Mayor Jim Strickland City Hall 125 N. Main St. Room 700 Memphis, Tn 38103 June 26, 2019 Dear Mayor Strickland, We, the undersigned have chosen Downtown as our place, ​the​ place to do business and we believe that Memphis is on the verge of something transformative. Every day as we are reconnecting with our entrepreneurial roots, breaking ground on new projects, breathing new life into historic buildings or simply going about our daily business, we find ourselves embracing a spirit of joint aspiration like no other time in history. We believe a revitalized Riverfront, and in particular, the effort to build a bold new Tom Lee Park is critical to maintaining and capitalizing on this momentum and we believe the time to make that happen is now. We believe that creating purposeful, pedestrian connections between the Downtown Core and the Riverfront are crucial for Memphis to continue to be an attractive hub for headquarters, creative agencies, and entrepreneurs, for our identity as a top tourist destination, and for our continued growth as the most diverse, inclusive neighborhood in the MidSouth. We believe that a revitalized Riverfront that is activated 365 days per year is better for our businesses, better for Downtown and better for all Memphians. A park that draws more people year-round will mean more people eating, shopping, playing, staying and investing Downtown. We believe the proposed park infrastructure upgrades will cultivate an environment for a diverse spectrum of new events, cultural festivals and sporting​ ​opportunities in which all Memphians can participate. And that these upgrades not only allow our city’s signature festival to remain in the park, but provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Memphis in May leadership, if it has the vision to do so, to become bigger, better, and shine even brighter. Few cities have been blessed with such a stunning Riverfront at its doorstep and even fewer have been given an opportunity to transform it in such a monumental and positive way, a transformation that will benefit all Memphians now and for generations to come. Let us not be the generation that squandered this opportunity, instead let's be the generation that joined together, and maximized our potential as a world class river city. As we look toward our next century we know the time is right for us to finally develop our Riverfront into what we know it can be – the best Riverfront in the country. We urge you to support a bold new Tom Lee Park. We trust that with your leadership and that of the Partnership, we can get this done for Memphis. Thank you for your consideration. Aldo’s Pizza Pies, Bardog, & Dirty Crow Inn, The Slider Inn Downtown Aldo Dean AllWorld Project Management, LLC Michael Hooks, Jr. & Brent Hooks Bar Ware, LLC Libby Wunderlich BB King’s Blues Club, Bon Ton Cafe, Cadre Entertainment, Itta Bena Tommy Peters Big River Partners LLC Kevin Adams Blind Bear Jeannette Comas West Bluff City Coffee & Bakery David Adams The Brass Door Meg & Scott Crosby, Seamus Loftus Carlisle Corporation Chance Carlise Carolina Watershed, Loflin Yard Taylor Berger Catherine & Mary’s, The Gray Canary Andy Ticer & Michael Hudman Century House Advisors Anton Mack City Block Salumeria, Dough Jo Pizza & Venga Brad McCarley DCA & Associates Doug Carpenter Dee Lightful Bliss Bakery Da'Livya Gordon Development Services Group, Inc. Gary Prosterman Development Project Consultant Scott Bojko Downtown Advocates & Residents Anne & Pat Halloran Downtown Advocate & Resident Sharon Leichem Eighty Park Avenue Partners Gary Wunderlich Envision Fitness Mark Akin Felicia Suzanne’s Restaurant Felicia Willet The Fourth Cup & The Gulf Grill Trey & Mallory Dacus Grecian Gourmet Taverna JoBeth Graves & Jeff Watkins Henry Turley Company Henry Turley & Alex Turley Indigo Ag David Perry Jack Pirtle’s Chicken Cordell & Tawanda Pirtle Joseph’s Interiors & 31 year Downtown Resident & Building Owner Cindy Grivich Tucker Leftfield Properties Casey Hill Maciel’s Tacos & Tortas Manuiel Martinez Rizzo’s Diner Micheal Patrick The Majestic Grille Deni & Patrick Reilly Tamburrino, Inc. Patrick Tamburrino Margie’s 901 Velma Bobo Tower Ventures Billy Orgel & Benjamin Orgel McEwen’s on Monroe Bert Smythe & John Littlefield Two Girls & a Whip Cakery Caroline Dean & Mary Katherine Dunston ODEN B2B Marketing Communications Bill Carkeet & Bret Terwilleger Universal Commercial Real Estate Darrell Cobbins Old Dominick Chris Canale Walking Pants Curiosities Darrel Andrews & Ashley Parham Pasta 409, Bar 409, Pontotoc Lounge, Silly Goose Daniel Masters Wok’n in Memphis Spenser Coplan Peddler Bike Shop Josh Jacobs Premium Parking Jack McCleskey Primus Bakery & Boutique Rachel Mullen Puck Food Hall, Radical Salads & The 275 Food Project Heather Jameson & Diane Terrell Stock & Belle Erika Smith Southland Capital Terry Lynch SouthernSun Asset Management Stuart Harris Ray Brown Urban Design Ray Brown Woodard Properties Terry & Phil Woodard 117 Prime, 3rd & Court, Sunrise Memphis Ryan Trimm