Thursday, April 19, 2012

Old Capitol Green has not provided financial statements to county

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors discussed the Old Capitol Green project Monday. Blake Wallace, Director of Economic Development, told the supervisors there had been no movement on the project by Hinds County. Developer Full Spectrum is requesting $13 million in assistance from the county.

Mr. Wallace said he asked for financial statements from Full Spectrum "six months ago" and the company still has not submitted them to his office. He said the company provided pro forma statements but no actual financial statements. Supervisor Phil Fisher expressed concern over the delay in providing the statements. Mr. Wallace said there was still no agreement between Jackson and Full Spectrum for Jackson to guarantee the loan. Mr. Wallace also said Full Spectrum had not provided any lease agreements with tenants.

Full Spectrum representative Malcolm Sheppard addressed the board and said he was working on obtaining a $20 million loan from the Mississippi Development Authority. Mr. Sheppard never said anything about providing financial statements to the county but said the "information" had been provided to the JRA and the City of Jackson so it was "nothing new" and he had provided "the same information to Hinds County". However, sources told this correspondent "the information" was not financial statements. Mr. Sheppard said the project was "downsized". The number of residential units are reduced from 184 to 129. The commercial office building has been reduced from 225,000 square feet to 88,000 square feet. The parking garage is changed from 888 stalls to 480 to 525 stalls. Mr. Sheppard said "downsizing the facility" forced them to change the estimate and "the numbers" and that was "what we are working on now".

Start watching clip at 25:00. Mr. Wallace speaks first.


Discussion runs to 8:00 mark.


Opinion: This project isn't going to happen. Seems he is depending on a bunch of government bodies for all the money but somehow can't seem to provide any financial statements. Hmmmm...... Kountry Time anyone? Then there is the fact the dowtown Jackson vacancy rate is going to be 38% after AT&T moves out of the Landmark building. Ever heard of supply and demand? Downtown rents are going to be lower than what the project will probably need to succeed. What I'm hearing is a shell game with a bunch of government bodies and various forms of government funding. Someone doesn't provide financial statements as requested by the lender, something doesn't add up. This is just my opinion, mind you. Don't want to get sued for libel, you know.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Someone needs to really look into this project. It seems that it's all about public financing and loan guarantees from government entities. If it's such a fantastic project, then where are the private investors lining up to sink their wealth into an ever-shrinking office building.

I would say this is Harbor Walk, but it appears that at least there is a pretense of something happening here, unlike Harbor Walk, or Farish Street (ooooh!)

Anonymous said...

All of downtown Jackson April 19, 2012 10:21 AM is a 'Field of Taxpayer Ripoff Schemes'.

The ONLY player who paid their way was the former new building that Speed built.

Anonymous said...

Amen, 6:31.

Farish Street is an empty shell. Despite grandiose promises and assurance of a BB King club by now, they're no closer than this time last year and the city will end up floating loans that will be defaulted.

OCG has always been a sketchy undertaking. Mixed income housing and green buildings in a city where downtown office space is plentiful and housing is affordable and abundant. I always wondered who were the upper income folks who were going to leave Eastover or Bridgewater and move into a downtown development with hundreds of low income neighbors.

Convention center hotel is unnecessary. There is not enough activity at the convention center (another boondoggle) to supply a steady stream of out of town guests.

University Place...don't make me laugh.

Anonymous said...

So this is what? Another imaginary place for hip young urban professionals to live and work? Hey, maybe after work they can head down to Farish Street for drinks at B.B. King's Imaginary Blues Bar.

Imaginary Jackson is awesome!


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.