Jackson Jambalaya

Even more interesting would be if other restaurants got together and begin banning Mark and Anita from their places. Those folks can be a pretty tight-nit community.

It sounds like to me that what these two homeowners don't like is the crowds generated from the events. The restaurant patrons park in that empty parking lot next door. Do these people not realize that if Peter Sharp is forced to close the restaurant, he is going to be forced to have even more larger scale events to generate more revenue? Whoever these neighbors are, they do NOT have the best interest of the neighborhood or the city of Jackson in mind!!

What would be funny would be if one of the homeowners moved in the next couple of years.

Also it would be funny if this decision is used against Butler Snow in Ridgeland.

Yeah that whole "spot zoning" thing can be a bitch. A good lesson in be careful what you wish for.

For the life of me I don't know what these knuckleheads were thinking. If it is about home value, they just screwed up and did the exact opposite of what they should do to preserve value.

The Sharps have done so much for the community. Who are Mark and Anita Modak-Truran and Daniel and Katherine Baker? The Sharps have invested a lot in Belhaven as well as Jackson. Sophia's is hardly generating a bar crowd. Half of Jackson has dinner parties bigger than the crowds generated by the restaurant. I think these attorneys just did this to prove a point. I mean, after all, they live on the corner of North State Street. If they are looking for peace and tranquility, move to the country!

Saturday.... I remember a few years ago, the King of Spain stayed at the Fairview, when the Spanish Exhibit was in JXN.
****
Many of U remember Bill Simmons who died in November 2007, He (and Carol) are the ones who worked so very hard to build the tremendous addition, that is on the N. side of the facility.

Anita does "movie reviews" on Ch 16

Its a shame they Sharps are not Sharpianos. The lawsuit would've never been filed because those two houses would've been burned down if they had while the Sharpianos were overseas on a family vacation.

I guess they won't like the fact that the Spa can serve local people outside the hotel too.

How can you tell a local that the Fairview can only serve the Guests of the hotel for lunch.

This is rediculous.

I hope that Sophia's has more "events". I bet that could come up with a new "special event" every day now. I for one would love to come to them more now that this has happened. The Fairview is an asset to this community. I for one will keep the names of these people who have done this fresh on my mind. I will not do business with them and will encourage everyone I know not to.

What if they bought the office building on the corner? Could the two properties be combined? They could take the office building and turn it into a high end conference center with a dozen upscale rooms. Just throwing out ideas because it is hard to imagine that the Supremes are going to reverse a 6-3 decision.

Went to the Belhaven Lights street party last night and had a delightful time. What a great evening! But that's what worries me - it was too good. I'm sure those two are scheming today how to get that shut down.

What are their law firm(s)?

Butler snow. She is an attention hog.

Looks like we should boycott WAPT where she is a movie Critic

Goodness, I would think reviewing movies would be beneath the lifted noses of Butler Snow. And what on earth makes her qualified for that post?

There is a small but vocal group of Belhaven residents whose main purpose in life is, it seems, to complain about anything that might bring "outsiders" into their midsts. These are the residents who actively fought the addition of a First Pres portico and complain endlessly about the school. They actively fought the plan to make the Welty House an active museum with actual VISITORS. They also are known to leave very ugly notes on the street-parked cars of night students at Belhaven College.

Of course, all of those things add to the legendary "charm" of the neighborhood. I don't know what they think would happen to their precious homes if those institutions all of a sudden disappeared.

Don't forget that regular congressional candidate Jimmy Giles has received a great deal of voter support in Belhaven.

wapt SHOULD " CAN " her!

This is unbelievable. A Butler Snow Attorney getting involved in a suit like this with the "Butler building" facing a haircut if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the local homeowners. With little case law on this issue, she certainly threw the other side a bone.

That’s nothing - I heard they intentionally harm small animals on a regular basis....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R31s35u8ywM

If I may briefly interrupt your festival of anonymity, I may be able to clear up a few misconceptions. I am the diabolical Katherine Baker, one fourth of the Fairview Quartet of Evil - but you can call me Kathy.

First, the Bakers and the Modak-Trurans did not sue anyone. We appealed a 2004 City Council decision to monkey illegally with the zoning ordinance to create an exception from the law based upon the political clout of Mr. Simmons. We have never opposed the bed and breakfast inn operating within the bounds of its use permit. We are thrilled that the Sharps own the property (you have no idea). Ironically, the inn probably would not have been sold had the Simmons been able to realize their goals for the property. The Sharps are astute business people who purchased the property being fully advised about the pending appeal.

In 2003 we had the gall to tell the Simmons that their plans for a full scale restaurant were unacceptable. When the BIA did not endorse the Simmons’ plans for reservation only dining, things turned ugly. Mr. Simmons proclaimed he would establish a grass roots movement, which with all his experience with the Sovereignty Commission and the Citizens’ Council made perfect sense. Of course this grass roots movement consisted of providing lovely meals to many, many neighbors, and casting the noncompliant neighbors as malcontents.

Though the Planning Board issued a negative recommendation (the end of the road for ordinary folk), on unsupported assertions that the inn would shut down without a restaurant, the City Council approved the amendments. Astoundingly, the subsequent sales brochure for the inn touted 2004 revenues in excess of 1M with good net revenues. Incidentally, in 1993 the same threat was used to obtain the use permit. One wonders if the BIA felt just a little bit duped when the amended ordinance did not include the promised revisions. Being aggrieved, we appealed the decision all the way to the state Supreme Court, who agreed with us.

Though Bill’s “grass roots” feeding-o-the neighbors did generate much enthusiasm, the problem is that grass roots political causes are, well, political. The law is abundantly clear that zoning must not be political, but instead must be a valid exercise of police power (that nutty constitution). As to that medical office building, it’s zoning would not permit a restaurant either. As an interesting aside, I recall a letter in the zoning file from the lady who lived on that lot. She recounted how our great preservationist, Bill Simmons, advised her to sell her home to the Baptist Hospital.
One final note regarding the hilarious knowledge of our evil deeds that the anonymous possess: we do not scream at people (immediate family excepted); nor do we run like Wee Willie Winkie down to Belhaven college at night posting nasty notes on cars; we dearly love First Pres., and have had children at the Day School for the last 11 years; we are unaware of controversy regarding the church’s portico, the Welty museum, etc., and we have no desire to assail the Bright Lights festival. The Modak-Trurans and the Bakers could not be more different from one another and yet we have enjoyed more than a decade as neighbors and friends- so much for the intolerance anecdotes. I guess the laundry, car pool, homework, birthday parties and writing Supreme Court briefs while simultaneously making PB&J’s doesn’t leave much time for silly outlandish gossip. And I’m the one out of the dastardly four with the most free time. But alas, I see my butler has arrived with tea and crumpets -

Oh, and in case you are interested, I noticed this in the far right column, perhaps some might wish to avail themselves -

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.

Lady, get off your high-horse. I never smeared anyone with my post. I merely gave people a better idea of the property involved by posting an aerial photo and I do think you guys are being short-sighted as when that property goes out of business, I seriously doubt it will be sold rather quickly. What exactly is going to happen to your property values when it sits vacant for awhile?

If you didn't sue but only "appealed" a zoning decision, how exactly did it wind up before the state supreme court? It was my understanding the Court only heard lawsuits and disciplinary actions filed by the bar and commission.

10:47 being serious? Sure want to think not.

f I may briefly interrupt your festival of anonymity, I may be able to clear up a few misconceptions. I am the diabolical Katherine Baker, one fourth of the Fairview Quartet of Evil - but you can call me Kathy.

But how do we know you are Kathy Baker? You've posted anonymously. For all we know you could be Donna Ladd.

Kathy,

I live in Bellhaven and love the resturant and Inn. I hope that it does not go out of business as my family have stayed there when they come to town and I enjoy the resturant. I wish YOU would move. You should have left this alone.

I posted the first response to this a few days ago and don't know why it got deleted. I suggested the owners move to the vacant space next to Bonefish in Madison, across the pond from the Hilton. I suspect they would do very well there as the locals there appreciate the superb food that has been available at Sophia's. As for how long the Fairview building would remain empty after they move: that's Belhaven's problem. Let them worry about diminishing their property values.

I guess I don't know about the article - I don't regularly keep up with her paper, being more conservative than most of her readership, but I certainly respect her work. I simply saw the workshop announcement in the right hand column of this site. Since my IT peeps have gone back to school, I will just sign below like the techno dinosaur that I am.

Kathy

workshop announcement?

You don't get humor much, do you?

Well, I will confess that it was late and that I am not familiar with this site, so I took it at face value - isn't she always doing workshops? whoops! Like I said, I don't really follow the JFP or blog, as one can readily tell. That must have been confusing, but I'm the most disappointed that my squirrel, groundhog, whatever link didn't activate - bummer.