28-story housing complex to rise near Uptown Square

By Amos Maki
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July 13, 2006
St. Mary's Catholic Church is poised to sell part of its Downtown property to developers who plan to launch an $85 million, 28-story luxury housing complex on the site.

Developers Brian Thomson of Boston and Geoffrey LePlastrier of California have an option to buy the land for an undisclosed amount from the Catholic Diocese of Memphis.

The land -- about half a city block -- is adjacent to St. Mary's, which is at North Third and Market near the Memphis Cook Convention Center and Downtown Marriott.

The skyline-altering high rise would be the largest built Downtown since the 23-story Morgan Keegan tower in 1985. The tallest building Downtown is 100 N. Main at 37 stories.

The high-rise would include 200 housing units, and an additional low-rise building will include 40 units, according to a plan submitted to the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Planning and Development.

"We've invested a lot of time and money in this," Thomson said. "Our intention is for this to be a world-class, sustainable project that redefines the north end of Memphis."

Money raised from the land sale would be split between the Diocese and St. Mary's and could be invested in improvements to the church.

Bill Herbers, Diocese director of facilities and risk management, would not comment on possible church improvements.

However, the site plan specifies a "family life center," including a multi-purpose gymnasium, a music and performing arts center and a school library and resource center.

Plans for the residential development include 12,570 square feet of retail and 2,087 square feet of restaurant space on the ground floor. The project will have a total of 370,905 square feet of residential space.

"We were very impressed with (the developers') ideas and with them," Herbers said. "I think it could be wonderful for Downtown Memphis."

Developers expect the project will generate more than 300 jobs during two-plus years of construction and that sales tax on building material alone could generate nearly $3 million. They estimate that property tax revenues from the 240 units could mean $2 million a year to the city and county.

The developers, who work mainly in Boston and California, said they hope the upscale project will attract doctors and researchers from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is in the midst of a $1 billion expansion.

The site is across the street from Uptown Square, the community that was formerly the Lauderdale Courts public housing complex.

Developers also want to attract Catholic buyers and affluent empty nesters looking for an urban lifestyle. Amenities will include a health club and swimming pool on the roof of the low-rise building. There will be a common room and terrace on the 27th floor of the 28-story tower.

On-site retail and entertainment will be "limited to those completely compatible with the Church's mission."

The project will also be environmentally friendly. Building materials will conform with the Green Building council's recommendations for sustainability. Waste streams and storm water will be reused for on-site irrigation.

Downtown officials said it is no surprise that developers are interested in the land.

"From a development perspective, it's another vote of confidence in near-North Memphis," said Jeff Sanford, president of the Center City Commission. "With St. Jude's expansion, the Uptown project and residential growth on Mud Island, I think development in this project area is inevitable."