The city of Madison issued the following statement and renderings.
After decades of planning, Madison will see the building of its long-awaited town square, bringing new life to downtown.
“For years, Madison has worked toward creating our town square that will be the heartbeat of our city. Now, it’s our time to create a beautiful, walkable downtown along Main Street that all our residents can enjoy with shops, restaurants and an entertainment center,” Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler said.
“This will be Madison’s crown jewel.”
The city is partnering with Greenstone Properties of Atlanta, Georgia, for “Madison at Main,” a history-making development. The 17-acres of land are located in the heart of the city at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 51, extending south to Madison Avenue. The historic Madison-Ridgeland High School that now houses the city’s arts center, and the old gymnasium, both of which are designated historic landmarks, will be preserved in new ways.
Madison at Main will offer a unique mixed-use site showcasing high-end condominiums and townhomes with the most sought-after retail establishments throughout the nation. Madison at Main will also feature a boutique hotel and a specialty food market alongside considerable office space. To accommodate residents and visitors to the development, Madison will get its first parking garage, a multi-level facility.
“We want to make the special quality of life Madison offers to be even more exceptional,” Mayor Butler said. “In addition to new shopping and dining options, we’ll also be providing some unique and exciting entertainment venues.”
The gymnasium of the old school, which now can hold 360 spectators, will be transformed into a 1,000 seat performing arts theatre that will showcase local, regional and national touring artists and productions. The historic Madison-Ridgeland High School building will become Madison’s new City Hall during the project’s first phase in the 2020-2021 timeline.
The buildings that housed the former Madison Station Elementary on the site will soon be razed to clear the way for the new development.
Mayor Butler said the design of the new development will honor Madison’s carefully thought-out architectural standards and guidelines. For more than 40 years, the city has set its sights on developing its town square to show the thriving economic opportunities available in this once small farming community, she said.
“We knew we had to do this the right way, the Madison way,” Mayor Butler said.
Finding the Greenstone team to develop Madison at Main ensures that the city will continue that sense of place and tradition that residents appreciate in their hometown, she said.
“We want Madison at Main to complement the city’s award-winning tradition. Our goal is for our neighbors in Madison to approve of what we’re doing and be excited to enjoy the tasteful enhancements,” said Chris Schoen, the managing principal of Greenstone Properties.
Greenstone develops and operates what it refers to as “exceptional places that inspire people.” Its website describes its core value as “listening to the client’s needs” and then executing to exceed expectations. The City of Madison and its Madison Square Redevelopment Authority, through the RFP process, selected the Greenstone team based on their extensive experience and success with similar projects and its expressed ability to meet the city’s high standards for the Madison at Main project. Wakefield Beasley and Associates of Alpharetta, Ga., is the renowned architectural design firm who completed the initial master plan and will be the lead architect for the project working alongside Greenstone.
Mayor Butler said Madison residents can expect more exciting news as Madison at Main progresses in 2020.
Kingfish note: The total investment will be over $120 million. Madison is working on a TIF package for the project.
Couldn't resist including this video. ;-)
67 comments:
Lee Hawkins gets to be the real estate agent. Win win
This sounds absolutely faptastic!
Let the countdown begin ! Food trucks, trendy restaurants and lots of places for people to drink foo foo cocktails while denigrating the boomers.
Sell that TIF and get them bonds and hell yeah wht don't they throw in some EB-5 China money for the win!
HOA, no thanks.
Wait a damn minute! The City of Madison owns the land and they are doing TIF too? I call B.S. on that. The City doesn't need to pay had money for these people to develop City land. It needs to be the other way around. The mayor it too eager to get this done before she dies of old age.
Jackson haters because your city has gone to hell. Eat your heart out. Drug dealers have killed your city.
So glad I moved to Madison! Suck it Rankin/Hinds!!
God bless Mayor Mary.
Hope there is a realistic traffic plan, because it is a nightmare as it sits with nothing there.
Hinds and Rankin Counties, EAT OUR DUST!
This is a Mayor that places safety and community first. The developers can come when they bring the projects that are appropriate for Madison
Well done Mayor Mary.
Madison is the best thing since band camp!
This is proof Harbor Walk might complete phase one.
Watch out Mary, Ridgeland is on the move !
Costco is almost here !
And Ridgeland is even repaving bicycle trails around the Trace.
Man, some folks would bitch if you hung them with a brand new Goop-endorsed, Kardashian-West-designed rope instead of being forever grateful that a development firm from Atlanta took pity upon them and selflessly offered to build them a whole new...history-making heart of the city offering that special quality of Madison life...
Oh, as an aside, I think a place that sells "street tacos" consisting of ground beef, processed cheese and organic cilantro for 5.95 each ought to do very well here.
Will there be a view of Kenny's house?
Madison wouldn't be what it is without Hawkins, so kudos to her for finally getting her downtown.
It’ seems nice but soooo far away from Reunion, Livingston, Lake Caroline, etc. Its a total night mare to get from Madison city central out to neighborhoods off 463 and beyond. Who is going to patronize this place? Ridgeland folks and just as likely to draw folks from Jackson as from the BFE areas of Madison.
“We knew we had to do this the right way, the Madison way,” Mayor Butler said
What a pompous ass. This quote is exactly why I won't set foot in that gaudy monstrosity or the rest of the White Witch's kingdom (except to go to Hamils)
Mary is only paying $20,000,000 for this?
Maybe we can get a Pier 1 and Toys r Us and a shoe store. Lots of shoe stores.
This looks similar to the Waterton development under construction in Flowood.
Boys and girls, this is what real economic development looks like.
She failed to use local restaurants or businesses.
What a complete sell out.
She goes to Atlanta to get this done? We too dumb here?
How divisive and arrogant.
What this flop
"Madison wouldn't be what it is without Hawkins, so kudos to her for finally getting her downtown."
Um, is this snark followed by sarcasm or ?
"Boys and girls, this is what real economic development looks like."
Assuming this isn't more snark and sarcasm, let me add some: Especially for Atlanta/Alpharetta developers...
Oddly, Alpharetta was a white-flight suburb, too. On the other hand, it actually is a wealthy, forward-thinking place that has "brain gain" rather than "drain," with large national corporations shoving each other out of the way to open offices there.
Haha, economic development. ok, this will have as much of a feel of a "downtown" as that nice looking strip of retail stores in Ridgeland along their busiest corridor. I mean, they look great, but in no way is it a "down town". This is a gloried strip mall. 17 acres?
High-end condos and highly sought after retail. So, another version of Renassaince, Colony Park, Township type of thing. That's nice, but asking taxpayers to support a TIF for another retail development? Oh well, at least people in Canton and Gluckstadt won't have to drive all the way to Ridgeland for "high-end" Mexican food and Pizza.
So, where will the workforce come from that is willing to work for minimum wage in a community of million-dollar condos? And who wants to buy a million-dollar condo in a strip mall?
And, drum roll, when the condos don't sell, will they go rental? Sometimes "high-end condos" is code speak for apartments.
What you see in that drawing you will never see in real life. Mark my words.
What if I told you that a train comes to rest with graffiti spray painted right beside this development, beautiful isn’t it?
I don't want to come off as being critical; however.
1) For thirty years I have hoped what used to be the Madison-Ridgeland football field, virtually in the middle of town, would forever be dedicated to children...something on the order of a play area appropriate for various ages. Not a lake or soccer fields or baseball diamonds, but at least something that signifies our quality of life for the thousands of children who have, do or will live here in Madison. I hate to see shops, a brick walking trail, modern sculptures, benches or things for old people (that includes me).
2) Madison traffic, as many know, is a nightmare. And that's not only at the start and end of the normal work day. Nothing can be done to improve traffic flow on Main, 51, Old Canton, Hoy and other major arteries. But, it seems to me that putting a lot more buildings in the center of town that will draw a thousand more vehicles will only increase the problem.
3) A multi-level parking garage? Again, not to be hyper-critical, but will there be a heli-port, observation deck and executive suite as the cherries atop this Sunday?
Meanwhile, people are sitting in their 4000 sq ft homes in venues surrounding Madison, congratulating the mayor, and thinking they want another Renaissance, with Thalia Mara Hall, right in the middle of town.
What, no Steak & Shake? This will flop. We know the true indicator of economic growth is fast food joints.
What are the city's minimum minority participation/equal business opportunity requirements for the construction going to be? Hearing that some folks in Jackson that might want to move to Madison as the Bold New City market has dried up and they can bring their pass-thru scheme.
I don’t believe $120 million will go far in a development such as this. Just the parking garage alone will eat a huge chunk of it. Nice development though. The contractor / owner of the Township has done well.....doesn’t pay his subs in a timely fashion, but he did a great job as far as I can see. Let’s hope the good mayor uses local contractors and keeps the money here in the state.
Pretty renderings, and sounds pleasant enough on paper, and I wish the venture success. But all the showy stuff up that way—all the faux Renaissance fountains, pseudo-stone columns of all orders, acres of McMansions where formerly grazed peaceful bovine herds...it all just seems like something on another planet to me, when necessity forces me to visit (usually, just to see a movie). The apocalyptic, nightmarish traffic alone makes me deeply thankful to escape back to my quiet Fondren neighborhood.
I can certainly understand Madison residents’ yearning for a walkable community. Just yesterday, as the weather was crisp and springlike, I took my little folding grocery cart to McDade’s, shopped, and left it parked by the manager’s office while I ran up Duling to pick up an art supply at Beacon, a cookie at Campbell’s, and a paint sample at Seabrook. Wending my way back homeward, I took the long way through the lovely Woodland Hills streets (wishing I didn’t have the now-loaded cart to push, but the day was just too nice to rush home). I passed four truly grand older houses for sale, and could not help wishing that some of these monied Bridgewater fanatics would move back “in,”
Want a “walkable lifestyle”? Right here in 39216! (Now, that is the cue for the tiresome Greek chorus to begin keening about crime, potholes, execrable public schools, und so weiter.)
Mother Mary is finally getting her Downtown Disney. I wonder if this will cure her envy of the Canton Square?
At least this will take some of the auto and commercial burglaries off of Ridgeland's plate.
This is by far the funniest commentary in the state.......
Kingfish should charge for this !!!
And call it shit and giggles.....
@8:25 ZuZu
You forgot to mention the Baghdad-esque
daily small arms fire.
This is emblematic of how Madison is a necessary evil.
Necessary because Jackson sucks and is way beyond hope, obviously.
"Evil" because ... this is the best we can do? Other cities actually revitalize downtowns into interesting, thriving areas with real history. Not just the Nashvilles, but the Columbus, GA's, etc.
But our "urban" areas are a bunch of glorified strip malls/office parks along a corridor up Highland Colony Road, now apparently turning right into Madison.
You can mock it as SoDoSoPa, but honestly, it's not even that good.
Looks just like the mall off I-10 at Spanish Fort. Kudos!!!
Can't wait for the press release of a new Whole Foods located in Madison At Main in Madison:The City.
Maybe we will get lucky and get a Trader Joe's. Now that would be a Coup!
"If you build it, they will come." Ask West Jackson in the 1960s, Metrocenter in the 1980s and NEJxn/Countyline in 1990s how that worked out.
Guess we should start buying land near Vaughan/Pickens as fast as the flight population is marching north.
@8:21 P.M.
No, voters, mainly white liberals who cannot differentiate between national politics and local politics, have killed our City.
As soon as St D’s or Baptist builds a hospital there, it will be final lights out for J-town.
Wow! This is a great project and very is doable. Piece by piece. Can't wait to see the projected phases. Great Work, City of Madison. BWC
Proud Madisonite. Hinds and Rankin suck and deserve they’re lower tier status.
I have been waiting for some uninformed jackass to make a racial comment about Mary and Madison. Madison has a giant population of black and oriental residents. Half of the homes in my neighborhood are black owned. We have some of the most beautiful black churches right here. Our town is a far cry from Jackson in appearance and cleansing atmosphere. No one here would think of putting a derelict car on blocks at their house. No one would think of throwing trash on the street. So take your racial comments and shove them up your ass.
Mary should have visited Connecticut instead of Texas.
Instead of enhancing the village charm of Madison, she's chosen to go shopping center tacky.
"You can mock it as SoDoSoPa, but honestly, it's not even that good."
Maybe then it could be renamed the SheTpa Town Center...and Mr. Kim open a City Wok...
Boys and Girls there isn't enough money in Missippi to support this. Hell they still building houses in Deerfield
Wow. This seems to be a new level of negativity reflected on the City of Madison -- just for being successful and moving forward. The idle convention center, the struggling zoo, the infrastructure decay, the crime, and the corruption, are all reasons why the City of Jackson cannot mimic this. Fondren is the last glimmer of hope, and it's constantly on the brink of collapse. Sour grapes?
I don’t get it. I must live in the bad part of Madison.
Mary realizes her legacy isn’t a good one. Look at the development in Ridgeland and see how it stops at the Madison city limits. If she weren’t such a sign nazi, Madison could have grown faster and better than it has.
9:48, calling them Orientals is racist. Surely you know that.
This is like when Mayor Mary started telling everybody that Madison is now a college town because Tulane opened a branch in a storefront. This will make Madison as walkable as crossing the street of the Atlanta loop.
"Successful?????" Bwhahaahaha. Yeah, it's not just another pathetic Disney style fake brick, fake old, fake Southern downtown from an out of town "firm." Oh, wait, it is.
But, yeah, bub, it's "upscale," "impressive" and "high profile." Yeah, Richer Hicks Syndrome strikes again, and it's just Disney for the Desperate Imagineering.
A cry of desperate faded Southern commoners dying to be princesses, when they are still just frogs in the Southern swamps of Bricktown or Northeast Jerkson.
Sad. Desperate. Fake. Again.
Wonder which 3rd Gen "design" family had to get this done to save face in Atlanta or Birmingham?
Wonder what happened to Bayer Properties out of Birmingham (the last development "partner" for this main street dream)? They're no slouches in any sense of the word (they developed the Summit on I-459 in Homewood), so did they get completely fed up with Mary's shenanigans and abandon ship or did they realize that Madison's not all it's financially cracked up to be? This isn't the first development announced for this site, so I'm wondering what's been going on behind the scenes?
The Chinese secured loans from state owned banks to build empty ghost cities full of skyscrapers and sports stadiums in the worthless Gobi desert.
The Chinese did this in an effort to show growth on paper. Those ghost cities are now falling apart after a decade of disuse. I've seen it with my own eyes. It is absolutely surreal.
This Madison on Main project will be used and lived in. The haters don't have to visit. Unless you are a resident of the city then the spending shouldn't bother you.
Ain't going there. (but in old-town madison) Just drive down St. Augustine east from 51... many houses, some of which were actually quite cute and accurate with 'architectural-period-themed' wrought iron columns have now been decimated by putting square cedar-post under their porches... RUINED THE LOOK OF HOUSES. Even round columns replaced... They look like the "donut" spare tires on cars... waiting till "I-can-afford-to-fix-it right"... Where in Hades did they come up with such a generic-dumb-a$$ idea? Do people think this is a new-revival theme or something?
9:04 pm I agree.
It's inexplicable how people who travel to Europe to admire the quaint villages and historic sites, don't understand that to see those things, the inhabitants had to care about their history and preserve the best of it.
Even more mystifying is the lack of understanding that some things being destroyed cannot ever be reproduced. Just some of the wood like American walnut and chestnut and white oak is either being painted over or thrown away. Hand crafted and solid isn't replaced by "engineered".
Some things are worth spending more money to keep. We seem to have forgotten " value" in favor of cheap and fast.
HAHAHA! It's easy to knock a building down to signify progress, but between the inevitable economic downturn and Queen Mary's worst instincts, I doubt anything new gets built on this property before 2024. And even then, it will be far smaller and have very little resemblance to the pretty pictures.
I think it all looks great. The comments on traffic are laughable though; we have no idea how great we have it. Just back from the ATL; traffic on our worst day is better than the suburbs of most cities (ATL, B'Ham, Memphis, etc). Kudos.
There's a certain DERANGED Modernist architect, from a Northern city full of drab buildings, and people whose comical accent is parodied, worldwide. He's designed some of the ugly new Pseudomodernist crap in Jackson ('Pseudo', because it's flimsy wood-frame & plywood, faced with synthetic stucco - a modern LOOK, minus authentic Modern/Machine materials). In other words, his own Ersatz Modern work is even more "fake" than the Traditionalist "fake" things in Madison and Ridgeland, which offend him so deeply.
His website is a long, hysterical screed, full of ideology - MARXIST ideology. He especially hates Madison, and has written quite a few demonstrably false things about what's been going on there.
I recognize his style (particularly his habit of injecting certain deviations from FACT), and suspect that at least two of the above posts are by this bitter and disturbed individual.
@4:17
Take your meds.
Someone mentioned coming to Madison only to see a movie. Speaking of which, I noticed yesterday, approaching the Madison upramp on 55, the name Malco Grandview has been removed from the building and has been replaced by another short name. Does this spell the end for Lash Larue and The Cisco Kid. What will become of the dress code that's been in effect since doors opened at this place?
And, no, the word Oriental is not racist.
Will there be apartments?
6:19, "another short name" = IMAX. Give it a Google, dear. Still Malco Grandview.
You know what every pretentious suburb really needs? A life-sized chess board. It really is the pinnacle of cultural superiority.
It’s getting close to 40 years Mary has been mayor.
She has done a wonderful job for the residents
of Madison. To think when she was first elected,
the ECOL convenient store at I-55 was the biggest
source of sales tax for the city. Madison is now a
thriving city. Let’s hope she can keep the
minimum square footage on houses up so first time
homebuyers buying a 1,500 square foot for
$225,000.00 don’t ruin the area. Please continue
to keep apartments out. We have no apartments.
Can any other city say that around here.
Also let’s continue to restrict rental houses as much as
we can. You know what that brings in. I’m so proud
of Madison. We hope no one tells
Benny Thompson, he might tell Rev. Jackson
how we have made Madison such a success
and get that bunch down here.
Let’s keep it our little secret and Madison will
continue to be better than all the other cities
in the metro area.
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