By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Earlier this year more details were released about the more than $300 million of developments happening in Millington.
The crown jewel of all the announcements could be seen in an artist rendering all over traditional and social media. Those buildings and landscapes were Astoria Square.
Another large step in the project coming to fruition took place Thursday morning south of Navy Road and east of Veterans Parkway in Millington. Dozens of major contributors, City of Millington dignitaries, officials of Shelby County and representatives of the state were on hand at the future sight of Astoria Square.
“It’s super exciting, so many pieces came together to make this happen,” said Jeff King, co-owner of Astoria Development. “I have to give credit to the City and the County for making this happen. The IDB with Jon Crisp, Terry Roland and the Chamber, the Mayor, aldermen, and so many folks made this happen.
“I think this project is going to be a real game changer,” he added. “It’s going to do nice things for Millington. It’s going to be a step up from 51 to the Base. We’re kind of gentrifying the area. We’ll have an impact all the way down to Navy Road.”
The official Astoria Square Groundbreaking Ceremony was hosted by Millington Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terry Roland. After the prayer of invocation by Pastor Derek Westmoreland, the colors were presented by the Millington Central Middle High School ROTC Color Guard. Shelby County Commissioner Amber Mills was joined by her peers in delivering the Pledge of Allegiance.
After the National Anthem, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner gave remarks as well as City of Millington Mayor Terry Jones. The gathering also heard from Millington Industrial Development Board Executive Director Jon Crisp and King about what Astoria Square will offer.
“About 2 years ago we got together,” King recalled. “We really wanted to credit a project that was unique. As was said earlier, kind of combine all our capabilities. When we came by this property one day, we were like ‘Hey that’s it. It’s the site.’ It had everything we wanted and we could really visualize something unique here.
“This will be 65,000 square feet of commercial space, topped with two-stories of luxury loft apartments,” he noted. “We’ll have about 160 luxury loft apartments. We’ll have a hotel on site. Being a commercial area, we’ll have a focal point with a craft brewery. The square will have a stage with a lot of amenities.”
Another person to note some of the coming attractions was TSCG’s Shawn Massey. Massey mentioned the 280 homes on the residential side, greenway, parks, dog parks and a lake.
TSCG is an investor in the project. TSCG has provided a full assortment of commercial real estate advisory services to tenants, landlords, developers, investors and financial institutions throughout the Southeast.
“It’s really going to be a community,” King said. “What we’re building here is really going to be a community. And we’re excited to be doing it. It will be a designation for others and a place where folks can live and play right here.”
Astoria Square is going through the final stages of finances, final approval. This is Millington’s first mixed-use community that will include apartments, residential single family townhomes, a hotel, commercial retail, office space and the existing YMCA.
Astoria Square will be close to the Millington-Memphis Jetport and the largest inland Naval Air Station in the United States with more than 7,500 military, civilian and contract personnel assigned and working on the base.
Space is available through TSCG with 30,000 square feet first floor retail for lease, hotel outparcel for sale, retail outparcels available for sale, ground lease and/or built to suit and ideal for restaurants, entertainment, specialty retail services and office space use.
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” King concluded. “This is probably a five to six year project. Markets can change that a little bit but it should be fully completed in about five or six years.”
For more information on leasing or obtaining space in Astoria, contact Shawn Massey at [email protected] or call 334-5702 or Jon Isbell at [email protected] or call 334-5706.
