MemphisFlyer 04/09/2026

SHARA CLARK Editor-in-Chief

ALEX GREENE

Managing Editor, Music Editor

BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN

Senior Editor

TOBY SELLS

Associate Editor

KAILYNN JOHNSON News Reporter

CHRIS MCCOY Film and TV Editor

MICHAEL DONAHUE, JON W. SPARKS Staff Writers

KIMBERLY HAM Calendar Editor, Copy Editor

ZACHARY AMOS, JESSE DAVIS, EMILY GUENTHER, COCO JUNE, AJ KRATZ, PATRICIA LOCKHART, FRANK MURTAUGH

Contributing Columnists

SHARON BROWN, AIMEE STIEGEMEYER Grizzlies Reporters

GRACIE DRIVER Editorial Intern

CARRIE BEASLEY

Senior Art Director

CHRISTOPHER MYERS

Advertising Art Director

NEIL WILLIAMS Graphic Designer

KELLI DEWITT, CHIP GOOGE, SHAUNE MCGHEE Senior Account Executives

JANICE GRISSOM ELLISON, KAREN MILAM, DON MYNATT, TAMMY NASH, RANDY ROTZ, LEWIS TAYLOR, WILLIAM WIDEMAN Distribution

KENNETH NEILL Founding Publisher

THE MEMPHIS FLYER is published weekly by Contemporary Media, Inc., P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101 Phone: (901) 521-9000 Fax: (901) 521-0129 memphisflyer.com

CONTEMPORARY MEDIA, INC.

ANNA TRAVERSE Chief Executive O cer

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JEFFREY GOLDBERG Chief Revenue Officer

MARGIE NEAL Chief Operating Officer

KRISTIN PAWLOWSKI Digital Services Director

“ ere is a kind of sadness that comes from knowing too much, from seeing the world as it truly is.”

— Virginia Woolf

We are at war.

On our streets, across international borders; between red and blue, white and brown. ere is a war for our minds and hearts — a battle for our energy and thoughts. ere is war in Iran, and today the President of the United States posted on his Truth Social account that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

ere is a war against immigrants in Memphis, with the president’s task force working alongside ICE, Homeland Security, and state and local agencies to unconstitutionally remove people from their homes, jobs, and families here. e president, on a recent visit to Memphis, said soon we would have “like no crime” due to their e orts.

ere is a war against the poor, which is re ected in those e orts, with more than 105,000 tra c stops resulting in more than 97,500 citations for such infractions as missing tag lights, headlights out, or expired plates. ey claim 3,771 violent criminals have been arrested since the force’s launch. Someone is raking in dough on nes while they say their focus is on “the worst of the worst.” ere’s zero force accountability and no access to public arrest data.

ere is a war against children, seen with education and meal funding cuts. Or in the Epstein les, where our president was mentioned about 38,000 times, with allegations of sexual abuse against a minor, among other dealings with his convicted sex o ender friend. But our president, who campaigned on a nowar stance, and is de nitely a nice Christian gentleman, said there is no war. He doesn’t start wars, and this isn’t one. “We won,” he said a few weeks ago, adding, “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.” ere are now more than 2,000 reported casualties amid this war/not war, including more than 200 children.

ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL USA 2026

ere is a war against advocates and dissidents — against human decency and morality. Victims silenced. Witnesses gunned down. Detention centers going up. Missiles launched. Civilians killed. But, “Praise be to Allah,” our president said.

ere is a war between good and evil, and we are losing.

ere is a kind of sadness in knowing there are people out there who still support the immoral, unjust, and dangerous actions of the madman in charge. ere are people who cannot see the truth — no longer hidden beyond a veil, but right in front of our eyes. Who threatens the lives of “a whole civilization” but a psychotic control freak with no understanding of consequences or the value of human life?

e world is broken in so many ways, and we are at war. And there is pain in knowing how little we can do from our sand-speck spots in the universe. It can be paralyzing, and I know an op-ed from little me isn’t going to change the world, or even one person. It’s impossible to scratch the surface of all the wrongs, lies, and hypocrisy. But if the truth is that we must go on in a society in shambles, we have to nd peace in the present somehow.

Someone’s hand hovers over the nuke buttons. Everywhere people are su ering. e Virginia Woolf quote goes on to say that in knowing too much, “in that understanding, there is a profound loneliness, a sense of being cut o from the world, from other people, from oneself.” But I think I disagree. at “knowing” is a gi . Be gentle teachers. Shine a light for others. e powerlessness may creep in, but we can choose solidarity. What will you stand for? What will we allow? e revolution won’t begin on its own.

Shara Clark shara@memphis yer.com

directed by Gabriele Salvatores

UC Theatre

University of Memphis

April 24, 7:00 p.m. SWEETHEART directed by Margherita Spampinato

cgaudenzi@memphis.edu

fly-by

MEM ernet

Memphis on the internet.

SHIESTY THOUGHTS

Memphis rapper Finesse2tymes said he “ain’t going out like Pooh Shiesty” in a TikTok video with more than 1.1 million views as of press time. Shiesty and others allegedly kidnapped and robbed a record label owner and Gucci Mane in Texas last week over the terms of a contract.

Finesse disparaged the act, saying Shiesty had “more learning to do” and that he didn’t want to be around anyone who just wanted to shoot or kill someone and have sex.

“Gangsta is keeping your hands clean,” Finesse said. “Gangsta is being free with your kids. e new gangsta is crashing out.”

LEBRON

A familiar rhythm followed LeBron James’ comments about Memphis last week. Heads exploded. e mayor spoke. Jokes were made. ey zzled into “real talk” about “what we need to do.”

{CITY REPORTER

By Flyer staff

Questions, Answers + Attitude

Edited by Toby Sells

Violence Erupts at No Kings Protest

Organizers want answers on Memphis Police Department arrests and pepper spray.

Community organizers and advocacy groups demanded answers and accountability from the Memphis Police Department (MPD) in the wake of police violence that erupted during a recent No Kings march.

Demands include a release of all body camera footage from the incident, involved o cers being placed on unpaid administrative leave, and a dismissal of charges for protesters. ese requests were made by several groups including Free the 901, Indivisible Memphis, Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope, Vecindarios 901, and others.

Protesters gathered at Robert R. Church Park for a No Kings rally to speak out against President Donald Trump and the Memphis Safe Task Force. According to organizers, protesters marched down Beale Street, South Second Street, and on to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue before returning to the park.

PHOTO: INDIVISIBLE MEMPHIS

Memphis Police Department o cers grabbed and pepper-sprayed protesters at a recent No Kings protest Downtown.

MPD said organizers had a valid permit for use of the park for a community-building rally and resource fair, but not to march. O cers said protesters obstructed tra c and formed a human chain.

“O cers then began detaining those individuals who remained in the roadway,” MPD said.

“Lebron is literally from Akron,” said u/semajjsj. “Get out of here with that BS.”

FUN THING

Artist Skylar Wilson created a sort of Where’s Waldo? of a bumping Beale Street Saturday night. ere’s Rocky the Redbird, ribs, Diver Buckets, Pancho, and more.

Organizers said MPD o cers “escalated to violence” and said they “tackled, beat, maced, and arrested peaceful participants.” A statement from MPD said o cers deployed pepper spray and detained six people, with three being charged.

“It reflects … a deliberate choice to use force as a tool of intimidation and suppression.”

“MPD’s actions, including its decision to brutalize people peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights, cannot plausibly be construed as necessary for public safety,” a release from organizers said. “It re ects, instead, a deliberate choice to use force as a tool of intimidation and suppression.”

In the a ermath of the event, organizers said the behavior is consistent with department practices of “unconstitutional policing.” ey said the department has continually violated the First Amendment and cited ndings from the U.S. Department of Justice.

“MPD’s conduct on March 28th is indefensible,” organizers said. “It violated constitutional protections and

in icted immense, unnecessary harm on people peacefully exercising their rights to protests.”

e groups made the following demands:

• e immediate release of all body-worn camera footage, dash camera footage, radio communications, arrest reports, use-of-force reports, and all related records.

• e public identi cation of every o cer present or otherwise involved in this suppression of peaceful protest.

• Full disclosure of the personnel les of those o cers, including their disciplinary records.

• e placement of all involved o cers on unpaid administrative leave pending a full, independent investigation.

• An investigation conducted by an entity entirely independent of MPD into potential constitutional violations, the Kendrick Consent Decree, and other applicable laws.

• e immediate dismissal of all charges against the individuals who were wrongfully arrested.

• A comprehensive public explanation from the City of Memphis and MPD addressing the decision to use force at the conclusion of a peaceful event and the measures that will be implemented to prevent such violations from occurring again.

“Memphians will continue to exercise their constitutional rights,” the groups said. “We will not be intimidated. And those who used violence to suppress peaceful protest will be held accountable — in the courts, in this community, and in the historical record.”

Twenty-six organizations also sent a letter to Memphis Mayor Paul Young and city council members urging accountability.

By Bri Hatch, Chalkbeat Tennessee

Schools Audit: 5 Takeaways

e state GOP audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools shows $1.1 million in “waste or abuse.”

Preliminary ndings from the state audit of MemphisShelby County Schools show over $1 million in spending considered waste or abuse, as well as ineffective document and policy systems.

e more than 300-page report released last week only represents 25 percent of the full investigation, which the report says is expected to conclude by June 30th. e audit rm Cli onLarsonAllen, or CLA, said in the report that it is facing signi cant delays due to issues obtaining documents from MSCS in a timely manner.

“ e forensic audit identi ed signicant and recurring internal control, documentation, and records-management de ciencies that materially impaired the district’s ability to demonstrate compliance, accountability, and e ective stewardship of public funds,” the audit says.

to upgrade internal document systems. And the school board passed a resolution Tuesday night fast-tracking corrective action plans from Richmond in the next two months.

e forensic audit is reviewing MSCS practices from July 2021 through June 2024, when former interim superintendents Joris Ray and Toni Williams were leading the district.

MSCS leaders planned to present a full response report this past Monday. In the meantime, here are ve key takeaways from the initial audit ndings:

• $1.1 million in MSCS contracts for leadership coaching and consulting “classi ed as waste or abuse.”

CLA found that around $1.1 million of spending on contracts over the past three years are consistent with de nitions of waste and abuse. Most of that spending comes from paying for leadership coaching and consulting services that CLA says duplicate existing programs, or lack evidence of being completed.

• e spending labeled “waste or abuse” is a tiny fraction of overall district spending.

e total amount of early waste and abuse ndings measures up to less than 1 percent of MSCS’ multi-billion-dollar budget over the three years reviewed by CLA.

issues.

Some state leaders, including vocal advocates for the state takeover of MSCS, say these preliminary results are some of the worst they’ve ever seen. Tennessee Republicans said last week that they will immediately move forward with plans to establish a state-appointed MSCS board to lead district decisions, rather than wait for the results from the full audit.

MSCS leaders, including the newly appointed permanent Superintendent Roderick Richmond, say they’re committed to addressing issues raised by the audit. And some Memphis leaders say the dollar amount identi ed as waste and abuse spending over three years represents a fraction of MSCS’ $2 billion annual budget. In total, the violations constitute less than 1 percent of the budget.

Leaders have already adopted plans

• Too many leadership transitions led to ine ciencies and hampered institutional knowledge.

CLA’s preliminary report notes “multiple leadership transitions” during the audit period that resulted in a lack of institutional knowledge and created ine ciencies across accountability and document systems.

• MSCS lacks proper internal audit systems and policies.

e preliminary audit states that MSCS “lacks any comprehensive audit methodology” to internally evaluate its own procedures and actions.

• MSCS had incomplete and delayed responses to audit’s requests. roughout the preliminary report, CLA stressed that its work has been held up by MSCS’ “delayed and incomplete production of requested records,” especially in evidence related to vendor contracts and procurement.

PHIL COLLINS EXPERIENCE

By Bruce VanWyngarden

Id’s Not Easy

Nobody asked for any of this.

APRIL 18 – 2:00PM / 7:30 PM

Iwas walking barefoot across our sunroom holding a cup of co ee in my right hand and a laptop in my le , headed to my favorite chair to peruse the daily dose of madness we now call “news.” Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in the arch of my right foot. Yeow!

I lost some of my co ee and almost dropped my laptop, but managed to recover my equilibrium before too much damage was done. But damn, it hurt.

war in the Middle East without input from your allies, then defaming and threatening them and demanding that they clean up the mess you made.

And like issuing the following message [verbatim] on Truth Social at 8 a.m. Easter Sunday: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. ere will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

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e culprit was an ATV — shiny and silver with sharp, pointy airfoils — about two inches long. One of my 6-year-old grand-twins had le it in the middle of the oor.

It was not a big deal — except to my instep. Kids do that sort of thing all the time. e idea that leaving one of their toys on the oor could have consequences for someone else never enters their mind.

ey’re always in the moment, making motor noises, pretending to drive their little metal four-wheeler across a shaggy carpet or rolling it down a ramp. When they tire of it, they move on to the next shiny thing that strikes their fancy.

Like, say, commissioning a bizarre $400 million ballroom addition to the White House with steps that don’t lead to an entrance.

Like destroying vital federal agencies and ring thousands of people who work to cure and prevent disease, inspect our food, guide the nation’s air tra c, protect our natural resources, and monitor our air and water quality. Like killing all federal investment in clean, renewable energy and pouring that money into dirty and expensive oil. Like putting your name on public buildings, including the Kennedy Center, then tearing it down on a whim. Like impulsively attacking a foreign country and kidnapping its leader and his wife. Like using the U.S. military to execute civilians in small boats in international waters while o ering no proof of their alleged crimes. Like issuing o -the-cu tari declarations against nations all around the globe and being surprised when they laugh at you and move on to make trade deals with each other. Like appointing unquali ed hacks and toadies to cabinet positions and then ring them when they inevitably screw up, or when you deem them inadequately toady-ish. Like sending armed, masked agents into American cities to seize people o the streets without warrants or due process. Like starting a

Nobody asked for any of this. Nobody with any brains wanted an unprovoked war in the Middle East and the collapsing economy that ensued from the predictable oil crisis — or a president of the United States with the impulse control of a 6-yearold. Yet, here we are with President Id.

In case you’ve forgotten, according to Freud, the id is the personality we all have at birth. It seeks the immediate satisfaction of urges and desires, such as hunger, thirst, and pleasure. It operates “without logic, reason, or judgment, making no distinction between good and evil.” It is described as a “cauldron full of seething excitation” — acting impulsively without considering consequences.

A shiny silver toy with sharp, pointy airfoils, controlled by a child’s id.

Fortunately, most human beings grow out of the id stage by the end of puberty. ey learn to be aware of the needs and desires of others, and to consider the possible consequences of their actions. is is obviously not the case with the current president, who’s operating without logic, reason, or judgment, and making no distinction between good and evil. He’s le his toys scattered all around the world and here at home, and it’s time for the adults to step up and intervene. We’re going to be cleaning up this orange toddler’s mess — and watching our step — for years to come.

AI and Financial Planning

What artifical intelligence can and can’t do.

A

rtificial intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from novelty to an everyday tool.

From search engines to writing assistance to research, AI is now part of how information is gathered and decisions are supported across many industries, including financial services.

However, as AI becomes more embedded in daily life, a natural question follows: What role does AI play in financial planning, and what are its limits?

What AI Can Do Well (Strengths)

AI excels at processing large amounts of information quickly and consistently. In financial planning, this creates meaningful advantages in the following areas.

• Organizing and analyzing data

AI tools can aggregate information across accounts, identify patterns or inconsistencies, run projections, and compare scenarios under different assumptions, improving speed and accuracy in repetitive, data-heavy, or rules-based tasks.

• Scenario modeling and projections

AI-driven systems can model retirement income projections, tax outcomes under different assumptions, and portfolio behavior under historical or hypothetical market environments. Predictive analytics are meaningful strengths when evaluating possible outcomes. These models can help advisors and clients explore trade-offs rather than predict precise results.

• Improving operational efficiency

Generative AI and other AI applications are increasingly used to reduce administrative workload, improve document organization, support research and monitoring, and enhance consistency in plan updates. These efficiencies allow advisors to spend more time where it matters most: applying judgment, interpreting insights, and having thoughtful conversations with clients about their financial goals.

What AI Doesn’t Do Well (Limitations)

Despite its capabilities, AI has limitations, especially in a discipline as personal and consequential as helping people navigate complex financial decisions.

• AI doesn’t always understand context

AI evaluates the inputs it’s given. It doesn’t inherently understand family dynamics, emotional tradeoffs, real-world risk tolerance, or how priorities evolve over time. Two people with identical balance sheets may need very different financial advice, and AI can’t recognize why unless that

context is fully articulated.

• AI simulates reasoning but doesn’t exercise judgment

Financial planning is rarely about identifying a single optimal answer. More often, it involves balancing competing priorities, such as growth versus stability or present enjoyment versus future security. AI can give options, but it doesn’t ask the clarifying questions needed when variables are subjective or unstated. Risk management and strategic planning require human judgment that AI alone can’t provide.

• AI doesn’t bear responsibility When advice is acted on, the consequences are real. AI doesn’t sit across the table, ask follow-up questions, or prompt reassessment as circumstances change. And it doesn’t share accountability for outcomes. Most importantly, it doesn’t consistently highlight how decisions made today may limit or eliminate future options.

• AI can’t coordinate across disciplines Planning often requires coordination among tax professionals, estate planning attorneys, family, and business partners. AI tools don’t manage these relationships or ensure recommendations are aligned across disciplines. That responsibility remains human, particularly with complex wealth management considerations.

A Final Thought

Good financial decisions are rarely about having more information. They’re about understanding which information matters, how different choices affect real lives, and how priorities change over time. AI can help organize financial data and provide analytical insights, but it can’t understand people.

AJ Kratz, CFA, CFP, is a Private Wealth Manager and Partner with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest registered investment advisory firms, providing comprehensive wealth management services to help align all elements of a client’s financial life, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information, or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit creativeplanning.com.

This commentary is provided for general information purposes only, should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice, and does not constitute an attorney/client relationship. Past performance of any market results is no assurance of future performance. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

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SPORTS By Frank Murtaugh

Redbirds Renewal

Cardinals prospects may have a short time in Memphis.

The 2026 season will be unlike any other in the proud history of the St. Louis Cardinals. For the rst time in almost a century, the Cardinals opened a season without a solitary All-Star on their roster. ( e All-Star Game was rst played in 1933.) Unless the club makes a deal in the coming weeks for a veteran, St. Louis will not have a regular player over the age of 30 for the rst time since 1966. Now under the watch of president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom (following almost two decades under John Mozeliak), this is a young, inexpensive Cardinals team managed by Oliver Marmol, a man with four seasons (and precisely two playo games) under his belt who will turn 40 in July.

this season.

In addition to the prospects, the Redbirds welcome back veterans like Cesar Prieto, an in elder who batted .300 last season, and out elder Matt Koperniak, here for a fourth season with Memphis and likely to become only the h player to appear in 400 games for the franchise. e mix of new arrivals and seasoned vets appears to be healthy as Memphis won its rst seven games of the season, the best start in 28 years of Redbirds baseball. e club has not reached the playo s since its 2018 championship season.

Few intangibles fuel a baseball team like the energy of youth.

What does this mean for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds? We will likely see a blend of Memphis/ St. Louis baseball unlike any since the Redbirds arrived in 1998. e Cardinals’ farm system ourished over the course of a 23-season era (2000-2022) that saw St. Louis reach the postseason 16 times, winning four National League pennants and two World Series championships. Stars like Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, David Freese, and Allen Craig did their thing at AutoZone Park before enjoying champagne showers in the Cardinals’ clubhouse. But those stars arrived with the likes of Jim Edmonds, Chris Carpenter, Scott Rolen, and Matt Holliday already in St. Louis, accomplished veteran leaders who served as the backbone for championship runs. Such a player cannot be found on the current Cardinals roster.

Here in Memphis, the Redbirds feature two of MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects: out elder Joshua Baez (87) and catcher Leo Bernal (98). Bernal has already been seen playing rst base at AutoZone Park, as Jimmy Crooks also catches and happens to be the Cardinals’ eighth-ranked prospect. (Crooks slammed three home runs and hit .400 over the Redbirds’ rst nine games.) Pitcher Quinn Mathews — Minor League Baseball’s 2024 Pitcher of the Year — is at the front of the Memphis rotation and will surely get a few, if not several, starts with St. Louis

As for the Cardinals, the kids seem to be alright for now. Led by Alec Burleson, JJ Wetherholt, Masyn Winn, and Nolan Gorman (Memphis players not that long ago and today the Cardinals’ in eld), St. Louis won its rst two series of the season with Wetherholt and Winn each delivering walk-o hits. Few intangibles fuel a baseball team like the energy of youth, and young players enjoy seeing results. is can become a cycle of positivity, and may start lling the many empty seats we see these days at Busch Stadium. ( e Cardinals have not reached the postseason since 2022.) It should be noted that the Cardinals’ Opening Day lineup was entirely Memphis alumni, a rst since the a liation began. Recall that 1966 Cardinals team, and all the 20-somethings in their batting order. Well, St. Louis won the World Series in 1967. Youth and hope, peas and carrots. Right?

THE DOWNTOWN PROJECT

( PART 1 )

How is Downtown Memphis really doing? Live and work edition.

Welcome to e Downtown Project. is is a four-part series on the part of our city that makes Memphis Memphis.

We started this series with one simple question: How is Downtown doing? at question became important because perceptions of Downtown Memphis — and Downtowns everywhere, we discovered — were not exactly positive.

Narratives emerged: Covid drained the o ce workers from Downtown Memphis. e downstream e ects of that hit restaurants, events, stores, and more. Another narrative held that violent crime had gotten so bad in Downtown Memphis that people refused to go there anymore.

e trouble with these narratives was that they were partly true. But these same narratives have been partly true in almost every Downtown in America, according to the

Brookings Institution.

But crime continues to recede across Memphis and the country. And while Downtown o ce markets remain so er than prepandemic levels, they — and all the money they mean — are making a slow, slight, frustrating comeback. Brookings suggests that the Downtowns we remember may never return. “ ere is no going back in time to 2019,” the think tank says in a report. Instead, Brookings says Downtowns need to adapt.

But how? at’s what e Downtown Project will focus on. We’ll examine that question and the general health of four major areas of Downtown: o ce and residential; retail, restaurants, and parking; tourism and live entertainment; and a look into the Downtown Memphis Commission’s (DMC) three-year plan to drive Downtown’s next chapter. — Toby Sells

Downtown Memphis is healthy, especially compared to its peers. at’s according to hard data and the views of those who live and work here. And that’s what this rst part of our series is focused on: living and working Downtown.

Working there is second nature to many in the Memphis metro area. More than 74,000 jobs are sited Downtown, spread out over 32 corporate headquarters, 169 bars and restaurants, and myriad other small businesses that call Downtown home. Work sees the average population of Downtown swell to around 72,000 daily, according to the DMC.

When the workers leave, Downtown is home to more than 25,500 Memphians. ey’re mostly 25 to 34 and mostly college graduates. e population is slightly more male (54 percent) and pretty ethnically diverse (60 percent): Black, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, and multiracial.

But Downtown matters to the hundreds of thousands who do not work, live, or even o en play Downtown. Pioneers didn’t settle Midtown rst, nor Collierville. Without that rst ag planted on the blu , who knows where Memphis would be? Or if it would be at all? Downtown is the brand in any city. It’s the place you tell people you’re from when you’re out of town and need a shortcut. Downtown is what, literally, puts urban places on a map.

Also, big stu happens Downtown. Big decisions get made there for everyone. In Memphis, Downtown is the seat of city,

county, state, and federal government. Ours is also the seat of the city’s globally de ning historical moments — where rock-and-roll was born, where Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. Our Downtown holds our most visible built landmarks, like the Hernando de Soto Bridge, the Pyramid, and all the neon over Beale. e health of Downtown matters to everyone, and on o ce and residential real estate — live and work — Memphis is fairly healthy.

O ce

Downtown Memphis has 5.1 million square feet of o ce space. at’s about 89 football elds or 28 Walmart Supercenters. About 16.6 percent of that space is vacant, according to the latest real estate report from Cushman & Wake eld. at’s about 15 football elds or ve Walmarts. is vacancy is spread over the dozens of various high-rise, mid-rise, and other buildings across Downtown, which is roughly 2.3 square miles. It totals more than 846,000 square feet.

Residential

If o ce space there sounds huge, consider that the DMC says more than 60 percent of properties Downtown are residential. e DMC does not break this down into square footage. But it says our Downtown has more than 17,500 housing units. Of those, about 10,000 are apartments.

continued on page 12

Big Projects and Big Dreams

If Downtown is where big stu happens, it’s also where developers dream big. e last decade has seen a list of “transformative” projects slated. Some have come and gone. Some shrank. Some were built and continue to build.

One Beale. e Pinch. Union Row, which became e Walk on Union, which became e Walk. e Snu District. Now the Neural Nexus project will supposedly blow them all out of the water. Its renderings promise shiny buildings, chic environs, and density on one speci c, still-empty canvas of Downtown that has seen its share of big dreams. is high-tech promise comes with a reported $9 billion budget, which the Chamber says is the largest project ever envisioned for Downtown Memphis.

One Beale

Drawings of a brand-new, gleaming glass tower overlooking Beale Street and the Mississippi River wowed Memphians in the early 2000s. And the name was cool, too: One Beale. Details emerged about the tower around 2005, and by 2006, it doubled into a two-tower concept by Carlisle Corp.

Big dreams move slow. One Beale went quiet for a time. But the concept and momentum reemerged in 2015 when the DMC approved a tax break deal for the hotel portion. By 2018, One Beale had doubled its footprint, now sprawling about ve acres from Beale to Pontotoc. Ground was broken on One Beale in 2019, and construction began on the 227-room Hyatt Centric. In 2020, One Beale was replanned in four phases. One of them saw the o ce component replaced by a Grand Hyatt hotel concept, due largely to the pandemic. By 2023, the Grand Hyatt portion was paused. e Hyatt Centric and Caption hotels were open, but the mega-project’s gleaming tower on the river was never delivered.

The Pinch

How does a loudly announced $1.1 billion project go quiet and then go away, largely unnoticed? at’s really what happened with another mega-project that sought to completely reimagine and rebuild the Pinch District.

In 2019, developer Tom Intrator unveiled his plan for the Pinch. It grabbed headlines with its price tag and its 900 apartments, two hotels, o ce space,

retail, and towers up to 17 or 18 stories. e rst phase alone was reported at roughly $544 million. By 2022, Intrator announced he had secured the funding for Phase I — housing, hotels, retail, and commercial space. An application for tax breaks was led.

However, in 2024, e Daily Memphian reported that Intrator put his Pinch properties up for sale “a er ve years of nothing,” the paper’s headline reads. Instead of a public announcement, the news came from a commercial real estate listing.

By August of that year, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital announced it had purchased Intrator’s land and more in the Pinch for its own long-term expansion. All of this, though, came well a er the 2016 announcement by state and local leaders to invest $37 million around the St. Jude campus.

of retail space, including grocery. It was also supposed to be completed this year. Dirt work never started. e project was rebranded as e Walk on Union in 2020, a time when news reports had the project back on track. Even as Covid continued, the company led paperwork for Phase I of the project, a seven-story mixed-use building for a hotel, apartments, retail, and green space.

By 2024, news surfaced that e Walk project missed a nancing deadline and was changing owners, but still plowed ahead. Nothing else was really made public until the Greater Memphis Chamber announced the Neural Nexus project would be built on the same site as e Walk in December 2025.

Snu District

e $250 million Snu District project stands out among some other “transformative” projects in that it actually did transform a part of Downtown.

Plans for the Historic Snu District go back to 2016. e full plan was unveiled by a team led by Billy Orgel in 2020.

e district centers on a nine-building historic industrial complex near Front Street, tied to the former American Snu Co. manufacturing operation north of Downtown’s core. e idea — as many big ideas for Downtown are — was to transform the abandoned site into an attractive destination for living, working, playing, and staying.

e rst phase of the project earned tax breaks from the DMC in 2020. By 2021, the plans for the second phase were already turning up in public records.

By 2022, that second phase got an extension for its PILOT deal from the DMC, proof of forward progress. By February 2023, the rst phase was largely done and open. at included the rst phase of Conwood Flats and the Varsity Spirit renovation.

Phase two, including the Harborside at Conwood Flats apartments, opened in 2025.

The Walk on Union

Headlines hit hard in 2019 announcing Union Row, a $1 billion development project for that pesky, weed-choked stretch of Downtown on Union near Beale Street and FedExForum. is massive development on roughly 29 acres would stretch from Danny omas Boulevard to Ida B. Wells Street. It was expected to have 1,105 apartment units, 550 hotel rooms, 364,500 square feet of o ce space, 2,664 parking spaces, and 88,106 square feet

Neural Nexus

Last year ended with a blockbuster announcement of not just another Downtown mega-project, but one “poised to be the largest in Downtown Memphis history, reshaping the city’s core with modern infrastructure.”

A Houston company said it would take that pesky, weed-choked stretch of Union between Danny omas and Ida B. Wells and transform it into a live/ work/play/stay tech hub it deemed as the “Neural Nexus innovation district.” is plan is from Legacy Power Capital. at’s the name given in a December release about the project from the Greater Memphis Chamber. However, the website and socials for the company were down when we looked. Its plans for Memphis, though, show on a site for a company called Bormacc Group, apparently a rebrand of Legacy Power Capital.

e Commercial Appeal set the price tag for this massive project at $9.4 billion, a gure that could not be corroborated with information from the company. For context, e Walk, which was planned at the same site, was priced at $1.1 billion.

e multibillion-dollar campus would spread across two city blocks. It is slated for an estimated 800-room hotel, 700 residential units, 200,000 square feet of retail space, and a 125,000-square-foot “innovation center.” A buildout could take around 30 months, the company said in December.

No new information has emerged about this project since the news release went public in December. However, the Memphis campus is one of many planned for Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Denver, and the West Coast.

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continued from page 11

Of the total housing units, about 95 percent are occupied. Of all residential properties, the majority (62 percent) are owned by the people who live in them.

Comparison

Comparatively, these sectors fall in line with Memphis’ peers. Downtown Birmingham and Louisville are close comparisons. Not perfect, but close. They are mid-size Southern cities. Their Downtowns pack an economic punch for the entire region. They are also core to their cities’ civic identities.

In all three, Downtown is home to city halls and courtrooms, corporate headquarters and offices, homes, bars, restaurants, stores, hotels, green space, and major event venues. Specifically, each city’s Downtown is home to its major arena — FedExForum in Memphis, Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, and the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. Also, the Downtowns in each are nurtured by quasigovernmental nonprofits — the DMC, the Louisville Downtown Partnership, and Downtown BHM.

We’ll compare these three cities throughout this series. Again, we know it’s not perfect. But Birmingham and Louisville are closer in comparison for these measurements than, say, Little Rock, Nashville, or New Orleans, even though Memphis shares much with them all.

Downtown and be a part of the ecosystem.

What about the idea that Downtowns across America need reinvention?

I agree with that. And that’s underway in Memphis. Like many cities, the pandemic accelerated shifts away from primarily office-driven Downtowns. The difference in Memphis is that we’ve entered a period where, with our growing residential base, it’s really helped to sustain and accelerate our recovery.

We want to reinvent our focus, diversify our experience. That means continuing to grow Downtown as a neighborhood, not just a workplace, while also investing in attractions and public spaces that draw both a residential population and visitors.

Q & A

with Jerred Price, president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA)

Memphis Flyer: From a neighborhood perspective, is Downtown Memphis healthy? Jerred Price: It is. Our perception of Downtown is something that needs help. The crazy thing is that Downtown has consistently been one of the safest ZIP codes in this city overall. I think the perception comes in because anytime there is an incident, it gets reported on the news because Downtown is our city center. It’s our core, it’s our heart.

Q & A

with Chandell Ryan, president and CEO of the DMC

Memphis Flyer: From where you sit, is Downtown Memphis healthy?

Chandell Ryan: Yes, absolutely. The current state of our economy has shifted some consumer behavior, and that has definitely impacted our businesses. It’s also impacted our access to capital for new construction and development. But with all of that, we still have a strong Downtown, and our future is bright. We are still seeing businesses choose to come Downtown. We are seeing investors choose to invest, and people just choosing Downtown Memphis in general.

Are there perceptions about how Downtown is doing, and are they correct? There are some that don’t really match reality. What we’re doing to impact that is just creating experience. We want to attract new development. We want to elevate the experience. That’s what we’re doing with the public safety grant. We want to enhance how people move about our Downtown by connecting them with exciting things.

What about the health of the office market? We’ve regained, in general, 87 percent of our pre-pandemic foot traffic Downtown. That tells me we are seeing more individuals return to office. That tells me we’re seeing more people wanting to come back

Does anything feel different living Downtown now compared to a year or two ago? I think it’s safer now than it was. Post-Covid, we saw across the nation people getting out, and we saw a spike in crime, drag racing, and all the things. One of the things we did pretty quickly, seeing that’s what was unfolding, we got with the Memphis Police Department, the sheriff’s office, we called in the state troopers, and sent letters saying, “Hey, we need reinforcements here to help take back our Downtown.”

What are you excited about right now?

The progress we’re making toward pushing to get our trolleys back online. That was another priority. We’ve got to get these trolleys back rolling on Main Street. Even the Madison line would be a great help to visitors and residents who would like to go to the grocery store or a restaurant.

The Memphis Area Transit Authority has been disappointing in its responses and urgency toward the trolleys. But we’ve been in great conversations with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, which is eventually going to be who gives the green light for the trolleys to return.

We’re also excited about all the new restaurants opening. We’re excited about the new renovation at the National Civil Rights Museum. The Orpheum is creating a new exterior campus refresh with stages, interactive monuments, and a screen to play movies. Lots of great things are happening in Downtown.

steppin’ out

We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews

Shop Black Fest Brings

Community and Commerce

By Kimberly Ham

Memphis will get a vibrant dose of community, culture, and commerce when Shop Black Fest returns this Saturday, transforming a high-tra c stretch near the city’s iconic Pyramid into a lively marketplace and gathering space.

Founded by Taniesha Westbrook and her husband, Greg, the festival is part of their larger platform, Shop Black City Tour, which has grown from a 14-vendor pop-up in Nashville to a multi-city movement supporting more than 4,000 Black-owned businesses across 13 cities. e organization not only organizes these events, but it’s more than that: they provide education and resources, like their “Vendor Readiness Program,” to help Black-owned businesses succeed.

And for Westbrook, bringing the Shop Black Fest home to Memphis carries special weight. “ ere wasn’t a centralized space for Black-owned businesses when we started,” she says. “We wanted to create something that feels good but also creates real opportunity — we like to say we ‘put the medicine in the candy’.” at philosophy comes to life in a festival that’s as intentional as it is inviting. Nearly 90 vendors will set up shop, ranging from rst-time entrepreneurs to seasoned business owners who travel the national circuit. Among them is Artreanna’s Italian Ice, a homegrown success story that began when its founder was just 9 years old, and continues to grow alongside the platform.

But Shop Black Fest goes beyond shopping. Community partners like Planned Parenthood Memphis, YMCA of Memphis, and CodeCrew will be on-site o ering resources on wellness, youth programming, and nancial literacy — part of the festival’s broader mission to support long-term economic mobility.

e setting itself adds to the experience. Positioned near downtown landmarks and civic spaces, the event creates a sense of pride and visibility for both vendors and attendees. “It’s a celebration,” Westbrook says. “We want people to feel that energy when they arrive, feel safe, and have a good time.”

Expect a full sensory experience: local food vendors, live music, interactive zones, family-friendly programming — including youth performances — and creative spaces designed to spotlight Memphis’ thriving creator economy.

At its core, Shop Black Fest is about connection — between businesses and customers, neighbors and newcomers, ideas and opportunity. Whether you’re browsing, networking, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, the goal is the same: come for the vibe, leave with something more.

P.M., FREE.

VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES April 9th - 15th

Harlem Globetrotters: e 100 Year Tour

Landers Center, Sunday, April 12, 1 p.m.

e world-famous Harlem Globetrotters bring their tour, celebrating a century of jawdropping moves, “wow” moments, and high- ying basketball thrills, to Southaven. From gravity-defying dunks to crowd-pleasing tricks, this milestone tour delivers the signature fun and air fans love, along with interactive experiences before, during, and a er the game, including chances to meet your favorite players.

Family Day

Stax Museum, Saturday, April 11, 1-4 p.m

Enjoy this special programming in partnership with the American Red Cross Mid-South Tennessee

Chapter. Enjoy music, food trucks, cra s, games, and safety-focused activities for all ages, including hands-only CPR demos, emergency preparedness sessions, and interactive kids’ programs. Explore the museum, gi shop, and exhibits celebrating Memphis history and culture — all while learning valuable family safety skills. Free event; RSVP encouraged.

Je Dunham: Arti cial Intelligence Tour

FedExForum, Friday, April 10, 7 p.m.

Je Dunham comes to Memphis! Known for his iconic ventriloquist dummies, he began performing as a child and quickly rose to global fame with sold-out tours, recordbreaking specials, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His diverse cast of characters — from the cranky

Walter to the mischievous Peanut and the infamous Achmed the Dead Terrorist — have made him a favorite comedian worldwide. With millions of YouTube subscribers, over a billion views, and headline shows across 20+ countries, Dunham combines sharp humor with broad appeal. He is back on the road, bringing his signature blend of absurdity and insight to audiences everywhere.

“Colors & Light” Opening Reception

Morton Museum of Collierville History, Saturday, April 11, 2-4 p.m.

Celebrate lifelong reinvention with Jerry Ehrlich, who picked up painting at 74 and in just a year has created a vibrant, textured, and dynamic body of work. Meet the artist and enjoy this Collierville gallery reception.

901.274.3400

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY APRIL 8

MODERN MASTERS

BEN MARKLEY and THE MICHAEL SHULTS QUINTET

7:30 PM | THE GREEN ROOM | $20

THURSDAY APRIL 9

CROSSTOWN ARTS FILM SERIES UNDER THE SILVER LAKE

MUSIC By Alex Greene

Jazz Month in Full Swing

Crosstown Arts celebrates everything from standards to skronk.

One of the game-changing e ects of Crosstown Concourse’s opening in 2017 was the increase — by orders of magnitude — of live jazz performances in Memphis, thanks to e Green Room at Crosstown Arts. In 2023, under then-music programmer Jenny Davis, Crosstown Arts leaned into this strength and booked all of March as “jazz month,” and now it’s an annual thing, migrating to April last year under current music programmer Delara Hashemi. is aligns it with the nationwide Jazz Appreciation Month celebrated every April since 2001 by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and many others.

quintet’s appearance will be the Friday, April 10th show dubbed “Stand Up for Your Rights,” by Johnny Yancey and e Power to the People Orchestra. Yancey, a trumpeter, attended Southside High School with legendary Memphis pianist Donald Brown and went on to study with him. Now he’s an instructor for the Memphis Jazz Workshop, a program dedicated to teaching jazz to the city’s youth, founded by pianist Stephen M. Lee, who will also be featured during jazz month on April 24th.

FRIDAY APRIL 10

JOHNNY YANCEY and the POWER TO THE PEOPLE ORCHESTRA: “STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS”

7:30 PM | THE GREEN ROOM | $25

7:00 PM | CROSSTOWN THEATER | $5 ON VIEW THROUGH JUNE 7

EXHIBITIONS

WILEY HENRY | LAWRENCE MATTHEWS | KARL ERICKSON

GALLERIES | FREE

“Jenny went all-out the rst year and created an incredible foundation,” says Hashemi, “and it was well-attended in its inception. But it feels like the energy is growing. I see more shows sell out now, and the buzz has spread a little bit.” at’s an understatement. Last week’s Memphis Women in Jazz show, featuring Deborah Swiney, Patrice Williamson, and Joyce Cobb, was sold out, as is the show slated for Sunday, April 12th, Strictly Jazz: e Music of David Sanborn . Dr. Bill Hurd. By way of emphasizing that it takes a village, Hashemi notes that the latter series is curated by Dennis Adams. “All I do is help facilitate logistics between the space and the artists for the Strictly Jazz series, but picking the artists is up to Dennis. And he’s an interesting person, who’s been in Memphis a long time, and he curates a lot of jazz here. I would say he’s an ambassador of jazz, and he knows so many musicians in the city, because he’s been here for so long.” e series continues beyond Jazz Month, so keep an eye out for future Strictly Jazz shows.

Crosstown Arts is also an important outlet for some of the city’s greatest jazz educators, and there will be plenty of their performances on hand this month. Wednesday of this week will see a special edition of Crosstown Arts’ Modern Masters series, with a show by the Ben Markley and Michael Shults Quintet. Both have won accolades in DownBeat magazine, and Shults is not only associate professor of saxophone at the University of Memphis, but musical director of the Memphis Jazz Orchestra, which has long held a weekly residency at Alfred’s on Beale Street. ( at orchestra will also back up Michael Dease, DownBeat’s 2021 Trombonist of the Year, on April 25th.)

Hot on the heels of the Markley/Shults

Other teacher/student collaborations will take to the Green Room stage as well, including the University of Memphis Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Singers, with e Central High School Jazz Band, winner of last year’s Essentially Ellington competition hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center, opening the show on April 28th.

But the show voted “most likely to sell out” may well be 2021 JUNO Award winner Jocelyn Gould’s appearance on April 22nd. Her 2022 album, Golden Hour, reached No. 1 on Canadian and No. 9 on North American college radio jazz charts, and was notable for debuting the artist’s singing voice. As a guitarist, composer, and singer, Gould is a triple threat, well-situated to reach the stratospheric heights of, say, Diana Krall. And, citing Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Joe Pass, and Kenny Burrell as her primary in uences, she’s carrying the torch of classic jazz guitar into the future.

Finally, the spirit of unbridled innovation will be represented by drummer Steve Hirsh and friends, performing an album release show as Echo Party on April 30th (full disclosure: I’m one of the friends). While the doggedly improvisatory combo can’t be considered pure “jazz,” Echo Party’s spirit of sonic exploration simmers with fresh delights.

AFTER DARK: Live Music Schedule April

9 - 15

PHOTO: COURTESTY MEMPHIS LISTENING LAB

Denver Massey

Friday, April 10, 10:30 p.m.

TIN ROOF

Flic’s Pics Band With Leroy “Flic” Hodges of Hi Rhythm. Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m.

B.B. KING’S BLUES CLUB

FreeWorld

Sunday, April 12, 7 p.m.

BLUES CITY CAFE

Henri Herbert and The Fury

ursday, April 9, 7 p.m. |

Friday, April 10, 8 p.m.

BLUES CITY CAFE

Proppa

Saturday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.midnight.

NEW DAISY THEATRE

Alex Lopez and Memphis Lightning

Celebrating a new album release. $10. Sunday, April 12, 3-6 p.m.

FLYWAY BREWING COMPANY

Raiford’s Disco 50th Anniversary Celebration

With John Williams & the A440 Band, DJ Jus Borne.

Dress to impress! Ladies free until midnight. 21+. Friday, April 10, 10 p.m.

RAIFORD’S DISCO

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Hindi lm music by a trio that played a de ning role in shaping it. $75.45, $179.70.

Sunday, April 12, 7-10 p.m.

ORPHEUM THEATRE

Capturing the Sound with Matt Ross-Spang

Symphony in Bloom

With the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

The Charlotte Taylor Band

Sunday, April 12, 3 p.m.

HUEY’S POPLAR

The Debbie Jamison Band

Tuesday, April 14, 6-10 p.m.

NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM

Van Duren

ursday, April 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

MORTIMER’S

Bluff City Fest Student groups from the U of M popular music program.

Tuesday, April 14, 7 p.m.

THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS

Capturing the Sound With Matt Ross-Spang.

ursday, April 9, 6 p.m.

MEMPHIS LISTENING LAB

Collegium Musicum

Presents Water Music Works by Handel and Telemann. Free. Wednesday, April 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART

Devin the Dude Tuesday, April 14, 8 p.m.

MINGLEWOOD HALL

Disco, Always: A Harry Styles Dance Night Celebrate Styles’ new record. Saturday, April 11, 9 p.m.

MINGLEWOOD HALL

Don Toliver: Octane Album Listening

Experience Friday, April 10, 7 p.m.

MINGLEWOOD HALL

Holiday Beach With Wilshire, Abigail & the Starlings. Wednesday, April 15, 8 p.m.

HI TONE

Indikator B

With Totalna Tama, Crystal Palace. Sunday, April 12, 8 p.m.

HI TONE

Jeff Hulett A record listening session. Wednesday, April 15, 6 p.m.

MEMPHIS LISTENING LAB

Johnny Yancey & the Power to the People Orchestra

Trumpeter Yancey is a local treasure. Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.

THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS

Just Liyah: Aaliyah

Tribute

Friday, April 10, 9 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Lauren Lolo Pritchard

ursday, April 9, 6:30 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Lolly Bombs Monday, April 13, 8 p.m.

HI TONE

Pulse (Pink Floyd Tribute)

Sunday, April 12, 5 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Racoma

With Lilly Miller. ursday, April 9, 7:30 p.m.

GROWLERS

Rebecca Loebe

Presented by Folk All Y’all.

$20. ursday, April 9, 7:30 p.m. THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS

Runi Salem

With Frank Hurricane. ursday, April 9, 7 p.m.

LAMPLIGHTER LOUNGE

Steel Panther Wednesday, April 15, 8 p.m.

MINGLEWOOD HALL

Strictly Jazz: Music of David Sanborn

Dr. Bill Hurd pays homage to a great. Sunday, April 12, 6 p.m.

THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN

ARTS

The 3 Shredders

Saturday, April 11, 9 p.m.

HI TONE

The Chaulkies

Sunday, April 12, 3 p.m.

HUEY’S MIDTOWN

The Peter Blunt System

ursday, April 9, 8 p.m.

HI TONE

Waunband

With Neon Glittery and Russ

T. Saturday, April 11, 8 p.m.

LAMPLIGHTER LOUNGE

112 Saturday, April 11, 8 p.m.

GOLD STRIKE CASINO

Big Barton One of Memphis’ nest traditional country bands. ursday, April 9, 8 p.m.

HERNANDO’S HIDE-A-WAY

Five O’Clock Shadow

Sunday, April 12, 6 p.m.

HUEY’S SOUTHAVEN

McKinley James Rock & roll, soul, and raw rhythm & blues. Friday, April 10, 8 p.m.

HERNANDO’S HIDE-A-WAY

CALENDAR of EVENTS:

April 9 - 15

Send

ART AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS

Memphis Originals Art Exhibition Featuring vibrant art and photography by Ron Olson, David Lynch, and Michael Donahue. rough April 30.

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

ART HAPPENINGS

“Colors & Light”: Opening Reception

Opening reception of the solo exhibition by Jerry Ehrlich. Saturday, April 11, 2-4 p.m.

MORTON MUSEUM OF COLLIERVILLE HISTORY

BOOK EVENTS

R. Scott Williams with Joey Sulipeck: Townmania

How one man transformed a frontier settlement on a Mississippi River blu . ursday, April 9, 6 p.m.

NOVEL

CLASS/ WORKSHOP

Creative Process: Where the Method Meets the Dream

Dr. Valentine and Dr. Ann share cra s, rituals, and entry points to the narrative trance we call writing. Saturday, April 11, 2:30-5 p.m. OFF THE WALLS ARTS

COMEDY

Jeff Dunham: Artificial Intelligence Tour

A ventriloquist, stand-up comedian, and actor.

Crossword

62 Partner of “signed” and “delivered” in a Stevie Wonder hit

63 Anderson Cooper’s channel 64 Utters

Edited by Will Shortz No. 0617

Friday, April 10, 7 p.m.

FEDEXFORUM

DANCE

Collage Dance Annual Gala

With performances by acclaimed musical artists, the Collage Dance Collective, and rising stars from the Collage Dance Conservatory. Enjoy a gourmet brunch, handcra ed cocktails, and inspiring conversations. Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m.

FEDEX EVENT CENTER AT SHELBY FARMS PARK

Romeo & Juliet

Intimate passion and sweeping social forces infuse every breathtaking moment of this version of Shakespeare’s tragic love story. Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m. | Saturday, April 11, 2 p.m. | Saturday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m.

GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

FAMILY

Let’s Talk About Birth, Baby

Whether you wanna have kids this year, next year, or ve years down the line, it’s time to talk about birth. Free. Saturday, April 11, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

CHOICES: CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

FILM

Under the Silver Lake

A woozy neo-noir that sinks into the dream logic of Los Angeles, peeling back its sunlit surface to expose a network of symbols, conspiracies, and secret messages that seem to pulse beneath the city. ursday, April 9, 7 p.m.

CROSSTOWN THEATER

FOOD

AND DRINK

Trivia with Cerrito Entertainment

Enjoy all the trivia fun with Cerrito Entertainment, along with prizes, drinks, and food. Wednesday, April 15, 7 p.m.

CELTIC CROSSING

LECTURE

Mother of Calcutta

65 Wear down DOWN 1 Coppertone stats, for short 2 Mötley ___

3 Peewee

4 Prefix meaning “one”

5 Most widely spoken native language of India, after Hindi 6 Toboggan, e.g.

L’s meaning, in box scores

Aladdin’s monkey sidekick

Hanukkah display

Asian gambling mecca

Refuge in the desert

Suffix in many English county names

Like a thief’s loot

Like a thief’s loot, slangily

23 “Beats me!”

24 Dutch artist known for his “impossible” drawings 25 Gore and Capone, for two 26 “I think,” in textspeak 27 Low-___ diet

Brainchild 29 Drinks

Munch and Learn: Clematis - The Divine Vine

Enjoy lunch and this lecture from Linda Orton, master gardener and avid clematis grower. Wednesday, April 15, noon. THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

PERFORMING ARTS

Bambi & Friends

Burlesque and drag. Sunday, April 12, 9 p.m.

LAMPLIGHTER LOUNGE

Song of the Nightingale is 50-minute fable presented by U of M Opera asks questions about what we do with beautiful things. In English. Free. Friday, April 10, 7 p.m. | Saturday, April 11, 7 p.m. HARRIS CONCERT HALL

SPORTS

Harlem Globetrotters: The 100 Year Tour

See these leaders in breaking barriers and making history. Sunday, April 12, 1 p.m. LANDERS CENTER

THEATER

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom It’s 1927, and Ma Rainey, the “Mother of the Blues,” is in a rundown Chicago studio recording new versions of her classic hits. Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m. | Saturday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m. HATTILOO THEATRE

Seussical

Journey with the characters of Dr. Seuss through themes of friendship and community. ursday, April 9, 7 p.m. | Friday, April 10, 7 p.m. | Saturday, April 11, 2 p.m. | Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m.

CIRCUIT PLAYHOUSE

We Saw You.

with MICHAEL DONAHUE

V isitors to Art by Design dreamed about walking in somebody else’s shoes — if those shoes walked around in beautifully designed interiors with amazing furniture and artwork.

Designers, artists, and creative professionals were on hand at the event held March 25th through 29th at Agricenter International.

e curated series of events and presentations featured members of Memphis’ interior design community as well as members of the local arts scene.

above: (le to right) Chase Wyatt, Wade Bonds; Cameron and Andrea Maddox circle: Marcus Moss

below: (le to right) Christyna and Rico Morgan; Robbie Johnson Weinberg; Carl Bledsoe; Meade Carlisle

bottom row: (le to right) Caleb Sweazy and Kyle Taylor; Barbara Spinosa, Karen Billions, Ragan Magness, Sherry Edmundson

By Michael Donahue

Ray Mah Cafe to Open

Let’s have another cup of co ee.

Ibraham Almuntser likes a good cup of co ee. So he turned an 8,500-square-foot space into Ray Mah Cafe, a luxurious co ee shop/ cafe with marble walls and oors, elegant modern furniture and lighting, and stainless steel top-of-the-line La Marzocco equipment from Italy.

Walking through the restaurant, Almuntser, 47, points out espresso machines, co ee bean grinders, ice machines (one for cubed and one for crushed ice), and, to top it o , a $75,000 dome-shaped oven for baking bread.

ey also are going to roast their own beans at Ray Mah Cafe. “You see there with the glass? We’re going to put the roasters there,” he says.

e cafe at 3895 Hacks Cross Road is slated to open in early May. “We’re going to specialize in co ee, ice cream, and fresh juice,” Almuntser says. “We’re also going to have a full breakfast.”

Express.” ey began working on the building, which once housed an Applebee’s, last summer.

Almuntser moved to Red Banks, Mississippi in the 1990s. “I came down South to go to school,” he says. “I have my master’s in business. And I decided to stay. I met a sweetheart and I got married. I have seven kids. I have two in medical school.”

He also wanted to open a co ee shop. “I traveled to di erent states and I saw so many co ee shops,” he says. He also looked at shops in Paris, England, and South America.

Almuntser, whose go-to is “a good Ethiopian mix,” began drinking co ee when he was ve years old. Before that, he chewed the sweet, juicy husks that contained the co ee beans from the trees on his family’s farm in Yemen. “You get addicted to having a good cup of co ee,” he says.

ey also will feature a variety of desserts. “We’re working with a cake designer,” he says. “She will bake and make the sweets here on site.”

Almuntser, who owns the restaurant with Abdul Daras and Yassar Fidel, named the cafe a er the co ee-producing region in Yemen. Almuntser, whose family is from Yemen, grew up in California.

“I’m telling you, we kind of went crazy getting this place to look good for students to come do their homework in a good environment. Or FedEx employees to have their business meetings,”

In addition to Yemeni co ee, Ray Mah Cafe will feature specialty co ees from other parts of the world, including Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Africa, and Asia. “ is is our rst co ee shop,” Almuntser says. “We went in big. We wanted the best of the best co ee beans.”

Almuntser, a local developer with businesses in Mississippi and Tennessee, says, “I’m usually on the real estate part. I invest in the property and lease it. But on this one, I wanted to run it. Just a place to hang out.” Opening a co ee shop wasn’t just a whim. “I had been planning to open a good co ee shop here for the last ve years.” He almost bought a spot that once housed a steakhouse at 5000 Poplar, but somebody else got it.

“I did my research and I found out this is also a good spot. We’re in the county, right o the interstate. You have Collierville nearby and Mississippi three miles away. You have Germantown. You have the headquarters of Federal

He has no plans to move from Red Banks, where he’s a force in the community, having donated money to the Red Banks Baptist Church to build a soccer eld on seven and a half acres. He also bought the old Clancy’s Cafe, which he will reopen as a restaurant, as well as the building that now houses a clinic. “It’s called Crossroads Health. We’re going to do the grand opening April 17th,” he says of the latter. Almuntser has also talked to banks about opening branches in Red Banks, and a dentist is considering opening his o ce there, he says.

He believes in giving back to the community. But co ee is the number one subject currently on Almuntser’s mind. He already has plans to franchise Ray Mah Cafe. “We’re thinking our next location is going to be in Oxford. And we also have folks out of state that are asking to get our franchise. But we wanted to open and see the concept, what we could add, and make it work for the long term before we branch out.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The current phase of your destiny could disturb you if you’re not super patient. Life seems to be teasing you with promises that then go into hiding. You’ve been having to master the art of living on the edge between the BIG RED YES and the GREY MURKY NO. My advice: Imagine your predicament as an intriguing riddle, not a frustrating ambiguity. See if you can figure out how to grow wiser and stronger in response to the evasive mysteriousness. My prediction: You will grow wiser and stronger.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Why it’s always triple-great to be a Gemini, drawing on an abundance of mercurial wisdom: 1. You excel at the art of translation and are skilled at finding common ground between different realms. You can oscillate and flow between the lyrical and the pragmatic, the insightful and the comic, the detailed focus and the big picture. 2. You know that consistency is overrated. Your capacity to harbor multiple perspectives is a superpower. 3. You get to be both the question and the answer, proving that wholeness includes all the fragments. All the aptitudes I just named should be your featured approaches in the coming weeks.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The saga of Troy is one of the most renowned tales from ancient Greece. Yet the fabled setting of Homer’s epic tale, The Iliad, was a settlement of just seven acres. Let that detail resound for you in the coming weeks. It’s an apt metaphor for what’s taking shape in your life. A seemingly modest situation could become the stage for a mythic turning point. An experience that starts small may grow into a story of immense and lasting significance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Many people have a favorite number they regard as lucky. Some choose it because it showed up at a major turning point in their life. Others derive it from their birthday or from the numerology of their name. Plenty are drawn to “master numbers” like 33, 77, or 99. Personally, I give three numbers my special love: 555, the square root of -2, and 1.61803, also known as the golden ratio in Fibonacci-related patterns. I hope this nudges your imagination, Leo. Your fortunes are shifting now in the direction of an unusual kind of luck, so it’s a potent moment to select a new lucky number. I suggest that you also choose a new guiding animal, a fresh initiation name, and a charged symbol to serve as your personal emblem.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Do you know what ignorance is causing you to suffer? Is there a teacher or teaching that could provide an antidote? I suspect you are very close to attracting or stumbling upon the guidance you need to escape the fog:

By Rob Brezsny

maybe a therapist who can help you undo a hurtful pattern, a mentor to inspire your quest to do work you long to do, or a spiritual friend who reminds you that you’re not merely your latest drama. Your task in the coming weeks is not to obsess on fixing everything at once, but to seek one or two sources of wisdom that illuminate your blind spots and educate your heart.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I’m an honorary Libra, with three planets and my lunar north node in your sign. So I speak with authority when I declare that fostering harmony, which is a Libran gift, is only superficially about smoothing away friction and asymmetry. More importantly, it’s about rearranging reality so that beauty is a central feature. The goal is to accomplish practical wonders by stimulating grace and fluency. When I’m best expressing my Libra qualities, I don’t ask how I can please everyone, but rather, how I can serve maximum goodness and intelligence. Here’s another tip to being a potent Libra: Know that your enchanting charm is a lubricant for the truth, not mere decoration. Here’s your homework: Beautify one system you use every day so it serves you with less friction and more pleasure.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are potentially an expert in creative destruction. You have a knack for eliminating what’s unnecessary and even obstructive. What has outlived its usefulness? You’re prone to home in on energy drains and unleash transformative energy. And yes, this intensity of yours may unnerve people who prefer comfortable numbness — but not me. I love for you to exult in your talent for locating beauty and truth that are too complicated for others. I applaud you when you descend into the darkness to retrieve dicey treasures. PS: You’re not shadowy or negative. You’re a specialist in the authentic love that refuses to enable delusion or sanction decay.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): My Sagittarian friend Artemisia bemoans “the scarcity of collective delight.” She wishes there were more public acclaim for stories about breakthrough joys, miraculous marvels, and surprising healings. Why are we so riveted by reports of misery, malaise, and muck, yet so loath to recognize and celebrate everything that’s working really well? She also mourns the odd habit among some educated folks to mistake cynicism for brilliance. If you don’t mind, Sagittarius, I’m assigning you to be an antidote in the coming weeks. Your task is to gather an overflowing harvest of lavish pleasure, fun epiphanies, and richly meaningful plot twists. Don’t hoard any of it. Spread it around to everyone you encounter.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Id” is a psychoanalytic term. It’s the part of the

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Unexpected deliverance? Lucky rides? Beginner’s grace? Dreamy, gleaming replacements? To the untrained eye, it may look like you are bending cosmic law in your favor. In truth, you’re simply redeeming the backlog of blessings you earned in the past — acts of quiet generosity and unselfish hardship that never got their proper reward. Serendipitous leaps? Divine detours? Shortcuts to victory? Welcome the uncanny gifts, Aries, even if they’re not what you expected.

psyche where basic instincts, needs, and drives reside. On the one hand, the id supplies a huge charge of psychic energy. On the other hand, it mostly operates outside conscious awareness. Consider the implications: The fierce, pulsing center of your life force is largely hidden from you. Most of the time, that veil is protective. Encountering the id directly can be overwhelming or unsettling. But in the coming weeks, you Capricorns are poised to cultivate a more interesting and righteous relationship with your high-voltage core. Do you dare? Treat your id as a brilliant but untamed creature. Extend a careful, curious invitation for it to show you more about itself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In architecture, a “clerestory” is a high window that brings light into a space without compromising privacy. It illuminates without exposing. I suggest that you find metaphorical equivalents for clerestories, Aquarius. Look for ways to let spaciousness and brightness into your world without disturbing your boundaries. Your assignment is to avoid swinging between total lockdown and overexposure. The best option: strategic vulnerability and selective transparency. Allow people to see selected parts of you without giving them access to everything. Be both open and discriminating.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In 1903, the Wright brothers flew a primitive model of the first airplane. How did they prepare the way for their spectacular milestone? Their workshop was a bicycle shop, not a high-tech, state-of-the-art lab. By building and fixing bikes, they learned key insights about flying machines. The lesson for you, Pisces, is that mastery in one area may be transferable to breakthroughs in another. With this in mind, I invite you to evaluate how your current skills, including those you take for granted, might be repurposed. Methods you developed in one context could solve problems in another. You shouldn’t underestimate the value of what you already know.

By Chris McCoy

County on the Edge of Forever

Star Trek Day highlights connections between Memphis and the beloved sci- series.

For the last week, the world has watched the Artemis II astronauts y by the moon. It’s the rst time in 54 years human beings have ventured beyond Earth’s orbit. Back in the late 1960s, no TV show was more heavily associated with, or more in uential on, the space program than Star Trek. In 1967, while the original series was running on NBC, scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory wore Spock ears as they monitored the Mariner V probe’s yby of Venus. Shelby County is the only place in the world that has an annual Star Trek Day, says Steven Mulroy, Shelby County District Attorney and founder of the celebration. “Well, it started as a lark. My last o cial act as a Shelby County Commissioner was to declare my birthday Star Trek Day in Shelby County the following year. And then, the local Trek community convinced me to actually commemorate it with an event. e next year, we had County Commissioner Reginald Milton do another proclamation to make it permanent, and we have been doing a

mini convention on Shelby County Star Trek Day in April every year since. It’s just gotten bigger and bigger every year.” is year’s celebration will be on Sunday, April 12th at Neil’s Music Room. ere will be a costume contest, vendors with Trek merch, a trivia contest, and themed drinks and dishes. “You’ll be able to eat fried tribble and Klingon gagh, and wash it down with Romulan ale and Klingon blood wine,” says Mulroy. “We’ll also have some fun interactive things, which I think are the highlight of the day for many of the fans. e Memphis Improv Alliance is going to be using prompts from the audience and some audience volunteers to come up with a build-yourown Star Trek episode.”

Commercial Appeal lm and entertainment writer John Beifuss will dig into the latest Trek series, Star eet Academy, which leads to the a ernoon’s special guest. Cirroc Lo on, who played Jake Sisko, son of Captain Sisko, on Deep Space Nine, will Zoom in for a Q&A with the fans. Lo on recently reprised the role of Jake as an adult on Star eet Academy. As

Charlie “Star Trek” Washburn (center) with Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner.

part of the Trektivism movement, Station Shelby, the local Trek fan club chapter, will be raising money for pancreatic cancer charity PanCAN.

Memphis lmmaker Chad Allen

Barton, a producer for the Library Channel, will be on hand to show clips from his new documentary about little-known Memphis connections to Star Trek. His yet-to-be-titled documentary will tell the

thursdays 6pM-10pM

stories of Memphians who have worked or appeared on Star Trek over the years. One of Barton’s subjects is Charlie Washburn, the first Black person to work as an assistant director in Hollywood. One of Washburn’s earliest jobs after film school was on the original Star Trek series, before he went on to a long and fruitful career in film and television, including a long association with Sidney Poitier. Barton says he found Washburn’s son Charles just in time, as he was preparing to donate his father’s papers to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Barton got access to the materials, which included an extensive interview with Charlie before he passed, for his documentary. “When he would answer the phone on set, he would say, ‘Charlie, Star Trek’ Because that was the set that he was on. So his nickname

became ‘Charlie Star Trek!’”

For Barton, Star Trek Day is a celebration of the ideals the show’s fans have embraced over the years. “I’ve seen basically everything Star Trek related, including the animated series and all the little weird ancillary things. Star Trek is hope. With all of this stuff happening right now, watching Artemis II take off is like that, too. It’s your hope looking towards the future, and you’re hopeful for a moment that maybe things will get better, and that maybe we’ll all start working together. Because essentially, when you boil it down, that’s what Star Trek is about — at some point, people will set aside their selfish concerns and work together.”

Shelby County Star Trek Day will beam in to Neil’s Music Room on Sunday, April 12th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

901-575-9400

LEGAL NOTICES

BLACK 2016 DODGE

Challenger Shaker/RT Plus.

VIN # 2C3CDZBT3GH226072

If anyone has any interest in this vehicle, contact me at 901-340-4493.

EMPLOYMENT

HYOSUNG HICO, LTD.

Hyosung HICO, Ltd. has an opening for a full-time Sr. Test Lab Engineer - 2nd Shift (M-F 4p-12:30p) in Memphis, TN 38109. Duties include but are not limited to leading testing of power transformers; troubleshoot and diagnose testing equipment problems; prepare detailed test plans based on customer specification, test specification, nameplate, control drawings; maintain/ repair test equipment & ensure equipment is calibrated; ensure engineering changes are acted upon as required and communicate nonconformances to the quality assurance department. Provide work leadership

and train junior engineers and test technicians. Prepare failure reports, provide technical expertise to MRB teams to troubleshoot and solve transformer testing issues; support of ongoing business activities such as the ISO-9001 program, daily and routine manufacturing and QC inspection issues, and lean manufacturing initiatives, internal audits, customer visits or field assessments, testing issues or general QA/QC procedural matters. Assist with on-the-job training in the areas of testing. Bachelor’s or its foreign equivalent in Electrical or Electronics Engineering or related engineering field. Plus 5 years experience in transformer testing in heavy industries or utilities. Also needed are experience in Quality Assurance and Manufacturing Department procedures, performing electrical power tests, using inspection tools, instruments and equipment and performing test equipment and tool inspections and calibration. Up to 10% international or domestic travel for training/conferences. Email resumes to: careers@hyosung.com

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BUY, SELL, TRADE

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ORDER OF PUBLICATION

In the CHANCERY COURT of Shelby County, Tennessee No. CH-23-1348

PRINCETON HEIGHTS, LLC & VOLUNTEER BUYERS, GP Plaintiff(s)

V. JOYCE FASON, TONI LESTER, GEORGIA WALKER, HEIRS OF FRANCES F. WALKER, HEIRS OF GEORGE WALKER & ANY KNOWN AND UNKNOWN HEIRS Defendant(s)

It appearing from the complaint in this cause which is sworn to that:

There are parties known and unknown and as prayed for in the Petition to Quiet Title filed on October 16, 2023, as to all previous owners of 5007 Wilburn Ave, Memphis, Tennessee 38117.

SOUTHEAST

Plaintiff(s) V.

JIMMY L. WARREN, AND KNOWN AND UNKNOWN OWNERS

Defendant(s)

It appearing from the complaint in this cause which is sworn to that:

There are parties known and unknown and as prayed for in the Petition to Quiet Title filed on June 13, 2025, as to all previous owners of 0 Williams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38126.

It is therefore ordered that they make themselves appearance herein at the court House of Shelby County, in the city of Memphis, Shelby County, TN on May 11, 2026 and answer plaintiffs complaint for Petition to Quiet Title or the same will be taken for confessed as to defendant(s), and set for hearing ex parte, and that a copy of this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in the Memphis Flyer.

This 9th day of March, 2026.

A True Copy - Attest: W. Aaron Hall, Clerk & Master By Jocelyn V. Henderson

Jocelyn V. Henderson

Attorney for Petitioner

Mar. 19, 26 and Apr. 2, 9 2026

IN

/VW/PORSCHE Factory Trained Experience Independent Prices 5331 Summer Ave. Memphis, TN 38122 (901) 761-3443 www.WolfsburgAuto.com

It is therefore ordered that they make themselves appearance herein at the court House of Shelby County, in the city of Memphis, Shelby County, TN on May 25, 2026 and answer plaintiffs complaint for Petition to Quiet Title or the same will be taken for confessed as to defendant(s), and set for hearing ex parte, and that a copy of this order be published once a week for four successive weeks in the Memphis Flyer. This 26th day of March, 2026

A True Copy – Attest:

W. Aaron Hall, Clerk & Master By Jocelyn V. Henderson

Jocelyn V. Henderson

Attorney for Petitioner

Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 2026

Memphis Housing Has a Math Problem

Here’s how to solve it.

Memphis housing has a math problem. e cost to build a new home in many of our core neighborhoods runs $15,000 to $30,000 more than the home will appraise for once it’s done. at gap between what it costs to build and what the market will pay is why builders won’t build; why vacant lots stay vacant; and why Mayor Young’s goal of 10,000 new units by 2030 can only succeed if we change the equation.

It’s important to note that this didn’t happen overnight. Memphis kept annexing outward — Frayser, Raleigh, Whitehaven — chasing tax revenue that never covered the long-term cost of those new streets, schools, and pipes. Meanwhile, core neighborhoods aged, families with means moved to the next ring of suburbs, and nobody reinvested inward. When one house on a block falls into disrepair, it drags down every neighbor’s land value. Local urban studies experts say one abandoned property cuts roughly $7,500 in value from surrounding lots. Multiply that across the 25,000 vacant lots in the city and you understand why entire ZIP codes have lost their economic footing.

One of the most common paths to abandonment is one that Habitat for Humanity’s Aging In Place repair program sees consistently: a roof leak. Unaddressed water damage spirals into structural failure. Eventually the home is condemned, then demolished. Each demolition adds to those 25,000 vacant lots. Once land values sink low enough, it becomes impossible to build a new home that appraises for what it costs to construct. Even nonpro t builders can’t make the math work. One roof leak becomes a damaging neighborhood-level economic event.

When new home construction stops, so does population growth. And when population declines, economic activity follows. Businesses look for “beds and heads.” If people aren’t moving in, neither are they.

And those vacant lots don’t just sit there. e research is unambiguous: Vacant and abandoned properties are engines of crime. Studies from Philadelphia found that blocks with unsecured vacant buildings had more than three times as many drug calls, nearly twice as many the calls, and twice as many violent calls as comparable blocks without them. In Philadelphia, when vacant lots were cleaned up and maintained, nearby gun violence dropped by 29 percent. e same pattern shows up city a er city. Vacant lots are both an economic and a public safety issue. A program that systematically converts them into occupied homes is, among other things, a crime reduction strategy. ere is an excellent and proven example of a path out. In 2000, Philadelphia faced the same crisis — population loss, a hollowed-out core, and roughly 36,000 vacant lots. e city adopted a simple, citywide 10-year property tax abatement on new residential construction. Here’s their mechanism: When a buyer knows their property taxes will be signi cantly reduced for a decade, that future savings gets folded into what they’re willing to pay today. Appraisers adjust accordingly. Suddenly a home that cost $300,000 to build could actually sell for at least $300,000 and likely more. Construction permits tripled almost immediately. According to an American Enterprise Institute study, over the following two decades, Philadelphia added more than 60,000 new housing units, reversed ve decades of population decline, and saw median household incomes rise sharply. e program cost the city almost nothing upfront, and its long-term property tax base expanded dramatically as those abatements expired.

Detroit’s recent experience con rms the lesson. Every single-family home built in Detroit since 2019 was constructed inside a tax abatement zone. Even a partial abatement — Detroit’s covers 50 percent of property taxes for 15 years — turns out to be a prerequisite for private construction in distressed neighborhoods. Without it, building simply doesn’t happen.

Memphis can do the same, with a two-part plan. First, dedicated public funding for home preservation, which keeps occupied homes out of the roof-leak-to-demolition pipeline, is relatively low cost ($18,000 per repair) and stabilizes neighborhood land values from the bottom. Second, a meaningful property tax abatement on new residential construction on vacant lots changes the math so that nonpro t builders like Habitat can break even, laying the foundation for traditional builders to make a pro t again. Paired with the city’s new zoning map that could expand what can be built in core neighborhoods, these two tools create the conditions for a genuine housing renaissance. Instead of relying only on a few massive developments, we can spark thousands of small bets made by builders who nally see the nances pencil out. is program would change the economic calculus that has kept abandoned places forgotten. It’s about making Memphis competitive with its own suburbs. It’s about fewer vacant lots breeding crime on blocks where families are trying to live. It’s about rebuilding wealth in neighborhoods that have been le behind. It’s about believing in ourselves enough to bet on our own people.

Because nobody’s got us like us.

Zachary Amos is Associate Director, Advocacy & Public Policy, at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis.

and abandoned properties are engines of