Electric Company Leads Downtown Revitalization Efforts

1 March 2006 - 7:00am

In rare form, a Mississippi electric company is taking the lead in the redevelopment process and producing a win-win situation for both the company and for the city of Jackson.

The project, known as "Old Capitol Green" is a "dream come true" according to Malcom White, co-owner of Hal and Mal's restaurant in downtown Jackson.

Old Capitol Green would boast almost a million square feet of new office, retail/hotel, and community space, as well as 500,000 square feet of new residential space. The projected population and job growth would be a much needed boon for local businesses such as Hal and Mal's. Currently, part of the land is owned by the State and could be transfered to Entergy, so that the entire site could be marketed to a developer. John Lawrence, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, who has been working with Entergy to put a deal together, notes that the timing of this project is crucial given the new tax breaks available through the Gulf Opportunity Zone program passed last year following Hurricane Katrina.

Source: Clarion Ledger, February 21, 2006