Jackson Free Press

Duckworth Realty Inc. owner Ted Duckworth says redevelopment of the School for the Blind property is back on track if he can convince the city of Jackson to re-zone the area.

"We're talking about 21 acres here," Duckworth told the Jackson Free Press at this morning's Friday Forum at Koinonia Coffee House. "Right now, it's zoned for special use, but the city has this great new zoning classification that I don't think they've used, which is called Urban Town Center. UTC, when you read it, is everything that we want to do in our development. We like that it's all spelled out."

Duckworth has worked for more than three years to develop the state-owned property between Interstate 55 and Ridgewood Road, which was formerly the home of the Mississippi School for the Blind. The state has been slow to relinquish ownership of the property, even as the buildings sit empty.

The state Legislature had agreed to lease the land for development in 2007, but investors are hesitant when a developer does not hold ownership rights to the property. The project has languished under these limitations for months, but Duckworth told a crowd of more than 50 this morning that the state finally agreed to sell the property under the right conditions.

"We signed a contract two weeks ago to purchase the property. We're under contract (to buy) until we get the zoning in place," Duckworth said, and added that he "filed another affidavit" to rezone the area with the city today.

"This type of project has never been done on this scale in Jackson, Mississippi. We're basically talking about building a town. Inside 21 acres, we've (planned) 100,000 feet of office space, 200,000 of retail space, 120,000 feet dedicated to residential living and about 120,000 feet for a hotel, all stacked up," Duckworth said.

Sales-tax-revenue estimates predict the development will generate $1.8 million a year, of which the city would pick up 18.5 percent, according to Duckworth. The development could also deliver slightly more than $1 million a year in property taxes.

"This 21-acre project is going to generate between $2 million to $3 million in payroll, sales and property tax when it's fully complete," Duckworth said. Those figures, he added, were one of the arguments that convinced legislators to sell it.

Almost all the buildings associated with the development will feature retail on their ground floors. Some, he said, will dedicate the upper floors to residential or office space, while some buildings will be dedicated to office space on both ground and upper floors. Duckworth said he is in the process of trying to pre-lease tenants.

"We're working the process, but it's always a process," said Duckworth, who was unwilling to provide a groundbreaking date for the venture.

Mayor Harvey Johnson's spokesman, Chris Mims, said the mayor was "highly supportive" of the project, and would likely push for the zone change. However, the Jackson City Council is will ultimately decide the issue.