Starkvegas.
For years, the word was used derisively to describe the city of Starkville, whose blandness stood in — pardon the pun — “stark” contrast to the university that sustained much of the city’s economy.
While Mississippi State grew and flourished, the city seemed stuck — nothing new or particularly interesting emerged in the city. It was considered to be the least appealing city of all the schools in the Southeastern Conference.
Things are, at last, changing. For the past couple of years, Mississippi State University and the city have adopted “Starkvegas” as a term of endearment and a part of its marketing strategy.
Granted, the city will never be confused with the over-the-top spectacle of the actual Vegas, but real progress is being made in making Starkville a thriving little city that complements MSU rather than detracts from it.
Nowhere is this more obvious than along the “Russell Street Corridor,” which lies just to the east of the MSU campus across from Highway 12.
While redevelopment projects along Highway 12 and Highway 182 are slow in coming, the Russell Street Area is booming, growing at a rate unprecedented in the city’s history.
Almost 10 years ago, city and university officials identified this area as the key for real growth. Plans to develop the area, including the massive university-owned Cooley Building, were delayed by an inability to secure funding and the deep recession of 2009.
When the recession eased, the project was handed off to developer Mark Castleberry.
Three years later, the $56 million Mill at MSU is complete. The facility offers ample office space, a large banquet room, meeting spaces, a parking garage and a Courtyard by Marriott hotel. The project isn’t quite finished: Castleberry says permitting is under way to add a mixed-use building on the northwest corner of the property that will feature retail/office space and four luxury condominiums. The final piece of the project will be a fine dining restaurant, but no immediate plans have been made for that.
When the Mill project, a collaboration among private investment, the city, state and federal entities, was first proposed, it was suggested the development would stimulate growth.
We didn’t have to wait long after the Mill’s completion to see evidence of that.
Within the last few months, work has started on no fewer than four major projects representing investments well over $10 million.
The Gin on Russell, located across from The Mill at MSU, will feature some of the most expensive condos in the Golden Triangle. The first of three phases is already under construction. Father down Russell, construction is well underway for The Flats, another large condo unit.
Yet a third condo project, The Whitney, is being built across from the Mill at MSU on the corner of Lummus and Jernigan streets.
Behind The Mill at MSU, a major retail/hotel complex is in the works — The Cotton Mill Marketplace, which will be home to a new Holiday Inn and Azlins Steakhouse, along with other yet-to-be-determined retail outlets.
To add to the appeal, broad sidewalks, bike paths and landscaping are being added that link the area to campus.
The addition of these projects, and the in-fill that they are almost certain to produce, has created a momentum that transforms the area into showpiece that fills the void between the MSU campus and the quirky, bohemian appeal of The Cotton District.
Starkvegas?
What was one a term of scorn has become a rallying cry and a point of pride.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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