Tag: Klondike

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Northside Square to Open in 2026

Officials gathered at the lawn of the former Northside High School to celebrate the financial closing of the Northside Square development. (Photo: Kailynn Johnson)

Residents can expect to move into Northside Square, a renovation of the historic Northside High School, in 2026.

Today, The Works Inc. along with ComCap Partners, Memphis Mayor Paul Young, and regional president of First Horizon Bank Louis “Bo” Allen Jr. gathered at the lawn of the former high school located at 1212 Vollintine Avenue to celebrate the financial closing of the development.

Northside High was closed in 2016 due to low enrollment. Officials contribute this to “population loss and disinvestment,” yet they are hopeful that the project will bring new life to the Klondike neighborhood, which is one of the oldest African-American communities in the city.

Officials said this represents the “largest private sector investment in a low-income Black neighborhood in the city of Memphis.”

“The 270,000-square-foot building is currently being transformed into a community hub that includes office space; education, healthcare, food, and beverage services; and community events and programming on the basement level and floors one and two, while the third floor will consist of 42 affordable residential units,” The Works said in a statement.

The Works acquired the property in 2021 and immediately began environmental remediation. In November 2023, they entered the financial closing stage of the project.

Quincy Jones, director of programs and special projects at The Works, said this contributes to a larger initiative known as “Moving Klondike Forward.” This serves as an effort for community development, while also preserving the historical significance of the site.

Roshun Austin, The Works’ president/CEO, added that the city has a “dearth” of affordable housing. While she noted this as a national problem as well, she said Memphis needs about 40,000 affordable housing units to accommodate for its dearth.

“We have opportunities throughout the Klondike neighborhood to provide housing for people, so we’re not displacing those who live here,” Austin added.

She went on to say that not only does this serve as a way to encourage those who have left the neighborhood to come back; it also invites newcomers to create a “vibrant” atmosphere.

“We’re really focused on this affordable population that Memphis needs to serve and do a better job of serving,” Austin said.

The mayor expressed his enthusiasm for the innovation of the project as it will also provide workforce development and training, literacy advocacy, arts programming, and more.

Young said Northside Square will be an opportunity to bring affordable housing to the neighborhood. He said residents in the neighborhood not only deserve housing accommodations but “high-quality” ones.

“It’s amazing to see an asset that was closed down in 2016 now being revitalized to be a hub of activity for this community,” Young said. “This Northside Project is going to draw upon the principles of Memphis 3.0.”

Young said Ashley Cash, director of housing and community development, led an investment of $2 million from the affordable housing trust fund for the new units as well. This contributes to the $81-million budget, with other funding sources including New Market Tax Credit Equity, conventional debt, and “$48 million in sponsor’s equity using private philanthropic dollars.”

Archie Willis III, founder and president of ComCap Partners, said the project will have one- and two-bedroom units, designed by Aaron Patrick Architects. Willis said they will be loft-style and hopes that the design paired with affordability will attract new and younger residents to the neighborhood.

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Klondike Smokey City Neighborhoods Experience A ‘Renaissance’ While Also Maintaining Historic Legacy

(Credit Christina Crutchfield via Instagram)

Two of the oldest African-American communities in North Memphis are continuing to improve quality of life for their residents and promote small businesses while preserving their historic legacy.

The Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation (KSCCDC) has a number of initiatives set in place to “improve the economic health of the North Memphis communities through community, workforce, and family development initiatives.” These resources include family preservation, affordable housing, recycling programs, and a small business program.

KSCCDC’s small business program seeks to boost prospects for small business owners through access to financial assistance and capital, along with the promotion of other skills including contracting and procurement, marketing, operations, business development, and exporting industry-specific training. 

According to the organization, they are able to help and connect businesses with these resources through the Community Navigator Pilot Program, which is an American Rescue Plan initiative and also sponsored by BLDG Memphis and the Small Business Administration.

“This particular grant was to provide support for small businesses in neighborhoods that were underinvested and underserved,” explained Markuitta Washington, community navigator for BLDG Memphis. “We selected seven of our member CDCs to support with executing this grant program.”

Randall Garrett serves on the board of directors for BLDG Memphis, representing KSCCDC, and explained that there is a “renaissance” in Klondike Smokey City when it comes to small businesses. 

The two cities were recently the setting of BLDG’s Memphis’ MEMfix, which Washington explained was a culmination project as a part of the Community Navigator Pilot Program. This specific iteration of MEMFix celebrated  “the area’s rich history with a Northside Hall of Fame and museum exhibits,” among other things. As a part of the event, small business owners were able to serve as vendors.

Garrett also explained that residents are excited about the Northside Square project. The project will be similar to Crosstown Concourse, with affordable housing, a community college, and more. According to Roshun Austin, president of The Works, the sponsor and ownership entity, the project will be ready in late Spring of 2025.

“As a collaborative organization, we have control of over 400 properties in the Klondike area where we’re doing affordable housing and possibly some more development in the area. It’s also all community-led organizations that’s in control of the property and planning” said Garrett. “So this MEMfix was the perfect event to showcase these things in these historic neighborhoods.”

The Klondike Smokey City MEMFix event not only served as an opportunity for the community to showcase the entrepreneurial boom in the city, but also its historic contributions.

“People do not know that Klondike is actually the first African-American community in the city of Memphis. People think it’s Orange Mound, but it’s actually Klondike. Orange Mound was first, but it was outside of the city of Memphis. Inside the city of Memphis, it was Klondike. This neighborhood is so very historic,” said Garrett.

In order for residents to “feel good” about their community, they must know who has made the community what it is, explained Eziza Ogbeiwi-Risher, environmental coordinator of KSCCDC, whether these names are publicly renowned or neighborhood heroes. This was showcased in a neighborhood museum built specifically for the MEMFix.

“I know that everybody has somebody in their family, or some event in their family that they’re very proud of,” said Ogbeiwi-Risher. “The museum is an opportunity for everyone to showcase that. Now you have an opportunity to let everyone know ‘hey, we helped build this community, and we want to continue to build it.’”

(Credit: Christina Crutchfield via Instagram)

Preservation is an important component of these two communities, and is amplified thanks to aid from not only community partners, but those who have lived in these communities for extended periods of time. Having people like Ogbeiwi-Risher and KSCCDC executive director Quincey Morris helps for newer developments and projects to come to fruition, while also preserving the historic legacy.

“When you have people who are from the community, in charge of developing the community, then you’re going to have a product that is going to preserve the legacy and history of the community,” said Garrett.

Garrett brought up the fact that new houses are expected to go up in the community soon. However, the first set of designs from the commissioned architects had been rejected because they did not fit in with the current designs of Klondike. He said this is why it is essential to have community natives at the table when it comes to these decisions.

“Anything that’s done in this neighborhood has to fit this neighborhood, has to fit the plan” said Garrett. “When you have people from the community and of the community, running the development and running the programs and running the design of everything, then that’s how you preserve the history and legacy of it.”

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City Council Hopes Small Area Redevelopment Will Spark Growth

The Memphis City Council met on Tuesday, December 15th, to discuss more development in small areas that they hope will revitalize the city. The Small Community Planning and Development committee will target seven areas. Neighborhoods that will be focused on at the beginning of 2021 will be Klondike, South City, Orange Mound, White Haven Plaza, and Raleigh Town Center.

The topic was brought up because Councilwoman Easter-Thomas received some questions from her constituents asking about the benefits to the upgrades to their communities. John Zeanah, director of the Division of Planning and Development, was the primary point of contact, and presented a guidebook for the city planning process. Development will begin with smaller community changes in order to kick start the Memphis 3.0 plan. He referenced the Memphis 3.0 annual update, which was made available on December 2nd.

“This is supposed to be a framework for the future growth of the city,” said Zeanah.

Raleigh Town Center, Elvis Presley Blvd., and Raines were completed late last year. They have been working with the developers from HED and the Binghampton Development Corporation.

They consider whether a place needs an anchor business to help attract new residents. An anchor business in the Orange Mound Historic Melrose district, for example, can have a larger impact on the surrounding area.

Public involvement is recommended and encouraged. Council member Rhonda Logan stressed the need for oversight after the development has completed.

Caritas Village in Binghampton offers multiple programs for residents.

“Are there meetings to come back and look at where we are and continue to maximize the opportunity? Can we build that into the plan?,” asked Logan.

“We did not have a designation plan in the Raleigh Town Center but that is now a part of the guide,” said Zeanah. “When there is a regulatory measure, like a a change in the land use or change in zoning to be made obviously, that’s something that the follow up is on the collective us,” he said.