As the economy starts to rebound, local lenders like Magna Bank, First Tennessee Bank and Renasant Bank are seeing moderate improvement in activity for new commercial and residential construction projects, and competition is intensifying to land deals.

2. Core Focus - Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Great Recession silenced construction crews throughout the Memphis area, and that was especially evident Downtown, where ambitious, skyline-changing projects were put on hold, reconfigured or scrapped altogether.

3. Chisca Rebirth - Friday, April 26, 2013

“Memphis: The Musical” meets the real life setting Friday, April 26, for the fictional story of a Memphis radio announcer in the 1950s.

Actor Bryan Fenkart will walk about a block on South Main Street from The Orpheum Theater to the old Chisca hotel to perform at the project’s launch party. The party in the hotel’s garage space kicks off the $24 million renovation of the hotel as an apartment building.

4. New Apartments Planned for South Main - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Plans for 197 apartments on two corners of West Carolina Avenue and Florida Street go to the Downtown Memphis Commission Design Review Board at its May 1 meeting.

South Junction will rise on the vacant northwest and southeast corners of Carolina and Florida, in the South Main Historic Arts District.

5. Market Stability - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Home permit activity held stable for the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year, and local builders expect to see continued gradual improvement through this year and into next.

6. Commission Weighs Tall Trees Sale - Monday, April 15, 2013

The sale of the old Tall Trees juvenile detention facility, zoning code changes to account for trucks with four back tires and a possible revote on legal fees in the schools consolidation case top the Shelby County Commission agenda for Monday, April 15.

7. Shakin’ Up Beale - Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The newest addition to Beale Street is a Memphis music legend. Jerry Lee Lewis, the last living member of the Sun Records’ “Million Dollar Quartet,” is lending his name and personal items to a nightspot at 310 Beale St.

8. Chamber Prepares to Celebrate 175 Years - Monday, April 08, 2013

Despite arriving this year at the ripe old age of 175, the Greater Memphis Chamber still has a spring in its step.

When the chamber blows out the candles, so to speak, during its milestone bash Friday, April 12, at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the event will underscore the organization’s storied history, which predates the Civil War. This year also sees the continuation of the chamber’s push to be more of a civic force in the community, helping to bring together government and private businesses.

9. LaunchYourCity Draws Lessons From West Coast - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

The group from LaunchYourCity that traveled to San Francisco in March has returned, refreshed and reinvigorated, ready to carry out what was the hoped-for goal of the trip:

Take the lessons learned and use them to help Memphis’ startup community scale new heights.

10. Aerotropolis Pitch to Council Receives Mixed Reaction - Thursday, March 21, 2013

After years of very general talk about the aerotropolis concept, Memphis City Council members are ready for leaders of the effort to bring it in for a landing in specific terms that work with plans in smaller areas of the district around Memphis International Airport.

11. Crosstown Project Has $15 Million City "Ask" - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Leaders of the Crosstown Development Project are asking the city of Memphis for $15 million toward a $175 million project.

Memphis City Council members got a look Tuesday, March 19, at the “ask” as well as the finances and goals of the project centered on the old 1.5 million square foot Sears Crosstown building.

12. Panel Approves $14.5 Million for Big River Steel Mill - Thursday, March 07, 2013

The Mississippi County Planning and Development Committee has signed off on $14.5 million in funding for the proposed $1.1 billion Big River Steel mill to be built near Osceola, Ark.

The committee approved a resolution Tuesday to appropriate the money from the county’s economic development tax. The measure still needs approval from the county’s finance committee and the full quorum court.

13. South Main Growth Should Be Celebrated - Saturday, March 02, 2013

If those planning the emerging renaissance in the South Main district find the formula for preserving the “vibe” that makes the area unique and growing the district in the process, they should apply for a patent.

14. Renasant to Buy First M&F in $119 Million Stock Deal - Friday, February 08, 2013

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) – Renasant Corp. will buy fellow Mississippi bank First M&F Corp. in a $119 million stock transaction.

15. Economic Development Through Entrepreneurism - Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Last week we visited downtown Las Vegas to tour and learn more about what Zappos founder Tony Hsieh is doing to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and urban revitalization through his Downtown Project initiative. Hsieh is personally investing $350 million to transform downtown Las Vegas into the most community-focused large city in the world in less than five years.

16. Filling the Voids - Saturday, February 02, 2013

Last year was a banner year for adaptive reuse projects in Midtown and Downtown.

Developers announced plans for the Sears Crosstown building, Overton Square, Hotel Chisca, James Lee House and old United Warehouse in the South Main Historic Arts District. Construction began on The Pyramid, turning it into a 220,000-square-foot mega-Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World, and Memphis in May moved into its new headquarters at 56 S. Front St., a 14,600-square-foot building that’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

17. James Lee House B&B Granted Development Loan - Saturday, January 26, 2013

The conversion of the longtime vacant James Lee House into a luxury bed-and-breakfast inn is moving along in Victorian Village.

The Center City Development Corp., an arm of the Downtown Memphis Commission, granted developers Jose Velazquez and J.W. Gibson a $130,000 development loan for The James Lee House Bed & Breakfast at 690 Adams Ave. at its Friday, Jan. 18, meeting.

18. Mississippi Casino Regulations Could be Game Changer - Thursday, January 24, 2013

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi regulators want new casinos to be sturdier and gambling space larger with better restaurants and hotels.

The Sun Herald reports that the Mississippi Gaming Commission is accepting written comments on the new regulations. Commission executive director Allen Godfrey said depending on the comments, regulators could vote on the changes in March.

19. James Lee House B&B Granted Development Loan - Thursday, January 24, 2013

The conversion of the longtime vacant James Lee House into a luxury bed-and-breakfast inn is moving along in Victorian Village.

The Center City Development Corp., an arm of the Downtown Memphis Commission, granted developers Jose Velazquez and J.W. Gibson a $130,000 development loan for The James Lee House Bed & Breakfast at 690 Adams Ave. at its Friday, Jan. 18, meeting.

20. Wyatt Tarrant Law Firm Elects New Partners - Saturday, January 19, 2013

The law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP, has elected four new partners.

They are Byron Brown IV, Kacey Faughnan, Jordan Reifler and Kristen Mistretta Wilson.

21. Wyatt Tarrant Law Firm Elects New Partners - Friday, January 18, 2013

The law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP, has elected four new partners.

They are Byron Brown IV, Kacey Faughnan, Jordan Reifler and Kristen Mistretta Wilson.

22. Construction Nears for Crews Ventures Lab - Friday, January 18, 2013

Construction is about to get under way on the University of Memphis’ Crews Ventures Lab, a business startup facilitator and incubator that will expand the possibilities available to the school’s entrepreneurially minded students.

23. Council Delays Vote on Wage Theft Ordinance - Saturday, January 12, 2013

At their first meeting of 2013, Memphis City Council members delayed until Feb. 5 a vote on third and final reading of a “wage theft” ordinance.

Council member Myron Lowery called for the delay at the Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting saying he wanted to wait until the Shelby County Commission takes its final vote later this month on the same ordinance.

24. FDA Requires Lower Doses for Sleep Medications - Friday, January 11, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Food and Drug Administration is requiring makers of Ambien and similar sleeping pills to lower the dosage of their drugs, based on studies suggesting patients face a higher risk of injury due to morning drowsiness.

25. Council Delays Vote on Wage Theft Ordinance - Thursday, January 10, 2013

At their first meeting of 2013, Memphis City Council members delayed until Feb. 5 a vote on third and final reading of a “wage theft” ordinance.

Council member Myron Lowery called for the delay at the Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting saying he wanted to wait until the Shelby County Commission takes its final vote later this month on the same ordinance.

26. Appraisal Institute President Pushes for Appraiser Education - Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Kids aren’t the only ones with “back to school” on their minds this week. Members of the Appraisal Institute in Memphis are responding to a leadership push to develop the education of Memphis-area appraisers by seeking special designations.

27. Battling Blight - Monday, January 07, 2013

The kickoff date to the Downtown Memphis Commission’s anti-blight initiative on April 1, 2011, is embedded in president Paul Morris’ memory.

28. CashSaver Trades Hands for $3.2 Million - Friday, December 28, 2012

The CashSaver in Midtown has traded hands. 

Kansas City, Kan.-based Super Market Developers Inc. bought the 69,017-square-foot building at 1620 Madison Ave. at Avalon Street from 1620 Madison LLC for $3.2 million. Fred Monks III, president/chief manager of 1620 Madison LLC, signed the special warranty deed.

29. Milwaukee Electric Tool Building Bought by Monmouth for $28 Million - Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Freehold, N.J.-based Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp. has acquired the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. building at 12385 Crossroads Drive in Olive Branch for $28 million.

30. Plenty is Happening in the 38104 ZIP Code - Saturday, December 22, 2012

Saying something different is happening in Midtown is like saying the sun will rise in the east each morning.

But the pockets of change particularly in commercial real estate in Midtown point to significant changes we haven’t seen before. And they represent some big opportunities to affect daily life for those who call Midtown home as well as those who pass through an area with three major east-west arteries – Poplar, Union and Madison Avenues.

31. Plenty is Happening in the 38104 ZIP Code - Saturday, December 22, 2012

Saying something different is happening in Midtown is like saying the sun will rise in the east each morning.

But the pockets of change particularly in commercial real estate in Midtown point to significant changes we haven’t seen before. And they represent some big opportunities to affect daily life for those who call Midtown home as well as those who pass through an area with three major east-west arteries – Poplar, Union and Madison Avenues.

32. Software Industry Braces for New Phone Apps Rules - Wednesday, December 19, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A cellphone game for kids about U.S. geography, "Stack the States," gets rave reviews from parents. Its creator, Dan Russell-Pinson, considered making the 99-cent app better by adding a feature to allow children to play online against one another. But with the Federal Trade Commission issuing more stringent online child privacy rules, he's not even pursuing the idea.

33. Government Investigating Makers of Cellphone Apps - Tuesday, December 11, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is investigating whether software companies that make cellphone apps have violated the privacy rights of children by quietly collecting personal information from phones and sharing it with advertisers and data brokers, the Federal Trade Commission said Monday. Such apps can capture a child's physical location, phone numbers of their friends and more.

34. Heritage Trail Plan Raises Concerns - Tuesday, November 20, 2012

While the focus of the Heritage Trail Community Redevelopment Plan is on public housing projects Cleaborn Pointe at Heritage Landing and Foote Homes, the 20-year plan has far reaching implications for Downtown stakeholders, especially real estate developers.

35. October Home Sales Rise 36 Percent - Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Shelby County housing market continues to improve with 1,407 home sales recorded in October, up 36 percent from the 1,034 sales tallied in October 2011.

And year-to-date home sales activity is up 18 percent, with 12,585 sales recorded through October, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

36. Garland Sells Real Estate to Beat of His Own Drum - Friday, November 09, 2012

Chris Garland was drawn to the hustle and bustle of the real estate business in his early teens.

37. Full Docket - Monday, November 05, 2012

Here’s a look at what’s going on at the moment in the city’s legal community and some things that are on the horizon.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. On Oct. 27, the school held its 50th anniversary celebration for the Downtown facility, which opened in 2010 and marked a new chapter for a building that once was the Front Street post office for nearly 40 years and a federal courthouse before that.

38. Rekindling Crosstown - Monday, November 05, 2012

Video artist Chris Miner says one way to explain the redevelopment of the Sears Crosstown building is likening it to the process of creating art.

“You get into it with a general idea of what you want to do, but then you kind of let it take you wherever you are going to go or wherever the piece wants to go,” he said.

39. Capital Influx - Monday, October 29, 2012

Capital is finally being set free in the Memphis industrial market, with opportunities on both the buy and sale side of investment deals.

Nearly $200 million has been spent since June, as public and private institutional buyers alike make large plays.

40. Evans Petree Adds Construction Law - Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Evans Petree PC has hired four attorneys from Less, Getz & Lipman PLC.

They are Joseph Getz, Beth Stengel, John Willet and Tracy Bradshaw. Their addition brings the total number of shareholders at Evans Petree to 50 and coincides with the addition of construction law to the firm’s growing list of specialty practice areas.

41. Hilton Developer Granted Closing Extension - Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Developers of the Downtown Memphis Hilton Hotel project were granted a one-year closing extension from the Memphis Center City Revenue Finance Corp. board Tuesday, Oct. 9.

42. Hilton Developer Granted Closing Extension - Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Developers of the Downtown Memphis Hilton Hotel project were granted a one-year closing extension from the Memphis Center City Revenue Finance Corp. board Tuesday, Oct. 9.

43. Indie Memphis Festival Gets a Tech Feel - Friday, October 05, 2012

Based on a lineup the nonprofit organization released, this year’s Indie Memphis Film Festival will feel a lot like the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

It’s a reflection of the digital convergence of film, music and interactive media. Adding a kind of innovation and technology focus to the festival is something organizers have wanted to add for a while, according to Indie Memphis board president Iddo Patt.

44. Indie Memphis Festival Gets New Tech Elements - Thursday, October 04, 2012

There’s a decided South by Southwest feel to this year’s Indie Memphis Film Festival, based on a lineup the nonprofit organization announced this week.

For the 15th annual festival, which happens Nov. 1-4, the festival has added new innovation and technology events on topics that range from design trends to digital storytelling, data management and the innovation economy. That’s in addition to screening the independent films and showcasing musical acts that are a staple of the event.

45. Indie Memphis Festival Gets New Tech Elements - Wednesday, October 03, 2012

There’s a decided South by Southwest feel to this year’s Indie Memphis Film Festival, based on a lineup the nonprofit sent out Tuesday afternoon.

For the 15th annual festival, which happens Nov. 1 through Nov. 4, the festival has added new innovation and technology events on topics that range from design trends to digital storytelling, data management and the innovation economy. That’s in addition to screening the independent films and showcasing musical acts that are a staple of the event.

46. Local Entrepreneurs Will Soon Have ‘Urban Workspace’ - Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A shared open work space, modeled after incubators in Los Angeles and New York City, is on the brink of being launched in Downtown Memphis.

Urban Workspace Powered by Cricket Wireless, located in the City House Memphis Condos at 6 W. G.E. Patterson Ave., will provide an affordable, shared working environment for freelancers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups eager to collaborate and share resources. The co-working facility opens Oct. 1.

47. Building Business - Monday, September 17, 2012

Dr. Leonard Greenhalgh brought a wake-up call with him to Memphis at the end of August, when he came to the city as one of several featured speakers for the Memphis Minority Business Council Continuum’s 2012 Economic Development Forum.

48. Construction Industry to be Honored at Annual Event - Monday, September 10, 2012

The largest commercial and industrial construction association in West Tennessee is preparing for its annual celebration recognizing the quality and innovation of merit shop construction.

West Tennessee Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors’ Excellence in Construction Awards are set for Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pink Palace Museum, 3050 Central Ave. The awards honor all members of the team responsible for the projects, from contractors to subcontractors, suppliers to owners, and engineers to architects, said chapter president Erin Murphy.

49. Main Connector - Monday, September 03, 2012

The attention Downtown Memphis’ South Main Historic Arts District and its surrounding areas has received this year has far-reaching implications for future development.

Recent high-profile deals the community has seen get the green light include the Chisca Hotel redevelopment, Storefront Improvement Grant Program, branding efforts with North Star Destination Strategies, growth at The Orpheum Theatre Memphis and Memphis Central Station, a flurry of apartment and loft rehabs, and retail activity with a new athletic club and restaurants.

50. Visionary Project - Thursday, August 23, 2012

The reversal of fate for the blighted Chisca Hotel at the intersection of South Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, plagued by passive out-of-town ownership and environmental hazards, was set in motion during a phone call about 18 months ago.

51. Senior Sector - Monday, August 20, 2012

The 76 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 were said to have remodeled society as they moved through it.

It was the baby boomer generation that drove the cultural shift to consumerism with SUVs and mini-vans. That demographic just turned 65 and real estate developers have taken notice.

52. US Home Construction Dips, but Signs Point Up - Friday, August 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. builders broke ground on slightly fewer homes in July than June. But in a hopeful sign for future construction, applications for building permits rose to their highest level since August 2008.

53. Events - Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The National Association of Women Business Owners – Memphis will meet Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Napa Cafe, 5101 Sanderlin Ave., suite 122. Author and trainer Jodi Santangel will present “Cracking the Code to Connecting Powerfully With People.” Cost is $18 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Register at nawbomemphis.org.

54. Developers Buy Warehouse for Printer’s Alley Lofts - Friday, August 10, 2012

A team of local developers planning a $3.2 million loft-style apartment development Downtown have closed on the property at 347 S. Front St.

55. Hard Work, Sincerity Keep Albertine Thriving - Monday, August 06, 2012

When Gary Albertine Sr. got into the real estate business in 1948, an average 1,500-square-foot house sold for about $15,000.

Contracts were one-page long, men dominated the industry and the eastern boundary of Memphis city limits was Goodlett Street. It was a simpler time, when business was based on trust and word of mouth.

56. History for Sale - Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Three historic properties in the Midtown and Downtown areas are on the market, all listed with major Memphis commercial real estate firms.

The most recent listing is the Hunt-Phelan house at 533 Beale St., priced at $2.9 million with Henry Stratton and Andy Cates of Colliers International Memphis. The mansion has hosted guests including Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson.

57. Chisca Renovation Funding Approved By CCDC - Thursday, July 19, 2012

The Center City Development Corp. approved Wednesday, July 18, $2 million in city funding to redevelop the old Chisca Hotel on South Main Street as an apartment building.

58. Sales Tax Ballot Question Part of Busy Council Day - Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Memphis City Council members take a final vote Tuesday, July 17, on a Nov. 6 ballot question that would raise the local option sales tax rate in Memphis by half a percent.

The vote at Tuesday’s council session is on third and final reading of the referendum ordinance. Meanwhile, the council is scheduled to vote on the second of three readings of another referendum ordinance that would create a 1-cent-a-gallon local gasoline tax with revenues going to the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

59. Chisca Hotel Project Faces Crucial Votes - Monday, July 16, 2012

Three organizations crucial to the redevelopment of the Chisca Hotel will vote this week on blight remediation and development incentives for the historic Downtown property that has been in dilapidated condition for more than 20 years.

60. Chisca Blight Remediation, Development Incentives Up for Vote - Friday, July 13, 2012

Three organizations crucial to the redevelopment of the Chisca Hotel will vote next week on blight remediation and development incentives for the historic Downtown property that has been in dilapidated condition for the more than 20 years.

61. Weak Hiring Shows Economy Still Hurting - Monday, July 09, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A third straight month of weak hiring shows the U.S. economy is still struggling three years after the recession officially ended.

U.S. employers added just 80,000 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.2 percent, the Labor Department said Friday.

62. City Should Keep Square Revival Front and Center - Monday, July 09, 2012

The plan for the revitalization of the Overton Square entertainment district needs to move forward before it changes again or becomes even more complex than it is now.

The latest iteration of the redevelopment plan includes Overton Square becoming part of a Tourism Development Zone and Tax Increment Financing district that would funnel its anticipated increase in sales tax revenue to get the Fairgrounds renovation back on track.

63. Apple Integrates Facebook Into iPhone Software - Tuesday, June 12, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Fresh off a disappointing initial public offering, Facebook is getting a big boost from Apple, which is building the social network deep into its iPhone and iPad software.

64. Renewable Investment Hit $257B - Tuesday, June 12, 2012

GENEVA (AP) – Global investment in renewable energy reached a record of $257 billion last year, with solar attracting more than half the total spending, according to a U.N. report released Monday.

65. City Needs to Keep Eye on Wells Fargo - Monday, June 04, 2012

The out-of-court settlement by the city and county with Wells Fargo of the lawsuit alleging discriminatory and racially motivated home mortgage refinancing practices has great potential.

But there should be more to it than dollar figures.

66. US Economy Picks Up After Early Spring Slump - Thursday, May 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Maybe the U.S. economy's strength this winter wasn't just weather-related after all.

Home construction is near a three-year high. And factory output has risen in three of the year's first four months.

67. Riverfront Rehab - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

As the American Queen steamboat docked Tuesday, May 15, at Beale Street Landing and left the same day for a trip to New Orleans, plans were under way for the restoration of another part of the riverfront just to the north – the cobblestones as well as a plaza and fountain at the foot of Union Avenue.

68. Tupelo to Study Entertainment District - Wednesday, May 09, 2012

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) – Five Tupelo groups have partnered to pay for a market analysis that will target the possibility of building an entertainment venue in the Fairpark District.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports the Tupelo Redevelopment Agency on Monday said it has joined with the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Coliseum Commission, the Community Development Foundation and the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association for the study.

69. Eat Local For Health, Economy - Thursday, May 03, 2012

Ray’s Take It’s the time of year when local farmers’ markets start to crop up. Patronizing these markets – along with other sources for locally grown food – can be beneficial to your health and taste buds, your family culture, and even have a positive impact on our local economy.

70. CBRE Promotes Four Brokers - Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Four of CB Richard Ellis Memphis’ brokerage professionals received promotions last week – Patrick Burke, Alex Turley, Brad Murchison and Bobby Daush.

71. Family Ties Inspired Baptist to Pursue Law - Thursday, April 26, 2012

Ahsaki Baptist, an associate in the Memphis office of Wyatt Tarrant & Combs LLP who’s been with the firm for five years, was surrounded by the law growing up.

72. Johnson Finds Right Spot at Former Mall Site - Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Local industrial brokers are well aware of the city’s taxes and its impact on putting together a competitive proposal for a potential user.

But occasionally, developers are able to snatch up property for such a value that helps offset some of those tax issues.

73. Homes Part of North Memphis Revitalization - Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Usually Self + Tucker Architects do the design work and planning for someone else who is the developer.

But in an open lot on the north side of Chelsea Avenue at Leath Street, seven single- family homes to come in the next year will be the architecture firm’s first steps into developing.

74. Michael Hatcher & Assoc. Adapts to Shifting Customer Demands - Monday, April 23, 2012

The average person probably wouldn’t associate the word “trendy” with landscaping, but Michael Hatcher certainly does.

75. Awards Just One Facet Of Comm. Council - Tuesday, April 17, 2012

This year marks a decade of existence for the Memphis Area Association of Realtors’ Commercial Council, the trade organization for the commercial real estate profession and its related sectors.

The council has about 325 members whose professions include commercial developers, brokers, property managers and other related CRE careers. Two of the council’s main events each year are the Commercial Property Forecast Summit, held in February, and the Pinnacle Awards, which honor the highest-producing commercial brokers each spring.

76. Performance Of Memphis Public Cos. Varies Widely - Monday, April 16, 2012

Memphis is home to several publicly traded companies that have made an indelible mark on industries ranging from transportation to finance and manufacturing.

Here’s a snapshot of how those companies are faring at the moment. (For a detailed look at AutoZone, see related story, "The Fast Lane.")

77. Fed Survey Shows US Growth, Hiring Improves - Thursday, April 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Federal Reserve survey of business conditions across the United States suggests last month's pullback in hiring may prove to be temporary.

The survey released Wednesday showed that each of the Fed's 12 bank districts grew steadily from mid-February through April 2. And the survey noted that hiring was stable or increased in most of the country.

78. Wharton Makes Appearance in Environmental Court - Thursday, April 12, 2012

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. made a brief and unexpected appearance Tuesday, April 10, in Environmental Court.

Wharton showed up to urge General Sessions Court Judge Larry Potter to order the demolition of a damaged building on Madison Avenue near Main Street Downtown.

79. Memphis Advantage - Monday, April 02, 2012

As the industrial market approaches the end of the first quarter, a handful of deals have local brokers encouraged that the city’s bread-and-butter sector is poised for recovery.

Recent notable industrial leasing transactions – all of which occurred in Class A bulk warehouses – include Trane U.S. Inc.’s 625,000-square-foot lease in Chickasaw Distribution Center; Kimberly Clark Corp.’s 556,000-square-foot lease in Airways Distribution Center; and Impact Innovations’ 275,000-square-foot space at Southridge Corporate Park.

80. European Wax Center Opens in East Memphis - Monday, March 26, 2012

European Wax Center has opened in Erin Way Shopping Center, 4856 Poplar Ave.

Local franchisees Libsey and Scot James are Germantown residents who plan to expand European Wax Center in the Memphis area past the East Memphis location. As regional developers, they own the rights to the entire state of Tennessee.

81. US Unemployment Aid Applications Hit 4-Year Low - Friday, March 23, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid fell to a four-year low last week, bolstering the view that the job market is strengthening.

The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications dropped 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 348,000. That's the lowest level since March 2008, just months into the Great Recession. The four-week average of applications, a less volatile measure, dipped to 355,000, matching a four-year low.

82. Morris: It’s Time to Redevelop Chisca Hotel - Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Downtown Memphis Commission is working with developers interested in converting the Chisca Hotel into a set of smaller studio apartments.

DMC president Paul Morris on Tuesday, March 13, talked in general terms about working with the developers, noting the commission has signed a confidentiality agreement with them.

83. Zynga Unveils Stand-Alone Game Destination - Friday, March 02, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Zynga is unveiling a new online gaming destination so people can play "CityVille," ''Zynga Poker" and other games off Facebook.

The availability of games at Zynga.com doesn't mean the company is divorcing Facebook, though. Players still log in with their Facebook accounts and spend money in the games through Facebook. But Zynga hopes the move will lure in more players, who will be able to play with people they are not friends with on Facebook.

84. The Right Place - Thursday, March 01, 2012

When people think of Memphis, they might picture an aerial shot of Downtown – skyscrapers, The Pyramid and all.

But Andy Cates’ view of Memphis is different. He sees the city’s “dirty, industrial real estate.”

85. Council to Weigh Pink Palace Funding - Tuesday, February 21, 2012

A $20 million upgrade of the Memphis Pink Palace Museum tops the Tuesday, Feb. 21, Memphis City Council agenda that also includes two items key to Overton Square redevelopment and $510,000 in capital appropriations for the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

86. Sunbelt Focus for Multifamily Development - Thursday, January 26, 2012

Since MAA pays out 95 percent of its earnings every year to its shareholders, CEO Eric Bolton spends a fair amount of his time chasing money.

87. Lofty Heights - Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Mid-South apartment market is riding high after a strong 2011.

Last year saw increasing occupancies and rents, as well as a shift from investors and lenders back to more stable properties, all of which followed a 2010 that was dominated by activity involving distressed product.

88. Green Light - Thursday, December 22, 2011

It may have been a murky day in Memphis, but neighborhood stakeholders didn’t let the afternoon rain dampen their support of the Overton Square redevelopment project during the Memphis City Council’s final meeting of the year.

89. Council Passes $16M Overton Square Funding - Wednesday, December 21, 2011

It may have been a murky day in Memphis, but neighborhood stakeholders didn’t let the afternoon rain dampen their support of the Overton Square redevelopment project during the Memphis City Council’s final meeting of the year.

90. To Blog or Not to Blog? - Wednesday, December 21, 2011

To blog or not to blog? Though certainly not as life or death as Shakespeare’s variation, it’s an interesting question faced by countless business owners and marketing professionals every day.

91. FCC Contest Develops Apps for Government Services - Friday, December 16, 2011

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) – A cellphone application that tells residents when the next bus is coming is the winner of a competition held by the Federal Communications Commission to help Americans access government services.

92. Microsoft Pledges Windows Developers Generosity - Thursday, December 08, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Microsoft Corp. is stepping up its competition with Apple and plans to give developers who write software for Windows computers and devices a greater share of revenue sold through the company's upcoming Windows Store.

93. More on Main - Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Downtown residents and visitors will soon be able to shop for the latest fashions and enjoy everything from a cup of joe to a fine-dining experience at any of four new businesses opening on South Main Street.

94. Choice of Tablets Depends on User - Thursday, December 01, 2011

With the holiday season in full swing, ads touting the latest and greatest tablet and smartphone devices abound.

The iPad 2, Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet are racing for the top of the tablet food chain, while smartphones like the iPhone 4S and comparable Androids often subtly badger each other on television and Web marketing.

95. ULI Event To Tackle CRE Outlook - Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Most commercial real estate markets have stabilized, but improvement in occupancies and rents won’t be as certain in 2012.

That’s the message real estate professionals will receive Tuesday, Dec. 6, when the Urban Land Institute District Council Memphis hosts its fifth annual Real Estate Outlook for the Mid-South at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis’ Tennessee Ballroom, 3700 Central Ave.

96. Mercer Ready to Steer MAAR Commercial Council - Monday, November 28, 2011

John Mercer does not take over as 2012 president of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors Commercial Council until Jan. 1, but he is already working hard planning several big MAAR events for early next year.

97. Green Shoots - Monday, November 28, 2011

As the local commercial real estate market approaches the end of 2011, experts say it appears to be in line with national fundamentals for secondary and tertiary markets.

Shelby County commercial sales in the third quarter were the highest sales volume since Q3 2007, with $259 million, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

98. Cause Marketing Fulfills Circle of Giving - Thursday, November 24, 2011

How do you say thank you? The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis says it with a Kroger gift card, preloaded with five dollars.

Take it to Kroger, add your grocery money to the card, do your shopping, pay for your groceries with the card, and Kroger will send the Women’s Foundation five percent of what you spent at the store. Five percent. That’s a lot. And you can reload your card, using it to buy groceries, gas and pharmacy items throughout the year. With every dollar you spend, five cents goes to the Women’s Foundation. It adds up quickly.

99. Adobe Backs Off on Flash for Mobile Browsers - Thursday, November 10, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) — Adobe Systems Inc. is pulling its Flash software for Web video and games from the browsers of mobile devices, though Flash will still work on mobile apps and on the Web browsers of regular computers.

100. Grant Installed as State Homebuilders Prez - Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Keith Grant of Keith & David Grant Homes LLC was inducted Saturday, Nov. 5, as 2012 president of the Tennessee Homebuilders Association Inc. – more than 50 years after his grandfather called the first meeting in Nashville.