Non-Profit Memphis Heritage, Inc. Organization 2282 Madison Avenue at U.S. Postage Paid Edgewood Memphis, TN Memphis, TN 38104 Permit No. 965 MEMPHIS HERITAGE KEYSTONE July - August 2014 | Vol. 17. Issue 3 Landmark Untapped - Tennessee Brewery Comes To Life After the broker handling the Tennessee Brewery put out a release that the historic structure would be demolished if not sold by Au- gust 1st, MHI coordinated a community meeting on Jan. 23 at How- ard Hall to brainstorm and gain feedback from anyone interested in the future of the landmark building. The meeting was facilitated by Former MHI Board member Ray Brown and very well attended. Con- cepts and ideas for possible uses were discussed and documented. One popular idea proposed at the MHI meeting was to create a sort of buzz around the property by working on a “prerevitaliza- Issue: 3 Vol.17. 2014 | | July - August Memphis Heritage Keystone tion” concept; opening the property for a month long use simi- lar to the Pop Up businesses or like events created via MemFix. Alas! This idea came to life in the form of an event called “UNTAPPED”. A group of privately funded players including entrepreneurs Tay- lor Berger; attorney Michel Tauer; R.E. colliers broker Andy Cades and communications veteran, Doug Carpenter (with input from the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team Tommy Pacello) created a plan MHI is proud to have had a hand NOTE: Memphis Daily News, to use the building as a beer garden from April 24 - June 1, with in this activity and looks forward Memphis business Journal and live music venue, cafe, retail outlet, and art performance center. to working with the owners and Memphis Flyer articles were The group obtained a temporary beer license for (in the spirit of the any person or group(s) interested used to obtain some information local nature of the event) only locally brewed beers from four com- in joining the cause to celebrate in this article. panies to be sold. this community treasure and cre- ate a plan for a permanent future INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The music began the first weekend with acts including Ca- for this treasured building. leb Sweazy, Apollo Mighty, Josh Crosby, and Jeremy Stanfill. Tennessee Brewey Untapped Ashlar Hall Update Furnishing the assorted accoutrements needed for the six- Now the brewery building is 19th Century Club Latest week long celebration were Montgomery-Martin, Sponsellar once again closed and empty. St. Thomas Church Windows - and McCary, Sashe, Cash Saver Foods, and the Memphis Bo- Hopefully, the owners will have ‘Splendor in The Glass’ tanic Gardens. These items included landscaping, building ma- the foresight to encourage its re- 299 Chelsea terials and labor, beverage equipment, furniture, and a mobile vival by working with potential Pinch in a Pinch GWIG (Go Where I Go!) printscreening truck for merchandise creation and food sales. buyers. What a loss if the building Historic Properties Trading Block To accommodate neighbors the hours were limited to from 11 A.M. to is demolished to no end when its Memphisheritage.org 9 P.M. Thursdays and Sundays and from 11 A.M. to 11 P.M. Fridays and relevance is so apparent and its Updates on Endangered - Saturdays. It coincided with the annual Memphis In May Festival that drawing power so great for a va- Properties brings many thousands of people to downtown Memphis each year. riety of uses. Membership Update 2 11, Judge Potter inspected the property to see for himself what Ashlar Hall - Update needs to be done to protect it from the elements. A new court date of April 11 was set to assess the strength of the submis- In mid-January of 2014, it sions by these two competing non-profits of their proposals. was revealed through the me- In March, at the request of the City Attorney handling this case, MEMPHIS HERITAGE KEYSTONE dia that Robert (Prince Mongo) MHI convened a committee of local architects and general contractors Hodges had quitclaimed his to review the proposals. This group submitted a written document ownership of Ashlar Hall to Ken- for the benefit of the court to help determine both of these plans fea- The Keystone is a publication of ny Medlin. This despite the fact siblility. The two plans reviewed were submitted by Urban Renais- Memphis Heritage, Inc. that the court, in agreement sance Initiative (URI) (Kenny Medlin), to become a center for veterans Memphis Heritage’s mission is to with Mr. Hodges, agreed that stimulate an appreciation for our and the other plan by The Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention. heritage and preserve historic the property would be donated The Court did not make a decision as to which nonprofit presented to a non-profit by working in places. Our offices are at 2282 the most effective plan. Based on the complexity of this case, the Madison Avenue. You can write tandem with Environmental plan by the Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention was withdrawn to us or call us at 901-272-2727. Court and the City of Memphis. by MCFC’s founder, Joe Thordason. Thordason has said he will look Or visit our website at Memphis Heritage Keystone | July - August 2014 | Vol.17. Issue: 3 Vol.17. 2014 | | July - August Memphis Heritage Keystone www.memphisheritage.org. There is an ordinance that states for another space to possibly set up the “Art Educational Center” that while a property is involved in he proposed. The case is still in Environmental Court and Mr. Medlin Executive Committee an active Environmental Court continues to clean up the property and to make incremental repair. case brought by the Fire De- He still has to be able to provide a substantive financing plan to com- Joey Hagan – President, AIA partment that a property can- plete the project. For the latest updates go to the Facebook page Carl Raff - Past President not be sold or transferred. This Save Ashlar Hall. Robert Paulus, Associate AIA – Vice situation exists regarding Ashlar President Hall. While the Court did not nul- Aaron Chestnut – Treasurer UPDATE - RowlandDarnell Home John Griffin – Secretary lify the quitclaim at the hearing, (19th Century Club) Hal B. Howard, Jr. – Ex-Officio Judge Potter said he will work Member to prevent demolition of this ir- Up until June, the current own- Webb Brewer are providing June Waddell West – Executive replaceable icon and, instead, ers of this property were investi- their services pro-bono. We can- Director gave Mr. Medlin an opportunity gating restoring and reusing the not thank themenough for their Directors to bring a plan back describing historic Rowland Darnell Home amazing dedication to this case his capacity and a plan on re- at 1433 Union Ave. or possibly and our community. Carol DeForest Marty Gorman, AIA storing the building and what selling to someone who would Dan Johnson Antonio Raciti the use would be. At the second restore the home The Lins Tax Dead Property? Chris Sullivan Robert Tom hearing in mid Feb., Mr. Medlin Chris Bird Katharine Manning Loeb (owners) hired an architectural Brian Swope Suzanne Henley produced no plan so the Judge firm to create plans for restoring 299 CHELSEA Larry Chan Jeff Wamble ordered that the quitclaim deed the property into a restaurant. be voided and that the prop- These plans were bid by a local The status of this old Memphis MHI Staff erty still belonged to Mr. Hodg- contractor. Because of the pro- church building located at 299 es. The judge then set another June West - Executive Director jected price, the bank involved Chelsea in North Memphis is so Carrie Stetler­­ - Admin Asst. hearing for Feb. 28 to review in a possible loan transaction dire, according to the local tax- plans submitted by nonprofits asked for a second bid. We have Publications/Website ing/assessor authority that it is Committee wanting to restore the property. recently learned that the Lins no listed as “Vacant Land” on the tax Two proposals were submit- longer have plans for restoring records. That, despite the fact Robert Tom ted at that time and on March the property. that the building pictured above Dan Johnson Mark Parrish Unfortunately, in April vandal- still stands where it has for well Charlie Lambert Robert Lanier ism exposed the west entrance over 100 years. The building, Nigel Price to weather/intruder invasion. known by various names (includ- Ad Sales: Mark Parrish The breach was not discovered ing 7th Street Baptist Church) For advertising information con- for several weeks and it is feared over the years, is abandoned and tact: Mark Parrish, (901) 857-2353 more damage was sone to the deeply indebted for back taxes [email protected] interior. amounting to much more than Copyright © 2014 Memphis Heri- Meanwhile the case is in the the land/building are worth. The tage, Inc. All rights reserved. Tennessee Court of Appeals in value placed on the lot is $3,000. Jackson,TN. Briefs for the ap- But the Catch-22 scenario that peal of Judge Evans’ ruling by would allow a purchaser to re- a longtime standing member deem the property is the most of the 19th Century Club have interesting part of this story. been written. This property was deeded in 1859 MHI appreciates all the dona- to the Third Presbyterian Church tions that were generously giv- of Memphis and the church was haps in retaliation, it is widely en to assist with the appeal and erected in 1860, just before the accepted that the Union Army, continue the efforts to help save Civil War began. The minster, having occupied the city, stabled this historic treasure. Rev. Edward Porter, entered the their horses on the ground floor www.grahamslighting.com Attorneys Steve Mulroy and Confederate Army in 1862.