The Future of Jackson, MS (Pearl, Madison: homes, neighborhood, income)

[jacksonian]

Originally Posted by marighand

Okay sure, but what has that lead to? I'm talking about the future not the past. By the way I don't think that heart transplant lasted very long, maybe like a few minutes or seconds before the patient died....but a milestone nonetheless.

You want something more recent? How about 2008? Last year, Dr. Dan Jones, one of the head doctors at UMMC, was the president of the American Heart Association. I'm sure you've heard of that.

[jhadorn]

I wouldn't take Dr. Hardy's accomplishments lightly, the New York Times doesn't.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/21/us...ansplants.html

[poptones]

Y'all are forgetting Vicksburg. Its as close to Jackson as some of those other universities are to their "home towns" and Vicksburg is home to waterways research station. This is essentially an Army base but it employs many students and works with the universities in the state. Waterways is a very important research and engineering facility.

[mr.bonze]

Originally Posted by jacksonian

The historic King Edward Hotel is roughly 60% completely renovated with an opening date sometime this fall.

Good grief...they were working on the King Edward when i lived in jackson 3 years ago...in that same time period ive seen a half dozen sky scrapers go up in charlotte.

First response to anyone talking about urban renewal in jackson, is that stupid KE Hotel. The perpetual renewal... King Edward buyer says deal only weeks away. (King Edward Hotel, Jackson, Mississippi) | Article from Mississippi Business Journal | HighBeam Research

Second response is always Farish Street "entertainment" district. Entertainment district? really? Been hearing about this one for a decade now too. Farish+Street+Entertainment - Google News Archive Search

All talk and slow (if any) action is the MO of Jackson.

Oh, dont forget the grandiose Harborwalk fiasco while your at it...yeah, lets build a 4 star hotel and upscale entertainment complex on the reservoir, but oh... we want to be able to keep the ratty looking houseboats out there too. Never mattered anyway as it was all a scam...

Sorry to be so negative, but im a MS native and lived in jackson till i moved to Charlotte 3 years ago...and while i realize Jackson, isnt Charlotte, i also see how things can get done when inmates arent running the asylum.

I love MS, my family moved there from NC in the 19th century and its my home, but i can honestly say, i do not want to move back and hopefully never will have to...i might, but im not planning on it.

Its not just Jackson, and to be honest, jackson has the rest of the state working against it. The powerful North MS politicians want to keep MS in the way it was, cause they just know better than everyone else whats good for MS. Thats why its 50th in everything, and people still scratch their heads. Unfortunately, the younger politicians and residents are not much more forward thinking. I know, because some of my friends in MS are the same way..

There are some bright forward thinking people in the state, but unfortuantely, they are a minority.

[jacksonian]

Originally Posted by mr.bonze

Good grief...they were working on the King Edward when i lived in jackson 3 years ago...in that same time period ive seen a half dozen sky scrapers go up in charlotte.

First response to anyone talking about urban renewal in jackson, is that stupid KE Hotel. The perpetual renewal... King Edward buyer says deal only weeks away. (King Edward Hotel, Jackson, Mississippi) | Article from Mississippi Business Journal | HighBeam Research

Second response is always Farish Street "entertainment" district. Entertainment district? really? Been hearing about this one for a decade now too. Farish+Street+Entertainment - Google News Archive Search

All talk and slow (if any) action is the MO of Jackson.

Oh, dont forget the grandiose Harborwalk fiasco while your at it...yeah, lets build a 4 star hotel and upscale entertainment complex on the reservoir, but oh... we want to be able to keep the ratty looking houseboats out there too. Never mattered anyway as it was all a scam...

Sorry to be so negative, but im a MS native and lived in jackson till i moved to Charlotte 3 years ago...and while i realize Jackson, isnt Charlotte, i also see how things can get done when inmates arent running the asylum.

I love MS, my family moved there from NC in the 19th century and its my home, but i can honestly say, i do not want to move back and hopefully never will have to...i might, but im not planning on it.

Its not just Jackson, and to be honest, jackson has the rest of the state working against it. The powerful North MS politicians want to keep MS in the way it was, cause they just know better than everyone else whats good for MS. Thats why its 50th in everything, and people still scratch their heads. Unfortunately, the younger politicians and residents are not much more forward thinking. I know, because some of my friends in MS are the same way..

There are some bright forward thinking people in the state, but unfortuantely, they are a minority.

You make some good and valid points. There is strong tension between political parties here in the state, and the older generations still retain some of the racial tension that they grew up with (and it obviously trickles down from one generation to the next, but at least it decreases with each transfer). Jackson has a long way to go in regards to the city government, which is what was hindering the city from moving forward, ie King Edward, Farish St, etc. The city had all the properties tied up in so much red tape that nothing came to fruition. There were many, many developers who tried to take on these projects, but they all gave up when they found out how difficult it was to deal with the city administration. Finally, though, the private sector found a way to make things happen, which is why all the work is taking place now rather than 3, 5, 10 years ago. Without the developers who are building in downtown, Jackson would not prosper as it has over the past couple of years. It has now encouraged even more development, which makes the collective movement that much stronger.

There is a diverse movement occurring here, among many different ages, genders and races, that is demanding transparency and, more importantly, accountability in our local government. People are tired of paying high taxes and not seeing the benefits from paying them. The incoming administration will be scrutinized under a magnifying glass for its entire tenure.

[jacksonian]

Originally Posted by mr.bonze

Oh, dont forget the grandiose Harborwalk fiasco while your at it...yeah, lets build a 4 star hotel and upscale entertainment complex on the reservoir, but oh... we want to be able to keep the ratty looking houseboats out there too. Never mattered anyway as it was all a scam...

Just to make it clear, Harborwalk would not have been in Jackson, but in Ridgeland. Beyond that, I couldn't agree with you more. That was the biggest pipe dream I have seen around here. From what I have seen from that developer, I would never ever do business with him.

[mr.bonze]

Originally Posted by jacksonian

Just to make it clear, Harborwalk would not have been in Jackson, but in Ridgeland. Beyond that, I couldn't agree with you more. That was the biggest pipe dream I have seen around here. From what I have seen from that developer, I would never ever do business with him.

Jacksonian, touche, youre right it wasnt in Jackson, I sometimes lump all the metro area under the Jackson umbrella. I lived a short walk from the Harborwalk project. I also traveled across the dam every day, so when they tore up Harbor Road it added 15 minutes to my trip every day at least. What a joke.

Anyway, you make some great points in the post above. I hope Jackson can turn things around, i really do.

I see that alcohol finally passed in Rankin County last night...i guess i had to move for that to happen :-) (i lived in Rankin for years before moving to madison cnty.)

[jacksonian]

Originally Posted by mr.bonze

Jacksonian, touche, youre right it wasnt in Jackson, I sometimes lump all the metro area under the Jackson umbrella. I lived a short walk from the Harborwalk project. I also traveled across the dam every day, so when they tore up Harbor Road it added 15 minutes to my trip every day at least. What a joke.

Anyway, you make some great points in the post above. I hope Jackson can turn things around, i really do.

I see that alcohol finally passed in Rankin County last night...i guess i had to move for that to happen :-) (i lived in Rankin for years before moving to madison cnty.)

As much as we have progressed thus far, we are still in the Bible Belt here in Mississippi, which makes progressive change more difficult to say the least. I saw that last night too, although it only allows liquor/wine "by the glass" at restaurants. They STILL can not have bars or liquor stores in Rankin County. So, Jackson will continue to benefit from the nightlife crowd and the liquor/wine sales.

[mr.bonze]

You know, i dont know if the Bible Belt argument is really a good excuse for lack of progression. North Carolina as a whole is certainly as religious as MS. Heck, Jim and Tammy Faye were based here.

You cant even hunt in North Carolina on Sundays...try that in Mississippi! hah!

[jacksonian]

Yeah, the Bible Belt is only one part of the hindrance. It has more to do with resistance to change. The statement - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" - bodes well with many here, which is a shame, because many think the way things are is just fine.