Jackson Jambalaya

Yes they are finally doing some work. Too bad the old Marriott has turned into a huge eyesore.

not to be confused with the "hotel" getting new escalators because hasn't it been closed for years?

Is it still a Marriot or did someone take over the hotel? Those escalators have been sitting there for at least a month. Last month when my wife and I went to Trustmark's cafeteria I saw those sitting there. Didn't know what they were.

Why spend good money on intercity blight? Ask your self how many visits you have made downtown over the last few years. Several years ago, I went to a scheduled wedding in downtown Jackson. As might be expected, it was a weekend and the whole down town including the church were without electricity.

I will say, the man who bought up lots of the decent building left in downtown Jackson does appear to be investing some money. There have been workers all over, one step at a time. parking garages, painting, carpet, security. I think that there has been a broken window in the One Jackson Place building for almost 16 months. That is still waiting on the previous owner to handle.

Years ago I went to a meeting in downtown Houston, TX, and was amazed to find it essentially deserted. I haven't been back, but I assume things have improved for the business community. I'm optimistic that the same cycle will happen here as has happened in most US cities. Will I see it in my lifetime? For Jackson, it may take a lot more time than I have left, but there will be Black and white people (and Asian and Spanish, etc.) who have the guts and imagination to get to the tipping point and past. Meanwhile, it sure is good to have the Capitol Police.

Jackson is one big eye sore

Curious. Did they ever get the escalator working at the Jackson International Airport?

I haven't been in that building in 20+ years. i don't work downtown anymore, and never had a reason to go when I did.

@2:32

there is absolutely nothing deserted about downtown Houston Texas lol good lord how long ago was this meeting you speak of? 1948?

@2.32 PM: You must have visited Houston a LONG time ago. Downtown Houston has been doing quite well for over about two decades. A big momentum shift was moving the Rockets and the Astros downtown. Just in the last 10 years, almost 4 million of new office space has been built in downtown Houston.

Bear in mind that Houston has something Jackson is sorely lacking: a good economy. Revitalization of a central city core only comes when the economy and population are growing enough to demand it. Houston suffered the blight flight from the downtown area in the late-80s and 90s, but the economy and population grew right through it, and eventually people got tired of commuting from further and further out. Downtown and the areas immediately around it rebounded and now have strong commercial, retail, entertainment and residential momentum.

Jackson is still in the flight phase and, sadly, may never get beyond it. People can live in Rankin and Madison counties and still fairly easily get to downtown (what's left of it) or the medical center area(s). Of course, a lot of commercial activity has moved out into those counties, so many people don't even have to commute very far any more - live/work/play all in your cozy, insular suburb. Don't look at Houston as an analog to Jackson. Look at Memphis, St. Louis, Louisville, KY, Toledo.

Jackson's trajectory is down, not up. There is exponentially more money to be lost than made.

2:32 Downtown Houston is essentially deserted as most of the corporate offices have moved to suburban office parks. Sadly everyone hates each other and most people really are disgusting and crime is rampant everywhere so we don’t get to have nice and bustling downtowns in America.

When it was still Deposit Guaranty Plaza, I worked in the building in the early 90s. Our floor had a great view of the rooftop pool of the hotel, where flight attendants often stayed on trip layovers and enjoyed the sun on the pool deck, much to the delight of a bunch of recent male college grads in our office.

An equally insular comment.

3:23 yes and lots of new flooring making it a decent airport - easy to fly in and out of. It may not be real “nice” but it sure is convenient.

Houston has an "area" like most cities (sans Jxn)that is safe and nice to walk around. That is about it. The rest is a gut(like Jxn).

I had my wedding reception in that Marriott ballroom. I always though it was a lovely hotel inside. Obviously I haven't been there in a long time.

"Jackson is terrible, don't go there. Someone ought to fix it up."

"Jackson is terrible, why are they fixing it up? No one goes there."

Y'all are insufferable.