigotry, which is just a vestige of the past, yes even in Memphis, like all bigotry has been in the history of the world as the arc of history has proven.

    I would appreciate it if you either removed yourself from civic affairs and discussions or made a dramatic effort to change your perspective and dial it down a notch. I realize that’s probably asking for something unrealistic, but should it be so brazen to ask others to be more civil?

32. 

    packrat on May 3, 2011 at 5:02 pm

    Don’t pay attention to Shekel; after serving in the Marines as the first ordained rabbi to receive the Medal of Honor, he joined with Phyllis Schlafly to found a new 501(c)3, Hatin’ on Dem Homos, which has as its mission a goal to make America safe for schizophrenic closeted know-it-alls.

33. 

    msj558 on May 3, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    I like the idea of both a design and financial district. Granted, Memphis will never be a financial center but there are something’s we can do to lipstick what we have as a “financial district”.

    1) First Tennessee or Independent Bank should run a stock market ticker around the façade of their downtown HQs. This will bring big city financial excitement to or downtown core.
    2) CCC should recruit on-line brokerage branches downtown. Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, ING etc. all have branches in our nations financial cores. These brick and mortar branches are often very modern, replete with large screen TVs showing Fox Business, or CNBC and again help drive excitement around their products and the financial markets in general.
    3) Very very few people in the USA know that FedEx is HQ here – we should partner with FedEx to market the City of Memphis and FedEx in national business publications. The same goes for any Fortune 500 company with a presence here. The pitch is that it will help them with recruiting as the economy recovers. Trust me people who live here know whose HQ is here but people outside of the city DO NOT know. Lighted jumbo-screens around downtown sponsored by our HQed companies could be a bold way to say Memphis means business.

    On another note recently Delta CEO Richard Anderson said that the Memphis airport would serve as an over-flow airport for Atlanta. Perhaps he is on to something that our Chamber of Commerce should exploit. Delta offers ten non-stop main line departures to Atlanta. That is shuttle service. AirTran/ Southwest offers four additional non-stops. Yes, we have hourly non-stop shuttle service to Atlanta.

    Today’s MBJ reported that the Memphis local GDP is #47 at 62.7 billion. Atlanta is #10 at 264.7 billion. The question is can we position Memphis to be an overflow business center for Atlanta. One with no state income tax, less crowding, lower expenses, cheaper HQ costs, ect ect. But only an hour away from Atlanta. We need to target Atlanta as the number one place we steal service jobs from – not more low paying manufacturing jobs but service jobs – finance being one of them.

    Many people have misconceptions about Memphis. Marketing works and changes minds. We need to market Memphis to the Atlanta business community – we need to aggressively court Atlanta business community by telling them a move to Memphis is just a shuttle ride way from Atlanta.

34. 

    Smart City Memphis on May 4, 2011 at 9:24 am

    Anonymous 4:00 — It’s impossible to reason with unreasonable people, particularly those who would rather rant than reason. He seems impossibly able to connect two coherent thoughts. His latest screed is a model of what we’re talking about. Either he purposefully misses the point or he’s just incapable of simple logic. Either way, he’s sound and fury signifying nothing. And in this case, I mean NOTHING.

    MSJ558: Thanks for your ideas and for contributing to this important conversation about how to improve Memphis’ future.

35. 

    msj558 on May 4, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    One other random thought – this Saturday all eyes will be on the playoffs hosted in Memphis – lots of business leaders will be watching that game – it is not often that Memphis gets this kind of national exposure – lets pack those ring side seats with Fred Smith (yes come down from your box and watch the game) Justin Timberlake, Al Green, The CEOs of every Fortune 500 company we have – use this exposure as a sell Memphis national opportunity – it would be great if Fed Ex ran an ad saying it was proud of it’s home team – but having those CEOs and some music and hollywood power court side would be awesome – Craig Brewer has a new movie to sell …..put the cast in the the stands –

36. 

    Anonymous on May 4, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    man, some people just bristle when a poster doesn’t agree with their ‘vision for the City’, or when a poster articultates actual disagreement about actively endorsing homosexuality. Face it, everyone in Memphis and in society is not a tool for homosexuality, or its merit or lack of it in society in general. People tolerate a lot of things and activities that they consider wrong, even immoral, or even perverse. So what ? that’s life .

    If a poster thinks homosexuality is a perversion, is he or she just supposed to be silent, roll over and play dead just to ‘please’ the homosexual community ? LOL fella, that’s not happening, nor should it, much to the chagrin of homosexual promoters..Sorry, homosexuals don’t ‘own the stage’, or ‘own public thought’…..nor do they control other peoples view of what is moral, godly, right or wrong !

    Sometimes homosexuals are frenetically ‘offended’ just because everyone doesn’t agree with their perversion and agenda…LOL….they get all visceral, arrogant, and start whining because they just encountered someone else who doesn’t share their beliefs, lifestyle, or reasoning !

    Sorry, people in this city and nation are still free to diagree with you homosexuals. Of course you need not like it…too bad…you have the freedom to do what you wish, and others have similar rights…..still others have the right to vehemently disagree ! get used to it.
    Everyone doesn’t think like, or ‘reason’ like the homosexual mind.

37. 

    Urbanut on May 5, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Once again, for those that are not used to anon’s rants: they will disagree and ridicule your position and posts which is fine and dandy. If you should critique their posts, well that just means you are small minded and intolerant. Anon is the embodiment of hypocrisy.