Memphis City Council members get their first look Tuesday, June 19, at a “shared mobility” ordinance that would set broad ground rules for “shared use mobility bicycles, electric assist bicycles and electric scooters.”

2. Last Word: Riverfront Change, Skeleton to Canopy and Summer Camp - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

The two contenders for Shelby County Mayor in the Aug. 2 county general election – Democratic nominee Lee Harris and Republican nominee David Lenoir – meet for the first time in the general election campaign Wednesday at the Memphis Kiwanis Club weekly luncheon. It is the first of several debates between the two. And judging from what Harris and Lenoir have said separately and what we’ve reported from those appearances, this is a highly anticipated debate/discussion about the future of Shelby County on several fronts.

3. Hilton Canopy Hotel, Museum Lofts Receive Tax Incentives - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Rhode Island-based Magna Hospitality Group, doing business as MHF Memphis VI LLC, has been granted a 15-year tax incentive to build a $43 million four-star hotel on the site of the former Benchmark Hotel at 164 Union Ave.

4. Lake District Lands Malco Theater, Former Benchmark Seeks New Life - Monday, June 11, 2018

3536 Canada Road,
Lakeland, TN 38002

Tenant: Malco Theatres Inc.

Tenant’s Agent: Michael Lightman, Michael Lightman Realty

Landlord: The Lake District

5. New Benchmark Owners Seeking Incentives for 4-Star Hotel - Wednesday, June 6, 2018

A Rhode Island-based company has acquired the site of the former Benchmark Hotel and is seeking a 15-year tax incentive from the Downtown Memphis Commission to demolish the structure’s remaining concrete skeleton and replace it with a new four-star hotel.

6. Two Downtown Hotel Projects Moving Forward After Delay - Thursday, April 5, 2018

Two Downtown Memphis hotel projects that were seemingly in stasis appear to moving forward.

Though unrelated, both projects have filed paperwork indicating physical progress may soon be around the corner.

7. Two Downtown Hotel Projects in Question Appear to be Moving Forward - Thursday, April 5, 2018

Two hotel projects Downtown Memphis that were seemingly in stasis both appear to moving forward.

Though unrelated, both projects filed paperwork Tuesday, April 3 that indicate physical progress may soon be around the corner.

8. Benchmark Hotel Case Continued Until April - Saturday, March 24, 2018

The public nuisance case between the Downtown Memphis Commission and the owners of the former Benchmark Hotel has been continued until April 12.

Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter had declared the site a public nuisance in February despite claims by the building’s owners, MNR Hospitality, that it was still an active construction site. The building had been in a partially demolished state for more than a year and a half.

9. Benchmark Hotel Case Continued Until April - Friday, March 23, 2018

The public nuisance case between the Downtown Memphis Commission and the owners of the former Benchmark Hotel has been continued until April 12.

Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter had declared the site a public nuisance in February despite claims by the building’s owners, MNR Hospitality, that it was still an active construction site. The building had been in a partially demolished state for more than a year and a half.

10. Riviana, Ebrofrost Continue Work On $26M Frozen Food Facility - Monday, March 19, 2018

2360 Prospect St.

Memphis, TN 38106

Permit Amount: $3.1 million

Project Cost: $26.5 million

Application Date: March 2018

Owner: Riviana Foods

11. Former Benchmark Hotel Declared Public Nuisance - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The site of the former Benchmark Hotel in Downtown Memphis has been declared a public nuisance by the Memphis and Shelby County Environmental Court.

The “tough” decision by Judge Larry Potter was made Thursday, Feb. 1, after several hours of legal wrangling by attorneys Danny Schaffzin – representing the Downtown Memphis Commission and a coalition of surrounding business owners including The Rendezvous’ John Vergos, and The Peabody hotel’s Marty Belz – and William Sessions, representing the building’s owners, MNR Hospitality.

12. Former Benchmark Hotel Declared Public Nuisance - Friday, February 2, 2018

The site of the former Benchmark Hotel in Downtown Memphis has been declared a public nuisance by the Memphis and Shelby County Environmental Court.

The “tough” decision by Judge Larry Potter was made Thursday, Feb. 1 after several hours of legal wrangling by attorneys Danny Schaffzin, representing the DMC and a coalition of surrounding business owners including John Vergos and Marty Belz, and William Sessions, representing the building’s owners, MNR Hospitality.

13. Last Word: 50 Years Ago, Skeleton Hotel in Court and New Moves on Forrest - Thursday, February 1, 2018

It was 50 years ago Thursday that the event that sparked the 1968 sanitation workers strike happened near Colonial and Sea Isle in East Memphis. City sanitation workers Robert Walker and Echol Cole were killed when the trash compactor on back of their city truck malfunctioned and crushed them.

14. DMC Wants Benchmark Hotel Declared Nuisance - Wednesday, January 31, 2018

The Downtown Memphis Commission is seeking to have the Benchmark Hotel property at 164 Union Ave. declared a public nuisance.

The Shelby County Environmental Court will hold a hearing Thursday, Feb. 1, at 1:30 p.m. to determine whether the blighted hotel, located on the north side of Union west of South B.B. King Boulevard, should be considered a public nuisance under the Tennessee Neighborhood Preservation Act.

15. Downtown Hotel Revival; Two Companies Look to Expand in Southwest Memphis - Monday, December 25, 2017

5050 E. Holmes Road
Memphis, TN 38118

Project Cost: $720,000

Application Date: Dec. 20, 2017

16. Former Benchmark Hotel Set for Redevelopment - Saturday, December 23, 2017

The owner of the former Benchmark Hotel at Union Avenue and South B.B. King Boulevard appears ready to move forward on the redevelopment of the partially gutted five-story hotel.

MNR Hospitality LLC, an affiliate of Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based Epiq Hotels Inc., has filed a $600,100 building permit application with construction code officials to renovate the 103,000-square-foot structure at 164 Union.

17. Former Benchmark Hotel Set for Redevelopment - Tuesday, December 19, 2017

The owner of the former Benchmark Hotel at Union Avenue and South B.B. King Boulevard appears ready to move forward on the redevelopment of the partially gutted five-story hotel.

MNR Hospitality LLC, an affiliate of Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based Epiq Hotels Inc., has filed a $600,100 building permit application with construction code officials to renovate the 103,000-square-foot structure at 164 Union.

18. Work Moving Forward On Former Benchmark Hotel - Saturday, September 30, 2017

For almost two years, the exposed five-story frame of the former Benchmark Hotel in Downtown Memphis stood in somber contrast to the vibrant landmarks, such as The Peabody hotel and AutoZone Park, with which it shares the corner of Union Avenue and B.B. King Boulevard.

19. Work Moving Forward On Former Benchmark Hotel - Thursday, September 28, 2017

For almost two years, the exposed five-story frame of the former Benchmark Hotel in Downtown Memphis stood in somber contrast to the vibrant landmarks, such as The Peabody hotel and AutoZone Park, with which it shares the corner of Union Avenue and B.B. King Boulevard.

20. Work on Former Benchmark Hotel Finally Moving Forward - Wednesday, September 27, 2017

For almost two years, the exposed five-story frame of the former Benchmark Hotel in Downtown Memphis stood in somber contrast to the vibrant landmarks, such as the Peabody Hotel and AutoZone Park it shares the corner of Union Avenue and B.B. King Boulevard with.

21. Roberts Benchmark Hotel on Union Sells for $3.2 Million - Monday, December 24, 2012

164 Union Ave.

Memphis, TN 38103

Sale Amount: $3.2 million

Sale Date: Dec. 5, 2012

22. Roberts Benchmark Hotel on Union Sells for $3.2 Million - Wednesday, December 19, 2012

A Nashville investor has paid $3.2 million for the 120-room Roberts Benchmark Hotel at 164 Union Ave. in Downtown.