MEMPHIS, Tenn. — August 21, 2026 — The City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will celebrate a major milestone in the development of the Orange Mound Community Land Trust (ABODE) with a groundbreaking ceremony for its Demonstration Home on Monday, August 24, at 9 a.m.
The groundbreaking will take place at 1390 Marechalneil Street, the site selected for the first home in this revitalization effort.
The Demonstration Home is the first step in a much larger vision for Orange Mound: creating lasting opportunities for affordable homeownership while ensuring that the neighborhood continues to grow without losing the residents, history, and community identity that make it unique.
The ABODE Community Land Trust began with 12 vacant parcels acquired by the City of Memphis as a foundation for the initiative. The long-term vision is to continue adding properties to the land trust and develop new homes that can provide affordable homeownership opportunities for Orange Mound residents.
“The Demonstration Home is exactly that — a demonstration of what is possible,” said Mayor Paul Young, who will be headlining the groundbreaking ceremony. “We are taking a vacant property and turning it into an opportunity for homeownership, while creating a model that we hope to build upon throughout Orange Mound. This is the first home, but the vision is much bigger.”
The initiative also has the potential to become a model for other Memphis neighborhoods. The master plan identifies ABODE as a pilot strategy that could ultimately be replicated elsewhere in the city as Memphis explores new ways to expand affordable homeownership and protect communities from displacement.
The construction of the Demonstration Home will be carried out by Fifer & Associates, Inc., with Self+Tucker Architects providing Construction Administration services.
Media Contact:
Arlenia Cole, Media Affairs Manager
City of Memphis
Arlenia.Cole@memphistn.gov