ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, INC. CLOSES FINANCING FOR HISTORIC, MIXED-USE PROJECT IN MEMPHIS, TENN.
Investment Critical to Downtown Renaissance
Columbia, Md. - August 31, 2006—Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise) announced
today that it closed a $26.5 million new Market Tax Credit (NMTC) deal with US Bank Community
Investment Corporation to help finance the rehabilitation of Court Square Center in downtown
Memphis, Tenn. Enterprise, the largest allocate of NMTC in the nation, brings over 20 years
of real estate finance expertise and a full range of community development products and services
to help revitalize and sustain communities nationwide.
Telesis Corporation, a developer of large-scale, complex, urban redevelopments, has primary
responsibility for managing the development of Court Square Center, in partnership with Memphis-based
CGI & Partners Court Square Center, LLC. The total development cost approximates $47 million and
encompasses the rehabilitation of three historic buildings: the 22-story Columbian Mutual Tower,
the 7-story Court Annex Building, and the 5-story Lowenstein Building, into a single, mixed-use
property combining 77 residential units and approximately 38,000 square feet of retail and office
space.
"Court Square Center is a great example of the New Market Tax Credit program positively impacting
distressed communities," said Joseph Wesolowski, Enterprise senior vice president. "This project
transforms a whole city block, creating new housing, and commercial space to help revitalize
downtown Memphis along with construction jobs and permanent employment opportunities," he said.
Court Square Center will overlook Court Square Park, the historic economic center of the city,
and generate renewed street life, pedestrian activity and economic growth in the community. The
development is part of downtown Memphis' transformation from an office district into a vibrant
combination of apartment, office and entertainment properties.
Multi-layered funding for the project also includes federal historic tax credits, Brownfields
Economic Development Funds, a Section 108 loan, as well as additional NMTC funds from another
allocate National development Council.
Kelly Sheehan
Online News Editor, Mulit-Housing News
September 12, 2006