Memphis Riverfront » The Timeline

The Timeline

The Beale Street Landing project is the first major project to be constructed by the Riverfront Development Corporation (RDC) as part of the implementation of the Memphis Riverfront Master Plan, approved by the Memphis City Council in May 2002. The project has a diverse set of goals:

to create a unique public space and destination at the terminus of historic Beale Street
to be Memphis’ major event and festival venue
to function as a world-class docking facility capable of accommodating large river
cruise vessels and local excursion boats

Given the diversity of the goals and the sense that “we know what it needs to be, but not what it needs to look like,” a design competition seemed to provide the most effective means of achieving these goals.

May 2002	Memphis City Council approves Memphis Riverfront Master Plan, which includes the Beale Street Landing project.
June 2002	RDC, in cooperation with the Memphis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the UrbanArt Commission, chooses to conduct an international design competition for the Beale Street Landing project.
December 2002	Announcement of Shaping the New American Riverfront international design competition. Postcards mailed to approximately 800 design firms, universities, and colleges.
January 2003	Competition postings placed on multiple (15) architectural websites. All competition requirements and guidelines posted on RDC website for general public and participant access.
Jan – April 2003	Questions received and answers provided via website for all participants and the general public to see and review.
April 2003	Stage 1 submittals received. Openness of competition illustrated by number and sources of submittals – 171 submissions from 20 foreign countries and 28 states within the United States.
May 2003	Stage 1 finalists selected. From blind (unidentified) submissions, a panel of six nationally renowned architects and landscape architects selected five designs to go on to Stage 2.
October 2003	Stage 2 finalists were invited to Memphis to present their final designs to the same panel of judges. After receiving greater detail of their designs, the panel selected the design that best responded to the specific project program. The winning firm was RTN of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
January 2004	Local architectural firm of Bounds & Gillespie was selected to be architect of record and project coordinator.
March 2004	TDOT and the City of Memphis executed contract for grant funds of $496,750 for Beale Street Landing.
May 2004	Design work begins on Beale Street Landing.
June 2004	City Council approves Beale Street Landing project as part of FY 2005 City CIP Budget
June 2005	City Council approves Beale Street Landing project as part of FY 2006 City CIP Budget.
September 2005	U. S. Army Corps of Engineers issues Section 404 permit for Construction of project.
September 2005	Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issues Section 10 Water Quality Certification allowing construction of the project.
November 2005	City Council appropriates $500,000 for construction of Phase 1 of the project.
December 2005	City of Memphis executes contract with Riverfront Development Corporation for Construction of Phase 1
December 2005	Phase 1: Widening of Harbor Channel
June 2006	City Council approves Beale Street Landing as part of the FY07 City CIP Budget.
August 2006	Riverfront Development Corporation, on behalf of the City, submits the Programmatic Categorical Exclusion document to TDOT for approval to utilize federal funds.
Arpil 2008	Contract awarded for Phase 2: Sheet pile retaining wall and marine foundation piles.
July 2008	Work begins on Phase 2
July 2008	Bids taken for Phase 3: Fabricate and install floating dock, mooring arms, and helical ramp.
December 2008	Bids taken for Phase 4a: Construct terminal building and surrounding plaza and grass roof.
May 2009	Bids taken for Phase 4b: Construct terraces and islands.
Fall 2010	Expected Project Completion