New York Investment Firm Buys Memphis Warehouses

Six warehouses and a parcel of vacant land in southeast Memphis have sold for a combined $20 million. The seller, Gateway McKinley Inc., purchased the seven properties in 2000 for $23.6 million.

DP 73 LLC, a company of New York-based Diamond Acquisitions LLC, purchased the portfolio in a Sept. 27 warranty deed.

The properties include:

• Class A warehouse at 4770 Malone Road. The 74,736-square-foot warehouse was built in 1994 and was most recently appraised at $1.9 million.
• Class A warehouse at 4350 E. Shelby Drive. The 164,200-square-foot warehouse was built in 1993 and was most recently appraised at $4 million.
• Class A warehouse at 4650 Shelby Air Drive. The 127,400-square-foot warehouse was built in 1987 and was most recently appraised at $2.8 million.
• Class A warehouse at 4570 Shelby Air Drive. The 127,400-square-foot warehouse was built in 1987 and was most recently appraised at $2.5 million.
• Class B warehouse at 4500 Atlantic Way. The 24,000-square-foot warehouse was built in 1987 and was most recently appraised at $538,900.
• Class A warehouse at 4401 Atlantic Way. The 458,480-square-foot warehouse was built in 1987 and was most recently appraised at $7.5 million.
• Three acres of vacant land at 4560 Shelby Air Drive that is appraised at $100.

The properties comprise a combined 68 acres.

DP 73 LLC financed the purchase with a $12.9 million trust deed through Natixis Real Estate Capital LLC. James A. Diamond signed on behalf of the buyer.

– Madeline Faber

Four Properties Sold On Presidents Island

Four industrial properties on Presidents Island have sold for $18 million.

Ergon Terminaling Inc. sold the properties in an Oct. 5 warranty deed to BKEP Terminalling LLC. Robert H. Lampton, president, signed on behalf of the seller.

The properties include:

• A Class C warehouse at 2081 Channel Ave. The 2,520-square-foot warehouse was built in 1986 and most recently appraised at $217,700.
• A Class C flex building at 2029 Channel Ave. The 990-square-foot property was built in 1960 and was most recently appraised at $626,300.
• A flex building at 1989 Channel Ave. The 5,787-square-foot property was built in 1997 and was most recently appraised at $656,300.
• A Class C warehouse at 1979 Channel Ave. The 10,150-square-foot warehouse was built in 1958 and was most recently appraised at $646,600.

– Madeline Faber

Mayor Starts Post-Protest Community Meetings

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will kick off a series of community meetings Oct. 25 in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests in July and August.

Strickland announced Thursday, Oct. 6, the first in a series of sessions open to the public will be held Oct. 25 at Martin Luther King College Preparatory High School, 1530 Dellwood Ave. in Frayser at 5:30 p.m.

Strickland’s administration is working with the Frayser Community Development Corp. on that meeting and other CDCs across the city on the meetings to be announced later.

Community development corporation leaders from Soulsville, Riverview-Kansas, Klondike-Smokey City and Binghampton have committed to hosting future meetings.

Strickland said the meetings are a follow-through on his promise to have more conversations with the public following a Black Lives Matter movement protest in July that shut down the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. A smaller protest two days later resulted in six citations by police for blocking traffic on Elvis Presley Boulevard in front of Graceland. And three people were arrested by police during a protest outside Graceland in August during Graceland’s annual candlelight vigil.

Between the first two protests, Strickland, Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings and protesters met at Greater Imani Christian Church in Raleigh for a stormy session in which protest leaders left unsatisfied. Private meetings with various groups followed at City Hall.

Strickland said the meetings that start at MLK Prep will feature, but not be limited to, job training, economic development and minority business expansion. Those are the topics Strickland said were dominant during the earlier meetings he had.

– Bill Dries

WEVL Radio Station Marks 40th Anniversary

Radio station WEVL marks its 40th anniversary with a concert Saturday, Oct. 8, at Loflin Yard, 7 W. Carolina Ave., from 3 p.m.-10 p.m.

The non-commercial, all volunteer radio station has been on the air since 1976 at several studio locations in the city.

The Loflin Yard concert will feature singer-songwriter Julien Baker among other performers including the Mighty Souls Brass Band.

Ticket proceeds go to benefit WEVL.

– Bill Dries

A S Hospitality, Teraco Create Partnership

A S Hospitality, a division of Dexter Solutions, a leading brand delivery services company, has officially signed a long-term partnership with Teraco that further expands its products and services for the hospitality market. The multi-year agreement names A S Hospitality as Teraco’s sole distributor of hotel key cards.

“This alignment further integrates brand and operational collateral programs for hotel companies and properties,” Mark Zimmerman, CEO of A S Hospitality’s parent company, Dexter Solutions, said in a statement. “These customers can order through a single source that understands their brand and organization. When you pair that with the shorter turn-times and lower minimums, it empowers brands with agility and flexibility they may never have experienced before.”

Since its founding in 1962, Teraco has been a leading U.S. plastic card supplier of Plastic Key, Loyalty and Gift Cards for many Fortune 1,000 companies. Joining forces with A S Hospitality will create a fully integrated process from design through fulfillment, translating into greater responsiveness, flexibility and fewer potential problems, the companies said. A S Hospitality will deliver key cards along with program management, e-commerce and fulfillment capabilities.

Noteworthy aspects of this partnership include:

• Cards are manufactured in the U.S., resulting in shorter turn-time, higher quality and longer lifetime for all keycards produced

• Available via the same ordering platforms and channels as other brand and operational collateral for a simplified ordering process

• Industry-leading turn times, averaging 10-12 working days from proof to product for custom orders and next-day shipping for stock orders

• Low minimum order quantities, allowing for maximum flexibility and new group, event and promotional opportunities for properties

• Additional plastic card products available, including Gift Cards, Loyalty Cards, Digital Offer Cards and Card Key tags

• Personalization and packaging produced and managed in-house as part of the same integrated production process.

“Teraco views A S Hospitality as bringing a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective into the hospitality industry,” said Steve Hobbs, chief revenue officer at Teraco. “Their specialization in brand expansion and product delivery is an excellent fit for Teraco’s manufacturing capabilities. … the combined team is able to provide brand-empowering benefits at both the corporate and property levels.”

– Daily News staff

Former Tigers Player Litigant in NCAA Lawsuits

A former University of Memphis football player is one of the litigants in growing court actions against the NCAA.

The NCAA is now facing 43 class-action lawsuits related to the handling of concussions by Division I football programs, after 18 more were filed this week, according to the Associated Press.

The complaints name college conferences and in some cases schools. The Chicago-based law firm Edelson PC has been filing the lawsuits in batches since May.

The latest were filed Tuesday, Oct. 4, on behalf of former players from Texas A&M, UCLA, Maryland, Richmond, Idaho, South Carolina, Mississippi, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Alabama and Iowa.

On Monday, former players from Memphis, Ball State, Rutgers, Eastern Michigan and Florida A&M filed lawsuits.

The former University of Memphis player is Chad Williams, who played of Memphis from 1990 to 1994 as a center and long snapper.

The players are seeking damages for injuries they claim are the result of mishandled concussions they suffered while playing college football.

A judge in a previous case ruled one large class-action concussion lawsuit could not be filed against the NCAA.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

– Associated Press; Daily News staff

Grant Homes Planning Germantown Subdivision

A new subdivision is planned for Germantown.

Grant Homes, acting as Wilsons Crossing Partners LLC, has purchased a 23.5 acres of vacant land at 9450 Poplar Ave. from Germantown Baptist Church Inc. in an Oct. 3 warranty deed.

The parcel is adjacent but separate from Germantown Baptist Church’s worship facility.

In conjunction with the sale, Wilsons Crossing Partners filed a $3.4 million construction loan with Metropolitan Bank. The four-year loan is intended for development of a single-family subdivision.

– Madeline Faber

Commercial Appeal Sees More Changes This Week

The Commercial Appeal saw a few changes this week, both behind the scenes and in its print and digital products.

Earlier this week, the paper was designed in the newspaper’s building at 495 Union Ave. for the last time. That work is being handled now at a so-called design studio in Nashville owned by the CA’s new corporate parent, the media conglomerate Gannett.

And on Tuesday, Oct. 4, a new standardized Gannett web design went live on the CA’s website.

Meanwhile, the paper also has seen a handful of departures in recent days.

Two longtime editors – Gary Robinson and Russ Fly – retired this week, with their last day being Monday, Oct. 3, according to the Memphis Newspaper Guild. Two designers also departed – one being laid off while another transferred to Nashville.

That follows two advertising designers being laid off in August. In addition, the guild has been told another five people are being laid off in November from the paper’s business office – the rationale being that Gannett is looking to centralize tasks like finance and bookkeeping across its newspaper properties as much as possible.

– Andy Meek

Council Approves Hotel In Leader Federal Building

Memphis City Council members approved Tuesday, Oct. 4, a boutique hotel development in the Leader Federal bank building and an adjoining building on Madison Avenue at B.B. King Boulevard by Pardo Elemental Architecture of California. The council also approved a Kroger gas station convenience store on Poplar Avenue east of Kirby Parkway as an outparcel to the Kroger supermarket at that location.

The council approved second reading of an Airbnb short term rental fee, a freeze of the city’s deferred retirement option program and a ban on panhandling at intersections and on median strips.

Third and final reading of each of the ordinances is set for the council’s Oct. 18 meeting.

The council also approved on final reading an ordinance that permits the use of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division street light fees to fund SkyCop cameras in neighborhoods.

Council member Martavius Jones unsuccessfully tried to amend the ordinance to prevent the MLGW fees from being used in the operation of SkyCop cameras already bought with private funds raised by neighborhood groups and businesses.

The streetlight fees are a way to expand the use of the cameras as an anti-crime measure in neighborhoods and areas where residents cannot afford to finance the cameras themselves.

Jones argued it was not “equitable” for police to pay to monitor and maintain the cameras bought with private funds when all taxpayers don’t benefit from those cameras.

“Someone who is not benefitting from it should not be paying for it,” he said.

But council member Patrice Robinson said the cameras – publicly or privately financed – benefit all citizens.

“I believe that we are going to pretty quickly make sure that our communities are all heard,” Robinson said. “Cameras, I don’t care where they are in a community, benefit everybody. People who come in and do wrong … they impact the whole city because they don’t just go to that neighborhood.”

Jones’ amendment failed in a committee vote and he did not attempt to resurrect if before the full council.

– Bill Dries

PRSA Memphis Gives 2016 VOX Awards Details

The Memphis Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has announced details of its 2016 VOX Awards, its annual event recognizing outstanding work by Memphis public relations professionals and practitioners.

The “Through the Looking Glass” themed awards ceremony will be held Oct. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Visible Music College, 200 Madison Ave.

“This year’s VOX marks 23 years of celebrating and showcasing the best in the industry,” said Elizabeth Cawein, 2016 PRSA Memphis president, in a statement. “For the first time, we will recognize outstanding contributions made by individuals with new Star awards.”

The three PR Star awards – Rising Star, PR Star and Executive of the Year – will honor professionals making outstanding contributions at different stages in their careers.

VOX entries are judged by a panel of judges from another PRSA chapter and tailored to meet the criteria of Accreditation in Public Relations national standards. Star awards were judged by a peer review of PRSA members from an out-of-state chapter.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the evening will feature live entertainment from DJ Metrio “Truck” Robinson, appetizers and desserts from Ferdinand’s and Off the Square catering, and wine and beer.

Amy Speropoulous, host of “Local Memphis Live” will emcee the event.

Membership in PRSA is not required to attend, and sponsorships are still available.

Discount tickets can be purchased through Oct. 17 at the VOX website, prsamemphis.secure-platform.com.

– Daily News staff

Tiger Lane Concert Series Kicked Off on Oct. 6

In partnership with the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, the Memphis athletic department started a new Tiger Lane concert series before the nationally televised football game Oct. 6 vs. Temple.

The new concert series features University of Memphis music students and started with The Band Camino.

The Band Camino has found recent momentum, releasing its debut EP “My Thoughts on You,” playing the Beale Street Music Festival and landing on the Spotify Viral USA Chart.

The concert series will feature a different band for each of the remaining four home games, and all concerts are free. On Oct. 29, Sound Fuzion will perform; on Nov. 12, Bluff City Soul Collective will be featured; and Drew Erwin is the talent for the Nov. 25 game.

– Don Wade

Fred’s Specialty Pharmacy Division Has New Name

Fred’s Inc.’s wholly owned specialty pharmacy, Eiris Health Services, has a new name.

Now called EntrustRx, the division will continue to provide holistic pharmaceutical care and therapies for its customers with a personal touch, Memphis-based fred’s announced this week.

“While the name has changed to EntrustRx, our customers will not see a difference in service, and our team is ready to take care of their specialized health needs,” Tim Liebmann, fred’s chief operating officer, pharmacy, said in a statement.

Specialty pharmacy patients require high-touch medication therapy, ongoing monitoring and medication management for complex diseases.

EntrustRx is licensed in and currently serves all 50 states.

Fred’s Inc. and subsidiaries operate in 15 states in the southeastern United States.

– Daily News staff

MUS Chooses Headmaster To Replace Haguewood

Memphis University School announced Monday, Oct. 3, that Peter D. “Pete” Sanders will be the new headmaster when Ellis Haguewood retires at the end of the school year.

The MUS board of trustees selected Sanders after a national search to replace Haguewood, who has been headmaster for 22 years and first joined the school’s faculty in 1969.

Sanders has 32 years of experience as an educator and administrator at independent schools. He is currently director of the upper school and a history teacher at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina. He has been instrumental in growing enrollment there by 33 percent, expanding the college counseling office, and instituting a faculty-evaluation system since he joined in 2007.

Previously, he served as upper school head at University School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and at the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut. He also spent 13 years at Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia, where he served as assistant upper school head; coached football, baseball and softball; and advised the Honor Council.

“I am tremendously honored to be chosen as the school’s next headmaster,” Sanders said in a statement. “I have been an admirer of Memphis University School for over 25 years.”

Board of trustees chairman Samuel N. Graham II called Sanders “a proven leader who displays an authentic concern for students, advocacy for teachers, a belief in the importance of caring teacher-student relationships, and a balanced approach to addressing the needs of various school constituencies.”

Sanders was introduced to the MUS faculty, staff, and student body on Oct. 3.

– Daily News staff

Broad Avenue Alliance Hires Executive Director

Continued growth in the Broad Avenue District since its revival about a decade ago has prompted the Broad Avenue Arts Alliance to hire an executive director.

Katie McWeeney Powell, a consistent volunteer at events in the district who has business and marketing experience, was chosen for the new post.

Powell received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana Tech University and her Master of Fine Arts from Memphis College of Art. She has extensive experience with local arts organizations such as Indie Memphis and Crosstown Arts.

She co-founded Fine Line Car Care Co. with her husband and has worked with consulting clients such as Lokion and restaurant/bar Celtic Crossing to learn more about marketing, development and what it takes to manage successful growth.

– Daily News staff

Evans Petree Law Firm Expands to Oxford

The Evans Petree PC law firm has opened an office in Oxford, Mississippi.

The full-service Memphis law firm was founded more than 100 years ago and has 45 attorneys and a broad mix of local, national and international clients.

“We felt it was strategically important for our firm to have a physical presence in Oxford,” said Paul Edwards, shareholder in the Oxford office.

Evans Petree also has an office in Franklin, Tenn.

–Bill Dries