Once known by some critics as the Beale Street "Boondoggle" because of cost and schedule overruns, the first phase of the Beale Street Landing project is nearing completion. I thought the progress was worth sharing given the interesting design of the structure. It stands at the foot of Beale just north of Tom Lee Park. There is a sloping grass-covered roof above what will be a glass-enclosed restaurant and ticket office. Both a daily excursion steamboat and the American Queen will use the docking facility. The latter is the largest paddle-wheel steamboat ever built. Its parent company is now headquartered in Memphis as well.
