Jackson Free Press

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., developer David Watkins and several city leaders put on hardhats and swung sledgehammers this morning, as they broke down a wall in the former Belk Department Store at Metrocenter Mall.

The "wall-breaking ceremony" serves as a catalyst for Jackson's economic development, Jackson Chamber of Commerce chairman David Powe told dozens of community members attending the ceremony.

Last year, Johnson proposed moving city offices from the Atmos building on West Capitol Street and from the Jackson Medical Mall into the 60,000 square feet of property at Metrocenter. Retro Metro LLC, a project of Watkins Partners, leased the space to the city. With additional financing from BankPlus, Retro Metro will spend $2.5 million to build out and renovate the space.

Six city departments--including human and cultural services, water and sewer, and parks and recreation--expect to move into the space in October when renovations are complete. Johnson said the development would bring 200 to 300 employees to the Metrocenter on Highway 80, who will provide an economic boost to the area by shopping and eating at nearby stores and restaurants. He also said the development will attract more businesses to the mall, which is only 50 percent occupied.

"We are working hard to revitalize this area," Johnson said. "A lot of people may have given up on Metrocenter, but let me tell you: This signals a new day for Metrocenter."

Johnson compared the mall's redevelopment to the Jackson Medical Mall, a repurposed shopping mall that now provides a wholistic approach to health care for the underserved while promoting economic and community development.

"We feel like this is the same activity that took place 15 years ago at the Jackson Medical Mall," Johnson said. "We do not envision this becoming a replica of the Medical Mall in terms of medical facilities. What we do envision is it becoming a replica in terms of a fixed (asset). The notion of repurposing is important for a mall of this size."

Watkins said Retro Metro has been working on the project for the past 18 months. The development's second phase will add restaurants and retail space in the former department store, he said, and he described the plans for the mall and surrounding area as a mixed-use development that will eventually include apartments and hotels.

"In five years we want to transform this into a place where people around the country are going to say 'They did it right,'" Watkins said. "We are going to keep believing in Jackson. People didn't believe we could do the King Edward, and we did it. They didn't believe we could do Metrocenter and we're doing it, and we're going to do Farish Street as well."

Previous Comments

ID

163317

Comment

When Dr. Aaron Shirley and others came up with the idea of transforming the old Jackson Mall into a medical complex, there were many nay-sayers and many who thought that this would be a total failure. Today, that mall has become a place where many services are provided. What could have become an eye-sore if it were allowed to continue its thundering silence is now making a positive difference in the community. Just as the Medical Mall developed into a pillow of pride, so will the Metro-Center. I am sure that many types of businesses will locate in that mall once there is evidence of support and engagement. Mayor Johnson, Mr. Watkins and others have a great idea and also, great track records. Let's GIT-ER-DUN!

Author

justjess

Date

2011-04-29T22:38:59-06:00