Partnership working to implement downtown development plan

HATTIESBURG - A new partnership is working to implement a $12million plan that would transform the former high school - empty for years and on the list of Mississippi's 10 most endangered historic buildings - into the home of the University of Southern Mississippi's (USM) Department of Art and Design.

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Larry Albert of Albert and Associates said that a study of the deserted high school shows that it's in remarkably good condition. More study of the air-conditioning, electrical wiring and heating will be necessary to determine the cost of renovation.

There are so many design opportunities for the school, Albert said, and endless possibilities for use.

Albert is leading the work of creating a master plan for the project.

Renovating the school is the main component of a three-prong development plan for the downtown district, according to Bernice Linton, director of the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association (HHDA).

The plan also includes conversion of the former Eureka school in the Mobile Street area (a black school in the days of segregation) into a setting to tell the story of civil rights and black history in the area and the extension of Rails to Trails from the USM campus to the downtown area.

Linton indicated that the former black USO building may be turned into a venue for the history of black soldiers in the area.

"This is a long-term project," Linton said. "It's not going to happen tomorrow. It will probably be five years, for example, before the art department can move."

She indicated that the development would be done in phases, as money becomes available.

In addition to continuing the revitalization of the downtown business area, the plan would benefit the economy, according to an economic impact survey that concluded that almost $2 million was spent on arts events in Hattiesburg in 2002.

The downtown association understands how important art is to Hattiesburg and decided to have arts take a leading roll in downtown revitalization, Linton said.

Partnership members include the HHDA, USM, the City of Hattiesburg, the Area Development Partnership, the Hattiesburg public schools, EURO (alumni association of Eureka and Rowan schools) and the Forrest County and Pearl & Leaf Rivers Rails to Trails Recreational District.

Philip Halstead, ADP president, said that this was the formation of "a historic partnership. Revitalization of downtown is the wave of the future. It's vital for urban regions."

"Making the project become a reality is a true team effort," Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree said.

The partnership is now seeking to secure grants and federal and state money to pay for the project. A grant for planning is expected to be received within the next few months.

The bike path extension may go to Bouie Street in downtown Hattiesburg, according to Lynn Cartlidge, director of Rails to Trails. The Mississippi Department of Transportation is negotiating with the railroad for the extension.

"We're going to get it in some way," Cartlidge said.

"Connection between USM and downtown would bring students to seek out what's happening downtown," Linton said. "It would also be of interest to developers, for housing, and not just for businesses."

"In the past, we haven't had that connection between USM students and downtown," Linton said. "The Rails to Trails extension could have a real impact on downtown business."

Another possible link between USM and downtown is a trolley, Linton said. "Perhaps even a trolley on wheels that would shuttle back and forth between campus and downtown," she added. "This would bring all students and not just art students downtown."

"When we tie in the transportation link to the project, we're bridging two very strong aspects of our community, making access downtown easier for students as well as for the whole community," DuPree said.

The USM anthropology, history and sociology departments are already working with EURO to gather documents, memorabilia, history and information for the proposed Eureka museum.

In other downtown development, renovation of the Ross and Faulkner buildings is progressing, according to Linton, but it will be several months until they're completed. There's also progress on the Walnut Street development, with work now being done on two buildings.

The move of USM's Department of Art and Design to the former high school in the downtown business district is another aspect of the university's relocating departments and schools off its historic campus and out in the community.

There are also plans to move the nursing school to the old Albertson building in Cloverleaf Mall and to establish a commercialization and innovation park on the site of the former Van Hook Golf Course.