Beale Street Landing Underway

by Lynda Ireland

Over 200 Memphians gathered at the river under two large shade trees at the groundbreaking ceremony, highlighted by Reverend Benjamin Hooks’ blessing and Middle Baptist Church gospel choir’s lively rendition of “O Happy Day.” Mayor Willie W. Herenton mentioned a visit years ago by Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson who pointed out that Memphis has something Atlanta is missing: the Memphis riverfront.

Other speakers included RDC chairman Greg Duckett, City Councilor Barbara Ware whose 7th district includes the riverfront, and Captain William Lozier of Memphis Riverboats whose brief remarks concluded with a friendly horn blast from the Memphis Queen out in the channel. Speakers recognized Pat Kerr Tigrett as a pioneer in riverfront enhancement with the lighting of our Hernando DeSoto Bridge. A diverse audience was very enthusiastic, so perhaps other riverfront projects in which FfOR has strong interest, such as the Historic Cobblestone Landing, the Public Promenade, extending the Bluffwalk, and Mud Island River Park, may benefit from a groundswell of public awareness.

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Maurice Cox at Center City Commission

As Maurice Cox, NEA Director of Design, told the audience at yesterday's Center City Commission luncheon, "the goal is beautiful, livable, and integrated cities." The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) stands for excellence in art, one of which is urban design, and supports the growth and availability of art to all Americans.

He told the audience that "the collective dignity of Memphis begins at the river" and encouraged Memphians to "preserve the riverfront as a public living room of Memphis at all costs." Here are some highlights from his talk and suggestions for Memphis along with audio recordings.

Mr. Cox stressed that there is often a gap between people's values and the reality of how we are living that requires critical thinking and new learning. He gave examples from the Mayor's Institute program and from his own city, Charlottesville, VA. Faced with outward migration and strangulation by its growing suburbs, the community came together to define their values, refocused on creating an urban pedestrian downtown, and has today become one of the best places to live in America.
( Entire talk 36 mins, 6.3 MB )

Toward the end of his talk he gave some specific examples and ideas for Memphis. Three short clips for your consideration:

Louisville waterfront (2.5 mins, 425 KB)
He used Louisville as a success story. There, the Mayor held the line on development and turned the brownfield along the river into 100 green acres of public park.

Lessons for Memphis (2.5 mins. 442 KB)
Specific suggestions for Memphis.

Memphis Riverfront (1 min. 155 KB)
He closed with these words...

And then, lastly, the most memorable moment for me, visiting Memphis, was looking out at your extraordinary natural resource, and that's the river. And I would encourage you to preserve your riverfront as a public living room of Memphis - at all costs. [Applause] Because the collective dignity of Memphis begins at the river, and you should give it back to the public to whom it rightfully belongs. And with that I say to Memphis, thank you, and go out and please shape your world. Thank you.

BIO:
Maurice Cox
Director of Design, National Endowment for the Arts

In addition to his role as NEA's Director of Design, Maurice Cox is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Virginia School of Architecture and is a 2004-05 recipient of the Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.

He recently completed eight years on the Charlottesville (VA) City Council with the last two years as the City's mayor. As mayor, professor, and urbanist he was widely recognized as the principal urban designer of his City.

His reputation as a design leader and innovator led to his being featured in Fast Company, as one of America's "20 Masters of Design;" on CBS news magazine "60 Minutes;" in the documentary film This Black Soil; and in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Architecture Magazine -- all for his groundbreaking use of design as a catalyst for social change.

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Fireworks on the 4th in Tom Lee Park

The Red White and Blues Star Spangled Celebration, sponsored by FM 100 and the Beale Street Merchants Association, will bring fireworks, music, and family activities to Tom Lee Park on the 4th of July. Click here to learn more.

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2 events, 2 great speakers - July 8 & 10

Sustainable Shelby -- On July 8, at 2:30 pm, at the Botanic Garden, Mayor Wharton will role out the top ten sustainable goals for Shelby County – it’s the culmination of months of work by County staff and citizens to set priorities and map out a plan for future smart growth. Doug Farr, author of Sustainable Urbanism, the guidebook for this process, will be the guest speaker. Free.


Center City Commission Annual Luncheon -- On July 10 at 11:30 am in The Peabody Hotel's Grand Ballroom, the Center City Commission will host its Annual Luncheon. Keynote speaker, Maurice Cox, Director of Design with the National Endowment for the Arts, will share his experiences and take a look at trends in Memphis and downtowns across the nation. $55. To register online, click here.

Here’s some additional information about these two outstanding speakers.


Doug Farr, an architect and urban designer, is the founding principal and president of Farr Associates, which focuses on form-based codes, transportation corridors, neighborhoods, historic preservation and adaptive reuse. Mr. Farr has served as cochair of the Environmental Task Force of the Congress for the New Urbanism, chair of the AIA Chicago Committee on the Environment, and chair of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) Core Committee.

Unlike the original LEED program, which rates only single buildings and for which site selection is an afterthought, LEED-ND "will place the emphasis on the elements that bring the buildings together into a neighborhood, and relate the neighborhood to its larger region and landscape," says the council.

A founding principal and president of Farr Associates in Chicago, Mr. Farr’s book, Sustainable Urbanism, has served as the text book for Mayor Wharton’s Sustainable Shelby and presents ideas on how to integrate architecture, city planning, and nature for a better way of life.
For more information on Doug Farr, click here and here.


For Memphians this will be a second chance to hear Maurice Cox’s incisive and creative comments on how to equate design with quality of life issues and ways to democratize design. In addition to his role as NEA’s Dir. of Design, Cox is an Asso. Professor of Architecture at the Univ. of VA and is a 2004-5 recipient of the Loeb Fellowship at Harvard Univ.’s Grad. School of Design. Mr. Cox has recently served 8 years on the Charlottesville, VA City Council with the last 2 years as the city’s mayor.
For more information on Mr. Cox, click here and here.

To read Jeff Speck’s interview with Maurice Cox, click here

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