Ten years ago, the Memphis City Council voted and approved a plan called The Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC) Master Plan that will help to improve the 15 linear mile area of the Mighty Mississippi River waterfront.
A typical plan probably consists of when does it start, how much does it cost, what does it look like, what is getting fixed, and etc., but with this plan, it starts, and just keeps on going and improving.
“The Master Plan is a ‘living’ document that evolved along with the landscape of Memphis,” Benny Lendermon, III, President of the Memphis Riverfront Development Corporation, said.
The plan for the waterfront development was to improve the Promenade area, start the construction of Beale Street Landing, renovations of the historical cobblestones and the parks, and the construction of the land bridge that connected from downtown Memphis to Mud Island.
The concern about the land bridge was that the RDC Board of Directors decided to remove it from the plan because the bridge wasn’t feasible.
In addition to the Beale Street Landing, which was completed over the summer, the bridge that connects Memphis Park (formerly Confederate Park) to The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys school of Law is done, and the historical cobblestones has to be refurbished.
The Promenade area hasn’t started because “it requires the economic condition to exist, and there are a number of legal issues,” Lendermon said.
When Beale Street Landing was in early stages of being formed, a panel had to make selection on 173 entries they received from urban planners, designers, architects and contractors about the riverfront.
Cooper, Robertson & Partners from New York City did the design and construction of the landing which cost nearly 43 million dollars to complete.
According to the Trinity River Vision in Fort Worth, Texas, Texas Department of Transportation’s Transportation Commission was awarded 65.5 million to Texas Sterling Construction to reconstruct three V-Pier bridges on May 29, 2014.
Much like Memphis values the Mississippi waterfront, Fort Worth will do the same with Panther Island, which is inside of the city.
Also along the riverfront, the Bass Pro Shop is moving into the Pyramid. Though they are not a part of the plan, their brand alone will attract people to the river for business.
The RDC purpose for this plan is to bring people to come and see this great landmark.
The corporation has shown that they are willing to spend top dollar to help this city become a main attraction along the river.
“The plan will never stop. It is evolving over time. Just like New York City, the city adds to what they already have,” Lendermon said.
The city hopes the ongoing project will expound up the unique Memphis culture in places such as Beale Street, Graceland, basketball culture with the University of Memphis Tigers and Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Redbirds, and along with great food and music.
