I was distressed to see online in your June LampLighter issue that one of John Gaisford’s beautiful buildings [the Union Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church on the corner of Union and Cooper] may be demolished to make way for a chain drugstore.

John Gaisford was the brother of my grandmother, and he was a well-respected architect. He was born the son of a carpenter and builder in Warminster, Wiltshire, England on October 6, 1875. In 1896, he immigrated to Memphis where he married twice and died on August 31, 1917. He was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis. He was a prolific architect and built many churches and public buildings during his short career.

I hope your conservation lobby can save this church for posterity. Best wishes.

Martin Pomeroy

This letter was written in response to an article titled “Drugstores take over historic corners and neighborhoods have had enough” by Robert Tom which was published in the June LampLighter.

BY TAMARA WALKER

On July 14th, 2008, the Cooper-Young Business Association initiated talks with Mary Baker of the Office of Planning and Development and Bill Schaffer of the Memphis City Engineering Office to discuss ways to slow down traffic on Cooper Street. After meeting with Mary and Bill, we asked the ETI Corporation, an Engineering Planning Company, in March of 2009 to design different possible configurations of Cooper Street that would help us make the street more pedestrian friendly and easier for patrons of our area to access, as well.

At first, we thought that we could reduce the four traffic lanes to two traffic lanes and install a median down the middle. The median would act as a landing spot for the patrons between the traffic lanes. Diagonal parking along Cooper Street was another consideration during this first phase. We thought that if we could increase street parking and make it more accessible than we would effectively eliminate some of the residential parking that occurs during the weekends and on weeknights. The diagonal parking would also help slow down traffic because vehicles would be backing into the street.

The Memphis City Engineering Office determined that diagonal parking was not possible, however, due to all the curb cuts along Cooper Street. In addition, the Engineering office wanted to install parking meters, which we thought would drive business to areas of town where parking is more convenient and free (i.e. East Memphis). At this time, we had ETI Corporation design several mock-ups to include existing parallel parking, a median, two traffic lanes, bike lanes and a turn lane down the whole of Cooper Street from Central to Young. This design would slow down traffic, keep a place in the middle where a pedestrian could land, add bike lanes to connect Midtown, and still maintain the current required parallel parking spaces that exist and are needed by business owners.

We were then faced with the physical limitations of Cooper Street starting at the Young intersection. At the intersection, Cooper Street’s width narrows to 40 feet wide as it goes south toward Southern. This made a real challenge opposed to the 60 foot width that runs from the Trestle Art to Young. At this point, it only made sense that the bike lanes would go from dedicated lanes to ride-share lanes at the Young intersection. These ride-share lanes are common all over the Memphis area and certainly the 2 blocks from Young to Southern shouldn’t be a problem. The last design had two traffic lanes, bike lanes (3/4 dedicated, 1/4 shared), a middle turn lane and parallel parking. It was submitted to Engineering in December of 2009, and it is a win-win for all.

I wanted to provide a background on the modification of Cooper Street that has been on our table for the last several years. The Cooper-Young business district with its thriving retail shops, service locations, antique stores and restaurants is in a delicate position when it comes to losing even one parking space, let alone two whole blocks of parking. In this economy, we must do everything to protect the limited parking that we have otherwise we lose our patrons. If we lose our patrons, we lose our shops.

This opportunity to improve Cooper Street will be a positive for our neighborhood. I hope that the all or nothing attitude of some doesn’t put a negative spin on the whole process. It will be a benefit for our residents, our business owners and our patrons regardless of their mode of transportation.

Tamara Walker is the Executive Director for the Cooper-Young Business Association.

By Emily Bishop

The LampLighter has grown under the leadership of many editors since the premiere issue back in 1989. Some editors have served for several years and some only a few issues. Leslie Jaynes has stepped down as editor after more than a year of service. Leslie worked to broaden the scope of articles printed in the LampLighter and brought a new energy to the task of production. We wish her well.

The search for a new editor was a brief one. Barb Elder interviewed for the job previously but realized because of her other commitments that she would not have the time necessary to do the job. The timing is right now that she is taking some time off from teaching school. Barb, along with her husband, Jason, and daughter, Violet, have lived in CY for almost four years. She is excited about the opportunity to work with the LampLighter staff and the many volunteers that work to publish the paper. This will be Barb’s first editorial endeavor but Cooper-Young has provided many firsts for her already. “This is where we bought our first home. It is where Violet took her first steps. It is where many of our close friends live. We are thankful to be in CY and we love being a part of this community,” said Barb.

The July issue will be the first issue for Barb and she will be meeting lots of new people. Each editor brings their own ideas to the paper and she is enthusiastic about the possibilities that lie ahead. Barb added, “I look forward to getting to know all of you who contribute to this paper on a regular basis. I also invite all of you writers, artists, poets, and photographers out there who have yet to share your thoughts and talents with the rest of us to please get involved. This paper serves to keep our neighborhood connected and informed and is a platform for many of our voices to be heard. What a beautiful thing to be a part of!”

LampLighter benefits from summer internship.

The CYCA has a new intern from the University of Memphis English Department. Kara Chamberlain will be working about 15 hours a week throughout the summer on several projects during her internship. In between the monthly issues of the LampLighter she will work on the CY History project, the CY Festival Friday 4-Miler, the CYCA website, and the LampLighter online.

Kara is also a new resident to CY having just moved to Manila Avenue. She plans to graduate in December and then apply to the Uof M law school.

Last month, I was fortunate enough to attend a Neighborhood Watch retreat sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security. While I can’t say I learned a great deal of new information—as I have long been an avid supporter of NW—the experience did renew my resolve to advocate this critical aspect of community. Criminals, like cockroaches, are most active when they think we’re not looking, and a well-coordinated Neighborhood Watch is, by far, the best way to keep the criminal element at bay. Get to know your neighbors, share contact information, and, by all means, if you want to play a more active role in CYNW, I encourage you to contact our Safety Coordinator, Kyle Gowen, at khgowen@hotmail.com.

Aaron James

Cooper-Young has one major thing in common with our newly chartered neighbors, the Rozelle-Annesdale Historic District to the west, and that is, of course, the revitalization of Mclean. Since we have two independent communities after one goal, this should start happening sooner rather than later. The thoughts are to put a bike path, widen, power wash, add a crosswalk (for children crossing to Peabody), add a mural to the railroad bridge, and add a small island rest area for the teardrop (shaped grassy area where Southern, Mclean, and Lamar all converge), rendering a more united neighborhood. A beautiful Mclean would really strengthen our communities as a whole.

According to Stoy Bailey (our community activist spearheading the Mclean project), the money as well as the design for the teardrop is already in place. The exact time of the project starting has not yet been determined. Details include placing a nice retaining wall on the south side (Southern side), a place for bike riders to rest, and hopefully a garbage can!

I intend to get a group of us together and power wash the concrete decorative hand rail that sits on both sides of Mclean just south of the railroad bridge. Also, it would be nice to wash the bridge itself, especially where it is to have a mural. I have not asked or talked with the Railroad people about doing this yet.

So far, Stoy Bailey and I have measured Mclean, and Stoy has tentative engineering plans that were drawn up and are available for viewing (by appointment only) at his office. We canvassed the neighbors on either side of Mclean to get documentation that can be presented for further approval of the project. As you may or may not know, getting things done like this takes time and effort. I, for one, didn’t know that there is a committee for “walkability” and the like, on top of the other Government people, which need to go along with this. Fun. Right?

The crosswalk for the Peabody Elementary students is important. The route will take them down Oliver, Nelson, or Evelyn where they will not have all of the traffic that sits on Young while school is convening. Having them walk down a dedicated route that is safe is a plan that is agreed on by all. Again, we need all of the “Government” factions to support us.

Glenn Althoff

Joseph R. Tracy

April 18th, 1936 – February 8th, 2010

Joseph R. Tracy became a Cooper-Young Community Association member in 2009 and had renewed his membership for 2010. He had been ill for a long time. After his wife of 37 years passed away, he moved to Evelyn Avenue. He leaves behind his sister, Jane Tracy, of Evelyn Avenue.

Steve and I want to personally congratulate Ben Smith for being honored by the Memphis Restaurant Association as Restaurateur of the Year. I am sure Ben would be the first to say that this honor pays tribute not only to his hard work but that exhibited by his staff, who make dining at Tsunami such a wonderful experience. The food is always superb, the staff is always warm and welcoming. It’s like our own little “Cheers” in the hood. The cooking classes at Tsunami are peppered with good food, a wealth of information, and Ben’s own special humor that encourages all to have fun in the kitchen and to just relax and feel free to experiment. Over the years, I have approached Ben and Colleen to take part in various activities in Cooper-Young, and they always respond with a willingness to do whatever is asked of them. This means a great deal to our community. So thank you, Ben and Colleen, for all you do for your neighbors. By the way, Tsunami was the first restaurant in Memphis to earn Green Fork certification for a restaurant devoted to recycling and using only green methods of operation.

Beth Pulliam

Last year I tried to plant a vegetable garden in my backyard and was so overcome by the effort that I fell flat on my face. Who knew so much actual w-w-work was involved! But the desire for fresh veggies and healthy alternatives to corporate food sources remains, which is why I’m so excited to learn of efforts to bring a farmers market to Cooper-Young. Just imagine a mini-CY Fest every weekend (maybe without quite as much beer!): mingling with neighbors; supporting local growers, canners, artisans, and musicians; and bringing home red, ripe, juicy tomatoes! Woohoo! Can’t wait!

Aaron James

Drum Shop has plans on Blythe

To our Cooper-Young Neighbors:

This is to let you know that I have recently purchased the property at 877, 883, and 885 Blythe Street. We plan to improve the value and appearance of the property with landscaping and improvements to the existing buildings. Plans are for the 877 Blythe church building to be used as an in-house recording/student studio, storage area, and single-family rental of the upstairs apartment. The 883 Blythe house will continue to be a single-family rental with the adjacent 885 Blythe property continuing to be parking area. Special events, limited to no more than three (3) times per year, might require the use of a temporary tent(s).

The 877 Blythe church building is currently being rented by the Salvation Army and is being used as a church and office space. The lease expires on September 30, 2011. They plan to have the new Kroc Center that is being built at Central and East Parkway completed by the spring or summer of 2011 and may move before the lease is completed.

We plan to remove the traffic that would be from our property to Blythe Street with the landscaping which will include a gate at the current entrance off Blythe Street. Church building, upstairs apartment, or rental house traffic and Memphis Drum Shop employees will enter and exit via the alley between the church building and Memphis Drum Shop. We are very excited about the Kroc center and what it will do for Memphis and, particularly, our neighborhood.

Memphis Drum Shop has enjoyed being a part of the Cooper-Young neighborhood since 1991. We have strived to be a good business neighbor, a contributing factor, and an asset to the community. We believe our plans for Blythe Street will enhance the image that both Memphis Drum Shop and the Cooper-Young neighborhood seek to promote.

If you have any comments or questions, please forward them to 878 South Cooper. We look forward to many more years of being your neighbor in Cooper-Young.

Sincerely,

Jim Pettit

Build Memphis up, not out, with a Midtown Overlay District

As an architect, I wholeheartedly embrace the evolution of our built environments—when handled properly. I would much rather see Memphis focus on infill than recklessly continue her century-old tradition of white flight and eastern sprawl. As such, I applaud the efforts of the groups working to create a Midtown Overlay District and encourage everyone to add their voices, concerns, and energies to this tremendous undertaking. We have all seen the devastation caused by thoughtless out-of-town or corporate developers when left to their own devices. (Walgreen’s, in particular, comes to mind.) While nothing can replace what has already been lost, this ordinance is a tremendous step forward in protecting—and enhancing—the integrity of what remains.

Aaron James