Jackson Free Press

Embattled developer David Watkins is finally talking about the controversy that has swirled for weeks over the Farish Street redevelopment project in downtown Jackson.

He answered his critics, which includes the seven-member Jackson Redevelopment Authority that terminated his long-held contract for the Farish Street Entertainment District redevelopment project, in statement to the Jackson Free Press this morning.

Watkins, who also redeveloped downtown's King Edward Hotel and Standard Life buildings, has received a flurry of criticism for making too little progress in the six years he held the contract on Farish.

"Some of these buildings could have been pushed to the ground with little effort and they are now structurally sound, many with new roofs, despite the need for tenant build out," Watkins said, defending his investments.

"Watkins Development re-worked the city's water and sewage system below ground level, built additional drainage systems, repaired the brick-paved 300-yard street, repaired over 600 linear yards of brick sidewalk ranging from nine to fifteen feet wide, rebuilt and repaired interior walls, rebuilt and repaired concrete floors, reinforced support structures for upper floors, plumbed nearly every building, brought electric service to each building, purchased HVAC equipment, acquired contract rights for amazing artists like BB King and has advanced substantial administrative and personnel funds over the years.

In the statement, Watkins said the work was completed "to exacting historical architectural standards," which at times has included purchasing bricks that cost more than $3 each from out-of-state vendors

JRA board President Ronnie Crudup has been silent since canceling the contract, declining to make officials available for interviews. When called this morning at New Horizon Church, where Crudup is bishop, a representative said Crudup would call the JFP for comment at 1 p.m. today.

In a letter to Crudup last week, Watkins expressed his displeasure with the board's Sept. 25 decision to terminate his contract on the Farish Street Entertainment District redevelopment project.

In the letter, Watkins said he had sunk approximately $4.7 million of his personal money into the project, and that his organization, the Farish Street Group, had already spent nearly $10 million on the infrastructure of Farish Street.

Pick up Wednesday's edition of the Jackson Free Press for more updates on the troubled project.

Email City Reporter Tyler Cleveland at [email protected]

For more background, be sure to read some of the JFP's other stories on Farish street here and here.