Memphis Depot Business Park - The History of the Depot

		The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officially activated the Memphis General Depot in January 1942. The facility is located north of the Memphis International Airport at 2163 Airways Boulevard. There are 130 buildings on site with more than 4 million square feet of enclosed industrial space. The mission of the Depot was to supply the U.S. Army with food, clothing, tools, and engineering equipment. During World War II, the Depot also served as a prisoner of war camp for 800 prisoners. From 1942 until 1962, the installation performed important Army

supply missions as the Memphis Quartermaster Depot, Memphis Army Service Forces Depot, and as the Memphis General Depot. In 1962, the installation became the Memphis Army Depot and, in 1964, began providing general supply support to all the military branches. The installation became one of the original Depots in the Defense Supply Agency (now the Defense Logistics Agency—DLA) and the name was changed to Defense Depot Memphis.

The Depot provided logistical support to the U.S. military from World War II through Desert Storm. In May 1943, there were 4,726 civilians and 162 military personnel at the Depot.

On September 30, 1997, after 55 years of service, the 642-acre Memphis Defense Depot closed due to the decisions of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). In response to the federal government's decision to close the doors, the City of Memphis and the Shelby County Government partnered with the economic development community to begin the process of converting the Memphis Defense Depot to non-military use in an effort to recapture jobs.

The Redevelopment Plan
The Redevelopment Plan for the Memphis Depot was the result of an extensive community, business, education, and government participation process. Workshops that included neighborhood residents and other stakeholders were conducted, as well as in-depth evaluations of local, regional administration officials, military representatives, design and environmental specialists, real estate developers, transportation professionals, logistics specialists, and a broad array of interested individuals helped ensure an outcome that would foster economic growth.

The reuse plan focused on attracting distribution, light manufacturing, and appropriate service agencies to the facilities. In addition to incorporating light industrial businesses, the plan provides facilities for education and technical training, community services, parks, and public recreation activities. Former officer's housing was converted to transitional housing for local homeless veterans, under a Homeless Assistance Transfer and, several facilities were designated for a new Southeast Police Precinct and property conveyed to the City of Memphis under a Public Benefit Transfer.

		The MDBP has been greatly enhanced with the planting of mature trees and shrubbery. A no-cost lease of fifty acres of parkland, including a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse is operated by a local faith-based organization to help establish sports skills in youth and offer occasionally activities for tenants. The transfer of 35 acres—at no cost to the Memphis Area Transit Authority for a light-rail maintenance facility is being planned to connect the Memphis International Airport to Downtown Memphis. As a result of the partnership between the City of Memphis, Shelby County Government and the community, the Redevelopment Plan was adopted and became the blueprint for job creation, competitive incomes, community services and new investments that were designed to help

counteract the losses that resulted from the closure of the Memphis Depot. After several months of planning, the former military facility took on a new look with its heavily landscaped entrances and grounds that were designed to improve the overall appearance of the Depot.

Community Involvement and Environmental Issues
To assure community involvement in the Memphis Depot following the closure, the Department of Defense maintained a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) to identify and sustain community interest in the environment. In a effort to allow the community to comment on actions and proposed actions taken by the government under its BRAC procedures and environmental restoration programs, the Board has proven to be very important to communication and understanding environmental issues.

Financing
The City of Memphis and the Shelby County Government's partnership with the Depot Redevelopment Corporation afforded them the opportunity to loan $7.5 million toward the revitalization. Government officials were confident that in five to fifteen years the Business Park would be self-sufficient and be able to repay the borrowed funds. These funds were coupled with state and federal grants, as well as administrative and maintenance subsidies from the Department of Defense, for upgrading of infrastructure and other capital improvements.

		Redevelopment construction was scheduled to be completed in seven phases over 15 years, but was done in five phases over six years. Total capital improvement costs will be about $14 million offset by Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants totaling $6 million. This total does not include improvements/repairs to facilities under a maintenance program funded by a Caretaker grant ($5 million) and tenant-initiated improvements. Today There are currently 30 distribution, manufacturing and service-oriented companies in the MDBP that collectively employ more than 1,300 people.