Porter Leath Campus
The CRA invites proposals from qualified developers for the adaptive re-use of the historic Porter Leath property, located within the Uptown Redevelopment Area. This property, situated at 850 North Manassas, is a longtime community anchor in the Smokey City neighborhood. The Uptown Community Plan identifies the campus as an opportunity to provide accessible open space for the community and as a potential terminus for the historic Smokey City alleyway interpretive trails.
Property Description:
- The site encompasses one contiguous parcel, approximately 6 acres in size.
- The focal point is the historic orphanage building, which has been vacant for over 5 years and is approximately 26,000 square feet.
- As a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the CRA prioritizes adaptive re-use of the buildings, preserving their historical significance while repurposing them for contemporary use.
Open House (9-10 a.m.): November 13; December 4; January 15
RFP Due: April 4, 2025
Q&A
Yes, there are open house hours scheduled for November 13; December 4; and January 15. The buildings – both the main historic orphanage building and Gould Cottage – will be accessible from 9:00 to 10:00 am on these days.
There are as-built plans for Gould Cottage, but not for the main Porter-Leath orphanage building. The as-built plans for Gould Cottage are available for viewing at the CRA office; please contact Vivian Ekstrom at vivian.ekstrom@cramemphis.org to set up a time to view them. There was a recent re-plat of this property in 2023, and survey information can be found on the Register of Deeds website or below.
The most recent mechanical/electrical/plumbing updates were in 2000 including HVAC and plumbing. The interior of the building was renovated in 2021 for CRA to utilize it as office space consisting primarily of the following interior improvements: flooring, plaster and sheet rock, painting, energy efficient lighting, additional HVAC filtration, and controlled access on entry doors. An exterior renovation package was completed in 2023 consisting of stucco repairs, one window replacement, repairs to wood trim, a roof patch, full building paint, and crawl space coverings. The deferred maintenance list for the building currently consists of replacements for roofing, HVAC, and hand railings in the next 1-5 years. Additional improvements to the surrounding property for consideration are parking lot redesign and repavement, new gated controlled access entry, and grading to improve drainage during heavy rain events.
Yes, Gould Cottage can be included in the development. While the CRA prefers to retain office space in Gould Cottage, our tenancy is contingent upon the needs of the development project. We are also willing to lease the space.
The CRA defines affordable housing as being affordable for low to moderate-income households making 120% or less of area median income, with priority given to housing that is targeted to households earning 80% or less of area median income. Workforce housing is generally defined as housing for households earning between 60% and 120% of area median income.
The CRA does not have a specific amount allotted for this project. If the project includes affordable housing for low to moderate-income households, the CRA may be able to provide funding to help fill any financial gaps in the capital stack.