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.

2. 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.

3. James Lee House Bed & Breakfast Granted 10-Year Tax Freeze - Thursday, January 10, 2013

The James Lee House redevelopment is moving along in Victorian Village. 

The Center City Revenue Finance Corp., a board of the Downtown Memphis Commission, approved a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for The James Lee House Bed & Breakfast at 690 Adams Ave. at its Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting. The PILOT benefit over the 10-year term is $309,778.

4. James Lee House B&B Granted 10-Year Tax Freeze - Wednesday, January 09, 2013

The James Lee House redevelopment is moving along in Victorian Village.

The Center City Revenue Finance Corp., a board of the Downtown Memphis Commission, approved a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for The James Lee House Bed & Breakfast at 690 Adams Ave. at its Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting. The PILOT benefit over the 10-year term is $309,778.

5. Lee House Development Could Propel District - Tuesday, August 21, 2012

In the 19th century, Victorian Village was home to Memphis’ elite.

Nowadays, the 10-square-block area in Downtown Memphis has one of the highest concentrations of historic structures in the city, with 24 properties on the National Register of Historic Places within four blocks.

6. City Council Committee Approves Lee House Transfer - Thursday, August 09, 2012

The Economic Development, Tourism and Technology Committee of the Memphis City Council approved Tuesday, Aug. 7, the $1 transfer of the James Lee house in Downtown Memphis’ Victorian Village from the city of Memphis to The James Lee House LLC, a corporation led by local developer Jose Velazquez.

7. B&B Could Spark Victorian Village - Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Following years of due diligence, the James Lee House in Downtown Memphis could soon be the centerpiece of the Victorian Village master plan.

8. B&B Development Could Spark Victorian Village - Monday, August 06, 2012

Following years of due diligence, the James Lee House in Downtown Memphis could soon be the centerpiece of the Victorian Village master plan.

9. Joe’s Acre Restaurant Opens to Diners’ Delight - Monday, June 13, 2011

Acre is the most highly anticipated restaurant to open regionally since, well, since Wally Joe opened in May 2002 and closed early in January 2007, with executive chef Wally Joe announcing that he was looking for a new space. That was, of course, four and a half years ago.

10. City Seeks Funding Swap for Loan Programs - Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Two loan funds that are part of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s administration’s move to a broader minority and small-business development program are on Tuesday’s agenda at a City Council committee meeting.

11. Council Finishes Year with Look Ahead - Thursday, December 23, 2010

Memphis City Council members took their first detailed look at the terms of the move by Electrolux to the Frank Pidgeon Industrial Park in southwest Memphis.

City Chief Administrative Officer George Little walked council members through the paperwork of the 2012 move by the Swedish home appliance manufacturer from Montreal to Memphis. The move will bring over 1,200 jobs to Memphis.

12. Council Marks Year’s End With Full Agenda - Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Memphis City Council members end their year Tuesday with an agenda that includes final approval of the Power Center planned development in Hickory Hill.

The council meeting begins at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 125 N. Main St.

13. City Council Kills Nondiscrimination Ordinance - Monday, November 29, 2010

With no debate or discussion, a nondiscrimination ordinance for city government died on the second of three readings.

The Memphis City Council voted down the proposal, which would have banned city government from discriminating in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. It got six votes, one short of the seven necessary to pass, on second reading.

14. Council Wants Mediation of MCS Funding Dispute - Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Mediation is the latest direction in a complex school funding morass that is getting more complex by the day.

Memphis City Council members Tuesday voted to have their attorney file a motion in Chancery Court seeking non-binding mediation on how and how much the city should pay the Memphis City Schools (MCS) system in a two-year funding dispute.

15. School Funding Mediation on Table for Council - Tuesday, November 23, 2010

As Memphis City Council members close out the third year of their current four-year term of office, the 13-member body continues to deal with the fallout from one of the first major actions the council approved.

16. Council to Vote on Fate of Lee House - Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Sometimes, a classic is allowed to gather dust indefinitely on the shelf, its value and artistic worth in danger of being forgotten.

That’s the fate historic preservationists have been trying to reverse for the Lee House at 690 Adams Ave. And now, after months of planning a new future for the home, they’re close to having a reason to celebrate.

17. Back to Life - Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A new chapter is about to be written in the story of a historic Memphis neighborhood once populated by statesmen, land barons and wealthy cotton merchants.

Area stakeholders have several projects in the works to breathe new life into Victorian Village.

18. $800K Permit Filed For Wally Joe Restaurant - Monday, November 02, 2009

The ownership group that plans to bring a restaurant to 690 S. Perkins Road in the East Central/Poplar-Perkins area of East Memphis has filed an $800,000 permit application with the city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement to expand and renovate the property’s 2,764-square-foot house.

19. Though New Place Not There Yet, Wally Joe Still Working It - Monday, November 02, 2009

If the truism in the restaurant industry is it takes twice as long to open a restaurant as you plan, try this: Wally Joe left his eponymous establishment on Sanderlin Avenue, which opened in May 2002, in December 2006.

20. Victorian Village Stakeholders Look To Reshape Park - Friday, April 18, 2008

The six-acre park at Poplar Avenue and Manassas Street has two basketball courts, two playground areas, a medium-size pavilion - and a bad reputation.

Area stakeholders say Morris Park, which covers an entire city block, regularly attracts drug dealers and homeless people. Recent crime data are similarly unflattering. More than 100 criminal incidents were reported within a half-mile of the park in the past month alone, according to The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

21. Bearden to Chronicle Memphis Starting With Victorian Village - Friday, January 25, 2008

Willy Bearden is a prolific filmmaker and author whose projects over the years have tackled local subjects as diverse as Memphis' garage band scene, Elmwood Cemetery and the importance of King Cotton.