Malco wants to put up fence outside Downtown parking lot due to ‘increased crime’ in recent years

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Will a fence help keep crooks out of the parking lot of Malco Powerhouse in Downtown Memphis?

Officials with Malco want a six-foot aluminum fence around the parking lot area, in their words, “due to increased crime.”

Some Downtown residents are for it, and some worry about changing the look and feel of the neighborhood.

“Malco’s been here 100 years and this particular spot has a $10 million investment,” said Christine Donhardt, attorney at The Reaves Firm who is representing Malco Theaters, Inc.

Malco‘s proposal to build an aluminum fence and two gates along South Front Street at Malco Powerhouse Theater‘s parking lot will be in front of the Shelby County Land Use Control Board on Thursday.

The main driveway entrance on South Front is open and would remain open to visitors if the proposal is passed.

“I’m not super for it, but I wouldn’t be mad if they ended up building one. It’s okay either way for me,” said Downtown resident Lisa Su.

People living along S. Front Street and near the theater have all kinds of opinions.

“I think that it will serve a great purpose,” said Downtown resident Amanda Williford. “I know they had some security issues going on, some break-ins in the parking lot. I think a gate would help make it more secure.”

The theater has seen its share of car thieves in recent years and even a robbery inside in 2022.

Donhardt told members of the Memphis and Shelby County Board of Adjustment in October that they’ve since gone cashless, have security on site, limited theater hours and added cameras in and outside.

“The criminals pull up on the street, walk across the grass strip, break the window, steal the cars,” said Donhardt. “This particular location has a 25% decline in revenue this year alone.”

In letters, some residents pushed back against the proposal.

One said, “No one wants to spend time outside relaxing and have a view of a fenced-in parking lot.”

And another said, “Adding a fence here will reduce walkability of the neighborhood.”

But without the fencing, Malco officials fear for the worst.

“What we’re worried about is something else happening and we don’t want it,” said Malco’s Senior Vice President and Operations Administrator Donald Terry Sr.

The theater was issued a code enforcement violation for putting up the fence without a permit in late July.

The fence poles remain outside the parking lot currently and could be used for a new fence if approved.

The proposed gates will match the proposed fence and would only be open for the Memphis Farmers Market, according to a presentation at the BOA meeting.