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Another problem with Metrocenter is that it, as well as Northpark, was designed in a way that would doom it later in life. They both attempted to create an controlled "utopia" for the ultimate shopping experience, but in the end this is what attracted loitering with no reasonable solution to end it. They became "babysitters" for the parents that didn't want to deal with their kids, which lead to the malls being full of not only teenagers, but trouble-making teenagers. Beyond just the loitering, our country's society, especially outside of large urban centers (but definitely including the suburbs), embraced the "mall" as the best solution for local shopping, yet it was this building type that has tainted the American lifestyle over the past several decades. We, as a community, use to walk up and down main street, conversing and meeting new people, making new connections, etc. In a mall, we drive to the parking lot, walk inside a closed environment, get what we need, and then return home. For many, the mall has become the only real social interaction that they participate in, but it's not a successful model.
The loitering problem is what is leading developers to build open air shopping, like Dogwood in Flowood and Renaissance in Ridgeland. These are better models, BUT they are also not the best solution, as they attempt to create the main street feel, but they often fail due to the huge parking lots that they place all around the shopping area. They also fail when they try to implement a "theme" that is not of the local vernacular, but they call it "new" and "nice" and everyone accepts it. This is not Italy. We do not have villas or corinthian columns here in Mississippi, so why put fake cracks in new buildings or fake corinthian columns? Just because a style works well for one area of the world does not mean it works for everyone around the world. There is a reason everything built in Italy is made out of marble, because it is a local material, and therefore affordable and practical.
Back in the early 90s, lived in Brandon and watched Frank Melton. Very very sorry to see this man go. Think he truly was a great man who made lasting and beneficial contributions to the lives of so many, especially those that he rescued and helped educate. He gave of his time, money and himself. He may not have gone about it the way some people would have preferred but I think his heart was in the right place and he acted couragously in taking on some of the most dangerous elements in Jackson. I think it is a better place for having had him as Mayor. Too bad it could not have lasted longer.
Knew and worked with Dr. Jones in Laurel before he left with his family to become a missionary. He was one of the finest, most humble, compassionate and caring doctors I've ever known (and I've known quite a few).
Hey, im all for cleaning up the city, and Melton may have started and had good intentions, but good grief the man lost his mind. He really became some sort of megalomaniac.
The future is Jackson, MS if only the city officials would recognize its potential.
Stop investing in bars and clubs and start spending money on businesses and homes, parks and gardens, bike trails and hiking trails.
Many educated people aren't looking to "party all the time" they want places where they can hang out with their kids and walk their dogs. They are looking for good schools and safe areas to live. The officials don't have to clean all of Jackson at once, just clean up a part of the city and slowly but surely move inwards. Yeah, it sounds like gentrification, but sometimes it needs to happen. Certainly in the case of Jackson, it needs to happen.
Jackson has the land resources that many big cities only wish they had. Jackson has the people resources to maintain and support the businesses that moves in once gentrification happens. Jackson has a history that needs to be quashed and a future that is right at its fingertips. Educate the people, keep the educated centered in the city, give those people enough room to grow their own gardens and get rid of Wal-Mart. --There you go! Jackson is now on the map.
That's what's happened to alot of areas in the city of St. Louis and it's amazing the transformation that has taken place.
Yes. "Flight" followed by urban rejuvination has happened in Saint Louis and it is great in the city now - whereas it was supposedly scary in the city 10 years ago. The urban rejuvination will happen one day in southern cities like Jackson, but for right now, it has not - and most of those cities are still in the problematic crime-riddled stage between flight and rejuvination.
First, who do you think does all the "Urban Renewal" in ghettos? GAYS! How many do you know that don't cut hair, work as a nurse, or work in retail in Mississippi? What? That's right slim to none, they fly under the radar and go out of town often to spend their money and party. Now just how many professional gay couples do you think would move to Jackson if you gave them 10 city blocks free? What? That's right slim to none again!
Just look at Atlanta's midtown, morningside, brookhaven, etc; 15 years ago it was skid row. Today it is filled with 1,000's of multi million homes and condos. First come the gays, then the wasps, the the well heeled retired set. Where do you see that in Metro Jackson? And do not say Madison. The owners of $1m+ homes are in Madison (search the MLS in Reunion & the failure known as Lost Rabbit) trying with all their might to sell and flee the state.
I say this not as someone who hates Mississippi, quite the opposite, I would not trade my upbringing and undergrad days @ Ole Miss for anything. As my older sister often tell folks, "We were just raised different from others in our generation." My how things have changed! It would be seen as punishment to be transfered to Mississippi by 99% of professional workers. Most have fled to Nashville or Atlanta. And you know what, when you live in Metro Jackson daily your clueless. Try being away in a well heeled area such as Roswell, GA or Brentwood, TN and visit Madison. You feel sorry for the people living there.
And it is not just Jackson, it's the entire state. Just look at the money spent to woo Nissan & Toyota to Mississippi. In 3 years neither company will operate in Mississippi. What will the state do with those multi BILLION dollar thousand acre complexes? They will rust down. "The Coast" is dead in the water. Laurel is a third world country as this point, Hattiesburg has no economy other than retail and medical and our current President is doing His damn level best to kill that sector of the economy everywhere. Batesville, Oxford, Tupelo are all suburbs of Memphis at this point. And when the economy really corrects to DOW 3,000 the Mississippi Casino's are gone. The State is broke now, what on earth will they do without the Casino money rolling in?
Because of limited vision beginning in 1950, for lack of a better term Mississippi & Alabama are screwed. And no level of development of some silly street in downtown will change that, let's be real. And just how many people outside of Mississippi have used that crazy "Tech Center" that was going to turn Jackson in to the convention capital of the South? And what I like to call "The Roman Walmart" aka Renaissance At Colony Park will be almost empty in 2-3 years. When retailers start closing under performing stores to boost stock prices just where do you think they will start? This is going to get very ugly before it gets better.
My advise, stay far far away from the entire state for 10-15 years. And if it is not a giant welfare state, try it them. I would not go back for gold bars paid daily.
I say this not as someone who hates Mississippi, quite the opposite, I would not trade my upbringing and undergrad days @ Ole Miss for anything. As my older sister often tell folks, "We were just raised different from others in our generation." My how things have changed! It would be seen as punishment to be transfered to Mississippi by 99% of professional workers. Most have fled to Nashville or Atlanta. And you know what, when you live in Metro Jackson daily your clueless. Try being away in a well heeled area such as Roswell, GA or Brentwood, TN and visit Madison. You feel sorry for the people living there.
And it is not just Jackson, it's the entire state. Just look at the money spent to woo Nissan & Toyota to Mississippi. In 3 years neither company will operate in Mississippi. What will the state do with those multi BILLION dollar thousand acre complexes? They will rust down. "The Coast" is dead in the water. Laurel is a third world country as this point, Hattiesburg has no economy other than retail and medical and our current President is doing His damn level best to kill that sector of the economy everywhere. Batesville, Oxford, Tupelo are all suburbs of Memphis at this point. And when the economy really corrects to DOW 3,000 the Mississippi Casino's are gone. The State is broke now, what on earth will they do without the Casino money rolling in?
Because of limited vision beginning in 1950, for lack of a better term Mississippi & Alabama are screwed. And no level of development of some silly street in downtown will change that, let's be real. And just how many people outside of Mississippi have used that crazy "Tech Center" that was going to turn Jackson in to the convention capital of the South? And what I like to call "The Roman Walmart" aka Renaissance At Colony Park will be almost empty in 2-3 years. When retailers start closing under performing stores to boost stock prices just where do you think they will start? This is going to get very ugly before it gets better.
My advise, stay far far away from the entire state for 10-15 years. And if it is not a giant welfare state, try it them. I would not go back for gold bars paid daily.
Bear, I agree with most, not all, of what you said. I disagree with your statement about Alabama being "screwed" because of "lack of vision". I am in Alabama several times a month, and, believe me, they are *light years* ahead of Mississippi. And that with the lowest property taxes in the country. Any of the major Alabama cities (B'ham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile) are more desirable to live in than Jackson. And the state has its high-tech base (Huntsville) plus major developments going on all over. There is just a different mindset over there, and that is helping them forge way ahead of us.
I am not a Mississippi native. I've lived here 10 years and there are certainly a lot of things I like about this state, and I defend it against the ignoramuses who would run it down for no good reason. There is a real problem here, though, and it is widespread APATHY. The attitude of most natives here seems to be to do just enough to get by; I don't think that the pursuit of excellence is important to very many. And that is true across the spectrum of life here, from education to politics to roads to building practices to medical care to the arts. The people I know that have money get away every chance they can; the rest engross themselves in hunting, fishing, eating, watching TV, going to "church", and drinking beer. It's really sad to see, and it DOES get noticed by people on the outside, including industry and well-heeled retirees looking for a place to settle.
As long as most people are satisfied with the status quo, nothing will change.
Last edited by jsherman9901; 07-04-2009 at 01:56 PM..
I have lived in Jackson most of my live, I have lived in Highland park TX, in Dallas, and am in oxford ms right now at ole miss. But I love Jackson and I mean in the city I went to a school that is considered the best in the state and one of the best in the south, Jackson Academy. I lived in a great neighborhood and there were no bars on windows and would walk to friends house at 10 and 11 at night with out a care. And it is the most expensive zip code in the state and yes it is in Jackson. I loved eastover and there was a house that was just sold 2 doors down that went for over 2 mill. and it was not that big. They’re many new larger house going up and smaller ones being torn down.
I don't fish, I don't go to "church" I don't hunt I don't even have a tv I rarely drink beer. I do, however, eat - just like everyone else. I don't care about well heeled retirees or yuppies or even gays. When I lived in LA I lived in the heart of West Hollywood for a time then in a "gay building" in the very boho Silverlake area so it's not like I have a problem with these folks, I guess I just siffer from that apathy you talked about. I don't see any rampant crime in my neighborhood; I see manicured lawns and garden banners and flags and kids playing in their yards and walking the streets without fear of being assaulted.
Every inner city you visit is going to have problem areas, this ain't unique to mississippi or even jackson.
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Dr. Dan Jones
