JB.Smileyjr@memphistn.gov, Rhonda.Logan@memphistn.gov, jerri.green@memphistn.gov, pearl.walker@memphistn.gov, Jana.Swearengen-Wash@memphistn.gov, Edmund.FordSr@memphistn.gov, Michalyn.Easter-Thomas@memphistn.gov, janika.white@memphistn.gov, yolanda.coopersutton@memphistn.gov, Chase.Carlisle@memphistn.gov, Jford.canale@memphistn.gov, Jeff.Warren@memphistn.gov

officeofthemayor@shelbycountytn.gov, mayor@memphistn.gov

To: Memphis City Council, Mayor Paul Young, Mayor Lee Harris

Re: Memphis 3.0's destabilization of neighborhoods

Dear Mayors and City Council Members,

While there are parts of Memphis 3.0 that I support, I stand firmly against the destabilization of neighborhoods that the Future Land Use Planning Map imposes for the benefit of commercial "anchors."

The biggest investment most of us will ever make is in our home. Memphis 3.0 discourages owner-occupancy in favor of duplex and multi-family housing, which means landlords. In this day and age, that means absentee landlords. The trend in Memphis for absentee landlords—often non-USA landlords, has been on the rise for years. Memphis 3.0 will destabilize neighborhoods by diminishing the number of owner-occupants and increasing the number of absentee landlords. Owner-occupants have a pride in their homes that landlords often do not exhibit. As an example, the stable Midtown neighborhoods of today are the result of extensive "down-zoning" in the 1970s—changing away from exactly the type of neighborhoods that Memphis 3.0 wants to bring back. Please let us learn from history.

Memphis 3.0 is not at all equitable in its assignment of density in Memphis. Memphis 3.0's Future Land Use Planning Map designates a huge portion of East Memphis "not affected" by 3.0 and puts the brunt on North Memphis, South Memphis and Midtown—which are already the most dense parts of town. Destabilizing these neighborhoods will drive homeowners to buy in East Memphis, raising the value of their properties and lowering the value of non-East Memphis properties. This free pass to East Memphis is economically discriminatory.

We support the Memphis 3.0 goals of ending suburban sprawl, promoting a walkable and bike-able city, and making public transit work. We support density on major streets where commerce won't be returning, and in areas of blight and vacant land. However, the 3.0 Plan promotes the conversion of existing homes to apartments, supports squeezing more buildings onto single-family lots, and encourages demolishing homes to rebuild multi-family. We do not want to see a return to the "up-zoned" mess that was 1970s Memphis before stability arrived through "down-zoning."

We call for the Department of Planning and Development and the City of Memphis and Shelby County to put a moratorium on decisions based on Memphis 3.0, its Future Land Use Planning Map and the Land Use Categories until the next 5-year update of the 3.0 Plan.

We call for devoting the upcoming 5 years to the creation of the Small Area Plans that are recommended by Memphis 3.0. This will allow for planned, targeted development guided by 3.0 goals and by the knowledge and wisdom of residents who will have to live with these decisions.

Please don't let Memphis 3.0 sell out our neighborhoods and destabilize our city.

Thank you,

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NEIGHBORHOOD

ADDRESS