The Ridgeland Board of Aldermen voted 4-to-3 in favor of the construction of a 13-story office building. Ridgeland codes currently limit building heights to four stories, so developer Buster Bailey asked the city to authorize a code variance for his development.
The building, which will be located near the Ridgeland exit and upscale Dinsmor subdivision, is drawing criticism from residents who fear the building will herald an urban transformation in the otherwise pristine bedroom community. Bailey also drew smoldering looks from Jackson advocates, who complained that the project enticed two distinguished downtown Jackson businesses to relocate. Horne CPA Group and the law firm of Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada are both slated to occupy the building.
The regional headquarters of Regions Bank is also rumored to relocate to the new development, but residents fear the bank's tendency to be bought out—Regions is the third company to own the local branch in 15 years—could eventually conclude with Regions moving its offices to a new location and leaving an empty office suite in its wake.
The Board of Aldermen approved the variance well after midnight. Voting against the project were Ken Heard, Gerald Steen and Kevin Hoder. Linda Davis, Scott Jones, Larry Roberts and Chuck Gautier voted in favor of the project. Attorney Steve Smith represented Ridgeland residents in opposition to the development and told the Clarion-Ledger he would appeal the decision if the variance moved forward.
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