New Downtown Hotel Proposal - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS
A group of local developers want to build a new luxury hotel in downtown Jackson. The investors, called the Simpson Group, led by Joseph Simpson, would place the hotel in the same spot as the old Mississippi Valley Title Building,
"It's a 205 room Westin Hotel, the finest service Starwood to be brought to the state of Mississippi. We'll have a spa, have a restaurant, bar, valet, you name it. It will be definitely something that the area has not seen." said Simpson.
The hotel would be 9 stories tall and within walking distance to the Convention Center, where another hotel plan has fallen through. Simpson says the Jackson Redevelopment Authority will help fund it with $12.5 million in urban renewal bonds. Hinds County, which owns the property, is expected to hand it over to the Simpson Group in exchange for office space in their development.
"We want an impact, we want it to help spur everything else going on we believe in Farish Street. We want that to happen. We want Old Capitol Green to happen. We've proposed also a trolley system to put in downtown to connect everything. I think if everyone prospers it makes for a better city, better capitol city, said Simpson.
The Valley Title Building will need to be demolished before construction can begin. After that, it's expected it will take another 15 to 18 months to complete. All that awaits is an approval from county supervisors for the land deed, JRA to sign off on financing, before the start moving earth here.
Simpson says he plans to make another announcement about revitalizing another important downtown Jackson landmark on Friday. Stay tuned.
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