The historic Porter-Leath House is set for a significant renovation after several years of planning as part of a project to provide housing for veterans.
A commercial alteration permit was filed Sept. 23 with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development for renovation work at the former orphanage at 850 N. Manassas St.
The Porter-Leath House dates back to 1856 and was part of a nine-acre lot Sarah H. Leath donated to the Protestant Widows' and Orphans Asylum. The building opened as Leath Orphan Asylum and went through several expansions in 1875 and 1912. The building would later be renamed Porter-Leath Home in 1951.
According to the permit filed, selective demolition will be used on specific walls and interior portions of
the building, as it is being renovated to accommodate 34 residential units for military veterans. The building will include a kitchen space, gathering room and fitness center, along with kitchenette units in each unit.
The estimated cost of construction is $5.56 million; historic tax credits will be used to cover costs, according to the permit application.
The building has been vacant since September 2017, after Porter-Leath vacated the building and relocated to its headquarters on 3400 Prescott Road. In August 2023, the Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency purchased the building and began establishing plans for bidding and preserving the historic property.
Tennessee-based FB Financial Corp. celebrates 10 years on NYSE
FB Financial Corp. CEO Chris Holmes Sept. 15 rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange, celebrating 10 years as a publicly traded company for the Nashville-based financial institution. First Bank is a subsidiary of FB Financial Corp.
In 2016, the company opened with a $128.5 million IPO, according to a news release. Additionally, 2026 marks FirstBank's 120th anniversary. The company was founded in Scotts Hill as Farmers State Bank. To date, the banking institution has over 1,600 employees and branches throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina.
Greater Memphis Chamber partners with DoorDash
The Greater Memphis Chamber and DoorDash are hosting a business workshop on Oct. 7. The in-person workshop aims to help small businesses understand DoorDash tools and resources to help with advertising, implementation and market connection.
The program is part of DoorDash's "Unlocking Main Street" campaign and is in collaboration with the company's Accelerator for Local Businesses, which launched in 2021.
“Workshops like this give entrepreneurs more than new skills — they open the door to the partnerships and resources they need to keep growing," Greater Memphis Chamber Interim President and CEO Duncan Williams said in a statement.
RiverArts Fest set to return
The RiverArtsFest will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the upcoming October show in Downtown Memphis.
The final art festival, which is located along Riverside Drive from Jackson Avenue to Beale Street, will feature more than 160 artists from Oct. 17 through Oct. 18. The festival launched in 2006, but came out of the 1980s Arts in the Park program from Memphis Brooks Museum of Art (then hosted at Overton Park).
“For 20 years, artists, volunteers, educators and supporters have come together around a belief that art should be experienced, shared and accessible. This anniversary gives us an opportunity to celebrate how far the festival has come, while continuing to invest in the artists and community that made it possible," RiverArtsFest Director and board chair Denise Ford said in a statement.
Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Historic Porter-Leath home set for renovation, to provide vet housing
