Straight from the Memphis Heritage blog:
May 20, 2009
Our plan to have a conversation with AWG (Associated Wholesale Grocers) about their proposed development at Overton Square has not been successful. After many attempts to reach various officers of the company we have yet to be given the courtesy of a returned call. Our request for a meeting to discuss their plans and possible alternates fell on deaf ears. We had hoped that they would be willing to meet with Memphis Heritage and other groups/stakeholders that are concerned about the plan they are proposing.
Since they will not communicate with us it appears we must rally the voices of those that do not want to see this area of Overton Square bulldozed for an inappropriate and undesired development in the heart of midtown. The owners of the property (Fisher Capital) and the proposed developers (AWG) do not seem to understand the importance of this area to local residents and other Memphians. Unfortunately they see it as just another piece of land for low suburban sprawl, strip development. We feel it needs to be a much more defined urban space with more density such as a town center or an entertainment district, etc.
Fisher Capital continues to say that the buildings are "obsolete" and are not worth saving. The owners have not been willing to make needed repairs to the property to prevent its deterioration. In addition,based on information we have received from past tenants, the present owners have forced the relocation of over 7 retail/shops after saying in public that they have not been able to rent the space after trying for over 10 years!
We are asking that you let your opinion be known to the developers, AWG, and to the present owners, Fisher Capital. We are asking that they enter into a dialogue with stakeholders in the area to change their present development plans for Overton Square. Below is their contact information.
Thank you,
June
June Waddell West Please email and call them today. Thank you!
Executive Director
Memphis Heritage, Inc
Contacts at Associated Wholesale Grocers:
Name/Position/Email
Jerry Garland, President and CEO: jgarland@awginc.com
Bob Walker, Executive Vice president and CFO: bwalker@awginc.com
Mike Rand, Chief Operating Officer: mrand@awginc.com
Steve Dillard, Vice President Corporate Sales Development: sdillard@awginc.com
Corporate phone: 913-288-1000
Fax: 913-288-1587
Mailing address: Corporate offices for AWG
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc.
5000 Kansas Avenue
Kansas City, Kansas 66106
A W G Memphis Division
8561 Aaron Ln.
Southaven, MS 38671
Phone: 662-342-4410
************************************************************************************
Owners of property: Fisher Capital
5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 1150
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Blake Fisher, real estate: bffisher@fisher-capital.com
Don Fisher, co-founded Fisher Capital
Scott FIsher, finance
Phone: 303.414.9900 No other emails available other than info@fisher-capital.com
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Overton Square Update
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5 comments:
A few comments to this "concern":
1 - It's private property. It belongs to them, not you. They don't owe you a meeting, a returned phone call, or anything. You are not a shareholder.
2 - This will create jobs. That's a good thing.
3 - Overton Square has been an eyesore for decades.
4 - I welcome a grocery store that will be clean, unlike Seesel's/Schnucks and the Pig.
5 - Welcome business, quit trying to chase them out.
"A few comments to this "concern":
1 - It's private property. It belongs to them, not you. They don't owe you a meeting, a returned phone call, or anything. You are not a shareholder.
2 - This will create jobs. That's a good thing.
3 - Overton Square has been an eyesore for decades.
4 - I welcome a grocery store that will be clean, unlike Seesel's/Schnucks and the Pig.
5 - Welcome business, quit trying to chase them out."
Well said!
An eyesore would be a "big box" type store replacing Overton Square. Midtown is not like East Memphis we like our old buildings.
There is a lot of history connected to Overton Square. It will be tragic to lose it.
But here is a history lesson. Before the Cupboard on Union was a Shonney's and before that was a beautiful residential home. The Hill house I believe. Despite a large protest to stop the demoliton it went on as planned. The Shonney's failed because Midtowners wouldn't support it. I hope someone from AWG is reading this!
An eyesore would be a "big box" type store replacing Overton Square. Midtown is not like East Memphis we like our old buildings.
There is a lot of history connected to Overton Square. It will be tragic to lose it.
But here is a history lesson. Before the Cupboard on Union was a Shonney's and before that was a beautiful residential home. The Hill house I believe. Despite a large protest to stop the demoliton it went on as planned. The Shonney's failed because Midtowners wouldn't support it. I hope someone from AWG is reading this!
We as Memphians still have the right to express our concern. Any smart business would welcome feedback from their prospective customer base. Tearing down the buildings to replace them with a generic strip-mall design would look terrible and completely out of place. Many people like me would boycott on principle, the business would fail, and the old buildings would be lost for nothing.
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