Memo

 
From:                Jeff Sanford, President, Center City Commission

                        Steve Bares, President, Memphis BioTech Foundation

                        Steve Auterman, Looney Ricks Kiss Architects

 Date:               January 19, 2004

 Re:                   Design Workshop Invitation – Victorian Village Master Plan       

 On January 22^nd and 29^th, 2004, the Center City Commission and the Memphis BioTech Foundation invite you to attend a Design Workshop with Looney Ricks Kiss, Architects regarding future plans for the Victorian Village neighborhood. Your participation is needed to help craft a vision for the historic jewel of Memphis and support the Office of Planning and Development’s Comprehensive Planning efforts in the Medical District.  All sessions will be held in the Parish Room of Saint Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral located at 692 Poplar Avenue.

On-going efforts by groups such as the Memphis BioTech Foundation and the Center City Commission are helping create a world-class Medical District. Victorian Village is a critical element in creating success early in the process and to gain momentum going into the next several years. The Office of Planning and Development is actively engaging the community to solicit input to the Comprehensive Planning and rezoning process for the Medical District, including Victorian Village.

That’s where you come in.

Please join us for a two-part Design Workshop on January 22^nd and 29^th (both Thursdays), to give us your ideas for the neighborhood, and help draft recommendations that will ultimately plug into OPD’s planning process.

 On the afternoon of Thursday, January 22^nd you’re invited to attend one of the following Focus Group sessions, whichever you feel is most appropriate, to give us your ideas and opinions of the neighborhood:

      12:30 – 1:30 pm Residents Focus Group 

        1:30 – 2:30 pm Business Owners Focus Group

        2:30 – 3:30 pm Government Agencies Focus Group

        3:30 – 4:30 pm Institutions/Churches Focus Group

                                                Break                                      

        6:30 – 8:00 pm Public Meeting

At 6:30 pm please join us for a Public Meeting where the team will present a summary of what we’ve heard that day, plus give another opportunity for input and discussion. If you cannot attend the daytime Focus Groups, please join us at the 6:30 pm Public Meeting, or sit in on any of the other Focus Group sessions.

During the morning of Thursday, January 29^th we will be having an Open Feedback Session from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.  Please come at anytime that is convenient for you during the session to review the recommendations of the design team, and offer suggestions for refinement. 

        9:30 –12:30 pm         Open Feedback Session

                                                Break                                      

        6:30 – 8:00 pm Wrap-Up Public Meeting

Again at 6:30 pm, please join us for the Wrap-Up Public Meeting where the team will present the final list of recommendations, and you’ll have one more chance to give your input regarding the vision for the neighborhood. If you cannot attend the daytime Feedback Session, please join us at the 6:30 pm Wrap-Up Public Meeting.

At the conclusion of the Wrap-Up Public Meeting, our goal is to have a consensus-based list of recommendations for Victorian Village that will help OPD craft the appropriate zoning and plans for the area as part of the Medical District Comprehensive Plan.

Your participation is critical to the successful development of the Victorian Village neighborhood, and the Medical District as a whole, in the coming years. Please join us as your schedule allows, and don’t miss the Public Meetings both evenings.

 We look forward to seeing you there!