Main St Main Street Mall meetings on tap By KATHLEEN BURT The Daily News Potential development ideas will be presented at a series of workshops this week hosted by the Center City Commission as part of its redevelopment plan for properties along Main Street. The series of meetings was one of the main topics discussed at Fridays Center City Commission meeting. In the series of three meetings beginning Wednesday, participants will build on work done at the January visioning sessions. A breakdown of the meeting schedule includes: Two sessions on Wednesday, one from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for public development and government officials and a public meeting from a 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A 9 a.m. to noon session will be held Thursday, and Downtown property owners, business owners and real estate developers are encouraged to attend. Last month, more than 200 citizens, including real estate professionals, city planners, tourism leaders, Downtown residents and property owners, participated in six sessions. Through those sessions, a vision statement was formed and discussions began on specific topics on how best to redevelop the Main Street Mall between Adams Avenue and Gayoso. Last year, the Center City Commission contracted with Cooper Carry of Atlanta to create a redevelopment plan for the mall. Anyone with an interest in Downtown redevelopment can attend the meetings, scheduled for the CCC offices at 114 N. Main St. At Fridays meeting, the board also received an update on the strategic plan for continued redevelopment of the Central Business Improvement District. Many of the 13 objectives are on target, said Michael Stevens, CCC vice president of development. A complete list of objectives is available on the CCC Web site at www.downtownmemphis.com. In other business, updates were given on projects considered by affiliated boards. The Center City Revenue Finance Board approved an application by Villager Lodge to transform the Admiral Benbow on Union Avenue into a member of its chain of inns suited for business or recreational travelers. The project was given a 6-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes. The Design Review Board approved six projects and a portion of a seventh at its meeting Wednesday. Approval was given for: The conversion of the area from Monroe Avenue to AutoZone Park for a pedestrian plaza, The renovation of a building at 413 Monroe Avenue for a custom furniture facility, The construction of a seven-story commercial facility and hotel at the southwest corner of Main and Court, The construction of a three-story law office building at 275 Jefferson Ave., A sign for the Memphis Tobacco Bowl at 152 Madison Ave. and, The renovation of a one-story commercial building at 526 S. Main St. A portion of the application for Big River Brewery, 145-149 S. Main St. was approved, but the silo feature proposed for the property was denied.