GoMemphis: Central City -
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Published on: 12/13/2001
Last Visited: 12/14/2001
Mike Todd (left) bought and renovated this 1920s-era auto supply company at 598 Monroe.He and Jes Stafford (right) are organizing The Edge Community Association.
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The agenda listed meeting participants by first names only, including nominees for the organization's slate of officers: "Pres. - Mike (Todd).Sec. - Jes (Stafford).Treas. - Victoria (Padgett)."
Stafford, an architect-to-be who works for Todd's Premiere Contractors, made sure the meeting stayed on track, prodding his boss to stick to the agenda.
Over beers and Cokes, members discussed marketing materials, paperwork for nonprofit status, crime and law enforcement and the possibilities for a neighborhoodwide festival next year.
Attendance was light, which Todd attributed to the approaching holiday season.Participants also included Kudzu's owners, Steve and Cathy Edmundson; furniture maker Will McGown and his wife, Gigi McGown; Sleeping Cat Studios operator Jim Esposito and his wife, Rosemary Falk; Memphis Police Department West Precinct representative Janet Stewart and officer Charles Hill, a bicycle patrolman.
A presentation on Center City's new medical center district master plan did not materialize as planned, but Todd passed around a copy of the plan, opened to the page most pertinent to The Edge.
"We are recognized by name; that's a start, anyway," said Todd.
Says the plan: "The diverse character of the neighborhood and the self-invested nature of recent improvements have given The Edge a growing identity. . . . The vision for The Edge neighborhood is a combination of work, live and play urban neighborhood grounded by substantial, atypical residential housing."
Specific design recommendations are:
Infill open/abandoned areas with buildings that provide ground-floor retail/commercial opportunities with second- and third-floor residential opportunities.
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Todd said Center City's final plan reflected what neighborhood leaders would like to see.
Todd came into the neighborhood six years ago as owner of an old Hudson dealership at 629 Monroe.Known as the Premiere Palace Ballroom, the storefront space offers party and event rentals.In the rear are the millwork shop of Todd's contracting business and studio/living spaces for artists.
With partner James Dickey of Airways Electric, Todd bought and renovated a 1920s-era auto supply company at 598 Monroe, across from Kudzu's.
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The building had been condemned, said Todd."I rode by and saw a "Do not inhabit" sign and said, 'I have to buy that building.' "
Because the roof was caved in and the interior was badly deteriorated, the partners saved the exterior walls and essentially built a steel-framed building inside it.A Center City Development Corp. loan helped with the renovation.
They restored the front showroom and its street facade to original condition, down to the detail of painting "Equipment Service Parts" over the old parts counter window and "Office" over the old office doorway.
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Todd also has ownership interests in 656 Madison and two buildings just west of Danny Thomas, 336 and 340 Monroe, and 343 and 345 Madison, site of Club Liquid.
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Todd and Stafford have been placed on the board of New Pathways Inc., a community development corporation that is serving as a redevelopment clearinghouse for neighborhoods such as Peabody-Vance, to the south of The Edge community.