Downtown Renovation

[2002usmgrad]

Just read an interesting article in the indy on the renovation and restoration of some downtown buildings such as the ross buidling and the T.J. Jackson buiding. The other building mentioned was the old Coca-Cola warehouse. The developer, Ken Dickinson, said he's going to open a "music warehouse" call The Bottling Company. It's suppose too have bars on each floor and a stage that can been seen from both floor. He said he's going to have some local bands and hopefully bring in some bigger acts. Sounds like it's going to be a House of Blues kinda place. That would be an awesome venue. The article also said that the Ross Building is going to have an art gallery and a wine bar. Looks like someone's taking the right steps in getting downtown to a cool place to hang out.

[Wayward]

Downtown does look very promising right now and the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association is very active. In addition to these renovation projects, the Downtown Association has been working with the city for pedestrian lighting. Essential for evening activities downtown.

At about 4:30 or 5:00 on Monday, the association will make a formal request to the council. Benny Sellers and Mississippi Power Company have been working very closely with the downtown association on this project.

I also see that they are pulling spikes and removing rails along the tracks parallel to 4th street. It's the first phase of the Long Leaf Trace (Rails to Trails) extension into downtown. From what I hear, the trolley capability is absolutely part of the plan.

[Tully Mars]

Downtown has had a surge of activity recently. I am pleased to see buildings such as the Ross Building getting a major overhaul. I am also excited to see progress on the old Masonic Temple as it makes it's transition to a new justice court facility for the county. It is really an awesome building and I can't wait to see it finished.

You are correct Wayward, the tracks are coming up and the final phase of the rails-to-trails is underway. In fact, that entire area around the East 4th street extension will soon be the target of a significant assessment and revitalization effort as part of EPA's Brownfields program. The area is pretty rich in history as it was the first real 'industrial' center of Hattiesburg. It is also home to Eureka School, and many of the activities that took place during Freedom Summer. The activities planned for that area in the near future will mark the beginning of a revitalization effort that should lend some renewed value to that part of downtown.

[Wayward]

Excellent comments, Tully. Hopefully, both the old Eureka School and the old Hattiesburg High School will play key rolls in the redevelopment of that area. The USM College of Arts and Letters is very interested in restoring the HHS building for Arts programs. They need the expansion space. The Long Leaf Trace extension from USM to Main Street plays a key role in this project. Eureka is slated as a Black History Museum and for other uses. Right now it's an issue of funding, funding, funding.

Also interesting remarks about historic landmarks and Freedom Summer. Are you aware of the Freedom Summer Trail established a couple of years ago by an ADP Leaders for the New Century group? Landmarks have been identified and a driving/walking trail has been documented.

[Tully Mars]

Excellent comments, Tully. Hopefully, both the old Eureka School and the old Hattiesburg High School will play key rolls in the redevelopment of that area. The USM College of Arts and Letters is very interested in restoring the HHS building for Arts programs. They need the expansion space. The Long Leaf Trace extension from USM to Main Street plays a key role in this project. Eureka is slated as a Black History Museum and for other uses. Right now it's an issue of funding, funding, funding.


All of those elements will be instrumental in the overall redevelopment of the area. The redevelopment plans call for a very comprehensive aproach. The first step is to get the environmental assessments done. These are necessary because of some of the industrial activities that have taken place there over the years. Once that is done then a redevelopment plan will be developed. From that point then funds can be secured for the cleanup and actual redevelopment.

Also interesting remarks about historic landmarks and Freedom Summer. Are you aware of the Freedom Summer Trail established a couple of years ago by an ADP Leaders for the New Century group? Landmarks have been identified and a driving/walking trail has been documented.

I am aware of that. In fact I am an alumnus of the Leaders for a New Century Program and worked on a pretty significant project during my class year. The Freedom Summer Trail was an excellent project and well executed.

[JB2379]

The downtown area is looking pretty good right now. When the train depot is completed and the trolley is rolling through downtown, it's going to be something that we can al brag on and be proud of.

[Wayward]

Tully ... Glad to hear you were involved with Leaders for a New Century. It's a visionary program and many of the team projects are having a long-term and significant impact.

JB2379 ... Yep. It does seem to be coming together for the downtown area. Lot of volunteer effort by the downtown association and good support from the city. :yes:

[aaron]

I also like the downtown renovation. I just love a downtown atmosphere at night and used to go down there when nothing was happening. The one thing they do need for the weekends is a good coffee shop on Main or Pine. It'd be a good place for other businesses to hand out flyers on what's going on that night in the area.

[Wayward]

There has been some talk about a coffee shop associated with the new A Gallery location on Front Street ... kind of across from the Ross Building. Don't know the status.

[JB2379]

I would also lile to see a good coffee shop and perhaps even a poetry club or something. There is so much potential for the downtown area. I'm just oozing with excitement. What else is needed downtown?

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

There is a great coffee shop in downtown Laurel... maybe the owners will take a stab at a second location here. It's called Signature Coffee House and there are photos signed by all kinds of movie, music, and other stars. It's a great atmosphere inside and outside on the patio. We need something like that here.

[JB2379]

I don't know what happened to Shelby's but I heard it was a pretty decent place. I also think we need a good hotel in downtown Hattiesburg. It could be something like a Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn with historic architecture. But where would a hotel locatein downtown Hattiesburg. Would they renovate an existing vacant building, or would they try to build a new building? Either way - I think a good hotel could operate well in downtown.

[Wayward]

I would also lile to see a good coffee shop and perhaps even a poetry club or something. There is so much potential for the downtown area. I'm just oozing with excitement. What else is needed downtown?
JB ...

Check the recently opened EDGE da lua at 107 E. Front (just down from McKenzie's and A Cafe Named Desire). It's a shop for "eclectic exteriors/interiors and vintage clothing" but I think there are plans for poetry and movie gatherings on the patio. Might be of interest.

[JB2379]

Thanks Wayward, that's pretty interesting!

[Wayward]

Contact information is here, if you want to check with them. Last listing on the page.
http://www.hattiesburgdowntown.org/shops.html

[aaron]

I did check out the edge and it's not really the kind of coffeeshop I'm talking about. There's no menu, just self-serve type stuff.

[JB2379]

It would be good if Starbucks had a location in downtown. Heck, they have one on Hardy St., one on the USM campus, and building another one by the Turtle Crossing Shopping center, so they might as well invest in a new location in downtown Hattiesburg. It would be a good investment.

[R1ZOOM]

I think Shelby's was a little pricey for one. I used to work downtown during Shelby's prime, and it's selections seemed limited, while being pricey as well. I think Shelby's might have been a little before its time also. It was opened for breakfast and lunch if I remember correctly. I think it would probably do better now than it did when it was open. I don't think they really reached out to potential consumers enough either. I used to really enjoy lunch at the Love Drug deli before it closed down. One could always find a good meal there. I used to be a big fan of Coney Island cafe, but on my last visit an incident with a huge roach running around the food preparation area and how poorly it was handled by the staff turned my stomach. First, it was swatted off of the wall by a waitress with her bare hand onto the counter with the cooler by where they keep the desserts, then the entire staff made jokes about throwing it in the frier with some french fries. It scurried under something, and they were lon longer concerned with tracking it down or killing it, and they treated this like a normal thing to have happen to them, so I haven't eaten there since. I used to lie to sit there and eat and watch the trains. I can remember sitting there with my dad on one occassion when it was actually snowing in Hattiesburg watching a train go by.

As far as hotels go, I think you would need one wit a large convention center in it or some type of attraction within itself, otherwise I don't think it would do good. I don't think there's enough in the downtown area to support a hotel. However, once the depot and everything else gets completed a hotel would have a better chance, but I still don't see it being successful in the near future without a convention center or a specialized theme of some sort. I think maybe a bed and breakfast with an antique them would do better. As far as convention centers go though, if downtown were to really take off they might could run a trolley or train of some sort from a downtown hotel to the convention center. The tracks are already in place. It probably wouldn't be economically feasible, but would be neat if the right kind of businesses and hotel opened up downtown. They could work with each other to promote each other, and possibly even tie in the Lynn Cartlidge multi purpose center. Tracks run very close to it as well, and a downtown hotel could bill itself as a hub for conventions in Hattiesburg....hmmm...just an idea.

Finally, regarding the new club in the Coca Cola building, I'm looking very forward to it. I hope it does well. There is nothing like that anywhere around, and it sounds like it will be a really neat attraction. The trolley idea from USM is great too, because people even non students could take advantage of this by parking at USM and taking the trolley and not having to hunt a spot downtown.

Question....why does the trolley need to go on rails to trails? Is it incapable of navigation down a normal street? I think I remember reading that the insurance was too high or something maybe? Is insurance cheaper if the trolley only operates on rails to trails? Myabe the streets in Hattiesburg have too many potholes for the trolley...hehe...j/k.

[JB2379]

R1ZOOM, that's some pretty good insight. I don't see downtown getting a convention center in the near future, and know that hotels usually locate witin the vicinity of convention centers.

[justme]

I don't know how great the coffee is but- there is the Southbound Bagel Shop across from Gus #2.

They also serve coffee at Main Street Books.

[aaron]

yeah, I think there are a couple of shops that serve coffee, there's nothing at night though when I go down there like after 8.

[Wayward]

Excellent editorial in today's HA about the downtown lighting.

[ynotme297]

try 206 front st. good food, drinks and coffee. walnut circle is great also. plenty to do downtown after 8.