Jackson Free Press

Mayor Frank Melton's plan to demolish almost 80 abandoned and dilapidated structures inside the Historic Farish Street District hit a speed bump June 14 after the Jackson Historic Preservation Commission made clear it was unwilling to approve the mass demolition.

The city put in 49 requests for permission to demolish 79 structures—an unprecedented number of requests, according to Ward 2 commission member Terrence Mosley. Jackson Code Enforcement Director Joe Lewis said the buildings needed to come down because they were a safety hazard and encouraged crime in the area.

Acting on the advice of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, however, commission members were loathe to approve the demolition for fear of jeopardizing the district's historic designation.

Lewis complained that removing the properties would help the city deal with crime in the area. "Ask people in areas where we've torn down houses, and they'll tell you that we've done them a huge service. The properties here are not safe, and they encourage crime," Lewis argued.

Ward 1 commission member Wayne Timmer said the homes themselves were not the center of the crime problem in the district. "Demolishing houses is not the answer to the city's crime problem. ... We can't just say, 'Let's tear it all down.' Once the houses are gone, we've found we've lost our historic resources," Timmer said.

Ward 7 commission member John Weaver said it was not the preservation commission's job to deal with the city's crime problem. "The people of the city (government) in charge of the problems in the area should address the issues. That's not what we do," Weaver said.

Ward 6 commission member Ben Mokry said he was hesitant to approve any demolition request because the city had not explained what it would do with the newly emptied lots to preserve the district's designation.

The historic designation allows developers who want to renovate in the area to reclaim about 51 percent of their renovation costs through state and federal tax relief, as well as opening access to some grants. The district had about 800 homes at the time of its historic designation. That number has since dropped to about 400 through neglect, weather, vandalism and arson. Commission members say the district risks its designation if it loses too many of the historic properties comprising it.

The commission managed to address less than 20 of the city's requests, unanimously or nearly unanimously denying all but two.

The Jackson City Council could override the commission, but Council President Ben Allen said he did not know how the council would vote. "A majority of the council doesn't want to lose the historic designation, but we also know we've got a huge problem with abandoned property over there," Allen said. "This is a new development, and we'll have to consider that before I can answer."

Tucked away among the crowd of 79 targeted structures was A-1 Pallets, which Melton vowed to demolish in May.

A-1 Pallets owner Charlotte Reeves was at the commission meeting, but the commission tabled the A-1 Pallet item until July 10. "We're a legitimate business, and we have a right to be in business. ... Personally, I just wish the city would leave us alone," Reeves said.