Different angle; change the conversation a little....

[vandaldawg]

With a national coaching search,heated recruiting battles and the typical in-season smack talk, we continually have to hear the "Starkville sucks/ has nothing to offer/ why would you go to Starkville, etc" ad infinitum. We have had to hear it from media and Boise radio talk show hosts. Now I love Starkville, but I know I'm biased, and I understand the outside perception and the critiques.

So the question: How much does the image/reality of "sleepy" Starkville hurt us in recruiting and/or in national coaching searches such as the one we are currently undergoing.

In my opinion, since I graduated (96) great and positive strides have been made (development downtown, continuation of development in Cotton District, cold beer, later drinking hours, new mixed use and condo developments near campus, new leadership under Camp and various Aldermen, etc)

To continue these improvements, the quality of life can and should be improved in our fair college town. So what legislation, planning, and construction projects and other would you like to see happen in Starkville thinking long-term to improve our national perception and make us more attractive to prospective students, athletes, new businesses, etc.

My list:

1. Must pass Sunday alcohol sales. (should encourage influx of new restaurants, bars, etc. Time to upend those who wish to legislate morality for good. This has started and it needs to be finished)
2. Encourage development to increase downtown core from just a main street to several blocks of dense, mixed use street frontage. (Think Athens as a model. - Perhaps even discourage development around the bypass as this type of development is typically awful and more importantly is a downtown killer)
3. Create a entertainment corridor/ design district that connects ongoing development in the Cotton District with Downtown with a contious frontage of commercial/ retail/ bar & restaurant/ condo and apartments.
4. Locate the municipal complex in the existing downtown core. (Whatever happened to this?)
5. Need more large theatre/ bar type venues to attract national and regional touring bands. One semi-famous band playing at Rick's once a semester is not enough. Again, see Athens.I know we are a little more out of the way, and Athens gets the pipeline of entertainment from Atlanta, but still, this can be done.
6. Encourage more locally owned bars and restaurants to compete with chains that will begin to flood the marke once the Sunday sales pass.
7. Somebody needs to prove that multiple, quality restaurants (Veranda quality and above) can compete and survive in Starkville.
8. Thinking big, how about if after development occurs and density increases, a true trolley line coming from campus, down University through downtown and looping back.
9. Minimum LEED Silver building requirements for all new construction.
10. Sustainable energy/ green energy investments.

What should the population of Starkville be in a decade. Can it/ will it increase?

I realize much of this is perhaps unlikely and maybe not feasible in the market, but I'm one of those who likes to dream big, and make it happen as opposed to saying things like "This can never happen in Starkville".

In other words, if Starkville is costing us in terms of competing athletically, academically, etc. then how do we improve to Starkville to eliminate that liability? What should the vision of Starkville be looking forward 10 and 20 years out?

 

[vandaldawg]

With a national coaching search,heated recruiting battles and the typical in-season smack talk, we continually have to hear the "Starkville sucks/ has nothing to offer/ why would you go to Starkville, etc" ad infinitum. We have had to hear it from media and Boise radio talk show hosts. Now I love Starkville, but I know I'm biased, and I understand the outside perception and the critiques.

So the question: How much does the image/reality of "sleepy" Starkville hurt us in recruiting and/or in national coaching searches such as the one we are currently undergoing.

In my opinion, since I graduated (96) great and positive strides have been made (development downtown, continuation of development in Cotton District, cold beer, later drinking hours, new mixed use and condo developments near campus, new leadership under Camp and various Aldermen, etc)

To continue these improvements, the quality of life can and should be improved in our fair college town. So what legislation, planning, and construction projects and other would you like to see happen in Starkville thinking long-term to improve our national perception and make us more attractive to prospective students, athletes, new businesses, etc.

My list:

1. Must pass Sunday alcohol sales. (should encourage influx of new restaurants, bars, etc. Time to upend those who wish to legislate morality for good. This has started and it needs to be finished)
2. Encourage development to increase downtown core from just a main street to several blocks of dense, mixed use street frontage. (Think Athens as a model. - Perhaps even discourage development around the bypass as this type of development is typically awful and more importantly is a downtown killer)
3. Create a entertainment corridor/ design district that connects ongoing development in the Cotton District with Downtown with a contious frontage of commercial/ retail/ bar & restaurant/ condo and apartments.
4. Locate the municipal complex in the existing downtown core. (Whatever happened to this?)
5. Need more large theatre/ bar type venues to attract national and regional touring bands. One semi-famous band playing at Rick's once a semester is not enough. Again, see Athens.I know we are a little more out of the way, and Athens gets the pipeline of entertainment from Atlanta, but still, this can be done.
6. Encourage more locally owned bars and restaurants to compete with chains that will begin to flood the marke once the Sunday sales pass.
7. Somebody needs to prove that multiple, quality restaurants (Veranda quality and above) can compete and survive in Starkville.
8. Thinking big, how about if after development occurs and density increases, a true trolley line coming from campus, down University through downtown and looping back.
9. Minimum LEED Silver building requirements for all new construction.
10. Sustainable energy/ green energy investments.

What should the population of Starkville be in a decade. Can it/ will it increase?

I realize much of this is perhaps unlikely and maybe not feasible in the market, but I'm one of those who likes to dream big, and make it happen as opposed to saying things like "This can never happen in Starkville".

In other words, if Starkville is costing us in terms of competing athletically, academically, etc. then how do we improve to Starkville to eliminate that liability? What should the vision of Starkville be looking forward 10 and 20 years out?

 

[GimpyDawg]

Starkville is underrated, Oxford is overrated, and we have HUGE money to spend. We'll get a coach that's 22 times better than Croom..

 

[Hugo Sanchez.sixpack]

Lots of good points there. I think you should run for mayor. Starkville first and foremost definitely needs to axe the ban on sunday alcohol sales. I agree that there needs to be alot of focus on downtown and creating more venues for entertainment/local restaurants. If some of those buildings downtown could be bought out from businesses and turned intro restaurants or bars that would be a good place to start.

 

[bulldogbaja]

Kim Jong Il: It will be 9/11 times 2,214!
Team America: My god! That's... I don't even know what that is!
Jong Ill: NO ONE does......

 

[Incognegro]

a nice blues/jazz club. entertainment really needs a nice focus no doubt. but are you sure this is the right place to take this idea? I like it alot honestly, and I'm willing to bet a majority of the people in this area will agree with you, but I doubt that this forum can take off with it. Not saying that's why you posted it. You definitely need to take this idea up with a few people who can atleast put a word in. Nice idea(s) though.

 

[SkinsDawg]

Starkville needs to stop putting up apartment complexes everywhere there's a free lot and start building some family-style neighborhoods. Where, I have no idea. But it's going to be hard to attract families to this town when all we have is apartments and really old, family-style neighborhoods. It's ridiculous.

 

[Ole Miss Grad]

First order of business should be to bulldoze everything North of Main Street....starting from the West at Reed Road....up to Hospital Road.....all the way East across to Montgomery.

A little wrecking ball could help in some areas around Lynn Lane too.

 

[TBonewannabe]

What kind of impact will the new shopping center behind bulldog package have on the area? What kind of stores are coming to Starkvegas? Someplace like you said blues/jazz bar would be cool for the older crowd. I am talking about people older than 21 or 22. Ricks gets old by the time you are a senior or in grad school. Starkville needs to get more stores for chicks to shop in. I know my wife had to always go to Columbus or Tupelo to go shopping. More stuff for girls = more girls enrolling at MSU. It would be a great idea if Starkville could look at how Athens is set up. That town is just set up nice. 60% female doesn't hurt either.</p>

 

[TDAWG.sixpack]

In my opinion Starkville is on the edge of a good boom (If the economy ever gets better). During my senior year (last year) many of my professors spoke of a economic boom happening to Starkville very soon. Their reasonings were:

1) College towns all around are bringing in much larger game day crowds (most MSU fans must travel to Starkville to watch games which means they will be bringing their money from other cities and states to dump in Starkville).
2) Starkville has a very steady fan base throughout the year.( No real drop off during baseball season compared to some other schools)
3) The city has gone through a very steady beautification process to increase attractiveness to new business.
4) Starkville high is going through some significant upgrades
5) Spin off industries from Toyota (tupelo), PACCAR (columbus) and others should start popping up in the city.

Lastly, the smoking ban has made a tremendous impact on the city, also in my opinion. Now there are three bars in Downtown that have second level balconies for smokers. Those look very cool and if more of those were to pop up it could turn into a very cool little downtown area for nightlife.

 

[BCash]

That new Cotton Mill marketplace is gonna kick *** and make that area where campus joins Hwy 12 and Russell Street look much better. I think there is gonna be a Best Buy and legit women's clothing store, along with a couple of restaurants and those condos.

 

[Incognegro]

I'm still kind of new to Starkville, so mind telling me about that market place you just mentioned? I never heard of any plans of it being built. What's it supposed to be exactly?

 

[Hugo Sanchez.sixpack]

Big multi use place...gonna have restuarants, condos, shops all in one place if they ever build it

 

[Incognegro]

It's still not set in stone that they're going to do it?

 

[BCash]

It's still not set in stone that they're going to do it?

From what I have gathered through the newspaper, internet, etc., it's a done deal. Go here.... </a><a href="http://www.comvest.net/property/mississippi/PDFs/Cotton_Mill_Marketplace_Package(2).pdf">http://www.comvest.net/pr...arketplace_Package(2).pdf

 

[croomandwhite]

1. Starkville has a long way to go to be mentioned with Athens. This is for several reasons. First, size of school and demographics. UGA is huge (dont know numbers but Id guess it has at least 10k+ than we do. As for demographics, I hope this doesnt come out the wrong way, but the type of students at UGA and MSU is quite different. UGA attracts many affluent, white kids of Drs/Lawyers/Businessmen who will pump in all kinds of their parents cash. And it is not only rich GA kids either, they have a huge pull from NC, SC, and FL. This is on a smaller scale what happens in Oxford. Traditionally the wealthier citizens of MS (drs, lawyers, businessmen) have come from UM, and there kids are the ones who have all kinds of disposable cash to put in the local economy. They also have a huge pull of out of state kids, primarily TX, GA, and TN that do not get into the top in state schools.

On the other hand, MSU typically has attracted more middle-class, in state students who do not have as much disposable income. I think that this trend is changing and we are seeing more at MSU but we still have a long ways to go. I think MSU/Starkville needs to focus on attracting these types of students.

2. I think there needs to be an effort to make a Main/University St, a long connected district full of bars/restaurants/shopping. I think putting more girls shopping stores in is an excellent idea. If we could have a signature street that everyone wants to be on, then stores will start being placed around it, thus creating a neat little area. Starkville is horrible about taking any good idea/business that pops up and placing it wherever is the cheapest/most convenient location.

3. SUNDAY ALCOHOL SALES.

 

[Incognegro]

that looks off the chain. They need to hurry up and get that up because now I'm getting excited over it. Dang...when are they going to start that, and how long have they had the plans up for it?

 

[Amos Moses.sixpack]

I have lived in Oxford for 8 years of my life and Starkville for 4 more. There are several I could mention, but to remain brief:</p>

1) Starkville is at least 10 years behind Oxford in terms of development.</p>

2) The problem isn't the college atmosphere in Starkville so much as the community atmosphere. The demographics don't exactly scream prosperity. That being said, most of Lafayette County is the same. There just happens to be enough pricks to hold the populus down.</p>

3) I would personally like to see Starkville remain free of the "traditional" college atmosphere town. If Athens and Oxford are examples to follow, then I'm for keepin' every restaurant in Starkville at the Petty's level. Starkville is like every other town in the Golden Triangle. Good or bad...at least it ain't Oxford.</p>

4) The recent attempts to create an "upscale' atmosphere in the Junction are a joke. Anyone who attempts to create Oxford II should transfer.</p>

 

[Faustdog]

Starkville is as good or better than several major college towns. Anyone ever been to Clemson? I have no idea why they don't get the treatment we do. Starkville has made huge progress over the last ten years. I guess it's the name Starkville.

 

[graddawg]

Here is a press release from earlier in the week:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>

Contact:
Wendy Barthe Peavy, Marketing and Public Policy Director</p>

COMVEST Properties, LLC</p>

www.cottonmillatmsu.com
</p>

CottonMill Marketplace at Mississippi State University Progress Update</p>

Starkville, MS, December 4, 2008 - With final approval from Mississippi's Institutions of Higher Learning Board for the purchase of MSU's historic E.E. Cooley Building, the developers of the CottonMill Marketplace at Mississippi State University in Starkville, have begun to move forward with their plans for the development. The approval is a significant milestone on the CottonMill Marketplace timeline.
</p>

This week work began on the environmental and structural assessments of the Cooley site. Project professionals with Covington and Associates, Cupkovic
Architecture and Harrell Construction will evaluate the former John M. Stone Cotton Mill in preparation for submittal of an Historic Renovation Application to
the United States' Department of the Interior and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). Renovation plans call for the building to be
converted into a conference center and office space. MDAH has been supportive of the developers' renovation plans and will meet with the group later this month
to assist in the application process.
</p>

Conventional Wisdom Corp, a management consulting firm specializing in public assembly venues, is coordinating interior restoration and design elements with
the project's architects to achieve a state of the art conference and meeting space.
</p>

CottonMill Marketplace's hotel, a Courtyard by Marriott brought to the project by Peachtree Hotel Group, is currently in the schematic design phase. Project
engineers and architects continue to coordinate the design of the hotel and its connectivity to the conference center.
</p>

Also nearing completion are plans for the residential elements of the project as well as parking, landscaping and green space. Additionally, the developers have
engaged MSU's Carl Small Town Center to provide analysis and design concepts pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the campus, the
city, and CottonMill Marketplace.
</p>

As the project's due diligence moves forward the developers continue to secure interest commitments from national, regional and local retail and restaurant
prospects. Given the buzz generated at October's International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Atlanta Conference, the developers look forward to
next week's appointments at the New York ICSC Conference and Deal Making event.
</p>

A formal Ground Breaking and start of construction is slated for the first of the year, 2009.</p>

 

[studentdawg87]

I disagree about not allowing Starkville to develop into a "traditional" college town. A centralized entertainment district would be great for the town and would complement the Cotton District very well. I agree that over time all restuarants and shops should be located from the Cotton District to downtown.

Starkville needs more bars and restuarants but I'm not sure the town can support them. The student body here seems to be much different than those at Ole Miss or Bama in the sense that many kids don't go out that often or go home on the weekend. Many students who live in the Highlands hardly ever leave there to go out and many kids just chill at their apartments. There is a pretty small crowd that frequents the Cotton District bars and downtown and most of the kids are Greeks or live in the district. Bars like Barristers and possibly the Theater struggle enough as it is, even more competition will hurt all of them.

Sunday alcohol sales would benefit local establishments greatly.

Whoever mentioned more residential housing was dead on. With the Golden Triangle adding a lot of jobs there needs to be more decent housing available. Starkville is overrun with apartments.

I've always thought that the backside of campus is ripe for development, if it was done right that could be a cool area. With its close proximity to campus and the Highlands I would think a restuarant and bar or two might do well back there, as well as some decent student housing.

 

[Incognegro]

I'm pretty sure that's gonna bring in a lot of commerce.

 

[The Byrne Center]

Good point on bringing in more out-of-state students... MSU has an Admissions Counselor in Memphis, Nashville, two in Atlanta and two in Birmingham (most in the state). The future of out-of-state studentss are being addressed. MSU is the largest university in the state even if you include the med-school with ole miss. We also have at least one student from all 50 states. Doc, Vance, and Dr. Keenum all believe in "keeping the faucet open," so in the future our fan base is going to grow. More businesses will be able to open in Starkville and "attractions" will be built to keep them entertained.

 

[Agentdog]

The name and sir name Mississippi. Every state in the nation thinks it is better than MS. I am not saying that is true but that is the perception. Then, Starkville has no media to spin a positive image and rebutt the stereotypes. The positives about Starkville never get talked about to others outside the area.

 

[Incognegro]

is more things to do in the freakin union. If it had some kind of pool hall, arcade or something. The only thing that they have in there is just decent places to get something to eat. I'm not always hungry. Alot of times I'm board as hell. That's one thing for sure I'd love to see them address on campus. It's not a whole lot to do in there at all...

 

[DoWork.sixpack]

Are there any plans to develop the old movie theatre/pizza hut/burger king lot? That place is an eye sore the moment you leave campus. Not very attractive. Also the old winn dixie/jitney jungle grocery store is empty. Anything going in there? There seems to be a lot of already standing structures that would be a nice place such as an electronics store. There are quite a few students who have money or families do that spend their money in other towns such as tuscaloosa, tupelo, and even columbus because there are no major clothing stores around. It would also be nice to have a true sports bar in town with large projection screens and everything. Anyone heard of Damon's? Something along those lines.

 

[DoWork.sixpack]

There has been quite an influx of students from the state of Texas here recently. Mostly from the Houston and DFW area. From what I hear, the Houston alumni chapter is doing a great job recruiting students and athletes for us.

 

[Extremely Confident]

1. Starkville has a long way to go to be mentioned with Athens. This is for several reasons. First, size of school and demographics. UGA is huge (dont know numbers but Id guess it has at least 10k+ than we do. As for demographics, I hope this doesnt come out the wrong way, but the type of students at UGA and MSU is quite different. UGA attracts many affluent, white kids of Drs/Lawyers/Businessmen who will pump in all kinds of their parents cash. And it is not only rich GA kids either, they have a huge pull from NC, SC, and FL. This is on a smaller scale what happens in Oxford. Traditionally the wealthier citizens of MS (drs, lawyers, businessmen) have come from UM, and there kids are the ones who have all kinds of disposable cash to put in the local economy. They also have a huge pull of out of state kids, primarily TX, GA, and TN that do not get into the top in state schools.

On the other hand, MSU typically has attracted more middle-class, in state students who do not have as much disposable income. I think that this trend is changing and we are seeing more at MSU but we still have a long ways to go. I think MSU/Starkville needs to focus on attracting these types of students.

2. I think there needs to be an effort to make a Main/University St, a long connected district full of bars/restaurants/shopping. I think putting more girls shopping stores in is an excellent idea. If we could have a signature street that everyone wants to be on, then stores will start being placed around it, thus creating a neat little area. Starkville is horrible about taking any good idea/business that pops up and placing it wherever is the cheapest/most convenient location.

3. SUNDAY ALCOHOL SALES.

ding ding ding...

 

[dawgpound11]

Good friend of mine has a $300,000 house on North Montgomery in your "swath". I don't think he would agree or his neighbors in Oktibbeha Gardens.

 

[wbc40]

If you are familiar with Starkville nightlife, there is typically a Cotton District/downtown crowd and then a Rick's crowd, with State Theatre pulling a little from both groups (Dave's has a smaller contingent of regulars as well). The rest of the students either don't drink or go home/elsewhere every weekend. I would love to see more bars, but overall demand for nightlife will have to increase for any to be successful. Generally speaking the MSU student body doesn't come close to having the same the "going out" mentality of an Ole Miss or an Alabama, which makes it difficult to enhance the nightlife reputation of Starkville.

 

[DoWork.sixpack]

alabama and ole miss have areas that all the students go to because of all the good bars are centrally located, like the strip and the square. if we had one specific area where all the bars were and there was actually the conceivability of bar-hopping, i think a good number of bars would all profit. i know when i visit tuscaloosa or oxford i hardly stay in one bar. we typically park and bar-hop. not very possible in starkville due to the location of the major bars...ricks, state theatre, cowbells.

 

[Amos Moses.sixpack]

because the cops are waiting behind the bushes on every corner.

And as far as I'm concerned, State Theater should continue to struggle if that fat bastard is still a bouncer there.

 

[WPDawg]

If a Coach (and the staff he wants) has younger kids in elementary or high school then I think Starkville is a harder sell due to schools. I dont believe the public school is as strong as it was in the past (academically) and has had many problems in the past several years that have made the local front page. Starkville Academy is a decent school but not real big and has a hard time competing with the jackson schools athletically. Being from MS, my kids could attend either one but I think they are a harder sell to someone from out of state and could keep someone from making the move. Just my opinion from living in and working in the starkville area for several years.

 

[studentdawg87]

I'm going to have to disagree about not being able to bar hop. There isn't exactly a plethora of bars to go to downtown but you can easily hop from Mugshots to Barristers, the Theater,and Old Venice. I could care less about Rick's, Cowbells, and the Hunt Club. Daves's is a great bar though.

I agree with whoever it was that said it is the mentality of the students. Many kids here just go home on the weekend or have a few people over to their apartment. If you go to Tuscaloosa or Oxford it seems as if everyone goes out.