OT: Starkville Got Something Right

[YellowFeverDawg]

Starkville Daily News reporting that the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted last night to put a terminus on Main Street. Now instead of the old Starkville Electric Building there will be a $6.7M Municipal Complex/ City Hall. The building will be centered on Main Street. That should dress up downtown nicely. Also adding between 50 and 60 parking places.

</a><a title="Article" href="http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/10212">http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/10212

 

[YellowFeverDawg]

Starkville Daily News reporting that the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted last night to put a terminus on Main Street. Now instead of the old Starkville Electric Building there will be a $6.7M Municipal Complex/ City Hall. The building will be centered on Main Street. That should dress up downtown nicely. Also adding between 50 and 60 parking places.

</a><a title="Article" href="http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/10212">http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/10212

 

[mjh94]

nice vista/terminus for Main Street.

Starkville has really done a great job with downtown in the past decade.

 

[Xenomorph]

The City of Starkville and West Brothers are going in on a joint venture to design-build the project? Where did they get their estimate for 6.7M? What do they propose to build?

 

[bulldogbaja]

This is just a way to circumvent the taxpayers' vote. This proposal will be a little cheaper than the original one that was voted down, which called for paying like $2m for a couple acres of land on Hwy. 182. I agree that it will look good downtown, but I don't like this method of doing it. Probably the only thing Roy A. Perkins and I have ever agreed on.

 

[Jeremiah Dumas]

This is a public private partnership between West Brothers and the City of Starkville. It includes a 20 yr lease back using certificates of participation. This is a general fund obligation, so there is no tax increase or need for bonds.

Estimates were generated by the project team and it includes the construction of a roughly 24000 SF building on the old SED building which will terminate West Main Street. West Main and Meigs will now become one way - Main Street heading West and Meigs one way heading from Lampkin to Main Street.

Phase Two will be the renovation of the 24000 SF current city hall for the Police Department. The plan approved last night includes moving all other city functions into this new City Hall.

Dirt should move this fall. Schematic design is being finalized as we speak.

 

[mjh94]

going to be a great, great thing for Starkville.

 

[Xenomorph]

*

 

[YellowFeverDawg]

I did not get the impression that the city was trying to circumvent anything. The last two failed because people didn't want their taxes to go up. No one can argue that the current facility is inadequate. The Mayor punted and found a way to do the project with existing revenue. Also assuming the information that they provided was correct the City publicly advertised their intent twice, and have discussed this topic at 3 board meetings. I thought this showed real leadership on behalf of the Mayor and Board.

It was, however, interesting to hear Roy say that he knew nothing about it when he has in fact voted on each phase of the effort to date.

In case there is question. I do not work for the City or for West Brothers. I was actually there last night to see the redistricting plans and to hear the discussion on the sidewalk ordinance.

 

[Jeremiah Dumas]

Thanks,

I think it will be a transformational project for the city of Starkville.

This was in no way meant to circumnavigate the system. Two bond issues have failed on the simple denial of a tax increase - well the 1st bond vote failed for other reasons as well. Not once have we heard that we don't need to do something, people just weren't willing to vote on a tax increase. Many hours have gone into finding that solution since the failed bond vote and this project not only gets us the much needed facilities that we need, but it does it in the way that people have voiced, without a tax increase. Kudos to the mayor for taking the lead on this and putting a very complex project together in a way that found board approval.

West Brothers has chosen Thomas Shelton Jones and Associates as their architect.

 

[YellowFeverDawg]

.

 

[Mullenation]

Will someone please manage Statetheatereffectively so downtown can have a big bar that also doubles as a great venue for music besides dirty *** Ricks.

 

[Mullenation]

Please get this going Starkville..

 

[mjh94]

nm

 

[Jeremiah Dumas]

I wish I had a definitive answer. We are closely watching this area and working with the University to do what is best and the most feasible. We have rezoned the area to Form-based codes and I think a larger discussion about that entire areas is warranted. Because something needs to happen so that we can all move off of center.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

Or is this more of a private venture? I'm worried that it might fail because of one of those "tax increases" as well.

 

[dawgpound11]

Financing is the issue.

 

[vandaldawg]

nm

 

[patdog]

Mugshots Starkville had a great thing going there. Now it won't be any different than the one in Flowood. Why in the hell would they want to turn that into just a restaurant? Not that the one in Flowood is bad at all, but it's nowhere near as good as the one in Starkville.</p>

 

[disappointeddawg]

Is that due to past issues w/ underage drinking or just a business decision?

 

[Shmuley]

nm

 

[Mullenation]

Mugshots in starkville is the only one with a big bar scene etc.. Owners want to get away from thatapparently. I wish they would just move and build another building so something else with a night life could be there... wishful thinking though.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

when the original burned down and they moved it is now restaurant only. i actually enjoy it more. i can go have a good burger and beer with friends to to watch a game and not be surrounding by usm frat boys.

 

[disappointeddawg]

Mugshots Grill and Bar?<div>
</div><div>It sounds like it will still serve alcohol so are they going to take the actual bar out and replace it with more seating? I don't see how else you would keep serving alcohol but keep it from being a bar with nightlife. On second thought, I guess they could just start closing at 10pm. Is that the plan?</div><div>
</div><div>I was getting excited about the one coming to Tupelo (apparently) and while I wasn't planning on reliving my college days there I was still hoping for a good sports bar type atmosphere.</div>