Early Fall over the River

This time of year white pelicans, butterflies, and hummingbirds are flying south along the MS River to spend the winter near the Gulf of Mexico. Conservationist and outdoorsman Joe Royer sent this picture of the pelicans and recommends a visit to the River to watch. White pelicans are one of two species of pelicans in N. Am. They can weigh as much as 30lbs., and their wing spans can exceed 9’.

[Click here to read more...]

An Architectural Treat

FfOR Board member and architect, Jack Tucker was on hand Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Memphis Heritage/AIA Home Tour, to share stories about his mentor, architect Fay Jones, and to discuss the house's sense of space and detailing. The house, designed by Jones, is located at 5715 Sycamore Grove in East Memphis, and is curently the home of Barry and Anna Gildea.

Jones, an architect, educator and artist, received the AIA’s highest honor, the Gold Medal, in 1990 from the Prince of Wales and President of the United States. The following year Jones was ranked as one of the ten most influential living architects in a national survey conducted by the AIA.

An Arkansas native, Jones spent most of his career in the Ozark Mountains where he refined his own architectural style deeply influenced by regional forms and materials. Among his inspiring designs are Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

In 1962 work began on the featured Memphis home, which was designed for clients Jody and Sam Hunter. Completed in 1965, the 4,300 square foot home was the first residence built by Jones outside of Arkansas and the largest commission of his career at that time.


Current owners, Anna and Barry Gildea, and architect Jack Tucker, FAIA, who worked out of Fay Jones studio, were on hand from noon to 4 p.m. to share stories and speak on the architecture and interiors.
For more information on Jones's work, click here.

[Click here to read more...]

Let the Sunshine In

Taking the position that taxpayers have the right to know where their money is going, the City Council voted Tuesday that all records and meetings of quasi-governmental entities must be open to the public. The resolution applies to all groups that receive 30% of their funding from city, county, state, and/or federal governments or who make recommendations to the City Council on policy or administration.


The resolution applies to the Center City Commission, Center City Revenue Finance Corporation, Riverfront Development Corporation, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Memphis Housing Authority, Memphis and Shelby County Parking Authority, Industrial Development Board, Depot Redevelopment Corporation of Memphis and Shelby County, the Sports Authority of Memphis and Shelby County Incorporated, Memphis Light Gas and Water, and any other agency, board or commission that meets the definition outlined by T.C.A. 8-44-102.

In the past, some of these quasi-governmental bodies, including the Riverfront Development Corporation, have argued that their meetings and records were not open to the public.

The vote took place in the Personnel, Intergovernmental, Annexation Committee meeting chaired by Councilman Brent Taylor on Tuesday, Sept. 18. The resolution was sponsored by Dedrick Brittenum and passed unanimously by all Councilmembers in attendance: E. C. Jones, Madeleine Cooper Taylor, Carol Chumney, Edmund Ford, Barbara Swearengen Ware, Joe Brown, Henry Hooper, Myron Lowery, Scott McCormick, and Tom Marshall. Jack Sammons was absent.

[Click here to read more...]

Catch the Wave

What a great day we had for this year’s Cooper-Young Street Festival! Many of you, stopped by the FfOR booth to visit and sign the big postcard supporting a green riverfront, a clean harbor, and an economically thriving downtown. There were so many signatures, we stopped counting at 300. The national media and civic leaders around the country agree with you. Click here to read a recent article from the Wall Street Journal.

[Click here to read more...]