What’s happening: This Saturday, April 29, marks the beginning of this year’s series of MEMFix events, the innovative neighborhood revitalization initiative first launched by community development coalition BLDG Memphis in 2010. The first event of 2023 takes place along Elvis Presley Boulevard in the Alcy Ball neighborhood, celebrating the legacy of the Bellevue Business District.
What’s planned: A community street festival is planned along Elvis Presley Boulevard from Alcy Road to Gausco Road from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 29. More than 45 vendors will be there to sell their wares, as well as neighborhood staples like Coney Island, Champion’s Pharmacy, Gandy’s Barber Shop, and Marquee of Soul. A temporary activation at the bus stop near Coney Island is planned, and a new public art installation will be unveiled at Gandy’s. Also planned is an outdoor beer garden, food options, live music, and more.
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BLDG Memphis has partnered with the Alcy Ball Development Corporation (ABDC) on their MEMFix event. Six more neighborhoods will host MEMFix events through October, with the next planned in South City on Saturday, May 20.
Why it is: The concentrated activation of Elvis Presley Boulevard intends to celebrate the Bellevue Business District’s historic legacy as a destination for Black business owners, as well as demonstrate its potential for new developments to carry on said legacy.
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Related: Read “A safer, more comfortable corridor: City proposes changes for Watkins-Cleveland-Bellevue corridor” on High Ground News.]
What they’re saying: “We’re excited to showcase our Alcy Ball community with this MEMFix,” says Seth Harkins, ABDC director. “This will be an opportunity for everyone to see what this street looked like in its heyday when many neighbors came here for all their shopping and social needs – and an opportunity to reimagine its future, keeping the ball rolling for a new generation to benefit from its legacy of success.”
Visit Alcy Ball Development Corporation online for an up-to-date listing of planned community events and BLDG Memphis online for upcoming MEMFix events all summer long.
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