"TraVure provides us with a unique opportunity to have a newly constructed campus-like setting with amenities such as covered parking, and soon restaurants, a hotel and a fitness center all within walking distance," he said.

“Ever since the building’s been up and MAA started moving in, the [leasing] activity has been wonderful,” Bullock said.

“When you think about the entire block – Poplar Avenue to Sanderlin Road and Mendenhall Road to White Station – it’s the most dynamic mixed-use block in all of East Memphis,” said Gill, who cited its two grocery stores, major movie theater, 10 to 15 restaurants, great bars, abundance of office space and residential condos. “It just needs to be more pedestrian friendly.”

"There are no other blocks in East Memphis that has that many uses on it that are walkable.''

Gill noted that he made a concerted effort to keep news of the project from getting out before he had a chance to talk to the surrounding neighbors face-to-face because he feels they are an integral part of the process and deserve the developer’s respect.

Overall, Gill said the project — which will include a restaurant, retail space and more office space to go along with the main office building and hotels — has been stressful at times but that he's enjoyed it so far.

“That’s how I got to know the property, and I just fell in love with it,” Gill said. “It’s a jewel in the center of East Memphis.”

"We're trying not to change the essence of the campus. ... We're trying to get CEOs [of potential tenants] to go stand on the site and see what a cool campus environment it already is," Brown Gill said.