SS

MEMPHIS PUBLIC INVESTMENT GUIDE

  • cover art website 04

Memphis rethinks neighborhood investments by placing power in the hands of residents

In 2016, the City of Memphis embarked on a two-year comprehensive planning process known as Memphis 3.0.  The planning process and subsequent adoption signaled a new era for the City. No longer planning in an ad hoc manner, the Plan established a roadmap for future development and a new vision - Build Up, Not Out.

Accelerate Memphis – Invest in Neighborhoods launched in 2021 to activate projects identified in Memphis 3.0 and serve as a road map for how and where to invest in communities. Focusing on 35 centers of activity identified as “anchors,” each location will receive $400,000 in public infrastructure investments for neighborhood improvements identified in Memphis 3.0.  Through a participatory budgeting process, citizens will help determine how the $400,000 will be spent in their neighborhood anchor. 

Interface Studio led the development of the Memphis Public Investment Guide - a toolkit to provide necessary background information about potential improvements that could be made in communities. 

  • public private v2 website 01

The document is designed in a way to help people understand the existing issues in their neighborhood anchor, as well as identify the potential options to help address those issues.

  • investments walkability southbrook final 01
  • investments public poplar dannythomas final 01
  • investments managetraffic kerr gaither final 01
  • investments gateways poplar danny thomas final 01
  • investments connections kerr gaither final 01

 

BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE WITH EASY TO UNDERSTAND GRAPHICS IS INTEGRAL TO MAKING A DOCUMENT THAT CAN BE USED IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.

Accelerate Memphis funds can only be used in areas that are publicly owned or for public use. This includes the street right-of-way, public buildings or an empty but city-owned lot. Private property laws make improvements to private property extremely difficult and time consuming. The guide helps to graphically depict what is public and private within the neighborhood anchors.

 

  • illustration street axon issues 03 01

 

Each potential investment is graphically illustrated and includes information about the investment, how much it costs, and other details to help residents make informed decisions.

If there are improvements that residents would like to make that can't be covered through Accelerate Memphis funding, resources are identified to help residents seek outside channels.

Interface Studio also designed worksheets and materials for use in engaging with the public around the investment guide.  The community process is set to begin in 2022.

  • format investments connections bike infrastructure 03
  • format investments connections bike parking 01
  • format investments connections bus stop 01
  • format investments gateways banner 01
  • format investments gateways lighting 01
  • format investments gateways signagev2 01
  • format investments public space plazas 03
  • format investments public space vacant lot 01
  • format investments traffic street signs 01
  • format investments walkability crosswalks 02
  • format investments walkability pedestrian refuge island 02

  • Illustration of common neighborhood complaints based on 311 calls

    Illustration of common neighborhood complaints based on 311 calls

MEMPHIS PUBLIC INVESTMENT GUIDE

  • render shopping center test 02
  • render neighborhood commercial test2 02
  • render auto commercial test2 01