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By
Rachel Dickson
On
downtown Jackson…2005 was remarkable.
When I think back on the
past 12 months I am in awe of
the transformations that occurred
in such a short time. And
based on the community’s positive
response, Jacksonians have been
patiently awaiting transformational
change downtown for some time.
Positive
change requires many things…among
them, vision, risk and action.
Oh, and vigor. Lots
of vigor. In addition,
rest assured that the Jackson
Downtown Development Corp. (JDDC),
the City of Jackson and the
Downtown Merchants Association
are working together to create
an extraordinary downtown community.
Alfred
North Whitehead (a significant
contributor to twentieth-century
logic and metaphysics) said,
“The art of progress is to preserve
order amid change.” Yes,
there’s an art to progress.
And yes, it seems to work best
when it’s phased in slowly and
in a planned, calculated, cumulative
sort of way.
A
snippet of downtown’s progress
in 2005…two new art galleries
have opened, one restaurant,
one antique shop, one pool hall/bar,
and two retail venues-one containing
nine distinctive shops. Then
there are the exclusive downtown
events that have been established
or reestablished…namely Main
Street Music (previously Music
on the Green), Galleries-a-Go-Go,
the Jackson-Madison County Library
Film Series, and Fabulous Friday.
Not to mention all the
single sanctioned events taking
place downtown. (Such as those
held at le Diva’s, Lola’s, Art
Under a Hot Tin Roof, Shooter’s,
Marguerite’s, Downtown Tavern,
The Dickson Gallery, The Painted
Lady, and the Rockabilly Hall
of Fame). And that’s just
a snippet.
What
might 2006 hold for downtown?
Additional loft apartments
are near completion in the upper
levels of the Pythian Building.
A new bakery/coffee/catering
company is coming soon. The
A-Mayes-ing Menswear building
on Lafayette Street is now under
renovation…the street level
will soon be refurbished retail
space(s). JDDC is relocating
their office from the Chamber
of Commerce building to the
lower level of the Ned on Main
Street (a perfect location).
Yes, welcome home JDDC, downtown!
…and I imagine there
will be much, much more.
The
entrepreneurial spirit is alive
and well down here. And
it’s those individuals who will
make the new downtown greater.
And I believe only good
things can come out of the much
anticipated entertainment district.
Simply adding appeal to
what’s already alive and well.
There’s
no doubt in my mind that new
ground will be broken in addition
to the continued enhancement
of the old in 2006. The
best is yet to come….
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