Jackson Free Press

In one of the abandoned warehouse spaces at 272 Farish St., in the first block between Amite and Griffith streets, the only signs of life are a makeshift pallet where someone has been sleeping and a pile of trash where someone had Krystal burgers for supper the night before. It's a far cry from a plate of Lumpkin's barbecue, much less a blue plate from B.B. King's Blues Club.

Much has changed around the capital city in the last several years, but Farish Street is not one of them. Sure, some of the facades on the buildings have been cleaned up, and the bricked streets with fancy light fixtures look nice. But the buildings are empty, many of the windows are busted out, and some buildings have what looks like kudzu growing through their floors.

It has been nearly six years since local developer David Watkins rode in on a white horse to save a floundering Farish Street renovation and development project, and less than three weeks since the Jackson Redevelopment Authority canceled his contract, effectively removing him from the project.

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Farish Street Potential

Farish Street is a storied place in downtown Jackson. Developers have been working over the years to create a destination for residents and tourists.

The developer said in a statement his lawyer sent to the JFP that his money has paid for much work. "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 wrote.

"Watkins Development reworked 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 15 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 B.B. King and has advanced substantial administrative and personnel funds over the years."

Doctor Shumaker, who owns Dennis Brothers Shoe Shop less than a block from the abandoned properties Watkins was enlisted to renovate and manage, was in his store Thursday afternoon when this reporter wandered in to take a look around.

"It's fantastic," he said about JRA's decision to find a new developer. "It's been too damn long, and nothing has changed. ... (Developers have) been down here 19 years working on two blocks. It's a shame."

The debate raged this week over what comes next with the troubled renovation project, originally taken on to provide Jackson with an entertainment district on the order of Memphis' Beale Street nearly 30 years ago.

Ronnie Crudup, JRA board chairman, said the board stands by its decision. "We made a decision as a board with what we think is the best interests of the city. That was our determination. I'm aware of a lot of what is being said there, but it's not productive for us to debate that in the press," he said.

The consensus seems to be that even though the project is mired in decades of setbacks and controversy, an entertainment district is essential if Jackson is going to flourish.

"We've supported the project, and it's a great project," said John Gomez of Downtown Jackson Partners, which runs the downtown business improvement district and receives tax dollars from businesses inside the BID to pay for its services. "It's a very reverent area of the city with a lot of history. It's a big project for us, because one of the main things we hear from hotels in the area is that they want an area of town to which they can point their visitors. We want a place where people who are planning conventions at the convention center can go for entertainment."

Cynthia Buchanan, executive vice president of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that an entertainment district on Farish Street would give the city a chance to distinguish itself from other southern cities, and help keep some of our talent from going to bigger markets.

"The area needs to be exciting and engaging," Buchanan said. "It needs to showcase and celebrate our local talent. ... What we need to do is develop a home base to give our local musicians, chefs and artists a reason to stay here to produce their craft."

Local business owner Jeff Good has done pro-bono work for Watkins, helping him map out the kitchen areas in the buildings that Farish Street Group planned to lease to businesses that have agreed to locate a franchise on Farish.

"There's always more than meets the eye," Good said about the ongoing saga. "The surface discussions on Farish Street have been thin and veiled in nuance. The truth of the complexity of this is soon to be known by us all. It should give us the accountability we need ... After all the good that (Watkins) has done, the inaction just doesn't jive with his track record."

Watkins' main point of contention seems to be that if he is not allowed to continue development of the entertainment district, he will lose his personal investment of approximately $4.7 million, and the city will lose out on nearly $5 million in tax credits Watkins had secured for the project.

Stevens argued that a $10 million bond that JRA promised to deliver never came about, and for the board to now cancel the contract is unfair. Stevens said the reality is that the city, through JRA, had little to no skin in the game.

In a sit-down interview with the JFP Oct. 10, Stevens revealed that Watkins was in the throes of closing a deal to bring in another investor who could have carried the Farish Street project over the finish line.

"Can you imagine how (JRA's bond promise falling through) changed the dynamic?" Stevens asked emphatically. "After that happens, then you have to talk to people who are hosses who can come up with $10 million for an untested project. ... Now, (JRA has) really poisoned David's efforts to go to strategic partners and get the backing we need. It's hard for him to go to the potential investors and say, 'Hey, we've got the backing of the redevelopment authority,' because they've made a very public statement (by canceling the contract) that will hinder him."

The JRA board meets again Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. in the Richard J. Porter building, across the street from City Hall.