The former U.S. Pipe-Wheland Foundry site sits along the new section of the Riverwalk.Over the weekend, people gathered to celebrate the newest extension of the Riverwalk, which extends from Ross’s Landing to Middle Street. While they were likely cheering for the new recreational opportunities and connectivity that come with it, its impact stretches beyond that.
“In real estate, everyone talks about the Riverwalk, because that’s what our clients talk about,” said Jeremy Fitzsimmons, a lead agent on the One Hundred at South Broad development for Keller Williams Realty.
And he is not alone in capitalizing on the excitement generated by the simple concept of a concrete path for pedestrians and cyclists.
The new, $16 million, 3-mile section of the Tennessee Riverwalk is bringing energy and investment to a South Broad District that, for years, has lived in the shadows of the booming Southside and eclectic St. Elmo neighborhoods.
“You see what it means, because you see what’s happening on Broad Street,” said Mike Mallen, a partner in the business development project at the former U.S. Pipe-Wheland Foundry site along the new Riverwalk section. “I think the extension of the Riverwalk is the engine that’s creating all these pockets of growth that you’re seeing.”