Integrating mixed-uses of denser residential and street-level retail with more walkable streetscapes, new urbanist developments are becoming more common in the Memphis area and condominium and town home living is a big part of this movement. New urbanism grew out of efforts by a group of architects who formed the Congress For the New Urbanism (CNU) in 1993, with a mission of creating neighborhoods that provided a better quality of life for their residents, while at the same time, protecting the natural environment. Their goal was to bring harmony to compact communities by ensuring that their needs could be met with facilities that provided all the necessities, while creating more livable neighborhoods.  Currently, there are over 210 New Urbanism projects taking place in the United States alone, with plans for many more.  

New Urbanist Principles 

New Urbanism is characterized by several principles including mixed-use buildings, mixed-income housing, and diversity of the environment.  Within New Urbanism  community projects, there is a rich mix of real estate uses including street-level shops and offices, mixed-income ownership and rental housing along with community green spaces – all designed with a community shared benefit in mind.   

These communities are also designed to meet the needs of a diverse mix of people from all ages, cultures, races, and income levels, to live within a compact community. New urbanism seeks to cover the spectrum of demographics to bring together many different people in dense, compact 24 hour live-work-play communities.  

Easy walking and connectivity between these live-work-play facilities are also key characteristics of New Urbanism. Street grids designed to disperse traffic as much as possible and make streets easier and more pleasurable to walk are a common feature. This involves having narrow, slow-speed, pedestrian-friendly streets, plentiful walk-paths and bike-lanes and accessible public transit. Connectivity and accessibility creates communities compact enough to make everyday, living and shopping facilities no more than a ten-to-twenty-minute walk from home - including work.  

Improved transportation is also a must-have factor of the New Urbanism movement. Offering means of transportation beyond private vehicles allows for cleaner air, less dependence on fossil fuels, more community interaction, quieter streets and more disposable income for those in the neighborhood. In Downtown Memphis, the Memphis Trolley offers a great alternative to driving in the downtown area.  

Compact Communities

A major benefit of new urbanist development is the lower cost of living. Compact mixed-use neighborhoods offer residents the opportunity to get out and walk the streets to work and shopping vs. driving. It’s also a great way to get to know the neighbors and discover hidden shops and eateries. And with everything being so close, the elderly, and even children, find themselves less restricted by the people around them.   

Another benefit is better health. In compact communities, most people lead better lifestyles in terms of health for a few reasons. First, the communities are structured to allow people to walk or bike to their destinations. The result is that people tend to use themselves as a mode of transportation more than they might under other circumstances. Because most of the streets incorporate sidewalks, bike lanes, and safe crossing zones, people find pleasure in the walk to their destination. Moreover, as most streets are interconnected and near workplaces, schools, retail destinations, and public parks, people have more reasons to use alternative paths of travel that have been set aside for them. 

Finding New Urbanism in Memphis 

You need look no further than Harbor Town for a great example of New Urbanism in Memphis.  Developed by Henry Turley Realtors and designed by Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, this planned community of over 950 homes offers lots set close together, no high fences, and small back yards which encourage the residents to use the ample parks, playgrounds, and trails installed for public use. Everything in the Harbor Town neighborhood was planned to perfection, including the white bird houses to attract Purple Martins, as a means of keeping down the mosquito population.   

More recent examples of new urbanist developments in Memphis include: 

Uptown Memphis 

Uptown Memphis is a resurgence of a 100-block Downtown neighborhood, just east of Harbor Town, that was a long neglected public and low-income housing area. Master planners Jack Belz and Henry Turley leveraged a $35 million HUD HOPE VI grant and a public/private partnership with the City of Memphis, Shelby County and philanthropic organizations to create this wonderfully modern mix of eco-friendly single-family homes and garden-style apartments. Community amenities include nearby parks and retail, tree-line streets, soft lighting and proximity to the trolley and Pinch District.

South End Memphis

The South End is Downtown Memphis’ newest neighborhood with a distinctly urban style. Guided by a master plan from Looney Ricks Kiss Architects and a group of developers led by Terry Lynch of Southland Capital, the South End is a revitalization of a Downtown Memphis warehouse district bordered by G.E. Patterson, Front Street, the railroad tracks and the Mississippi River. Urban loft, condominium, town home, single-family homes, mixed-use retail and significant public infrastructure improvements comprise this 30 acre, $400 million community building effort.

Some of the South End’s notable condo projects include: 

State Place at South End

Georgia Ave. and Tennessee St.

Condos and Town homes ranging from 772 sq. ft. to 1,408 sq. ft. with covered and garage parking and courtyard.

Carolina Lofts

Carolina St. and Tennessee St.

Condos and town homes with community pool, gated parking, entertainment area and courtyard.

Riverside 648

648 W. Georgia Ave. at Riverside Drive.

Five story condo with covered parking, rooftop patio and entertainment area.

The Horizon

Channel 3 Drive, just off Riverside Dr.

Two 16 story condominium towers and terrace homes with garage parking, entertainment area, fitness center, yoga studio, indoor and outdoor pools, putting green and illuminated tennis court.

City Commons

Tennessee St. near Georgia Ave.

Seven condominium and town home buildings featuring open spaces from 654 sq. ft. to 2,269 sq. ft., garage parking and 2^nd level terraces.

City House

G.E. Patterson near Tennessee St.

Winner of the 2006 Vesta Home Show Best in Show. 36 new construction condominiums offering covered, secured parking, fitness area, roof deck and street-level retail.

South Main Historic District

A designated arts district since 2000, the South Main Historic District is also enjoying its own revitalization of brand new and renovated condos, new retail offerings and a recently opened Memphis Farmers Market nearby.  South Main is a funky little section of Main St. south of Beale St. that is home to a collection of art galleries, the downtown location of the Memphis College of Art, eclectic restaurants and coffee bars.

The thriving South Main artist community offers something for everyone:

• Jay Etkin Gallery, owned by Jay Etkin, a native New Yorker.
• Joysmith Gallery, featuring the work of many significant African-American artists of the mid-twentieth century and Don Estes’ Second Floor Contemporary Gallery, which exhibits the work of some innovative Memphis artists.
• Durden Gallery, which specializes in landscape paintings by various artists
• Mariposa ArtSpace, which features the work of owner Kennedi Benjamin
• Jubilee Gallery on Butler.

Check out the South Main Historic District website for a full list of galleries.

Some of the South Main area projects include:

420 South Front

South Front and Nettleton

Renovation of 5 story paper factory into 36 loft style condos featuring up to 18 foot ceilings, 6 foot windows and roof deck.

The Nettleton

Renovation of the historic Piggly Wiggly warehouse into 34 one and two-level condos featuring up to 19 foot ceilings, roof terrace, indoor-outdoor party room and underground heated parking.

Machine Shop Condos

465 South Main St.

Located in the heart of the South Main Historic District, this new construction of 14 uniquely designed condos is unlike any other development downtown.