Jackson Free Press

Andrés Duany, the renowned "New Urbanism" architect, promised "no resolution tonight" as he gave the final presentation of the intensive planning charrette held this past week to discuss ideas for retooling the Pearl River for flood control and economic development. Instead, he told a large crowd in the Mississippi Telcom Center's third-floor theater on Monday evening that he was "clarifying the plot" by presenting the different plans that his firm, DPZ, will now study and draw in detail, including pros and cons of each plan. He will deliver the final report to the Levee Board, which will be available to the public at some point in the next few months.

In his presentation, Duany repeatedly used the phrase "off the table" as he attempted to move the discussion forward on planning for flood control and economic development along the Pearl River. Items he considered "off the table" include the notion that the Airport Parkway wouldn't be built, that the project would interfere with Rankin County's drainage through Crystal Lake or that the project couldn't be engineered to avoid pumps costing over $120 million on Town Creek in lower downtown Jackson.

The presentation focused largely on drawings of the different schemes for weirs on the Pearl River to create retaining lakes south of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The lakes would be engineered to control flooding in the Jackson area during catastrophic rain events.

Duany, whose expertise is largely in town planning, focused quite a bit on the aesthetics of the different plans, including the size of an island (or islands) that would be built from the dredged riverbed of the Pearl. In various schemes, the island is placed roughly between Fortification and High Street in the Pearl, adjacent to Belhaven Heights and Downtown. The plans differ in the size and exact location of the island as well as whether or not any development is possible on the Jackson shoreline of the Pearl in that same vicinity.

In three of the schemes—which he named "Two Lakes," "LeFleur Lakes" and "Modified LeFleur Lakes"—the LeFluer's Bluff State Park would be largely underwater. "Two Lakes" is essentially the original Two Lakes plan studied in the late 1990s as it was subsequently modified by the Army Corps of Engineers.

"LeFleur Lakes" is the more recent plan, about which the Army Corps of Engineers has just delivered a draft report to the Levee Board. Early indications are that the Corps has decided the LeFleur Lakes plan would be too expensive for it to recommend federal funding, so the Levee Board is exploring the possibility that the plan could be developed largely with private dollars, based on creating valuable real estate along the flooded "upper" lake and on the island.

Duany's group will also study their own "Modified LeFleur Lakes" plan, which takes into account much of the feedback that he's heard over the past week and includes modifications that support the Airport Parkway, as well as two smaller islands in the Pearl.

Another scheme, called the "One Lake" plan, will be studied as well. The "One Lake" plan is supported as a compromise by many who oppose the Two Lakes and LeFleurs Lakes plan, as it would keep the bottom-land hardwoods and trails of the LeFleur's Bluff State Park intact, a resource that Duany said may be worth saving. "That park adds value to Jackson," he said. The single lake would be formed south of the Waterworks in Jackson, in a section of the Pearl that was dredged, straightened and surrounded with levees by the Corps of Engineers after the 1969 flood.

The "One Lake" plan would be both less expensive, and it would rely more heavily on public funding, as it largely incorporates the Comprehensive Levee plan that the Corps had designed and approved in the mid-1990s. It would not, however, add a great deal of lakefront property to the North Jackson section of the Pearl River and would instead require levees all the way to the Barnett Spillway.

A fifth plan was also discussed at the meeting, which Duany said his firm would study—a "three lakes" scheme designed to save the LeFleur's Bluff State Park while developing real estate on the North Jackson sections of the Pearl.

Noting that the Lakes projects are "technically and fiscally in Jackson, but not physically in Jackson," Duany showed the most passion for a plan he hadn't really be asked to study—the redevelopment of Town Creek in downtown Jackson. After praising the Telcom Center and the upcoming Convention Center complex, he warned that convention bookings and tourism would taper off after some initial excitement "unless you get yourself a city to go around it."

He noted that the areas that surround the convention center are not "walkable" and don't offer much nightlife or dining. He praised the work being done on the new museums complex, but noted that the city needed continuity to bring together its downtown neighborhoods. Using the San Antonio Riverwalk as inspiration, he recommended redesigning the plaza in front of the museums to include a water fixture that would feed into Town Creek. He then showed designs for a river walk featuring retail, living and dining that would extend for about a half-mile south of the museums, ending in a public park at the Pearl River's edge. Duany noted that the entire project could be done for less than the $100 million to $120 million price tag of the large pumps required to prevent the flooding of Town Creek shown in some of the Lakes designs.

In response to the focus on Jackson's planning woes, City Council Vice President Frank Bluntson, who attended the meeting with City Councilman Charles Tillman, asked Duany to help Jackson find a city planner. Duany said he would consider it and make some recommendations.

Later, Duany said that, in his experience, capital cities could be easier to redevelop because more people in state government have a stake in the city's future.

In an interesting moment of candor, Duany answered a question from Con Maloney, the Hinds County representative on the Levee Board, by saying that he'd never seen a project on the scale of the Pearl project in terms of infrastructure being considered. Duany said that although he prefers to work with private investment dollars on his projects, he'd never seen one of this scope accomplished without public funding. He said that the ultimate funding solution on the Pearl would likely be a public-private venture.

Members of the Pearl River Basin Coalition, a group opposed to the LeFleur Lakes plan, expressed disappointment after the meeting, during which they had hoped Duany would more vigorously recommend the One Lakes scheme. According to members, he had talked more extensively about the One Lakes plan during the prior Friday's public presentation.

Some questioners were cowed by Duany's hostility to their questions about further public comment periods on the plan, to which he responded, "I would like to have it acknowledged that at this point the Board has made this a very open process," which resulted in a round of applause. He then went on to express cynicism over continuing the public comment process, suggesting that it might just be best for the Levee Board to make its decisions and then brace for the environmental lawsuits. "Some of these issues will be decided in the courts," he said.

Previous Comments

ID

67510

Comment

In response to the focus on Jackson’s planning woes, City Council Vice President Frank Bluntson, who attended the meeting with City Councilman Charles Tillman, asked Duany to help Jackson find a city planner. Duany said he would consider it and make some recommendations. I heard this was actually an embarrassing moment from my buddy that was there. Here it was Councilman Blunston was going to ask a question, and he blurts out, "Can you (unintelligable)?" To which the planner had to say, "Excuse me. Can you say that again." So, Blunston again blurts out, "Can you find us a planner that is smart like you for Jackson!" I couldn't believe it! In fact, my understanding was those with the City in attendance didn't really have a grasp of the project anyway. Kind of like being council members!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-14T15:30:57-06:00

ID

67511

Comment

Surely there's some out-of-work city planner over in Texas with a criminal record we can bring over.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-14T15:48:41-06:00

ID

67512

Comment

You forgot "billionaire" out-of-work.... I understand where Blunston was coming from. This guy was really good. Jackson can always use the guidance of good planners. But, we have several that are working. The Farish Street Group Performa. Ted Duckworth and the Electric Building, KEH group, Capital Green group, and others. What Blunston is missing out on is that we don't just need some good planner to save Jackson. We need to cultivate the relationships we have now and assist in making the current projects a reality. Instead, Melton has attacked almost every new project that is occurring in Jackson. So, his counterproductive methods of "lighting a fire under their butts" hampered some of these projects. A more proactive approach will lead to more development as we grow. I think Blunston should go back and read F.A.B.R.I.C., the plan the City completed a few years ago. It is people that are the fabric that hold a city together.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-14T16:00:08-06:00

ID

67513

Comment

You've gotta love how, suddenly, The Clarion-Ledger realized that there are other options behind McGowan's boondoggle (my word o' the week). There have been very smart people, and urban planners (some of whom have left), trying to tell this city for years now how to make this city more livable, and walkable, and marketable. Meantime, The Ledger edit-boyz said over there and do all those editorials whining about how eco-devo couldn't happen until the crime problem is "solved" (dumbasses) and endorsing the likes of Frank Melton. (Duany also expressed dismay at the state of our city government. Surprise, surprise.) Meantime, the reporter on their story is the same woman, Julie Goodman, who declared in late 2005 that nightlife in Jackson is "virtually non-existent" in her contribution to the the "Changing Face of Jackson" boondogglery (told you). Yesterday, I saw her sitting at Cups with Duany, Barranco and others, and thought to myself, "Boy, am I am glad I'm not in on this conversation." You're right—It is people who are the fabric of a city. We have motivated residents, creative efforts and massive hard work going on. Meantime, that newspaper is working against us every step of the way, from their romance with the suburban lifetyle to their embrace of Melton to their attempts to take distribution spots away from local publishers like the JFP. (Which are vital to a vibrant community.) The Corporate-Ledger is not this city's friend.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-14T16:19:31-06:00

ID

67514

Comment

BTW, be sure to re-read this column by Todd about the Ledger's "Sensational, Suburban Legends." It's priceless. It's one of the ones he won the national media criticism award for last year.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-14T16:21:03-06:00

ID

67515

Comment

Also, looking at the schedule for the Charrette, and the events at the reservoir, I hope they actually had someone involved who could tour him around the really interesting stuff happening here in Jackson—like the Ironworks lofts, and the potential of Poindexter for diverse walking development, and so on. What you want to bet they didn't take him west of Gallatin? Honestly, we were so busy with Melton—sigh—that I didn't notice he was the "Suburban Nation" guy until the charrette was almost over. But both Todd and Stephen (who renovated the showcase loft at Ironworks, and our ad director) consider "Suburban Nation" a bible of sorts. I hope he got out enough to know that The Clarion-Ledger folks, the reservoir crowd and even the greenest folks aren't the one people in Jackson. There is a rich "creative class" here that is trying to embrace his ideas, and we have to dodge bullets by the old-schoolers like the Ledge edit-boyz and McGowan all the time. However, if it took this to get people to realize that McGowan doesn't hold the only "flood control" answer, then that's good. But it is frustrating that the progressive-minded folks here aren't taken more seriously until a guy from Miami comes in and says very similar things.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-14T16:28:34-06:00

ID

67516

Comment

But it is frustrating that the progressive-minded folks here aren't taken more seriously until a guy from Miami comes in and says very similar things. ladd Boy, isn't that like marriage/dating. You suggest to your spouse or partner that they should do this or that; try it this way or that way; and to "check something out" yet they never try it or respond. But, if their friend, an article, or TV show tells them the same thing you've been mentioning, they think it is the best thing since sliced bread! ;-) Frustrating indeed! LOL!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-14T16:38:05-06:00

ID

67517

Comment

You know.....Duany is mostly known for producing "Play Grounds" for the rich.......and beyond expounding on the obvious ie Town Creek Development, what does he really know about urban renewal. Most of his stuff is new towns........ie Lost Rabbit, Flowood, and all those others on his site......clean slate and hand picked citizens...... help me here?

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-03-15T08:43:06-06:00

ID

67518

Comment

No doubt a common criticism of Duwaney is that his developments are not affordable except to the most fortunate...in his defense i mention the intense efforts they have contributed to creating sustainable, affordable, and easily constructive communities in New Orleans as of late. Another point to mention in regards to this is that he is very much entrenched in the culture that considers public funding a drag. Without public funding, you are often left to develop playgrounds for the rich no doubt. The point to remember in regards to Franks Bluntson's comment is that he is sitting there listening to a presentation on city development from one of the leading sity planners in the country...it is worth noting that Duwaney made no attempt to secure that job. The intensity of politics to work against progressive development in Jackson makes Jackson an unattractive project to anyone worth their salt. Duwaney was evidently agitated throughout the final presentation, and based on his comments throughout the week, he was not presenting the full picture he saw for Jackson but rather the narrow scope of the Le Fleurs Lakes charrette for which he had been commissioned. i wished you could have all been there on Friday night to view his passion and commitment to the One Lake Plan...that said i should mention that even the One Lake Plan cannot hold a candle to developing a Pearl River Basin-wide solution including all the communities along the rivers edge. This is the surest way to comprehensive flood control which will not require extensive levees OR the flooding of our state park

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-03-21T00:53:04-06:00

ID

67519

Comment

Is it really that bad to create a "playground for the rich" in Jackson?

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T08:25:20-06:00

ID

67520

Comment

In response to the focus on Jackson’s planning woes, City Council Vice President Frank Bluntson, who attended the meeting with City Councilman Charles Tillman, asked Duany to help Jackson find a city planner. Duany said he would consider it and make some recommendations. I love this- after the city has run off half its planning staff and refused to hire any new employees.

Author

Justin

Date

2007-03-21T08:52:50-06:00

ID

67521

Comment

all the communities? That is virtually impossible. Some, like that mayor of Monticello, do not want to see jackson develop anything good.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-21T09:11:34-06:00

ID

67522

Comment

Is it really that bad to create a "playground for the rich" in Jackson? Depends on where, how much and what you destroy in order to create it. And isn't that what the Eudora Welty Reservoir already is, of a fashion? I love this- after the city has run off half its planning staff and refused to hire any new employees. Right. Can you even imagine a good city planner walking into this circus? Melton would try to tell him/her that the Lawn Crew is qualified to do all the work. Some, like that mayor of Monticello, do not want to see jackson develop anything good. That may be true. But it doesn't mean he doesn't have a legitimate concern about the effect of LeFleurs Lakes on his area. We can hold two thoughts at once here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T09:55:51-06:00

ID

67523

Comment

Can I also reiterate that his snobbish, dismissive comment about the Fondren trolley doesn't make him sound so cool. There is such a thing as constructive criticism. He reminds me of a professor I had in grad school. I learned a lot from him and dislike him to this day. Unfortunately, his style turned off some students in the class who had a lot of potential. Yet, I think it says something much worse about The Clarion-Ledger for running such a mean-spirited quote that doesn't help a damn thing. Is it a coincidence that it was the same reporter who declared some months back that nightlife is near "non-existent" in downtown Jackson in the lede of her "Changing Jackson" story. With friends like these.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T09:59:14-06:00

ID

67524

Comment

True, that comment about the trolly did not help. It wasnt supposed to. Sometimes the truth hurts. I like the idea of the trolly, but it is a bit substandard for a city trying to progress. Its called raising the standard, and I think that is what Duany is trying to do. Do you not agree ladd?

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T10:18:11-06:00

ID

67525

Comment

I think the trolley is fun - it's a sign of life, it's practical as far as parking issues go, so what's "substandard" about that? Just curious, I didn't hear the original comment.

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-03-21T10:25:13-06:00

ID

67526

Comment

ah yes the reservoir. Created with our money. I liked the plan Ridgeland had for the park a few years ago. Then the residents next door raised hell until they scaled it back a good bit. Heaven forbid we should be able to use the reservoir. Some residents that raised hell trying to get the Dock closed for years and have succeeded in turning main harbor into a joke. The reservoir should be one of our areas main attractions. Instead it is turning into a wasted opportunity.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-21T10:32:36-06:00

ID

67527

Comment

Not that we are about to get an Disnyworld type monorail but I do think that a well designed light rail system would be better. I know that at this point it is all but a pipedream.

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T10:38:24-06:00

ID

67528

Comment

The Trolley comment seared me as well. Also the comment about Jackson has a "few" nice neighborhoods....glad I wasn't there....I mean he was obviously "squired" around by the "A" crowd Architects and if you know many they are so out of touch with reality it boggles the mind......but that's another thread entirely...... So he stands up there and expounds on the obvious concerning what we all see i.e. the parking lots and surviving examples of the civic buildings from the 30's?????....Huh...Mr. Duany......open your eyes....you've got surviving examples of Civic Buildings from the 1830's through the present in DT Jackson......a remarkable slate to start with as far as a great rising downtown..... also the Clarion article mentioned his other projects like Seaside but gave no mention of Lost Rabbit and the new Town Center for Flowood. Hello...!!!! All of which are "clean slate" developments with no heritage or diverse groups to take into account.......huh....that's what makes a community dear.....the difference between a city and a "whoville"

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-03-21T10:39:53-06:00

ID

67529

Comment

Kingfish, it is directly related to the over reliance of the church for policy, and the crisis that I call "Baby Boomer Righteousness."

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-21T10:45:06-06:00

ID

67530

Comment

Well Fish, there is one sign of life at the Rez, and that's our sailing club, Reservoir Sailing Association. not the fancy yacht club with the pool, we are very low key, low impact. we have grass and a gazebo & tons of fun sailing hobies and other catamarands around the reservoir. Last year our board fought the Pearl River board tooth and nail, since they wanted to kick us out when somebody proposed an idea for a bike path. We pointed out you could keep the bike path and still have our sailing club. We fought and won, now we have I believe a 10 year lease. The catamarands are awesome - colorful sails, and super fun whether it's calm or very windy. We are one of the few forms of recreation that doesn't pollute, either. I don't want the reservoir to become a rich people only place, and I thought the Harborwalk development might be heading in that direction. Mississippians can grow but maintain their down home sensibilties, I hope.

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-03-21T10:59:50-06:00

ID

67531

Comment

Donna did you say the Eudora Welty Reservoir? Thought is was the Ross Barnett....did I miss something.....?

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-03-21T11:03:33-06:00

ID

67532

Comment

you guys need a website. Just went looking for one. JYC has one. Have always wanted to learn by the way.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-21T11:16:04-06:00

ID

67533

Comment

True, that comment about the trolly did not help. It wasnt supposed to. Sometimes the truth hurts. I like the idea of the trolly, but it is a bit substandard for a city trying to progress. Its called raising the standard, and I think that is what Duany is trying to do. Do you not agree ladd? No, not entirely. I do agree that Duany needs to give us hard truths about what's wrong with our city, planning-wise. But his going around making fun of locally owned entrepreneurial efforts by well-meaning people is just gauche. I think he's bigger than that. Or should be. And that is stated by someone running a paper that is completely willing to criticize the "standard" in the city and the state—and has been talking about many of these very same issues from the very first day we published. (Pardon the passive.) Didn't he also say something about how Jackson is lagging behind the SUBURBS? Has he seen the suburbs (other than Lost Rabbit?). Is he really into nouveau-rich gas station monstrosities and "designed" Wal-Marts??? Do they pay him just to say that stuff? He has much to offer; I hate to see him turn off people with goofy, mean-spirited statements. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't expect the Ledge to print his trolley statement because he'd said so many things more useful. Meet our media.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T11:28:29-06:00

ID

67534

Comment

Donna did you say the Eudora Welty Reservoir? Thought is was the Ross Barnett....did I miss something.....? Tee, hee. I wondered who would bite first. ATL, Todd calls the Rez the Eudora Welty because he can't fathom that a state that gives a damn about its reputation (not to mention its people) would go around calling the name of a known white supremacist every time they mention a body of water. We've changed the name, at least among ourselves. ;-) Speaking of, you would think those "Mississippi Believe It" people would spend a little time trying to change some of the back-ass hangovers from the past that make the world still think we're bigots down here. Like the name of that reservoir. Instead, they try to convince the world that we don't have monster trucks. Argh.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T11:30:56-06:00

ID

67535

Comment

Thought we had one on Yahoo...hmm..I'll ask my buddies about it. It is really incredible fun, you can get trapped out on the trapeeze wire where your feet are on the edge of the hull and you kind of hover over the water. Totally cool.

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-03-21T11:33:20-06:00

ID

67536

Comment

ut I do think that a well designed light rail system would be better. I know that at this point it is all but a pipedream. So is LeFleur Lakes. ;-) Keep dreaming, and let's make the good stuff happen, and pass on the stuff that doesn't make sense.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T11:33:36-06:00

ID

67537

Comment

ever known architects/engineers/accountants? Majority have little or no people skills. Ladd: Leave the bad jokes to me. One of us is bad enough.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-21T11:35:34-06:00

ID

67538

Comment

Which bad joke? LeFleur Lakes? I was dead serious.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T11:37:28-06:00

ID

67539

Comment

I meant Eudora Welty. Thought you were making a joke at first then read your reasoning. Although I would not be opposed to giving it that name. Actually what we need to do is get rid of the Ross Barnett name and sell the naming rights to it. The State Farm Reservoir has a nice ring to it.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-03-21T11:40:44-06:00

ID

67540

Comment

Gotcha. I make some bad jokes, but I wasn't seeing one there. ;-) Sounds better than the Ross Barnett. Gross. They should mothball the name, and put up a historical marker saying that it used to be called that because he helped make it happen, and then explain his role in the Civil Rights Movement. It's not like it's not known. Pretending he was some kind of hero worthy of having a public, taxpayer funded reservoir named after him is a major embarrassment for Mississippians.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T11:44:45-06:00

ID

67541

Comment

"Actually what we need to do is get rid of the Ross Barnett name and sell the naming rights to it"...... Changing the name of that thing will be as hard as the Federal Courthouse name fight that is about to erupt.....I mean come on...no brainer.....C*o*u*r*t*h*o*u*s*e...justices...or Lawyers for Justice......hey let's name it after a Senator...................

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-03-21T11:48:43-06:00

ID

67542

Comment

Anything worth doing is "hard," I've found. It's the *right* thing to do, and that's what matters.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T12:18:23-06:00

ID

67543

Comment

I'd rather it be named the Romantic Adventures Resevoir.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-03-21T12:20:49-06:00

ID

67544

Comment

Agreed about the Two Lakes plan ladd. Its too complicated. If the origional plan is followed through on, it will be in environmental courts for decades. But a flood/development project based on the one lake plan would be fantastic IMO.

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T12:35:18-06:00

ID

67545

Comment

Agreed, Colby. Two Lake should be dead in the water if we're serious about moving ahead with any kind of "flood control" in the foreseeable future. It sounds like the One Lake plan has some promise and would be a good compromise. From what I know so far. What do others think?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T12:36:59-06:00

ID

67546

Comment

Right, and dont get me started on this being a "flood control project".

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T12:41:54-06:00

ID

67547

Comment

Lake Eudora.....I like that..... If anything this charade...I mean Charrette will lead to putting the focus back on Downtown. Where it needs to be......by the way...I read yesterday that your Federal Courthouse is now in the top five priority for funding through the GSA. I will get done and that hole will get filled with a magnificent building......

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-03-21T12:42:39-06:00

ID

67548

Comment

True, that comment about the trolly did not help. It wasnt supposed to. Sometimes the truth hurts. I like the idea of the trolly, but it is a bit substandard for a city trying to progress. Its called raising the standard, and I think that is what Duany is trying to do. What so substandard about a trolley system? The last time I look, San Francisco was doing well with theirs. I know, comparing Jackson with San Francisco is like comparing apples with oranges. I think having the trolley helps Jackson progress forward. I wish it would expanded to include more areas of the city. Now, I do like the idea of a light rail system.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-03-21T12:47:34-06:00

ID

67549

Comment

I think you answered your own question golden....If not see my earlier response.

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T12:48:59-06:00

ID

67550

Comment

I heartily agree that the Ross Barnett moniker ought to be jettisoned. What is the most reasonable way to proceed with its renaming? A petition? Referendum? Just as the battle flag needs to be retired, Ross Barnett doesn't deserve to have his name on the reservoir in perpetuity.

Author

tombarnes

Date

2007-03-21T12:49:11-06:00

ID

67551

Comment

Actually, the Pearl River was suppose to have been named by a French Explorer who found fresh water mussel shells that the Indians used for jewelery. Like Abalone they looked like Pearls. That's what I was always told when I was a small thing full of questions......So Why not name the Rez after that Explorer. I'm sure the name could be found in the Archives........

Author

ATLExile

Date

2007-03-21T13:27:54-06:00

ID

67552

Comment

Right, golden. I think it's rather precious to start dissing local entrepreneurs' efforts to get more people to shop in Fondren by driving a trolley back and forth between here and UMC when we've got such bigger fish to fry and so many more "substandard" problems. And if I can tell you this: I've lived among much charm in large cities, and am an adherent to "Suburban Nation" ideals, and summered on Nantucket, and traveled all over the place, and been on all sorts of trollies and streetcars and ferries, oh my, and I think the Fondren trolley is mighty cute, ding ding, and some of the people behind it have done more for this city than Mr. Duany will ever think of doing. His comment about it says something I really don't want to hear about him. Maybe it explains why he changed his tune so much between Friday and Saturday.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-03-21T15:55:21-06:00

ID

67553

Comment

I'll say this for the One Lake Plan. It shows what can happen when the community is given an opportunity to create a city plan that is representative of those who took the time to attend and share. (This is not to knock all those who didn't know - there was not much of a push to advertise the opportunity.) Now should we create the One Lake Plan? i don't think so. Just as we saw how impressive the results could be when we got the Greater Jackson Basin Area together we will be impressed with the solutions arising from including all those communities lying within the Pearl River Water Shed. A Basin-wide approach including the Gulf Coast Restoration Group, Mayors all along the river, the Choctaw Nation in Philadelphia - everyone from the mouth to the Gulf with an interest or expertise - will yield our best solution. Jackson might not need levees or a lake if we just control the issue from a river-wide perspective. Now that this charrette has whetted the appetite for community involvement and reassured many that the Le Fleurs Lakes Plan is untenable, the next topic will be to ask our representatives why we are not exploring a basin-wide approach. With all the Downtown development coming to fruition over the next few years wouldn't be amazing to increase access to this Downtown Pearl?

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-03-21T16:26:10-06:00

ID

67554

Comment

I'm intreigued by this water feature in front of Convention center leading in a waterway over to the PEarl. It links two sections of town in a way that could nourish shops and restaurants.

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-03-21T16:34:50-06:00

ID

67555

Comment

Duany was referring to the Steel Magnolia trolley. Not the Fondren trolley.

Author

millhouse

Date

2007-03-21T16:44:07-06:00

ID

67556

Comment

Interestingly, the Town Creek Riverwalk was the only idea he said would help out Downtown. He explicitly made clear that nothing happening on that island would help Downtown development other than the chance that it might excite interest in urban living therefore encouraging people to move Downtown. He pointed to I-55 as to much of a barrier to expect anything happening on the otherside of it to enhance Downtown or feel connected to it. He suggested we get working on the Town Creek Riverwalk regardless of where we went with the river basin.

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-03-21T16:50:05-06:00

ID

67557

Comment

I'd love to see a Town Creek Riverwalk if it would be a draw for local and state tourism, maybe also for better life in that area as far as shops, restaurants. I don't think I'd like to work in a city like San Antonio. As much as I enjoyed the Riverwalk as a vacation, I don't want to live in a ctiy that relies almost solely on tourism as it creates a bad divide between service workers and tourists.

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-03-21T17:19:55-06:00

ID

67558

Comment

Interesting point, Daniel. As far as my own husband seems to think the Lakes plan would put all this life into the other areas of downtown. My gut instinct was, that's not going to happen until there are actual pathways or living links connecting neighborhoods like Farish St. , Convention Center, etc. Sounds like the pro consultant agrees

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-03-21T17:25:59-06:00

ID

67559

Comment

We got to this on a different thread, I forgot where, but about that field downtown that'll be filled in with the Pinnacle building. When I saw their plan for plants, courtyards, etc. with the building I thought, Great. Others on the thread lamented the thought of losing a green field in the middle of downtown. I have to say I begin to agree...can we keep the undeveloped, calm country feel and yet develop creatively?

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-03-21T17:27:55-06:00

ID

67560

Comment

Remember that green space is useless unless it is properly harnessed to the built environment. It's unfortunate that Jackson's original checkerboard plan (like that found in Savannah) was abandoned. Parks and greenspace are delightful in an urban environment, but they must be developed in conjunction with the builkt environment- otherwise, they are merely dead space. Care and attention are needed here. I love the idea of capitalizing upon Town Creek to build a riverwalk similar to San Antonio. Yes, San Antonio's downtown has all but been given over to the Ripley's anf Hooters of this world, but it still works. What is missing in downtown San Antonio is much of what normally makes a city- everyday businesses, government and so forth. Jackson has much of this in place, and will have more of it soon. I don't want to see a silly "tourist ghetto" built which has no connection with the real nature of a city. The plans for Farish Street I have seen lean dangerously in this direction. Downtown Jackson needs to be a vibrant mixture of shops, offices and living space affordable to many stripes. It can only be developed properly if the greater picture is seen by all parties privy to the development. It CAn happen, but it will take both leadership and vision. Does Jackson's current leadership possess such vision?

Author

tombarnes

Date

2007-03-21T17:53:20-06:00

ID

67561

Comment

The Capitol Green across from One Jackson Place has served as a wonderful space for festivals and live music for our community for a long time. The Pinnacle Building may provide some nice courtyards but will it remove any opportunity to spread out a blanket in Downtown Jackson and enjoy the sun? Will it remove our ability to host large outdoor concerts on our Capitol Street? Isn't it intelligent to keep the limited open space we do have and cultivate it in relation to the surrounding infrastructure? To tie it back into this thread, it is important to note that the Pearl River Basin, despite it's almost complete inaccessibility, is host to numerous cyclers, joggers, fishers, bird watchers, and picnicers every weekend. As Pearl and Flowood continue to develop toward Jackson and gasoline continues to become an expensive commodity (both financially and ecologically), it would behoove us to connect not only our own disparate entertainment, educational, and environmental features but to connect ourselves to our neighbors. Anyone who has been to a major city knows that eventually suburbs like Flowood and Pearl cease to have clear edges with the city. Cultivating the beauty and accessibility to the recreational opportunities of our Downtown Pearl will really help balance and develop a well-rounded character for our city. Fondren through Midtown via Mill Street to Farrish to the Art Museum and Convention Center through the Riverwalk to the bottom of the Capitol Green to a Green Way on the Pearl up to our Le Fleurs Bluff State Park with access points onto the upcoming Fortification / Belhaven creative class retail sector....this could really shape up. Create marked trails for bikes and walking through our river basin with points of interest such as migratory bird spots, old growth cypress, fishing, canoe routes, and picnic space and we bocome a city not quite like any other...

Author

daniel johnson

Date

2007-03-21T18:10:55-06:00