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South
Planning District
About South
South District is a place where residents enjoy a sustainable and desirable community, where heritage assets are protected and used as catalysts for economic and cultural opportunities. The South planning district is supported by appropriate infrastructure, improved pedestrian facilities, quality housing, well connected parks, and community assets, and has innovative community spaces and entertainment.
South District Workshop #1 -
What We Heard
District Priorities
Community Feedback
Existing Priorities
Recommended Priorities​​
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Strategically address blight and vacancy with a mix of building redevelopment and open space and agricultural uses
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Community feedback emphasized the need to address blight and vacancy through various approaches. Residents supported mixed-use redevelopment, including the addition of commercial spaces, alongside open spaces and agricultural uses such as community gardens. Some residents specifically noted that vacant parcels in disrepair were more prevalent than maintained vacant properties and supported redevelopment initiatives. There was consensus around maintaining the existing priority framework while adding accountability measures for vacant landowners to ensure proper property maintenance.
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Address blight and vacancy through mixed-use redevelopment, commercial spaces, community gardens, and open spaces, while ensuring landowner accountability.
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Improve pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to increase accessibility and support multi-modal transportation options
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Community members highlighted significant concerns about pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. Residents emphasized safety issues, recommending speed bumps and improved crosswalks, particularly near schools. They also identified specific maintenance problems including overgrown vegetation on sidewalks, particularly near Trigg Ave & James, along with broken and discontinued pedestrian facilities and bridges. Other feedback suggested broadening the existing priority to place pedestrian and cycling improvements within a comprehensive accessibility framework that includes universal/ADA accessibility and public transportation options like the Ready! Bus service.
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Enhance accessibility through multi-modal transportation, including improved pedestrian safety, maintained sidewalks, ADA-compliant infrastructure, cycling paths, and public transit
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Promote affordable high quality multi-family development
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​Community members expressed concerns about the current state of multi-family housing in the district, noting that while there is an abundance of supply, much of it is in disrepair, which discourages residency and contributes to property vacancy.. Additional feedback recommended explicitly incorporating anti-discrimination and fair housing practices into the existing priority statement on affordable multi-family development to ensure equitable housing opportunities for all residents.
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Promote affordable, high-quality multi-family development that aligns with anti-discrimination fair housing practices, while addressing existing housing disrepair and encouraging homeownership opportunities
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Encourage active Code Enforcement around Commercial Centers and Civic Assets
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Community members largely agreed with this priority. Community members advocated for improved code enforcement practices, particularly around commercial centers and civic assets. Residents highlighted specific environmental concerns, including the need to address dumping sites and enhance street cleaning services with regular street sweepers. There was also a strong emphasis on equity in code enforcement, with calls for increased attention to code violations on private properties. Additionally, residents suggested expanding community outreach efforts through PJA meetings to better engage the public in code enforcement initiatives and awareness.
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Strengthen equitable code enforcement around commercial centers and civic assets, addressing dumping sites, street cleaning, and private property violations
N/A
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No significant feedback from the community members at WS-1
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​Assess, remediate, and address environmental impacts of industrial use, including brownfields and former sterilization sites, to protect public health and enable sustainable real estate development
N/A
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No significant feedback from the community members at WS-1
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Repurpose and redevelop closed school buildings to serve community needs.
Anchors
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Provide incentives to small and
minority-owned businesses to locate in commercial districts with high vacancies.
Community members are concerned about overgrown lots but are excited about seeing some new investments in homes and business in the area. Community members see this as the Gateway into South District
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Mainstreet
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Recommended Land Use Type: Neighborhood Mainstreet
Neighborhood Mainstreet describes walkable, mixed-use centers with house-scale buildings lining main streets, serving as moderate-intensity anchors for surrounding neighborhoods.
While this serves as a gateway into the neighborhood the goal is for it to remain a walkable asset and community members expressed the impact that this area has had on the surrounding areas for this reason. We want to give it the Anchor designation over the Gateway Designation.
1. THIRD & CRUMP
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Work with local organizations and
private developers to incentivize
affordable housing with infill. -
Apply traffic calming measures such as speed bumps.
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Provide minor upgrades to parks and community centers.
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This anchor serves as a critical anchor point for the entire district, connecting multiple neighborhoods and development zones.
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The upcoming agrotourism program near Lauderdale and Laclede Avenue represents a significant development opportunity, with Knowledge Quest planning retail shops, corner stores, farms, and homes.
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Safety concerns exist regarding the current infrastructure, specifically the need for better visible speed bumps.
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The presence of unused vacant lots represents untapped potential for community development.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Mainstreet
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Recommended Anchor Type: Neighborhood Mainstreet
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Anchor Neighborhood Mainstreet describes Walkable, mixed-use centers with house-scale buildings lining main streets, serving as moderate-intensity anchors for surrounding neighborhoods.
This designation addressed the desire for walkability and growth.
2. MISSISSIPPI & WALKER
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Work with local housing agencies to promote TDHA Hardest-Hit Fund Down Payment.
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Improve accessibility and mobility
options to connect single unit neighborhoods with anchors and
public assets. -
Install medians with native grasses along major corridors.
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Improve Belz Park with neighborhood supporting amenities.
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Support high quality, affordable
multifamily housing. -
Encourage small and local businesses to inhabit vacant commercial space within anchors.
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Identify financial resources to support existing businesses.
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Encourage placemaking and beautification within anchors and connected corridors.
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Community members were largely okay with this being an anchor they just want to address some of the safety concerns in the area. Some community members asking for Cameras to be installed.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Mainstreet
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Recommended Anchor Type: Neighborhood Mainstreet
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Anchor Neighborhood Mainstreet describes Walkable, mixed-use centers with house-scale buildings lining main streets, serving as moderate-intensity anchors for surrounding neighborhoods.
This designation will encourage more eyes on the street addressing the community concern for vigilance here
3. THIRD 7 BELZ/ MALLORY HEIGHTS
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Work with local housing agencies to promote TDHA Hardest-Hit Fund Down Payment.
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Design and construct off-street shared use path adjacent to the Nonconnah Creek.
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Assess vacant land around anchor for strategic land assembly.
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Getwell and Sharpe is a commercial corridor containing high and low commercial uses. Community members expressed concerns about pedestrian safety, particularly for children walking to school from neighborhoods west of the anchor. They also highlighted the need for better connectivity between Sharpe Elementary School and Albert O’Brien Park. Additionally, they noted a high concentration of tire repair and auto shops on Getwell Rd., along with significant commercial vacancies north of the anchor. As a result, they requested a study of the Getwell corridor.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Main Street
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Recommended Anchor Type: Neighborhood Main Street
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Getwell & Sharpe is an integral commercial corridor containing many high and low intensity uses. A Neighborhood Main Street designation would promote the development of safer pedestrian thoroughfares and continued commercial development.
4. LAUDERDALE & MALLORY
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Incentivize façade and landscaping improvements at commercial locations.
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Work with local housing agencies to promote TDHA Hardest-Hit Fund Down Payment.
Participants emphasized the importance of better urban design and adaptive reuse. They also noted a long-closed commercial establishments north of Barron Ave and suggested promoting local businesses to establish there.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Main Street
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Recommended Anchor Type: Neighborhood Main Street
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Participants emphasized the need for adaptive reuse and urban design and infill development of commercial space. The Neighborhood Main Street Anchor would promote increased adaptive reuse that would allow for mixed-use development featuring retail and community spaces. This aligns with the resident’s desire for the infill development of vacant commercial space.
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5. LAUDERDALE & ROSEWOOD
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Identify resources for home repairs.
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Support local block clubs or district ambassadors to fulfill landscaping and litter pick up.
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This is the location of Lemoyne-Owen College, Community members see this as a great location and community asset.
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Existing Anchor Type: Urban Center
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Recommended Land Use Type: Medical and Institutional Campus
Anchor- Medical and Institutional Campus, describes walkable hospital and university campuses that catalyze activity in adjacent mixed-use areas, serving as anchors for medical and educational institutions.
6. NEPTUNE & WALKER
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Incentivize affordable housing with infill.
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Provide wayfinding along Elvis Presley to guide traffic to Soulsville/Stax.
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Residents raised concerns about pedestrian and traffic safety at the Lamar/Kimball/Pendleton intersection, as well as inadequate lighting and traffic signals at Lamar and Kimball. Lamar’s role as a freight road creates discomfort for cyclists. The neighborhood lacks public spaces, youth-focused investments, and gathering areas. Cherokee Park access is hidden and needs improvement.
There is potential for affordable multi-family housing at Kimball and Lamar, but the area already has abandoned apartments. Residents suggested developing small shopping centers with a grocery store and emphasized the need for more neighborhood grocery options while discouraging auto-oriented businesses. Additionally, the burnt-down apartment south of Kimball Ave near the Harriet Performance Center was identified as a major concern.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Main Street
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Recommended Anchor Type: Neighborhood Main Street
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The Lamar & Kimball corridor is an important commercial anchor for the Lamar District. The Neighborhood Main Street designation will further solidify the area as a hub of retail and housing with strategic investment in pedestrian infrastructure, mixed-use development, public spaces, and local business growth. ​
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7. SOULSVILLE
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Work with local organizations and
private developers to incentivize
affordable housing with infill. -
Advance implementation time frame for the South Memphis Greenline.
Residents view the anchor as an important focal point. They emphasized the need for grocery and food access, requested an urgent care facility, and highlighted the necessity of a nearby police station for security.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Main Street
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Recommended Anchor Type: Neighborhood Main Street
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The residents' priorities for grocery and food access, an urgent care facility, and a nearby police station align well with this concept, as a Neighborhood Main Street is designed to support diverse local businesses, essential services, and a safe, pedestrian-friendly environment.
8. KERR & GAITHER
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Prioritize sidewalk infrastructure along Elvis Presley.
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Create attractive gateway that enforces community character.
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Update Alcy Warren Park to provide improved amenities for youth.
Community members have expressed several priorities for this area, including curtailing auto-oriented development by prohibiting new gas stations and limiting similar businesses along Elvis Presley from Mallory to 240. They want enhanced gateway features at Alcy Barron Park through welcome signage and public art installations. Pedestrian safety is a major concern, with residents calling for missing sidewalks to be installed along Elvis Presley, better sidewalk maintenance, and ADA accessibility for all new developments. Environmental issues are also important, particularly addressing illegal dumping on Hernando Road near the interstate. The community wants action on blighted commercial properties along Elvis Presley Boulevard and improved landscape maintenance throughout the area, highlighting concerns about beautification and neglect by property owners. These priorities collectively reflect a vision for a more pedestrian-friendly, aesthetically pleasing neighborhood with stronger community identity.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Mainstreet
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Recommended Land Use Type: Commercial Services Low (Gateway)
Neighborhood Mainstreet describes walkable, mixed-use centers with house-scale buildings lining main streets, serving as moderate-intensity anchors for surrounding neighborhoods.
Commercial Services Low describes- Low-rise, auto-oriented commercial areas with house- or block-scale buildings, providing neighborhood-supporting retail and services.
This designation is the best fits the pedestrian friendly neighborhood identity that residents wanted to see here. The Gateway designation would allow for the feeling of entering a distinct neighborhood.
*After the South District Workshop, we added the Category of Neighborhood Commercial Services and the Gateway designation. Retroactively the planning team believes that this would be a better fit. We will engage further with community for feedback.
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9. ELVIS PRESLEY & ALCY
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
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Provide incentives to small and
minority-owned businesses to locate in commercial districts with high vacancies.
Community members have raised specific concerns about the Alcy Ball intersection area, focusing on two primary issues. First, they worry about water contamination from nearby industrial properties and its potential negative impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Second, they desire greater investment in local school infrastructure. These priorities reflect both environmental health concerns and a commitment to improving educational facilities for area residents.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Crossing
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Recommended Anchor Type: Low Commercial Services
Commercial Services Low describes- Low-rise, auto-oriented commercial areas with house- or block-scale buildings, providing neighborhood-supporting retail and services.
Airways Blvd is not walkable especially right before the interstate exchange. Neighborhood Crossing is not an appropriate designation but designating the area as a gateway allows us to highlight the entrance the neighborhood as a distinct location. And it serves as a gateway into the city for people coming from the airport.
*After the South District Workshop, we added the Gateway designation. Retroactively the planning team believes that this would be a better fit. We will engage further with community for feedback.
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10. ALCY BALL AREA (AIRWAYS & KETCHUM)
Existing Anchor Actions
Summary of Community Feedback
Anchor Type
N/A
Community members largely approved of this anchor. The would like to see the abandoned properties redeveloped as mixed use and affordable housing particularly for seniors in the community.
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Existing Anchor Type: Neighborhood Crossing
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Recommended Anchor Type: Neighborhood Crossing
Anchor Neighborhood Crossing describes Small, walkable mixed-use centers with house-scale buildings embedded within residential neighborhoods, providing convenient services and community gathering spaces.
This designation should address the desire to see mixed use neighborhood scale development.
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11. MISSISSIPPI & GEORGIA
Summary of Community Feedback
Analysis
Recommendation
Community members expressed the need for an addition anchor on the Westside of the South District. They first identified Riverside and Mallory.
The area is surrounded by industrial uses but there is a neighborhood that is there and want to see development in the way that centers the neighborhood and not the industrial uses that surrounds the area.
The neighborhood used to have it’s own commercial areas.
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Residential Focus:
There is a community that has been a bit isolated due to a lot of surrounding industrial uses. They would like to have a center point of their neighborhood.
Industrial Development:
Near the actual intersection of Riverside and Mallory there are too many heavy industrial uses to be really strong anchor.
Walkability:
Just North of the that location at Riverside and 1st Ave is a commercial intersection that by its nature should be walkable especially for community members.
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Recommended FLU
Designation: Neighborhood Crossing
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Riverside and Mallory is best classified as and industrial (I) designation. It is described as high-intensity industrial areas with large-scale manufacturing and industrial uses, typically located near highways and freight infrastructure.
In contrast, Riverside and 1st is classified as an Anchor Neighborhood Crossing (A-NC). It is described as Small, walkable mixed-use centers with house-scale buildings embedded within residential neighborhoods, providing convenient services and community gathering spaces.
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An analysis of Industrial & Anchor Neighborhood Crossing is available here.
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12. RIVERSIDE & FIRST (MALLORY)
Summary of Community Feedback
Analysis
Recommendation
South Parkway came up at almost every table at the South Workshop 1. Community members
Mississippi Blvd
Community members pointed out that this is the location of the South Memphis Farmers Market and wanted to see improvements to the area.
Kansas
Community members Desire to see affordable housing in the large apartment complex that is located at the intersection
Third Street
Overpass feels hazardous and unsafe to both motorist and pedestrians. Community members would like to see better visibility
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Mississippi Blvd
This area has a farmers’ market, an historic church a restaurant and the area is filled with house scale buildings.
Kansas
There is a large housing community that is owned by the Memphis Housing Authority. Community members likely want it to be updated like other MHA properties have been.
Third Street
Most of the comments were about the overpass. The only comments about the future land use were about walkability and lowering the intensity of the commercial services that are located here.
Recommended FLU
Designation: Various designations
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Mississippi Blvd
Anchor- Neighborhood Mainstreet describes walkable, mixed-use centers with house-scale buildings lining main streets, serving as moderate-intensity anchors for surrounding neighborhoods.
Kansas
Neighborhood Multifamily describes Residential neighborhoods consisting primarily of multi-unit buildings located more than a 10-minute walk from any anchor destination.
Third Street
Anchor- Neighborhood Mainstreet describes walkable, mixed-use centers with house-scale buildings lining main streets, serving as moderate-intensity anchors for surrounding neighborhoods.
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13. SOUTH PARKWAY (THIRD ST, MISSISSIPPI BLVD, KANSAS)
Actions
The Memphis 3.0 Jackson Planning District goals focus on enhancing community goals and actions through a structured approach that categorizes actions into three main areas: Citywide, Community, and Anchor-specific goals. This organization aims to reflect neighborhood feedback and adapt to evolving community needs five years after the initial plan's conception. By aligning these goals with multiple themes, the plan seeks to foster a more vibrant and inclusive environment for all residents.
Theme
Community Feedback
Recommended Action Item
South District Goals and Actions
Community Development
Community members expressed concerns about the proliferation of unwanted businesses like title loan companies, tire shops, and dollar stores, along with fears of new development displacing current residents and questions regarding lack of public investment in annexed areas.
Strengthen zoning regulations, targeted economic development, affordable housing requirements, pollution reduction strategies, and investigation of public investment disparities in annexed areas.
Crime Reduction and Public Safety:
Community members expressed general crime concerns throughout all areas, along with specific requests for improved law and code enforcement near commercial centers and heightened public safety measures in certain neighborhoods.
Create safety improvements by increasing community policing presence, establishing neighborhood watch programs, enhancing street lighting in high-crime areas, creating youth engagement programs to prevent crime involvement, and developing a data-driven approach to identify and address crime patterns.
Public Space Maintenance and Beautification
Community members report concerns about maintenance of public spaces, including overgrown parks, unmaintained landscaping, facility upkeep issues, unpruned trees, and illegal dumping in various locations.
Implement regular maintenance for parks and green spaces, creating resident-driven beautification program, establishing dedicated cleanup crews for problem areas, installing surveillance at dumping sites, and conducting soil sampling at a local golf course.
Vacant Property Utilization
Residents expressed concerns about multiple vacant school buildings across different areas, emphasizing the need for comprehensive planning to address these empty facilities along with other blighted properties.
Develop a comprehensive strategy to address vacant school buildings and create developer incentives for property rehabilitation.
Traffic Safety and Infrastructure
Community members expressed concerns about traffic safety issues, including speeding throughout the district, inadequate pedestrian and bike infrastructure on major boulevards, traffic problems near a local park, and street racing.
Address traffic safety concerns by increasing traffic enforcement especially during peak hours, implementing stronger penalties for street racing, and assessing missing infrastructure like sidewalks and streetlights.
Citywide Goals and Actions
Crime Reduction and Public Safety:
Community members expressed general crime concerns throughout all areas, along with specific requests for improved law and code enforcement near commercial centers and heightened public safety measures in certain neighborhoods.
Create safety improvements by increasing community policing presence, establishing neighborhood watch programs, enhancing street lighting in high-crime areas, creating youth engagement programs to prevent crime involvement, and developing a data-driven approach to identify and address crime patterns.
Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning & Development
Comprehensive Planning Department
125 N Main Street, Ste 468
901-636-6601
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