Jackson Jambalaya

I live in an area close by the parcels under consideration for re-classification---let's see--we (the city of Jackson) are DEAD BROKE--we desperately need business development and associated taxes--THIS property WILL be developed (eventually)--the plan SHUD be to make this a HIGH END development BEFORE we end up w Govt offices --auto dealers--fried chicken joints and convenience stores--

I live in an area close by the parcels under consideration for re-classification ...

So what. That, if true, doesn't render your opinion any more important or weighty.

State law passed in 1944 says the property must be used for park and recreation. Sec. of State has put the City on notice the he will enforce the law. City zoning is no match for State law.Looks like the City is about to spend a couple of hundred dollars in legal fees, lose the ownership this land altogether,and Cosco will be in Flowood as was was always planned.

I thought state law had a play on that land. That area has been discussed for years, but that has always been the major obstacle.

Truthfully, that area has only taken off commercially as a handful of office buildings over the years. It is not a guarantee of success.

Making a decision based on the city being dead broke will result in more of the same. I would move cautiously.

Not so fast, 6:47. What was put into the deed back in 1947 can be taken out by the same process. Yes, King Dilbert will try to claim his royalty rule and stand in the way -e just because he can.

Be fun to stand on the sidelines and watch this one play out.717

snarky @ 6:46----how bout the concept that MOST people that live "close-by" wud be pre-disposed to kill ANY development that cud upset the status quo?

Put the freaking grocery store there as soon as possible and tell all the kooks to quit playing freaking lawyer. It's that simple. There's ten thousand lawyers in Jackson and a hundred thousand more that know one. Please stop. It's common sense. Make this work.

7:19 that was in 1944 and yes a State law can be changed and that has been tried many times before. Sears once wanted to locate on that site. Also a private arena wanted on the site and failed. Quite a bit of Federal grant money that built ball fields, and parks that would have to be repaid as well. Put Cosco on County line road where is belongs.

The short sighted pawns at the city think this is a step in the right direction. If they had any sense they would realize this only furthers the decline of county line road. If they had any real world experience they would pressure walmart to allow costco to take over their site as they are abandoning the city of Jackson. Then offer costco a deal they can't refuse to locate in an area needing growth. Instead, they will lose to the state as no one in the legislature will help and costco will go to Flowood. County Line will continue to decline and the city will blame everyone but themselves.

County line road ain't in the mix. Get over it.

Costco approached Jackson for that site from what i understand. Not the other way around.

Problem is if they need to get legislative approval, you can just bet the Governor and his cronies will do everything to kill said legislation.

Kingfish, do you think Costco would want a site without a clean title?

8:03, I think think the only federal money that is involved in this site (although I might be wrong) - was an EDA grant to repave the parking lot in 1990 +/- while Wood Brown was President of Board of Supervisors in Hinds County. Some $750K of EDA dollars was approved after Brown made the pitch for this project on behalf of the project. Any time frame requirement for repaying any of that grant for use other than was originally requested has passed.

EDA grant was made to repave parking lot to keep minor league team at Smith Wills. And it led to the location of the MS Sports Hall of Fame.

Any reversion terms of that grant has expired. Trust me on this one - I signed the grant.

'Trust Me'.....Pete Perry sez. So you 'signed' a damned grant. Harvey Johnson's only work experience (not counting running the city employment office) is as a grant writer and signer of grants. Big F Deal.

And THIS is bullshit too: "What was put into the deed back in 1947 can be taken out by the same process".

1. The site is a landfill. Ask anyone over the age of 65 that has lived here all there life.
2. Delbert will splash that shit like nobody's business.
3. It's on a landfill.
4. The east over bunch is not going to go for it.
5 Oh yeah, it's on a landfill...
6. Jacktown will screw it up...

I rest my case.

Pete, there is sign on lakeland drive that says that a Federal agency help pay for part of the on the Riverside area improvements that is includes the rezoning request.

But if we get rid of Smith Wills, where will Jackson's minor league baseball team play?

Kingfish,

Why do you think the Governor and his cronies will kill the legislation (just curious)? I would think that as public servants they would do whatever necessary to benefit the public.

I think the city should be careful how it uses the land under consideration. As it stands, the stadium may see less use than would be ideal, but at the same time, the area contributes to Jackson's culture, for coupled with the agricultural museum and the park beside the stadium, the area's resources are useful for events such as WellsFest and CelticFest. A Costco or similar development could cause traffic issues that would complicate both events at the agricultural museum as well as hospital commuters' route to work. I'm unsure whether sacrificing this special use area for development is the city's best option for growth.

8:19 - They play at Trustmark Park!

8:31, the best public benefit is for the property to be a park for all to use.The best place for a Costco is in an area already planned and zoned for commercial development. As far as the Governor is concerned,Costco is locating in Mississippi and the metro area any way. Why give up a park and promote one site over another.

The city has land zoned for commercial development. If it gives up its park lands for Costco, it loses park lands not easily regained. Furthermore, there's no guarantee Costco would even stay. After all, if Sam's Club left, why wouldn't Costco one day leave? It is true that park lands may deteriorate over time and at that point, development might be a great option. Until then though, the city needs to be careful how it utilizes that land. It could regret losing it later.

Trust Perry? You want people to trust your pimpin' ass?

A park that is rarely used, please!! Yall acting like tree hugging development haters. This will put the land on the tax rolls for the city of Jackson which everyone in here agrees is much needed, everybody talks about SAMS leaving but fail to mention Whole Foods coming so I see the bias. I guess some of you stay in flowood, but the point is Costco is looking for a central location, if Flowood is so much better why didn't Costco Just choose them first and just come out and say, hey this is where we are going like other developments.

Hopefully the City will come to its senses and build a few Methodist Baptist churches here. Also, a stewpot or something of the sort is needed here. It's not right for people to have to go all the way downtown or to the West Side for a free meal. I trust Yarber will do what is right for the entire population of Jackson.

Who is says that the Flowood site has not be selected after it now known that the City does own the land and can not just give it away.Costco was being sold or given the Brooklyn Bridge by Jackson.Costco was being feed a lot of bull by Jackson or its agents.

agree 10:15---it's like ur drowning and sumbody throws u a lifeline and u say " NO-NO-NO---that's not the RIGHT COLOR life line---u can't pull me in w THAT color!!!! Dumb Ass Crackers will do ANYTHING to preserve status quo!!

I live in Jackson, am not a tree-hugger and want development, including Costco, to come. At the same time, the city has resources in and around Smith-Wills stadium that are, in fact, frequently used. CelticFest, WellsFest, the Rhythm and Blues Festival, Belhaven's baseball team, numerous children's teams, and the 2014 City of Jackson July 4th fireworks are included in those numbers. A Costco on the public lands at Smith-Wills interferes (for traffic reasons among others) with all of those events and could cause traffic problems in the area for drivers on Lakeland. Simply put, the city simply needs to ensure the land is used wisely. I don't know how best to use it, but I'm concerned that a Costco, which is a commercial establishment rather exclusive in nature, may not be the best choice even if the land is developed. Why should the city's population trade public lands that all can use for a store that could be temporary and requires membership? Perhaps a Costco is best, but caution is needed.

"Hopefully the City will come to its senses and build a few Methodist Baptist churches here. Also, a stewpot or something of the sort is needed here. It's not right for people to have to go all the way downtown or to the West Side for a free meal. I trust Yarber will do what is right for the entire population of Jackson. "

Don't forget a few methadone clinics and a needle-exchange place. Forget the First amendment - the city building churches is a great idea!

I just played your radio program about the Lakeland rezoning. First a public notice requires that there is a free flow on information on the proposed changes. As noted on your program, the city would not give out any information and required that an open record request must be filed. That alone is not legal. Play by rules.

10:47
Not necessary for you to state that you don't know how best to use the land. All the examples you gave highlight the reasons NOT to give in to some developer. Since the new development at the old Blind/Deaf School is under construction, every developer around thinks they can glom off that and strike it rich. That part of the city is one of the FEW nice places left, but as usual, some people think the best way to grow Jackson is to destroy Jackson. Jim Buck knew what he was doing when he had the foresight to build what he did. Also, wouldn't surprise me if Ben Allen was behind this. After all, he tried as hard as he could to sell that property to a man that any idiot could see was crooked. Or have we all forgotten that?

The Sec. of State is the only adult in the room. Law is clear; use for park or it returns to State. He has given proper notice of what that means. This is over.

Ben Allen agrees with the Secretary of State. I have heard it, his lips to my ears.

Why not put Costco in the new Development right off 1-55 in between Meadowbrook and Lakeland? Great Visibility.

Why not put Costco in the soon-to-be vacated Sam's on County Line Road? It's been years since I was in a Costco but it seems to me very little remodeling would need to be done to convert a Sam's to a Costco.

Note sure, but my guess is they don't want to go to County line. But the District at Eastover seems like a great location.

Its not a case of "putting Costco" somewhere. Costco will put itself where it wants to go; its not going to be 'put'. Obviously Costco wanted to be on the Lakeland corridor - because of the traffic and the access. I'm sure the developers of The District or properties on County Line would love to have a Costco. But Costco doesn't want them.

2:28 - you're the dumba$$. Harvey was 'writing grant applications' which he may have signed. Perry was signing the grant documents and writing the checks. (I think what is involved with this site was a grant to rebuild and repave the parking lot with EDA dollars.)

Hate Perry all you want, but there's a big damn difference between your interpretation of 'signing a grant' if you compare him to Harvey

Harvey got elected many times. Pete Perry's claim to fame is disrepute. You are right, a big damn difference.