City councilman Harold Collins told a packed house at Middle Baptist Church in Whitehaven on Monday night that investors plan to spend $250 million-$500 million on an overhaul of Graceland and its surrounding area.
While Collins promised nearby residents that plans do not call for "roller coasters and Ferris wheels up and down Elvis Presley Boulevard," he said there will be extensive renovations in the Craft Road area.
Collins said Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. understands that its plans must be reviewed by town-hall meetings.
With fellow council members Janis Fullilove, Edmund Ford Jr. and Myron Lowery also on hand, Collins shared what little is known about plans by EPE and its parent company, CKX Inc., for Graceland expansion.
EPE has bought $13 million worth of adjacent land already, including the soon-to-be-demolished Craft Manor apartments, and the plan calls for all Graceland-related operations to be moved to the east side of Elvis Presley Boulevard, with shops and restaurants on the west side.
EPE, Collins said, has proposed installing a tree line to divide residential and commercial properties.
No doubt EPE will be selling bits of whatever buildings they'll be knocking down as "genuine Elvis memorabilia". Roll up, roll up, give us your money, you sad people...
Why would they sell peices of someone's apartment or home that has nothing to do with Elvis or his time? I know you hate EPE but dang man. That's going a little too far. I do think this is going to be not only a blessing for Elvis but for the city's economy.
The area around Graceland is not very attractive and needs alot of upgrade. This is good for Graceland and fans everywhere. Also great for Memphis and the entire nearby region.
Just having returned from Memphis, I can say that the Whitehaven area definitely needs much improvement. And the City of Memphis may never have gotten around to it if it wasn't for EPE & the investors. On the other hand, if the project is done properly, it is bound to cause some unhappiness on the part of some residents & some members of council. Projects of this type are always controversial. According to the video made of Sillerman answering questions & explaining the plans, there really is no "theme park" as so many people have heard. He said the "theme" of Elvis is already there, they are just planning to emphasize his life & music on a cultural level as well as commercial. He also didn't have a start date for Memphis based on the economy as it is now plus the plans for Vegas are first. We'll see.
Amazing, Elvis Presley now falls in with Walt Disney a Mickey Mouse with sideburns that can sing. Keep up the good work, then can Col. Parker become BOZO the Clown next. and Good old Georgie (UT Party) Klein will be the ringmaster.