South

Planning District

About South

South District is a place where residents enjoy a sustainable and desirable community, where heritage assets are protected and used as catalysts for economic and cultural opportunities. The South planning district is supported by appropriate infrastructure, improved pedestrian facilities, quality housing, well-connected parks, and community assets and has innovative community spaces and entertainment.

Demographic Profile

A demographic profile is a quick snapshot of who lives in South District and how the district has changed over time. It uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to look at the people, households, and housing in the district.

Each profile compares two points in time, about 15 years apart. That way, you can see what the district looks like today and the direction it has been heading. Our goal is to give residents, community groups, and decision-makers the same set of facts to start conversations about what’s working in the district and what it needs. To learn more about demographic profiles and how we measured the data, click here.

View South District Profile

Memphis 3.0 Update
Public Workshops

During the Memphis 3.0 Five-Year Update, residents from across the district came together through a series of community workshops to help shape the future of their community. Participants validated district priorities and anchors, explored updates to the Future Land Use Map, and helped inform zoning and policy recommendations through meaningful conversations and shared ideas.

The Office of Comprehensive Planning documented what residents shared throughout the update process and developed the public resources that reflect this community input. Explore the district's priorities, meeting notes, workshop materials, and maps to see how residents helped shape the district's vision for the future.

View South District Updates

Soulsville Small Area Plan

During the Small Area Planning Process, community engagement was crucial to the ideation of design concepts and recommendations for neighborhood improvements and development. The Division of Planning and Development (DPD) partnered with Opticos Design to create a vision for each of the anchor-focused Small Area Plans. After several meetings with community members and other interested parties Opticos Design, DPD, and stakeholders compiled suggestions to create plans for anchor and neighborhood revitalization.

Read Plan

Accelerate Memphis Projects

McLemore Avenue Streetscape Improvements

McLemore was the site of streetscape improvements outside the Stax Academy and Museum.

The project was identified through public feedback from the Memphis 3.0 Comprehensive Plan, demonstrating our commitment to engaging with residents and prioritizing community needs. Led by the City of Memphis, Malasri Engineering, and designed and engineered by Allen & Hoshall, the McLemore Avenue Streetscape and Green Infrastructure project involved significant enhancements for pedestrian safety and stormwater drainage.

The pedestrian improvements included new crosswalks, solar-powered warning lights, and bump outs at crossings to shorten the crossing distance and alert drivers to pedestrians The project also featured an innovative stormwater management system utilizing bioswales—landscape elements designed to concentrate and filter stormwater runoff—integrated with native plants for more efficient drainage and to support wildlife and pollinators. This is the City’s first time installing bioswales.