 
Our View: Downtown preservation efforts pay dividends for all
Our View: Downtown preservation efforts pay dividends for all
The Dispatch
Read more: http://www.cdispatch.com/opinions/article.asp?aid=14739#ixzz1iigSZkWb
Local economies have evolved. We've gone from chasing smokestacks to embracing small business and entrepreneurship.
At the center of this economic model is a vibrant downtown.
The Starkville Historic Preservation Commission's push to get its downtown recognized as a national historic district can only enhance its ability to tap into the growth a thriving downtown can offer.
The city already boasts four historic districts -- the Nash Street District, which preserves Tudor revival, craftsman and colonial revival architecture from the 1930s and 1940s; the Cotton District near Mississippi State University, site of a former expansive cotton mill; the Greensboro District, a neighborhood of merchants and civic leaders in the 1860s and 1870s that also offers examples of Tudor revival, craftsman and bungalow homes; and the Overstreet District, which has examples of Queen Anne, Victorian, colonial revival, folk and mid-20th-century craftsman and bungalow homes.
Designation with the National Register of Historic Places can mean up to 45 percent in renovation tax credits for the 104 downtown property owners.
Starkville residents need only look east to Columbus for an example of how a restored downtown can attract and keep businesses, as well as become a source of community pride.
Columbus established a Main Street program in 1985, and a handful of downtown believers started a series of renovations that led to nearly every historic building in downtown being restored.
Since then, downtown Columbus has continued to grow, with such additions as the Riverwalk, more than 140 upper-level lofts and apartments, restaurants, specialty shops salons and boutiques.
The Mississippi Main Street Association designated the city of Starkville as a Mississippi Main Street Community in September 2010. The university is growing -- Mississippi State University surpassed the 20,000-student mark this year and has grown by 2,500 students over the past three years. Starkville already has great places to eat and shop. And aldermen are hosting public hearings to implement a new zoning system that would make it easier for varying types of developments to be neighbors in downtown and near the college.
The timing is right for the city of Starkville to invigorate its downtown.
Read more: http://www.cdispatch.com/opinions/article.asp?aid=14739#ixzz1iigJXIMT
Main Street Columbia Director Retires after 25 Years
Griffith with Main Street Columbia Retires after 25 Years
Judy Griffith of Columbia is retiring at the end of this year after 25 years of service to the City as Main Street Director.
The year is a significant one to the City of Columbia as they celebrate Griffith's service to the community as well as the city's 200th birthday.
The City celebrated 200 years of history during its 18th Annual "Candle Light Carols and Clause," which kicks of the Christmas season downtown with the annual Christmas parade and lighting of the tree, as well as revisiting the City's past at one of its most historical markers.
At this year's event, character citizens from years past were portrayed on the courthouse steps.
Jefferson Middle School gifted students, dressed in period clothing, were stationed all down Main Street to give the history of the buildings. Getting youth involved in their community and knowlageable in its history has been a major part of Griffith's work.
According to Griffith, there is a history lesson at every corner in Columbia, which is the fourth oldest city in Mississippi. "Columbia was the state capital in 1821 during that legislative session," said Griffith.
Griffith was named as the Columbian-Progress 2009 Citizen of the Year. The Columbia native has worked tirelessly for her community and spearheaded the Main Street program, which began in 1991.
Among Griffith's many accomplishments include helping to establish Columbia's downtown as a National Historic District, improvements made to the downtown streetscape, including sidewalks, landscaping and banners, establishing several annual festivals and events, and winning several state Main Street awards.
Recent successes include hosting an international floral design show and helping recruit and welcome several new businesses downtown, including an art gallery, restaurant and coffees shop and women's boutique.
By Jeannie Waller
Dillard’s to open doors in Vicksburg for two days
Dillard's to open doors in Vicksburg for two days
JACKSON, Miss. -- Dillard's Department Store will bring some Christmas cheer to downtown Vicksburg for two days in November. The special event will be part of Small Business Saturday (Nov. 26) and downtown Vicksburg's Old Fashioned Christmas Open House on Sunday (Nov. 27).
The store will be located at 1311 Washington Street in downtown Vicksburg. Planned days of operation are Saturday, Nov. 26 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 27 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Dillard's will display and sell selected merchandise including UGG boots, Coach bags and perfume.
The goal of the two-day retail store is to increase shopping and traffic in downtown Vicksburg during the holiday shopping season and to encourage buying locally and shopping in the historic downtown.
"We are excited to have Dillard’s in downtown during our Christmas Open House weekend," said Kim Hopkins, Director of the Vicksburg Main Street program. "Our Christmas Open House is like a family reunion - everybody is home for Thanksgiving and comes downtown that weekend and the Dillard’s store will add to the excitement."
"It will be one-stop shopping this holiday season in downtown Vicksburg," she said. "Clustering stores is a good thing because people like to park, walk, and have a variety of choices."
Dillard's will occupy 1311 Washington Street, a historic building that was built in the 1880s. During its early years, the three-story building housed a stationery store and the Central Shaving Parlor on the first floor with residences upstairs.
In the 1920s, the Mississippi National Guard Amory occupied the second floor above the shaving parlor. The building has undergone a number of renovations throughout the years, including losing its third floor in 1925.
The Catwalk retail store was the most recent occupant of the building, and prior to it, The Chocolate Derby was located there.
In lieu of paying rent for two days, Dillard's will donate 10 percent of all sales to the Vicksburg Main Street program.
"We are hoping that bringing a new store into a temporarily vacant building will bring some attention and interest in our other available buildings downtown," Hopkins said.
"We are very excited to bring additional business to downtown during one of our busiest holiday shopping weekends of the year," she added.
Starkville shopping center to get revamped
Starkville shopping center to get revamped
The Dispatch
By David Miller
STARKVILLE -- Some call it the old Kroger building. Others call it Dirt Cheap. Either way, the obscure shopping center on Louisville Street has an identity crisis.
Soon, though, Chestnut Commons will be a recognizable shopping strip.
Property owners Jason Perry and Sean Koen, along with the city of Starkville, were awarded a $50,000 grant from the Mississippi Development Authority to renovate the exterior and parking lot of the shopping center. The grant, which requires a 100-percent match from Perry and Koen, is a pilot grant program to revitalize older strip shopping centers to help generate sales tax revenue.
The Chestnut Commons site is one of four sites in the state that were chosen.
"We're excited," Perry said. "It's still all kind of a surprise to us."
Starkville Main Street Association Manager Jennifer Gregory found out about the grant through Mississippi Main Street and coordinated with Perry and Koen. The Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, by grant stipulations, wrote the grant and submitted it.
Gregory said the shopping center, located on Louisville Street across from Starkville High School, was selected because Perry and Koen had capital and were already planning to redevelop.
"With the city already having approved the Louisville Street widening project, I think that's what helped us secure the grant," Gregory said. "We tried to portray that this is a major gateway into Starkville and even downtown since it goes into the Greensboro District."
Perry said the funds will go toward repaving the parking lot, which he said is in rough condition, and adding an awning system for each tenant. Paint and fascia redesigns are also in the works.
Currently, Dirt Cheap, a retail store, is the largest of five occupied spaces in the building. There are two barbershops -- Hill's Barbershop and Teresa Hair and Barber Designs in the complex. Additionally, computer software company Tucows Inc. and processing company Mail Managers are located in the building.
There's one vacant, 8,000 square-foot space left to fill after the Oktibbeha County School District moved out in August. The OCSD had been a tenant for close to six years.
Perry plans to attract a retailer to fill the vacancy instead of dividing the space and renting to multiple businesses.
"Not to say it isn't a possibility (filling the vacancy with multiple businesses)," Perry said. "It would just be really expensive to do it that way. One industry would be an electrical supply, like a Nesco. I've had a grocery store call me -- a discount type -- but a national company. I've had a couple of beauty supply companies express interest in it, too. But we've done no advertising above and beyond putting the sign up as we want to get the remodeling finished.
There is a parcel on the property that could eventually become a restaurant, but Perry said plans to add a restaurant to the strip have not been discussed.
Perry and Koen also own Middleton Court, located directly north of Chestnut Commons. Middleton Court underwent extensive renovation several years ago and has blossomed into one of the city's most successful shopping strips. Perry believes Chestnut Commons is located close enough to Highway 12 to draw a lot of the same customer base.
The only issue Perry might face is parking, as he estimates close to 40 Starkville High students park in the strip's lot each day. Perry allows substitute teachers and student teachers to park there each day, but it's never more than 10 cars.
"We've talked to the school about it and they say they have enough spots on school property to accommodate their students' cars," Perry said. "But they're parking here to avoid paying student parking fees. We want to be as helpful as we can, but we've got to maintain parking enough to not run away retail shoppers."
David Miller reports on news from the Starkville bureau.
Photo: According to property owner Jason Perry, Chestnut Commons shopping center’s parking lot will get repaved and the exterior of the buildings renovated with a $50,000 grant awarded to he, co-owner Sean Koen and the city of Starkville by the Mississippi Development Authority.
Read more: http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=14137#.TsqM_2k_XVc.email#ixzz1eNjECeSD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Downtown Vicksburg
Downtown Vicksburg features museums, carriage or boat rides, antiquing, gaming and dining. |
|
|
