Jackson Free Press

Rep. John Reeves, R-Jackson, says he's looking to turn the property once owned by the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and Blind, near Eastover Drive, into a real-estate explosion. "We're trying to convince the Legislature to sell or lease the old property off I-55 North over there. If we can get that into the hands of developers, it'll turn that whole neighborhood over in that part of Jackson," Reeves said.

The property has long been the home of the School for the Blind, but local developers like Ted Duckworth would like the chance to buy the nearly 25 acres from the state and make it into a multi-million dollar development. Reeves said the idea, referred to as the District of Jackson, would be considerably high-end, considering its location in Jackson's affluent Eastover community.

Duckworth and Michael Barranco of Barranco Architects propose nearly $140 million in development for the property if they can get their hands on it, including single-family homes, condos, parks, a church, a walking trail connecting to nearby Fondren, retail and office space. Reeves said he didn't expect the Mississippi Legislature to ignore the idea of selling it.

Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, says the list of takers extends beyond Duckworth and Barranco, however, and added that it was more likely the state would be willing to lease the land than sell it.

"Well, once that property is gone, it's gone, and I think the state would be more likely to tear down some structures on the property and clean that property up, and then they'll make a decision about what we'll do with it," Brown said.

The resulting situation could prove similar to land leased by the Pearl River Water Supply District to property owners in Madison. Homeowners in that area own the homes they occupy but lease the property those homes sit upon.

"I think the city would benefit from this, and right now the city needs the tax base," Reeves said.

Ward 1 Councilman Ben Allen says he expects the land to be used for upper-income occupants.