Jackson Free Press

Oct. 19, 2004—Clarion-Ledger reports: "The Jackson Redevelopment Authority today approved a development package for the dilapidated King Edward Hotel. The approval will allow HRI Inc., a partnership that includes New Orleans Saints All-Pro running back Deuce McAllister, Matt Bataille of Mandeville, La., and Jackson attorney David Watkins, to proceed with gutting the inside of the West Capitol Street hotel, Bataille said today. [...] Watkins said the project will cost $30 million to $35 million and will begin in mid-January when a contractor is hired. It is expected to take about 20 months to complete and should be finished in late 2006.

"Apartments will make for 80 percent of the development and 20 percent will be luxury office space. Downstairs will feature a four star restaurant, a Starbucks and a boutique. The second floor will have light commercial tenants and retail office space, Watkins said."

Previous Commentsshow

I'm not loving the Starbucks partóI dread the effect on local coffeehousesóbut it does seem that our mixed-use dreams may come true for downtown. I hope all goes well. BTW, I couldn't resist finding this quote from a column by Paul Breazeale in The Ledge's "Changing Face" series last year: "Also, doesn't the mayor realize that the King Edward Hotel is never going to be renovated? In this case, never really means never." Maybe he'll prove right, yetóbut I remember thinking when I read it: Never say never. Maybe Mr. McAllister saw that little bit of negativity, and it spurred him to action. Funny how that happens.

ladd

Oct 19 2004

i'm so pumped about this. working dowtown, i realize the potential all of this has for jackson. very exciting times for the city and for the people who love downtown as much as i do.

patrick

Oct 20 2004

it can't be! a private group willing to take on the king edward albatross? this has got to be tough for the 'enough is enough' crowd and all the other professional pessimists out there who peer at jackson from afar and so desperately want to see downtown fail. i know the plans may, and probably will, change in the course of renovating the grand old structure. but this is a sign that there are people out there who sense the tipping point we're approaching, and are willing to act. if they build it, hell yeah we'll come!

Jay

Oct 20 2004

I am very excited about this and hope it comes to pass. Never wanted to see this historied landmark be destroyed....no matter how bad it had gotten. Aces to Deuce!

Jen

Oct 20 2004

Of course it shouldn't be destroyed. Enough of downtown was destroyed already. I'm excited, too.

ladd

Oct 20 2004

This is great news. One of the most crucial parts of any downtown revitalization effort is to bring residences downtown. No place is lively without people. Of course, the future residents of King Edward will need services like grocery shopping and the like within walking distance. Conviences like that are part of the appeal of downtown. The other important thing downtown will need is improved public transportation. If you put lots of people in a small amount of space, it becomes hard to make room for one-person-one-car on the streets and parking lots. Very excited to hear this, Mark Michalovic former Jackson resident and Millsaps alum living in Philadelphia, PA

Mark Michalovic

Oct 20 2004

Within walking distance, those are the key words. Joining the chorus-of-hope is not difficult for me. Having a healthy, viable downtown Jackson again will only help all of us. And, I'm in the middle of reading "Green Manhattan: Everywhere should be more like New York," by David Owen. It starts on pg. 111 of the October 18 New Yorker. Y'all ought to read it.

Lynette Hanson

Oct 20 2004

I know a lot of people in Mississippi might cringe at the idea of making part of the Magnolia state "more like New York," but I think there's a lot of wisdom in that idea. Mississippi should have at least one lively urban place so that young people who want that sort of thing don't have to move halfway across the country like I did. It would help Mississippi keep its brightest people. (That sure sounds really arrogant...) But that's an argument for people like me who like cities. Most Mississippians are not city people, nor do they want or need to be. But making Jackson urban is just as important for people who like all the good things about rural and small town living, too. Jackson has two choices. It can become more urban, and concentrate itself in a small dense urban unit, or it can continue to sprawl out chewing up the beautiful countryside of Madison and Rankin counties and turning it into strip mall and subdivision blandness. Making Jackson a city will help preserve country life. And I agree, one of the best things cities and towns across the nation can learn from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, and Portland is that putting retail within walking distance of residences just makes like easier and less stressful. Here in Philly I do my grocery shopping on foot and my commuting by subway, and I don't miss my car insurance premiums one little bit. Mark

Mark Michalovic

Oct 20 2004

I'm excited about people living downtown too. I was looking for some loft style apartments to move into downtown, but didn't have much luck. At least not within the budget that I set for myself. So I resorted to looking for a house to buy near downtown since I work downtown. I know that Fondren, Belhaven, and Belhaven Heights are recommeded for those who want to live near downtown, but why is North Midtown, located directly across from Millsaps, always left out. By the way, North Midtown is the area surrounded by State, Fortification, Mill, and Woodrow Wilson. Any thoughts?

thirdcup

Oct 20 2004

Mark, your points are really good. There are certainly a growing mass of people here in Jackson who want to be able to walk to more necessities. Fondren is really coming on in this respect. Even the old Jitney is turning into a locally owned grocery store (McDades). Fondren is really becoming self-sustaining. I want to move here so I can walk -- or ride a scooter -- to work, the grocery store, post office, Rainbow, the salon, etc. It's possible to do that here right now. The biggest drawback is probably the driving culture: people in huge hunk vehicles on cell phones practically running you over at stop signs because they don't know that pedestrians have the right of way. But they'll learn.

ladd

Oct 20 2004

I think that's a great area, too, over by the train tracks. The Millsaps Arts District rocks -- but no real services nearby, so it's hard to be walkable. Anyone who's truly forward-looking should start buying property in Poindexter. It has the best view of downtown, and the King Edward, and is between downtown and JSU. And some of those houses! My prediction is it will be amazing some day. Gentrification issues will likely emerge, though, so we need to stay cognizant of the need to keep neighborhoods economically and racially diverse as neighborhoods are redeveloped. We have to watch that in Fondren as well. Parts of it are very diverse, and need to stay that way, and the less diverse areas could be more mixed.

ladd

Oct 20 2004

Yeah, up here in Philly a lot of neighborhoods are starting to become hot again, and gentrification has been an issue for a long time. I think the lesson Jackson can learn from Philly and other cities that have gone through this before is to keep the lines of communication open. Developers, civic leaders, and people who are looking for urban homes should make sure to always be in communication with the folks who are already living in a neighborhood. Make sure their needs and wants are heard and taken into account. Neighborhood renewal doesn't have to be an antagonistic venture, because if it's done right it benefits both newcomers and longtime residents. Increased property values and lower crime rates are good things that longtime residents often welcome eagerly. In fact, I'm involved with a group trying to buy some abandoned property on a block in West Philly, hoping ot help turn the neighborhood around. We're starting to open dialogue before we do much, to make sure what we have in mind meshes with what they want. It's their neighborhood, after all. So far all we've heard is positive response from the neighbors on the block. I'm not sure we would be getting this kind of positive response if we hadn't started talking to them and involving them early, and just rolled in like some colonial invasion force. Communication from the beginning is the key. Mark

Mark Michalovic

Oct 20 2004

I think you're right, Mark. We need to worry about this from get-go, so we don't make similar mistakes to other cities. But sometimes it seems that the word "gentrification" has barely been uttered hereóand there seems to be an assumption that it's OK for a well-to-do neighborhood simply to refuse some sort of community-based service because they don't want it in the neighborhood. And my suspicion is that the naysayer developer types in the 'burbs will start showing up again once people in the city do the grunt work and trying to take over these re-developing neighborhoods and start running people out. This is a serious danger, and we need to be aware of it and not let it happen.

ladd

Oct 20 2004

"Mississippi should have at least one lively urban place so that young people who want that sort of thing don't have to move halfway across the country like I did. It would help Mississippi keep its brightest people. (That sure sounds really arrogant...) " I couldn't agree more, Mark. I know personally and have met casually countless bright, young Mississippians who have already left or for whom leaving the state is their utmost goal in life. To continue in your arrogance ;-) I used to be one myself... I couldn't wait to get out! Thankfully, I realized the beauty and limitless potential of our great state and fine city before it was too late for me.

Jen

Oct 21 2004

And by the way, I just read at the following link http://www.thejacksonchannel.com/news/3833490/detail.html on WAPT 16 that the same group is "hoping to refurbish the Standard Life Building." Another beauty downtown. More good news if it comes to pass....let's cross those fingers.

Jen

Oct 21 2004

That's cool to hear that they're interested in Standard Life Building. That's an art deco gem and it deserves a better fate than being Jackson's Other Eyesore. Jen, I'm glad to hear people like you are staying and trying to make Jackson a better place. I'm glad you and others have the confidence to make it happen. I think too many folks down there believe what the rest of the country tells them about Mississippi and so they believe they'll never be able to make anything cool out of the place. Now I agree that Jackson may never be another Portland where hipsters from across the nation flock to be part of its scene, but it could very well be a place where Mississippi's young people flock to because they can broaden their horizons there and still be close to home and family. On a different topic, I see no one has answered thirdcup's question about the area west of Millsaps. I had been waiting for someone who's lived there recently to respond, but since no one has, here goes. Back when I was at Millsaps, that area was considered on the rough side, though it now seems mild by comparison to the rough neighborhoods here in Philly. I don't think it was nearly as dangerous as it was made out to be, and now eleven years after I graduated things could be very different. I think Baptist Hospital was trying to stablize the neighborhood by offering financing assistance to any of their employees who wanted to buy a house in the nieghborhood, a strategy based on the fact that when home ownership rates in a neighborhood go up, crime tends to drop. Also, I think it'd be cool to live near Millsaps, not so I could live in the past, but because they have lots of good cultural events like concerts by the Mississippi Chamber Orchestra and such. Mark

Mark Michalovic

Oct 21 2004

Isn't it true, Mark, that the original effort to turn it into an arts district came during the crack epidemic in the U.S. when crime rates were so high in the early '90s? Someone who used to have a studio told me that, and that people moved out due to crime. But the crime situation is very different now. And I do know people who have moved in over there recently and are liking it a lot. But the edge of my knowledge: I like it, and want to see the area prosper. There aren't services, though, yet.

ladd

Oct 21 2004

A lot of time it kind of works that way...places become artsy when the neighborhood takes a dive because the property values drop and all of a sudden artists can afford to live there! When I look back now, I think that even though there was crime in the area, it wasn't as bad as it was hyped up to be. Most of what I knew about it I heard from my fellow Millsaps students. Even though I love my old school, I have to admit the students there tended not to have a lot of street cred, myself included. It just looked like a war zone because we didn't know what real urban ghettos were like. Now that I have more experience with areas much rougher, I see things differently. I hope the neighborhood can be part of the city's renewal, and I hope its reputation unfairly doesn't keep people away. Mark

Mark Michalovic

Oct 21 2004

this is more about the farish street district, but does anyone know if the city has plans for the residential housing inbetween farish street and lamar, behind the sun and sand motel. also on farish street those habitat houses. many back there are falling apart and boarded up. also, is farish street ready to commercialize? what is the deal with all of that right now? i really need to just go see harvey johnson and get him to tell me what is going on. patrick

patrick

Oct 22 2004

Surely by "habitat houses" you don't mean Habitat for Humanity houses, do you? It would be very unusual for their houses to be boarded up and falling apart. Mark

Mark Michalovic

Oct 22 2004

no no, two separate things i am talking about....the habitat houses are on farish, these other ones are between farish and lamar. i mean don't get me wrong, i am all about the habitat, but i dont know what its going to do for the development of the district.

patrick

Oct 22 2004

Putting homeowners into a neighborhood can only be good. In fact, I don't think you could turn a neighborhood around without getting homeowners in it. Homeowners don't put up with drugs, crime, and neighbors who let their houses go to pot. They want to protect their investment, and so they work to make their neighborhoods better. Mark

Mark Michalovic

Oct 22 2004

yeah, that's the question...does anyone know if the city plans to make this neighborhood, well, into a neighborhood, because the condition of the area is so poor right now. what is the city prepared to do to fix this and make it more liveable for the people who live there now, as well as for people moving in. all i have heard as far as the plans for the farish street district is well, the street itself. like you were saying, it takes homeowners to turn a neighborhood around. are there any plans set for this to happen. sometimes its hard to get a question/point across over the internet, maybe i explained myself better this time.

patrick

Oct 22 2004

Homeowners a just as valuable if you want entertainment and retail businesses going into a neighborhood because they are potential customers right on your doorstep. But in this country we too often think that a neighborhood can be residential or commercial, but not both, and we write are zoning laws to reflect that, prohibiting mixed-use development that includes residences and businesses. This is a shame because mixed-use is what makes a neighborhood lively: It puts people in a neighborhood and gives them something to do there. Now a complicating factor I can see is that some homeowners may not want the late-night bustle of an entertainment district right on their doorstep. But my sense is that development will push home prices up, so anyone who wants to move will get a nice deal out of it. Probably the thing to do now is to make sure that anyone buying a house there knows what the city has planned for the area, so they can take that into account when deciding whether or not to buy there, and so that mostly people who want to be near an entertainment district would move there. Mark

Mark Michalovic

Oct 23 2004

All the refurbishments are wonderful. However, I think we should be cautious about how much to refurbish how soon, given that Jackson is a small city. My main concern is whether supply is outstripping demand (and thus cause both King Edward and Standard Life to crash and burn). Therfore, Deuce and his colleagues ought to take on only one building at a time, wait for the supply of the KE space to saturate, THEN work on Standard Life. Otherwise, we could end up with a white elephant or two. I'm certainly all for - enthusiastic even - these developments. Maybe I'm being a bit too cautious, but it's because I don't want to see this fail (no need to give the naysayers additional ammunition!). The part about Starbucks is right though (hypocrite I may be). There's already have Cups. Put a mid to high quality independent restaurant in the KE instead. Save the Starbucks for East Lakeland Dr (if one isn't out there already).

Philip

Oct 23 2004

Mark, Is it simplistic to say "Well, some people want the bustle, others don't. If they want bustle, they move to the city; if they don't, they can move to the 'burbs"? Greater choice! Isn't that what this country is about? (so the rhetoric goes)

Philip

Oct 23 2004

I'm not sure it's simplistic at all, and I agree with your statement about choice. For too long in most parts of the country the choice of lively urban life has been denied people by redling, zoning that prohibits mixed use urban-style development, and a whole lot of other reasons. The choice has been live in suburbia or move to New York. I think rethinking our smaller cities is great because it will give the choice of urban living to more people. As for overdevelopment, that's always a risk. Remember it took decades for the owners of the Empire State Building to rent out all their office space. New Yorkers called it the Empty State Building. However, I'm not so worried about that happening in Jackson. It's almost more than I can believe that the King Edward is going to be redeveloped. As much as I'd like to see Standard Life redeveloped, I'm not holding my breath. Jackson's investment banking community tends to be rather conserative when it comes to big real estate risks. I don't see the cash for Standard Life coming through until a successful King Edward and Electric Building demonstrate the demand for residences in downtown. I only wish the people plowing down the beautiful forests and countryside of Rankin and Madison counties to build strip malls and subdivisions were as hesitant in their ventures! And I agree, King Edward deserves something more interesting than a Starbucks! Mark

Mark Michalovic

Oct 23 2004

the market data suggests that downtown jackson would support, in fact wants, a "starbucks type" gourmet coffee shop in downtown jackson, at the King Edward. With 120 or more new upscale residences/apartments going up in the King Edward in late 2006, what alternatives would you suggest to a starbucks?

Pops

Oct 24 2004

How about a locally owned Cups? I've lived in several communities where Starbucks wreaks hell on local coffeehouses. They're despised as much as Wal-Mart's in many communities for what they do to local businesses, and they spread like wildfire. That company doesn't give a damn about local businesses, and will open two doors down from an existing local coffee shop if allowed to. Personally, I won't go in one, just as I won't go into a Wal-Mart. It would be unfortunate if the city allowed that to happen in the King Edward. Big red flag for me.

ladd

Oct 24 2004

Mr. Watkins, i am so happy that you are putting investments into the king edward. this will quite possibly be one of the biggest factors into turning around downtown. getting as many people to live in the residences of the king edward downtown is the best thing that can happen. but as donna stated, keep it a community with a community coffee shop. and not even that, your 4 star restaurant and retail space too. it will just be an added plus for you development and will make it a lot more appealilng to the outsider, whatever your market data suggests. by the way, is it okay for me to email you with questions on the project just for my own knowledge? patrick

patrick

Oct 24 2004

not that i drink coffee, but starbucks is pretty evil. they should just ban all chains downtown, because those farish street places sound pretty cheesy as well. i'm still really, really excited though.

Dent May

Nov 22 2004

we hit blue monday at field's cafe on farish last night around 10. i haven't felt that genuinely welcome in too many other late-night establishments. there was a good crowd. the beers were cold and cheap ($2) and the service was excellent. the band, needless to say, was hoppin. all in all, a great night. EVERYONE needs to get down there next monday. they've been closed for too long, and we need to get out and support them. and on that note, the street itself is AMAZING... walked around a little bit after midnight. i felt SAFE. and if the city can get the right mix of cheesy, touristy chain stuff in place, while still accomodating the old timers, it's gonna be unbelievable. sorry for all the hyperbole, but i'm excited. deep down, i've never really had much faith in the success of the area. performa did some shady things in memphis (like raising rents and effectively forcing out the guys who owned places like the Big Apple Inn) and i could never really envision the street working as a true 'entertainment district'. now, i'm sold. if you haven't yet been to farish after dark, when the cool streetlights wash everything in a warm yellow glow, GET THYSELF DOWN THERE! sorry for yelling. onward.

Jay

Nov 23 2004

also - two big gaping holes in the food fabric of downtown that i'd like to see sewn up ASAP: 1. Dan and Jeff need to spread some sweet Bravo! love in the lobby of the KE. and 2. WHY IS THERE NO LTDT yet??????? (LTDT=LittleTokyoDownTown) get to work, people!

Jay

Nov 23 2004

It's good to hear that Field's is back in action. Back in high school, that was the place to be on Monday night (beers were only $1 then).

Justin

Nov 23 2004

All great ideas, Jay. Unfortunately, Monday night is our press night, so we can't get down to Farish that night, or the Free Press would be there en masse. Y'all represent us, now. Did you see that B.B. King's is eying Farish? That's probably good news, although we need our local places down there. His organization is pretty corporate. Great point about Little Tokyo, and of course we're behind anything Jeff and Dan want to do. Love 'em. I'd also like to see a little sandwich take-out place with lots of veggie options. There's a wonderful one called Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop on the Lower East Side in NYC (Rivington Street, I think) that Todd and I hit everytime we're in the city. I have the menu for it if there's anyone out there who would like to see what they do. (Hint, hint.) Of course, I want to see Chef Godfrey's Caribbean nightspot. That would be the hottest place in the Southeast if they put it in King Eddie (incidentally, one of my cat's names). I could also see it in the old Woodlands in Fondren.

ladd

Nov 23 2004

Speaking of Fondren, have y'all been to Alladin, yet??? It's our new *24-hour* Mediterranean Grill next to the Conoco at Lakeland and Old Canton. It's excellent hummus and falafel, etc. (not Greek-style like Kiefer's, but more Middle Eastern, which is my favoriate). And, get this: they do breakfast and egg sandwiches and burgers and veggie burgers and on and on all day and all night. This is so the new after-bar spot. Pass the word. And the people running it are divine. We ate there twice yesterday: an egg sandwich for breakfast and then I walked across to get us falafel, hummus, tahini, etc., for dinner. So, so cool. And with the hours we keep, it's so welcome! Go! Tell 'em we sent you. They're our new buds.

ladd

Nov 23 2004

I saw that place and cannot wait to get there!

Jen

Nov 23 2004

Hey Dent, it's great to hear you're back in town this weekend. Agreed: Starbuck's sucks. Spread the word. I know you're up there in downtown Manhattan when they've run all sorts of local coffeehouses out of business. Everyone go see Dent and The Rockwells and King Elemetary and Phingaprint and The Wha (Jakob, Josh and Barry's new Who cover band) -- all at Martin's this weekend! It's definitely hipster weekend in the city.

ladd

Nov 23 2004

Aladdin's is great. We ate there yesterday, and figured that the JFP crew would be regulars, especially on monday nights. There's something for everyone - the menu is *hyoooge*.

kate

Nov 23 2004

Yes, and TONS of veggie options! ;-D We almost cried with happiness when we saw the menu. The walking options in Fondren are getting better every day. Walking across the street in the light rain with my umbrella to pick up take-out falafel REALLY reminded me of NYC life. It gets better here every day.

ladd

Nov 23 2004

yo donna. thanks for the plug but our show with king elementary is at w.c. don's on saturday and i think dj phingaprint is thursday night at martin's (confusingly, also with king elementary). the wha is saturday at martin's and, furthermore, owen beverly is playing at hal and mal's saturday night, so it's going to be completely buckwild down there. these are good times for jackson. for those unfamiliar: www.the-rockwells.com www.kingelementary.com www.owenbeverly.com p.s. i might be in mississippi next semester doing rockwells stuff. i still want to write. holla at me sometime.

Dent May

Nov 23 2004

Oops, I knew there was something not quite right about that. Thanks for the correction! Regardless, it's a very cool night on S. Commerce. One can just wander from spot to spot. Yeah, I know about The Wha. Jakob is working here now. Cool on writing. Would love to have you! Definitely be in touch with me when you get here. I might see you this weekend. Too much great stuff going on to leave town. And of course we have to put out the next issue. Happy Turkey Day!

ladd

Nov 23 2004

i really hope i can make it the wha after our show.

Dent May

Nov 23 2004

i have heard from a reliable local rockstar (who may or may not be in The Wha) that mark roemer, of superband wasteband fame, is doing standup right before The Wha on saturday at martin's. if you've never seen SBWB's antics, this is your chance to witness their crazy LA-transplanted front man in action, up close and personal. think a skinnier har mar, only from the south... alas, i'll be sequestered behind the bar across the street. teresa anderssen is playing at soulshine... but i'll be at martin's in spirit.

Jay

Nov 24 2004

What a night down there. I'd really like to hear Theresa Anderssen, too, but I'm definitely going to have to peak in on The Wha.

ladd

Nov 24 2004

Jay or Donna, what style is Theresa Anderssen?

Jen

Nov 24 2004

peek. ;-) Jen, she's a hip singer-songwriteróand violinist. From a Web bio for Theresa: Today, Andersson is revered for the Hendrix-like flare she injects into her electric violin, which she often plays through a wah wah pedal or pod. Here's a review of her latest album: http://www.jazzreview.com/cdreview.cfm?ID=6978 And her Web site: http://www.theresaandersson.com/

ladd

Nov 24 2004

Thanks... I guess I really could have looked her up myself, but, you know, it's Wednesday and it rained last night. ;-) Sounds intriguing... I may just be keeping Jay company over at Soulshine.

Jen

Nov 24 2004