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Graceland Expension

March 06, 2019 | Other

Memphis City Council members announced an agreement Tuesday with Elvis Presley Enterprises that lays out a series of agreed-upon projects for the future development of the 120-acre Graceland campus.
The agreement, which is subject to City Council approval later this month, comes as Memphis and Elvis Presley Enterprises officials have been at loggerheads over the expansion plans, centering on a proposed arena.
The new agreement also sets out Elvis Presley Enterprises' intent to reinvest $750,000 in the Whitehaven neighborhood, and to pay full-time, permanent employees at the facilities "a living wage," according to the agreement documents.

The two have been battling in court over Graceland expansion plans, centering on a planned 6,200-seat venue, which city officials have said could conflict with a non-compete agreement for the FedEx Forum.
The agreement doesn't approve Graceland development or new public incentives. But it does lay out the potential for projects such as 80,000-square-feet of sound stages, 30 guest cabins, plane hangars and expanded retail space to go before the City Council in the future for consideration of public incentives.
The agreement, which could come up for a council vote later this month, doesn’t settle the litigation Elvis Presley Enterprises has levied against the city, City Council Vice Chairwoman Patrice Robinson said.

It also paves the way for a Memphis Community Benefits Agreement between the Graceland developers and a non-profit entity the City Council will choose to represent Whitehaven. 
The agreement sets out that $750,000 in proceeds from the development will be reinvested in Whitehaven over the next five years. 
Elvis Presley Enterprises has laid out intentions to develop manufacturing and distribution facilities in Whitehaven, where residents there will have "first priority" for jobs, according to the agreement.

Source:ElvisDayByDay.com