Your vision for Hattiesburg (Or rather - The Pine Belt).

Okay, here is the deal...First of all let me state that I believe Forrest and Lamar Counties to be essentially one economy. I have a hard time envisioning a positive economic development occuring in one without having a positive impact on the other.

With that out of the way, here is your chance to brainstorm and share your own creative vision for Hattiesburg. What types of economic development activities would you like to see in our area? Would it be that shop that you have to drive to Biloxi, Jackson, or Mobile to access or would it be in the form of more arts & entertainment? Tell the world what your vision for the economic growth and prosperity be for our area.

Since I brought it up how about this...I think that the Bouie and Leaf Rivers are the most underutilized resources in this entire area. There is so much that can be done there in terms of lake front development, contact recreation, eco-tourism. Yes, of course there are some water quality issues and yes, there are some blighted areas such as the gravel pits. However, until we start viewing the rivers as economic assets like so many other communities have, we will never get anywhere with this idea (think San Antonio).

Okay, there is my idea, what about yours?

[usm_designer]

Well I had a big write up on what I wanted, and my foot touched the outlet and my power to my computer went off... so now I'm just like.. blah.

Olive Garden, Outlet Mall, Stadium Style Seating Theatre, Waterpark.

I can't type all that I had typed again.. sorry.. haha.

[reality]

usmdesigner... hahhahahaha I was sitting here laughing out loud when you read your post! I'm sorry, I know it isn't funny when it happens, but I couldn't help laugh. hehe

FYI - we are getting an Olive Garden which will be in the old K-Mart parking lot.
Others soon to come are Macaroni Grill, On the Border, and Target.

I'd like to see an amusement/theme park of some sort for families.

[aaron]

We seem to definitely lack in the arts and entertainment area. Or maybe it's just getting the word out about what's going on, because I don't know what's heppening at the Saenger or USM. There's several businesses that could move in here and probably make money, but there's plenty of people thinking about that. What people don't think about is how we can improve the city. I'm talking about New Orleans or Birmingham, where it's great to just walk around and look at things. The houses seem to just nestle in with the trees and landscape. Hattiesburg has no personality.

[ynotme297]

downtown is really nice. they have some great eating spots and a few stores, but what really hurts, there is little or no parking. if they(the city) want more people downtown then they will have to address this. first things first. but thats just me talking :lol:

[thetruth13]

I wish someone would start another large sporting goods store which would bring competition to Big Bucks. Their prices are outrageous!!!!

[aaron]

now that's the truth, lol. Although I don't know how good someone else could do. I usually buy my stuff online. Ebay is really killing retailers small and big.

I wish someone would start another large sporting goods store which would bring competition to Big Bucks. Their prices are outrageous!!!!

If I remember correctly, someone mentioned not long ago that we would be getting an Academy Sports soon.

[usm_designer]

Well if that is true.. then big bucks has had it. Academy will wipe them clean.

Hattiesburg has no personality.

There are parts of Hattiesburg that have quite a bit of character and personality. Unfortunately, most of it seems to be confined to the older parts of town such as the CBD, the Oaks, N. Main, and Newman/Bushman Historic Districts. Mobile Street actually has a lot of personality. It just needs a bit of revitalization.

The new parts of town seem to be completely devoid of character with the exception of a few landmark buildings. I think of buildings such as the new Starbucks, and a few others that have some character and originality.

Character and personality or "sense of place" does not simply happen, it must be well thought out, designed and planned. If we continue to construct buildings with brick fronts and beer can rears we will never achieve anything remotely like a sense of place, character or personality.

[F150]

well said. I agree, that's why I support the downtown restoration project. 98W contains a lot of convenience for Hattiesburg, but downtown holds the history.

[wusmmik]

We are trying to bring more arts and entertainment events to Hattiesburg,, but it's one of those things that needs consistent support. WUSM and T-Bone's Records have combined efforts to bring a huge variety of artists to FREE shows at the store, even putting some of these on the air to share with those who can't make it. The Thirsty Hippo over it's six years of existence has also brought some great up-and-coming artists to Hattiesburg and given consistent exposure to local artists as well. In order for the city, the station, the University or the local clubs to pursue larger acts (who cost so much normally), consistent support of smaller events would probably act as a catalyst for this. That's just my opinion, but we've brought some great acts to Hattiesburg (many of them in FREE show as well) and would like to do more given the proper financial support.

[R1ZOOM]

I'm in agreement with ecoplnr. I wish we would utilize the rivers more. I remember in the late 90's the talk of a huge reservoir at the Bouie/Leaf intersection off of Hwy 42. I was so excited then, but there was a problem with some kind of fish, so that never materialized. One thing that bothers me is how ugly our waterways are. When you go to other states they have really pretty waterways, but here they are eroded, trashy, muddy, and just plain ugly. I wish we could put more into making them both pretty and useful for boatin, etc.

Also, I think we need a major highway system. We need to work more on a loop around the city like in Atlanta or other cities with an interstate type system to alleviate some traffic on surface streets. Realistically 10 years from now Hardy Street will be essentially a parking lot all of the time instead of just at rush hours.

[TJROBSR]

I would love for Hattiesburg to have another Local Newspaper. The Hattiesburg American is so bias on many issues. Also they will only print "Letters to the Editor" from a certain group of people or those that seem to go along with their views. We need a Newspaper that will print as many different views as possible. Something else thats been on my mind since I am now a Grand Parent. Why doesn't WDAM have Cartoons for children on Saturdays. All they seem to be able to put on the Air is Commercial Programming. Heck I would love to see them Putting re-runs of Captain Kangaroo. Many, many children learned so much from that show. Including me LOL.

[aaron]

What about the Independent? I'll tell you this, even if you don't like it, I would support it. Because if they fail, then another newspaper will never come to Hattiesburg. I've read it some and they try to look at stories from other angles that the American doesn't.

[ynotme297]

amen to another news paper.

[thetruth13]

Academy sports in Hattiesburg!! Now that's heaven on earth my friend.

The reservoir was abandoned because of the freshwater sturgeon. They claim that these fish come all the way up the Leaf River to Hattiesburg for the spawn. I don't know what's to keep them from spawning before they get here. I mean....they won't just quit doing it!!!!! I don't know how many of you have been up the river from Highway 11 but just out of sight from the highway are some large gravel pit lakes. These things are hundreds of feet deep!! A perfect place for a reservoir.

I was part of the committee that was proposing the idea of a reservoir on the Bouie. The sturgeon was certainly one issue. Also at issue was the fact that the reservoir was being touted as a possible surface water supply source and a mechanism for flood control. The truth is that neither was really possible in any real terms. There are still some options for conducting an environmental restoration project on the river that would essentially create a large body of water without the neccesity of a dam or control structure. The only real problem is finding funding.

Based on the existing topography, a lake of approximately 850 to 900 acres could be created by simply doing a dredge and fill to make all of the gravel pits contiguous. One of the local units of government, either Forrest County or the City of Hattiesburg are going to have to take a lead role in the development of the project, seek the funding and get it done. This is not the size or scope of project that can be done by a committee of volunteers.

The are just below the Glendale Avenue bridge is a document spawning are of the gulf sturgeon. It has mostly to do with the composition of the river bed at that particular area. Gulf Sturgeon do in fact migrate here from the Gulf to spawn as do other species such as striped bass, aligator gar, lady fish and several others. It really is a unique environment and eco-system.

[thetruth13]

Ok, i'll buy that. Now my question is can you not have the reservoir without altering the route for spawning? I know that most lakes have a creek or river channel which runs through it. I also know that fish migrate up and down this channel when it's time to spawn. Sort of like a 'spawning superhighway'. Can this not be done in the reservoir? Just curious.

If you look at a topo map or aerial photo of the area you will notice that there is a series of pits within and adjacent to the river bed that were a direct result of sand & gravel mining over the years. It is conceivable that a large body of water could be created by cutting the land between the pits and using that material to "fill" the pits that are too deep to successfully sustain aquatic life. This option would not require any kind of dam or control structure and would allow the river to continue to flow unfettered. According to conversations with folks like the Sierra Club and Audobon Society, this option would be viable to them because it would essentially allow an environmental restoration to occur in a blighted area.

Now the big question becomes, do we use public monies to create a project that would essential relieve a private company from the environmental liablities that it created?

[R1ZOOM]

I have jet skied in the big pit just north of the Hwy 42 bridge on many occasions. It is decent sized for a few jet skis or ski boats to run around in. The only problem I had was getting from the boat ramp to the lake because of certain very shallow sections of the river. I finally started towing my jet cki down the dirt trail behind my jeep, but I haven't been up there in a few years/ I have a big F-250 4x4 now and don't think it will fit on that small trail too well, plus I don't know who owns that land and I don't want to trespass and make somebody mad, so maybe this summer I'll try shooting up the river again from the boat ramp. It was a great spot to go, although I did worry a little about alligators, since there wasn't much boat traffic or anything to scare them away.