Source: Commercial Appeal, A. Maki
7/2/12
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton on Monday unveiled an ambitious plan to
improve three key areas of the core city by removing blight, supporting
existing businesses and attracting new retail stores. The three neighborhoods targeted by Wharton's "Innovation Delivery
Team" are South Memphis, the Binghamton-Broad Avenue area and the
Madison Avenue-Cleveland corridor. "If the heart of the city dies, the extremities die as well," said
Wharton during a news conference at Victory Bicycle Studio on Broad. "We
have got to rebuild our core city." Wharton said the announcement site itself was a model of the city initiative.
After a new extension of Sam Cooper Boulevard opened parallel to
Broad Avenue, the street went into decline before being reborn as an
arts, entertainment and business district. "It went downhill, but look at it now," Wharton said. "It's a real success story."
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