City Council Full Meeting, May 12, 2026
Approved: Melrose School Building 50-year ground lease for multifamily residential, unanimous
What happened
On May 12, 2026, Memphis approved Melrose School Building 50-year ground lease for multifamily residential (unanimous).
The Memphis City Council's May 12, 2026 meeting was largely ceremonial, with the most substantive land-use action being unanimous approval of a 50-year ground lease with Melrose Housing Partners LLC for multifamily residential apartments on the upper two floors of the historic Me…
- Jurisdiction
- Memphis, TN
- Governing body
- Final authority
- Date
- May 12, 2026
- Decisions
- 12 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Approved, unanimous
Free sample: decision 1 of 12
Ordinance 5959 - Small Business Enterprise Opportunity Program amendment
Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances regarding the Small Business Enterprise Opportunity Program, up for third and final reading, sponsored by the administration, held from April 28th. Passed as amended. Roll-call all yes.
- Adopted as amended per version in council binders.
The other decisions are listed below. Available full write-ups and conditions are included with Pro.
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Key Decisions (12)
Ordinance 5959 - Small Business Enterprise Opportunity Program amendment
Melrose School Building 50-year ground lease for multifamily residential
Financing lease for solid waste vehicles
Consent agenda items 6, 7, 8 and 21
Budget management software funding inclusion
In-kind donation for Hickory Hill Community Center
Resolution opposing congressional map splitting of District 9
Appointments to Memphis Metropolitan Land Bank Authority
Fund swap for Sea Owl Fitness and Galloway Golf Course projects
Funding transfer for Gayoso Bayou drainage repairs
Funding transfer for Knight-Arnold Johns Creek Bridge construction
Reduction of Tennessee Highway Safety Office grant funds
Full write-ups and conditions for all 12 decisions in Pro.
Development Activity (2)
Melrose School Building Redevelopment
Residential
Church Park Auditorium Restoration (proposed)
Other
Market Signals (5)
Housing Demand
Strong community demand for affordable senior and workforce housing in…
Commercial Demand
Beale Street commercial corridor showing distress, with Ghost River and…
Infrastructure
City directing significant capital toward bridge and drainage repairs ($500K…
2 additional market signals with full detail in Pro.
Who spoke
20 distinct speakers; 8 identified names.
All speaker roles: 1 Clerk, 6 Councilmember, 2 Staff, 8 Public, 2 Chair, 1 Witness.
Identified name roles: 6 Councilmember, 1 Staff, 1 Chair.
Speaker sample: Cheryl Hearn, Staff.
7 more identified names in Pro: 6 Councilmember, 1 Chair.
Full speaker roster in Pro
Meeting audio
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Zoning terms (3)
6 recorded timestamps
- approved (3 timestamps)
- residential (1 timestamps)
- rezoning (2 timestamps)
Decision moments (12)
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Go deeper on this meeting
12 recorded decisions, 10 conditions across 10 decisions. Available full write-ups are included with Pro for Memphis.
Full write-up and conditions in Pro
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