SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — The birthplace of Aretha Franklin has a new owner after it was sold on the Shelby County Courthouse steps last week.
Franklin only lived at 406 Lucy Ave for the first two years of her life before moving away from the Mid-South, but 80 years later, the property still stands as a monument to the golden age of Soul.
Now under new ownership, there’s a new hope for revitalization.
“There were many reasons why I bought it,” said Anasa Troutman. “But, come on, it's Aretha Franklin’s birth home.”
Troutman said she plans to revitalize the home and turn it into a tourist-friendly experience. She’s already discussing partnerships with key stakeholders like Memphis Tourism and the Downtown Memphis Commission.
“There’s an opportunity to tell much more of her story than has already been told publicly,” she said. “There’s no place that I can find that tells her whole story, and I think there’s a really big opportunity for her family to expand on her legacy in a meaningful way.”
Many of the surrounding homes in the neighborhood are vacant and dilapidated. There are plans to invest in several of the nearby properties to help turn around the whole community.
“We’re not walking into a vacuum, we’re walking into an actual neighborhood,” Troutman said.
One such neighbor is Harold Lee, a member of the family that previously owned the home. He has new hopes for the site.
“Build it back up like it was supposed to be," Lee said. "Take this fence down. And make everybody happy around here.”
Troutman said the next steps in the revitalization process are still being determined, as the purchase of the home came together very quickly. Lee says he’s ready to help restore the Queen of Soul’s home if asked.
“We’re trying to build up something to make motivation for the neighborhood and create something positive,” Lee said.