Thalia Mara Hall to open on January 18 as scheduled!
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba held his regular briefing this afternoon. The presser as well as observations are posted below.
* Thanked Shower Power for its help with cold weather shelters during the current cold snap. The Mayor asked for donations of coffee, creamer, bananas, firewood bundles, oranges, and snacks if the shelter has to open due to cold weather again. Donations of underwear and socks are accepted. Monetary donations can be donated to showerpower.kindful.com. The city has a sign-up list for those who want to bring hot meals.
* The city will host a parade for Jackson State University's football team in celebration of it winning the HBCU national championship Friday.
* Hizzoner talked about proposed green space across the street from the Convention Center. Planning & Zoning Director Jai Keeton announced a project for the site called "The Post at Farish Street." The development will consist of three phases. Phase I will be the construction of a community park. The park will have a stage, pavilions for food, swings, life-size chess pieces, and areas for residence to relax.
Phase II will include a section for food trucks. A skateboard park and pickleball courts will be constructed. Phase III will see the construction of a parking lot. Phase III will include a site for a convention center hotel.
The price tag will be $2.4 million. The City Council appropriated $1.5 million towards the project. The city "identified" $600,000 in CBDG funds that can be applied as well. "We have the money to get Phase I done," said Keeton. Phase I is projected to earn $800,000 per year and will be managed by the convention center.
The park will be gated after 5 PM and have security. The cost of the parking lot is $2 million. However, the parking lot is expected to generate $600,000 per year. Vendor spaces are expected to generate a little more than $100,000 per year.
* The Mayor addressed reports of neglect at Jackson's fire stations (17:30). Mayor Lumumba pointed out the administration has provided pay raises for the firemen over the last two years. The Fire Chief said "what was shown in the media was not a good representation of what our stations look like." The pictures posted in the media allegedly did not show what the administration has done to fix the fire stations.
Hizzoner said information could be provided on how the requests for repairs have been handled. He pointed out the city recently built the first new fire station in more than 40 years. The city is asking the legislature to fund a new fire station by UMC. The city does not have a ladder truck to reach the higher points on the taller buildings. Thus funding for a new fire truck will be requested. A new fire station is needed to house the larger fire truck as it will not fit into the current one.
* The Mayor provided an update on Thalia Mara Hall. Air quality results are expected today. Fire alarm repairs are supposed to take place tomorrow. All HVAC units will become operational today. The rigging repairs are ongoing while the fire curtain was replaced Friday.
The State Fire Marshal is expected to inspect the facility Thursday. Thalia Mara Hall is expected to reopen January 18.
* WLBT's Anthony Warren asked Hizzoner if he will file his campaign finance reports by January 31 as required by law. He has not filed a report since the last election in 2021. "I do and I'm aware of the law, that's all I'm saying, Anthony," said the Mayor as he waved his hands.
* Watch the video at 32:20 to see WAPT's Ross Adams ask the Mayor a question. No clues, just watch.
* The disc golf course at Livingston Park will open Thursday.
* Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes placed on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of the City Council a request for the Mayor to take a leave of absence until his indictment is adjudicated. The Clarion-Leger's Charlie Drape asked the Mayor to comment on the request. Mayor Lumumba thanked the Councilman for his "concern about my well-being" but said he will decline the request.
43 comments:
No mention of blighted property removal.
I thought a convention hotel was going on that space? What happened to that project? Wasn't it a done deal?
well hell
people use to park that green space when there was a conference in town, now it ll just simply be another place to buy smack and get robbed
My first time in Jackson the lead story in the CL was the announcement of the Farris Street Entertainment District project. It was in October of 1996.
Good grief! What is it with the people "running" this city? Have they no awareness of the city in which they live? You can't build "green spaces" in Jackson, MS! Green spaces become sleeping spaces, and then they devolve from there. Look at Smith Park. That's been a place you DON'T want to visit for virtually my entire life (and I'm in my 60s). Except for the residential component, downtown Jackson is DYING! There's evidence everywhere! Look at recent high-rise building sales, for example. Don't you wait to get things under control before you start expanding what's already not working?
I'm thinking this is a public move by Baby Chok in trying to throw out a shiny object to take everyone's attention off of his very serious legal issues. It has to be, because what he's proposed here has about as much chance of adding to downtown / being productive as the Convention Center itself.
No mention of infrastructure and property removal.
Are the feds developing the park?
January 13, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I doubt most of them reside in Jackson. I went to the gym at lunch (Club4Fitness on Lake Harbour) and saw a JPD Crime Scene van in the parking lot.
Can you say "palm grease?" I know you can. Right?
Whatever the question is at 32:20 I can't make it out.
The shelters need firewood bundles. Do I have that right?
"The cost of the parking lot is $2 million. However, the parking lot is expected to generate $600,000 per year. Vendor spaces are expected to generate a little more than $100,000 per year."
I will go on record and say that not one GD parking lot in the state of Mississippi, much less downtown Jackson, is earning $600,000 annually. The closest thing is the Smith Wills "fraudulot" and we all know that is not close to legit. Also, I don't see food trucks shelling out $100,000 to park there and serve their food. Call me skeptical, but I have seen this before.
Sounds like Gumflapper is saying that JFD can't put out UMMC fires, as in right now.
Prepare for yet another in a long line of stalwart downtown holdouts (the left-leaning, white liberals who send their kids to JA, prep, St Andrews, St Joe, etc.) to announce their departure for the burbs soon. Getting out before they completely lose their ability to attract talent.
Can they sale the animals at the zoo and put them out of their misery?
Ambitious annual revenue projections for a green space, stage, pavilions, swings, "life-sized" chess and checkers pieces... would be interested to see a breakdown of what this $800,000 is comprised of if the vendor spaces and parking lot aren't even included in phase I.
He sure acts cool for someone headed to federal court. I guess it could be a sign of stupidity or arrogance.
No but they might be able to sail them
The Underpants Gnome of city gov't.
If you want to be taken seriously as a professional, don’t show up with word salad explanations and hair weaves!
Ok well that's all good but very little COJ has been successful at the last decade or more. I'll watch from here.
Calling Socrates Paving, LLC.
This will end up like the Farish $t Revitalization Project-
Putting politics aside, Shower Power is a legit non-profit and they are doing wonderful work with the homeless population in Jackson.
4:28 "Sell"
5:10 Typical Narcissistic behavior.
JSU recognized for football but I bet the MVSU band doesn’t get any recognition for being invited to perform at the Presidential Inauguration.
I hope you visit the FSED often. It’s maintained well after almost 20 years! (TIC)
Wow so much hate for Jackson. Think positive and positivity will follow. It’s not all that bad. We all have flaws just haven’t been exposed yet.
Good development will fit good in downtown Jackson. Great city just need more people to have faith that it will change from the elected officials on down to the citizens.
Good development will fit good in downtown Jackson. Great city just need more people to have faith that it will change from the elected officials on down to the citizens.
7:33, you know JSU is in Jackson while Valley is not, right?
Diversion from reality. The only action to take place on this park will be palm-greasing, not dirt moving.
Until there is a new Administration with new Mayor I do not believe any new business will bring $$$ into Jackson. No one Wants to do business with the mayor being a grifter & not paying vendors in a timely manner! Farish Street has had over 20 years to revitalize!
12:01 AM
This must be a DonnerKay sycophant. How has "positive vibes worked for the past 35 years for Jackson?
The rub to building sh!t like this, the convention center, the zoo, the airport, the city cemeteries, the fire stations, the fire trucks, or anything else is RUNNING it. Does anybody consider the consequences of building stuff so that it falls apart due to lack of maintenance ?
I think so, but you can’t get as much kickback from the maintenance like you can with the initial build.
We are about to enter an election cycle. Is it just a coincidence that he’s doubting this wonderful new plan? Or did his attorney or publicist suggested as a means to deflect?
Who, in the blue hell, is going to go to Livingston Park to play disc golf ? It's hard to tee off when your wearing your Kevlar jacket...
I really wish those of you commenting would actually use your eyes to see the improvements in downtown Jackson. It is looking better than it has in a long time and if you bother to ride down some of the side streets , you'll be surprised at the renovations of old houses and new businesses and places to eat. I'm also happy with the improvements of the road into Belhaven. And, I remember you naysayers who thought Thalia Mara was " done" and didn't believe it would be up and running again so soon. Frankly, I'm not happy with the mayor's outstanding charges but most of his ideas for improvements have actually turned out rather well. Downtown looks the best it has looked in a decade...not perfect but it never was and there's still empty buildings but for offices to come back, you have to start somewhere and improving the visuals matters.
add a petting zoo to complete the charade
Wrong! They've gotten plenty of attention, most of it from racist blacks who accuse the school/band of heading up there to celebrate Trump.
@9:46- Is that you Shockway?
Congrats to JSU's football team and we should all be proud of JSU's band. Their Rose Bowl appearance and national recognition is good for Mississippi! And, IF anyone bothers to learn new things, their music and arts department produces a lot of the new national talent. Some come back home to perform locally.
Sometimes , Mississippians seem bound and determined to be their own worst enemies when we focus on what's wrong rather than encouraging and applauding what's great about Mississippi and the JSU band and football team are brag worthy.
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