The success of Columbus” chapter of the Mississippi Main Street Association has Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin thinking something similar could work for Highway 45.
Gavin said he plans to approach business owners on Highway 45 early in 2011 with the possibility of organizing a coalition of businesses based on the Main Street model.
“I hope people will pay a yearly fee to belong to the association. Then that money would go to advertising, just like downtown. And maybe we could do some revitalization along 45 with some landscaping,” said Gavin. “If it goes well and merchants benefit, it may spur other economic development.”
However, Gavin”s plan is in its infancy and has yet to take shape. He hopes to sit down with business owners in January or February, after the busy Christmas shopping weeks, to explore interest and options.
A quick poll of locally owned businesses along Highway 45 revealed interest, but a fair amount of skepticism.
The chief concern among store owners was the length of Highway 45. If landscaping were to take place, such as the potted plants Main Street provides downtown, would it be installed on the north or south end of Highway 45? If a festival similar to Main Street”s Wassail Fest were held to attract tourists, the city can”t block off Highway 45 as it would downtown. Would the festival, and the potential shoppers it brings, wind up in the Leigh Mall parking lot, the Jackson Square parking lot or Belk”s parking lot?
“It”s hard because this is a three-mile stretch versus a three-block stretch. I think it would be a tough deal,” said Lex Jackson, owner of Reed”s clothing store and Jackson Square, where Reed”s is located.
Jackson believes landscaping attempts would primarily benefit small businesses not included in shopping centers because larger centers already handle their own landscaping.
Likewise, large-scale advertising could be tricky. Patsy Wilkins, owner of Pitty Pat”s on Crescent Drive in far north Columbus, expressed her concern all dues-paying members of the proposed coalition receive equal media attention regardless of the size of the business.
“We definitely need to have a meeting of the minds so we could all sit down and talk one-on-one,” she said.
The subject of dues is another area of concern.
Patty Griffin, owner of Pizazz gifts, said she has no problem paying dues, but expressed the need for a healthy membership to defray the costs.
“This is going to require that we all work together. We”ve got to have a better economy than we have right now before we pay too much,” she said.
Gary Dedeaux, owner of Gary”s Pawn and Gun, raised the issue of the proposed Highway 45 bypass and how that might effect businesses in the future.
“We all know when the bypass gets here it”s going to take a lot of traffic off our highway. That”s good for people traveling but not as good for business owners because we look at location, location, location,” he said. “Obviously, that decision (to join the coalition) would be made when we saw (Gavin”s) game plan and where he was going with it. We”d certainly be interested in listening.”
Main Street Columbus, a registered nonprofit organization, hosts 47 events each year and spends in excess of $10,000 annually to promote downtown. Its partnership with Mississippi Main Street opens the door to resources such as training for Main Street Director Amber Brislin and her staff, tax incentives for businesses in historic buildings, and special programs like the charrette which visited Columbus in September 2009.
An upstart organization based around Highway 45 and other nearby businesses may not have access to those built-in resources, but Brislin speculated the Mississippi Development Authority may have some resources or incentives to offer.
Regardless of the lingering questions, every business owner contacted stated he or she would be willing to meet with Gavin and share ideas.
“I would be for anything that will improve Columbus and our business and get people shopping on 45,” said Griffin.
“I”m not sure how it would work, but I”m interested in entertaining any idea,” said John Ledbetter, owner of A-1 Appliance.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.