Jackson Free Press

Construction workers have begun a commercial development that will bring new restaurants, shops and offices to the young city of Byram. The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted today to approve a $5.5 million tax-increment financing, or TIF, plan for the Byram Town Center development.

The TIF plan will defray the cost of infrastructure work, developer Yandell Wideman said. Once retail tenants move in, Hinds County will issue bonds based on the increase in property tax revenue it collects as a result of the improvements.

Wideman estimates that the project's total cost will reach $40 million and that construction will likely take "several years."

Town Center will extend over 38 acres southwest of the intersection of Siwell and Terry roads in Byram. Wideman's company, SouthEast Properties, is partnering with the Hinds County School District, which owns some of the land under development.

"This will be putting property back on the tax rolls, because it was tax-exempt when it was owned by the school system," Wideman said. "This is going to be a great thing for Byram, a great thing for the county, and it will hopefully create some additional development in the area."

Wideman said that he expects the development's first tenant, a Newk's Express Cafe, to open within 90 to 120 days. SouthEast Properties has also reached a lease agreement with Super D pharmacy, he said. He also hopes to attract additional retail tenants, a movie theater and Byram's municipal offices.

"The city is not ready to make that decision yet, but they are strongly looking at the possibility of moving (city offices) there," Wideman said. "Hopefully the economy will pick up, and we'll keep this thing going."

Workers are currently moving large amounts of dirt to level the development site, Wideman said.

Previous Commentsshow

If Byram gets a movie theater before Jackson, then that really makes me sad for Jackson and really mad about the tax revenue that continues to leave the city for the burbs.

News Junkie

May 3 2011

Byram would probably benefit more from campaigning the Hinds county school board for a Magnet High school (for STEM courses). No new city in MS will do much without a great high school. Given the reality of public education around this state, if your community doesn't have a quality high school that is preparing students to take advantage of the economic opportunities that will present themselves in the 21st century (information technology, green jobs, and other STEM industries), the perception is that it will be a "poor" school, which in turn will signal "poor community" to industry, retail and other investors. Instead of investing the new tax money the city received after incorporation in a police department and "walkie talkies", talks need to be underway to have a magnet school for the students from Gary Road Elementary and Byram Middle to attend. Terry High is not positioned well to absorb the growth potential of an incorporated Byram. Need more visionary leadership in Byram than what I have seen.

Renaldo Bryant

May 4 2011