Photos show how an abandoned Sears building transformed into a 'vertical village' of shops and apartments
The Sears Crosstown building opened in 1927 to around 35,000 people.
When the building was abandoned in 1993, the retail giant left behind old television sets, record players, and name tags.
The new developers also found time-sheets and an old menu listing Memphis classics like Barbeque ribs and cole slaw.
While the building stood empty, the Crosstown neighborhood became more urban.
The neighborhood is located about two miles outside downtown Memphis, making it a natural extension of the city center. By 2010, however, there were still only a few businesses and studios in the area.
In 2010, a professor and a video artist had an idea to transform the complex.
Todd Richardson, an art professor at the University of Memphis, and video artist Christopher Miner formed a non-profit organization called Crosstown Arts, whose main purpose was to renovate the abandoned Sears building.
Richardson and Minor proposed a "vertical urban village" that would include residential and retail space, along with a contemporary arts center.
The partners secured nearly 40 founding tenants, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the local Crosstown High School.
Their project broke ground in February 2015.
The Memphis City Council provided $15 million to help finance the renovation.
The new site, which opened in 2017, includes apartments, restaurants, and commercial space.
It also has a pharmacy, grocery store, nail salon, and FedEx store. Its corporate tenants span multiple sectors, such as healthcare, arts, and education.
The building's 265 apartments, known as The Parcels, feature exposed brick and wood floors from the original structure.
The residential area includes community gathering spaces and indoor porches. Apartment prices typically range from $1,400 to $1,540 per month, with 20% of units being sold at "affordable" market rates.
Crosstown Concourse is now a finalist for the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, which recognizes designs that help transform American cities.
The winner will receive $50,000 to continue their design efforts. A committee of judges will announce their decision in June.
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