June 2, 2026—The City of Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is pleased to announce the start of construction of a new mixed-use project in the Smokey City Neighborhood, with AEQUO Fund and The Works, Inc. serving as the developer.

Smokey City Market, identified as a key anchor in the Uptown Community Plan, consists of 11 parcels at Jackson Avenue and Decatur Street. The project will be completed in three phases.

Phase 1 will start with the demolition of the former Gordin’s Butcher Shoppe at 999 Jackson Avenue. The south side of the site will have 20 townhomes for moderate-income buyers. On the north side, a mixed-use building will offer affordable rental units for residents. Across Jackson Ave., adjacent to the popular restaurant, Memphis Toast, the Developer will construct a temporary beer garden at 962 Jackson Ave. Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed by June 2028.

AEQUO Fund and The Works, Inc. are utilizing their own funds to handle the demolition and cleanup at 999 Jackson, construct the beer garden, and complete pre-development for the housing piece. They plan to finance the completion of the townhomes and will pursue federal housing tax credits for the remaining part of Phase 1.

“Today begins the implementation of a dream the Smokey City Neighborhood residents have had on paper since the adoption of the 2018 Uptown Community Plan. The CRA has been working on behalf of the neighborhood to acquire the blighted properties, clean them up, and engage a community-oriented developer who understands the value of creating generational wealth in the community,” said CRA President Andrew Murray.

Phase 2 will include the construction of CareHaus – an intergenerational care-based co-housing building – and commercial space for dining, retail, and services for the community on the northwest block of Jackson and Decatur. The Final Phase will create affordable apartments on the northeast block of Jackson and Decatur.

For more information about Smokey City Market, visit https://cramemphis.org/projects/.

About the CRA
The CRA was established as a catalyst for the restoration of communities by removing blight and providing affordable housing. The CRA serves as a joint agency of Shelby County and the City of Memphis, established in 2017. Our community-based approach to neighborhood redevelopment through reinvestment leverages Tax Increment Financing (TIF), grants, and partnerships as important and strategic tools for implementing the agency’s goals. We envision every neighborhood in the City of Memphis and Shelby County providing its residents with a healthy, safe environment, economic opportunity, affordable housing, and an excellent quality of life.

About AEQUO Fund
AEQUO Fund is a mission-driven real estate investment and development firm focused on creating equitable, community-centered projects that generate long-term value for residents and neighborhoods. Through strategic investments and partnerships, AEQUO Fund advances transformative developments that promote economic opportunity, housing access, and sustainable community growth.

About The Works, Inc.
The Works, Inc. is a Memphis-based community development corporation dedicated to rebuilding, restoring, and renewing neighborhoods through housing development, economic opportunity, advocacy, and community engagement. For more than three decades, The Works has partnered with residents, public agencies, and private-sector stakeholders to create quality affordable housing, support neighborhood revitalization, and strengthen communities throughout Memphis.