The City of Memphis is gearing up to say goodbye to a piece of its decaying infrastructure. The Somerset Apartments, a dormant housing complex in the Oakhaven neighborhood, are scheduled for demolition. As reported by Action News 5, Mayor Paul Young is spearheading this effort under the auspices of the city's Blight Zero initiative. This program aims to transform neglected properties into viable, community-boosting developments.
The to-be-demolished apartments, which have stood vacant for more than a decade, were handed over to the city by CapStack Partners. As part of the mayor's initiative, the 30-acre property at 3427 Winchester Road is slated to become the site for new, affordable housing. The demolition ceremony is set to occur tomorrow at 9 AM, allowing the city to move forward with its housing plans quickly.
At the heart of the Blight Zero initiative is the desire to repurpose properties for better use. "This demolition isn’t just about clearing away what’s been left behind — it’s about making space for something better," Mayor Young said, as per Local Memphis. And with gratitude, he added, "I want to thank David Blatt and CapStack Partners for helping us take this critical first step toward renewal."
Considered a flagship project for Mayor Young's administration, the intended outcome is not just the removal of blight but also introducing much-needed affordable housing to Oakhaven. In line with the city's commitment, an official Request for Proposals will soon be posted on the City of Memphis website to garner developers interested in shaping the future landscape of the area. "We see hope on this site, and we’re committed to elevating its use to uplift the Oakhaven community," Young further elucidated in a press release quoted by the Commercial Appeal.
