Jackson Free Press

A diverse group of community leaders gathered on a beautiful morning in "downtown Fondren" Friday to celebrate a new economic-development opportunity for the neighborhood, as well as a way for the Jackson Public Schools to raise a bit of dough.

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., mayoral candidate Rick Whitlow, businessman Jeff Good, JPS board attorney (and would-be King Edward Hotel savior) David Watkins, Rep. John Reeves, Fondren Renaissance Foundation Director Camp Best, developer Mike Peters and former Mayor Kane Ditto were just a handful of the dozens gathered on the lawn of the old Duling school building at 622 Duling Ave., to celebrate the old elementary school's potential takeover by a to-be-determined developer.

JPS has designated the Duling school the first school property in the state to be bid out for development under the recent state legislation. House Bill 1302, the "School Property Development Act of 2005," authorizes local school districts to dispose of unused or under-used buildings and land in a way that can financially benefit the district, rather than selling them for bargain-basement prices at public auction as had been the legal practice. Now, the property will be put back on the ad valorem tax rolls, bringing tax revenue back into a city where 30 percent to 40 percent of property is owned by churches or government and is, thus, tax exempt. The districts will share in future returns from the development and/or growth in the value of the properties.

A bipartisan spirit was in the air. The mayor, only three days after his defeat in the primaries, welcomed the crowd, who gave him a standing ovation. ("Keep it coming, keep it coming," he said with a laugh.) The mayor called Fondren "the hottest spot in Jackson." He added, "New urbanism is happening here," and said that "a number of developers are here chomping at the bit."

Reeves, a Jackson conservative, gave credit to Watkins, the school board attorney, who helped design the legislation. Watkins assured attendees that the public would play a significant role in the development, ensuring that business ventures appropriate to the neighborhood would come into the building.

The district announced that an RFP would be put out on the property immediately and proposals from developers would be due back June 20 and then presented to the board.

Interested developers must present a two-year business plan and other financial data, as well as a cost-benefit. To protect JPS' liability, the school board cannot indemnify parties to the development and the district's liability will be limited to the value of the property interest held by the district.

Duling first opened in 1927 with only six classrooms and grew from there. The school currently is the site of GED classes that will have to move elsewhere.

Correction appended: The original story calls Reeves a "Brandon conservative," but he actually represenets Jackson. The change has been made in the above text.

Previous Comments

ID

64573

Comment

Uh.. Rep. John Reeves is not a "Brandon conservative" unless you are describing a particular brand of suburban conservatism coming out of the Rankin County city. Reeves residency is on Alta Woods Blvd in Jackson and he represents a large swath of the southern area of the city.

Author

GDIModerate

Date

2005-05-13T06:55:11-06:00

ID

64574

Comment

Oops. Thanks. I think I knew that, but it didn't register. Will correct it in the paper this week, and above. Thanks!

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-05-13T09:32:05-06:00