Jackson Free Press

Nina Holbrook, executive director of the Metrocenter Area Coalition, said at a public forum today that the Coalition's plans for the U.S. Highway 80 corridor includes a redesign of the area to spur economic development.

"The Highway 80 corridor is the perfect location for a regional shopping center, and we're working to make it a huge magnet for the area," Holbrook said to a crowd at Koinonia Coffee House today. "It's going to take a lot of work from communities, but I do see that being a reality."

The Metrocenter Area Coalition is comprised of individual businesses and community members who want to improve the area surrounding the Metrocenter Mall located off Highway 80. The area, in a state of decline since the mid-1980s, now has newly planted crape myrtle and magnolia trees, courtesy of a $1.4 million Mississippi Department of Transportation landscaping grant. Holbrook said the city adopted the Highway 80/Interestate 20 interchange from the state about 10 years ago in order to impose new design changes to the industrial look of the area, as well as more frequent mowing and upkeep. The city has also invested in a $500,000 plan--financed with a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration--to redesign the area.

Central Mississippi Planning and Development District planner Gray Ouzts, who handles the Highway 80 corridor for the multi-county organization, said the city of Jackson has contracted CMPDD to develop the area.

"As part of the Hwy 80 strategy ... we are including new zoning recommendations (to the city council) ... for adoption," Ouzt told the Jackson Free Press today. "Included in that are architectural guidelines and standards, additional landscaping ordinances, sign ordinances, things that will enhance the general appearance through restrictions on types of building materials, colors, and that sort of thing."

CMPDD will host a public forum Sept. 16 at Battlefield Park, from 6 to 8 p.m. to introduce those concepts, which include the new ordinance requirements.

In addition to new design plans, Holbrook said the city is already working to create ordinance changes that will make it easier for the city to manage dilapidated property in the area.

"Between Clinton city limits and the Pearl River, there's probably over 200 code violations," Holbrook said. "Some the city can take care of, but some they can't. If the city gives violators a notice that they're going to tear dilapidated structures down, and then they do it, what does the city get out of that? It's the city's expense. The city doesn't get the property. They just get the lien against the property, so the city can't afford that. City ordinances are old and antiquated, so you can't get much done."

Holbrook added, however, that any ordinance change allowing the city to more easily claim abandoned, dilapidated property must first go through the Mississippi Legislature.

Previous Comments

ID

159578

Comment

Any, and by any, I mean EVERY road that we re-design must include bike paths, or at the very least, a designated bike lane. If not that, then at least wide sidewalks. I'll definitely be lobbying for that at Battlefield Park on the 16th. Who wants to come with?

Author

C_Gibby

Date

2010-08-27T13:06:51-06:00