$70 million in new MS Coast development bringing more go-karts, stores and businesses
The spring coronavirus shutdown didn’t stop construction across South Mississippi, but it has had an effect on new projects.
“It kind of slowed everything down across the Coast, said David Parker, Gulfport’s economic development director.
“Coronavirus had a ‘wait and see’ effect on development,” he said.
He’s optimistic for the rest of the year.
The new Mississippi Aquarium in downtown Gulfport now is scheduled to open in September, he said, which will bring more tourism to the city and interest from developers.
“I don’t think we’ve lost any projects,” he said, “there’s just been a 2-month pause on everything.”
The year got off to a strong start, with $18 million in new construction for the first 6 weeks.
Then the coronavirus hit and the $70 million in permits issued so far this year in South Mississippi is less than half the $158 million at this time last year.
But almost all of that difference can be attributed to one project — the $81 million in building permits issued in 2019 for infrastructure and construction at the recently opened east bank production area at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.
In Hancock County, Waveland Mayor Mike Smith said they are focusing on new bike trails and sidewalks to add to quality of life and draw development.
“We’re trying to make Waveland a walkable city,” he said. The city also has someone trying to acquire the former Rite Aid building and several new restaurants are among the more than 25 restaurants that have opened, improved or expanded this year.
Major projects that continued to go up during the coronavirus shutdown, in addition to the Mississippi Aquarium, are The Hotel Legends opening soon in downtown Biloxi, The Pearl boutique hotel under construction in downtown Bay St. Louis and the Rooftop Taco & Tequila Bar in downtown Ocean Springs.
Here are some of the new businesses opening and under construction across the three Coast counties:
▪ A new go-cart track is under construction at Big Play Family Entertainment Center on the east side of Veterans Avenue in Biloxi. Manager Brandon Wooldridge said by July 4 they hope to open the 24 gas carts and the course with elevation changes.
▪ Fleurty Girl is opening a temporary weekend shop in Old Town Bay St Louis while the permanent spot down the street is being renovated. They hope to be open by July 1 at 153 Main St.
▪ Family Dollar in Vancleave is moving up the street and taking over most of the former location of Fred’s store and pharmacy. This store will be a new, modern prototype design that Family Dollar plans to implement in all its stores, said Jordan Gorjian, director of leasing for Gorjian Acquistions. Under the lease, the new store will take over 10,500 of the Fred’s store that closed in June 2019. Gorjian said an additional 6,000 square foot corner space in the building with a drive through window is still available.
▪ Coast Coliseum & Convention Center got a makeover while the facility was closed during the coronavirus, with new carpet and a VIP Lounge with a high-end industrial theme. Executive Director Matt McDonnell the lounge name ‘The Locker Room’. will bring together the hockey history at the facility. Pictures and plaques throughout the room will share the sports history of the facility and of Mississippi.t
▪ Biloxi Mausoleum Cemetery is under construction at 1128 Robertson Street, north of the Biloxi Cemetery, where very little burial space is still available. The Mausoleum is being constructed with with granite and steel reinforced concrete to withstand severe weather, and will have single and companion crypts, niches for urns and an open-air chapel for services.
▪ Claiborne Hill Supermarket in Waveland has bought the previous KFC site in front of the store. Management hasn’t announced what is coming to the new location.
▪ A grand opening will be held July 3 for the new CoWorking Space inside Edgewater Mall in Biloxi. It is designed to provide help for small business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers who need assistance with their small business.
New businesses
▪ Visualize Life Made Easy Consignments, 1068 Thorn Ave., Ocean Springs
▪ My Happy Place Gallery Of Art, 1209 Government St., Ocean Springs
▪ Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas Law Firm has opened a Mississippi office at 2118 18th St., Gulfport
▪ Fourmidable national real estate management company is the new managing agent for three multi-family Section 8, tax credit, public housing and Rental Assistance Demonstration communities with 210 apartments in South Mississippi. The apartment complexes are Bay Pines, a 100-unit apartment complex in Bay St. Louis, Camille Court, a 30-unit complex in Waveland and Oak Haven Senior Apartments is an 80-unit senior community in Waveland.
▪ A Federal Aviation Administration Part 141 flight school will open at The Stennis International Airport. Hancock County and Mississippi-based students will train for aviation and aerospace careers, including preparation for military flight training.
▪ Construction is under way at several Pearl River Community College campuses. The Poplarville campus is nearing the end of a $6 million project to renovate the science and math building and an annex for labs. Also under way are a $13.5 million project to add two new dorms and a $46,000 rodeo facility. The Phil Bryant Aviation and Aerospace Workforce Academy is under construction at Hancock County.
Ribbon cuttings
▪ June 1 – Visualize Cleaning and Organizing and Visualize Life Made Easy Consignments, 1068 Thorn St., Ocean Springs
▪ June 19 — Tribe Boutique, 1202 Government St., Ocean Springs
▪ June 25 —Ladidaa Home Store, a consignment furniture and home decor store, 871 Howard Ave., Biloxi
▪ July 1 — The Jackson Pearl: A Gathering Place at 624 Jackson Ave., Ocean Springs, will be an art driven wedding and special event center in a restored warehouse in the downtown.
▪ July 7 — Ocean Springs Mercantile, 700 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs
Largest Coast Projects
New building permits since the coronavirus shutdown in mid-March, according to the Treen Report:
▪ $5.6 million for pellet storage building for Enviva, 215 Industrial Road, Pascagoula
▪ $5 million for hangar at Stennis International Airport, 7250 Stennis Airport Drive, Kiln
▪ $4.8 million for vehicle showroom and service center, Bob Boyte, 6025 Mississippi 63, Moss Point
▪ $3.7 million for metal building for Calgon Carbon, 13121 Webre Road, Bay St. Louis
▪ $3.1 million for new elementary school, 5404 Hurley Wade Road, Hurley
▪ $2.3 million for renovation and security upgrades, Harrison County Corrections, 10451 Larkin Smith Drive, Gulfport
▪ $2.1 million for addition to school at 10800 Yellow Jacket Blvd., Ocean Springs
▪ $1.6 million for new commercial at Signal International, 601 Bayou Cassote Pkwy., Pascagoula
▪ $1.6 million for renovation of Walmart, 3911 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
▪ $1.1 million for office for Gulfport Redevelopment Commission, 1401 20th Ave., Gulfport
▪ $1 million for go-kart track, Big Play Entertainment Center, 1816 Beach Blvd., Biloxi
▪ $962,000 for new locker room for Hancock School District, 7070 Stennis Airport Drive, Kiln
▪ $935,000 for new gas station for Keith Saucier/Keithco at 19000 28th St., Long Beach
▪ $907,000 for renovation of football field, Hancock County School District, 7084 Stennis Airport Drive, Kiln
▪ $706,000 for renovation of cath lab for GPCH-GP, 15200 Community Road, Gulfport
▪ $650,000 for addition at Tidal Wave, 2910 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
▪ $650,000 for renovation by Delmar Plaza Holdings, 12057 U.S. 49, Gulfport
▪ $580,000 for ticket booth for Coast Transit at 2015 15th St., Gulfport
▪ $575,000 for new commercial, 6892 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs
▪ $550,000 for renovation for Century Gulfport, 1345-A East Pass Road, Gulfport
▪ $450,000 for addition for Rencon LLC at 2436 W. Commerce St., Ocean Springs
▪ $417,000, addition at Christ Episcopal Church, 2230 Beach Drive, Bay St. Louis
▪ $339,999 for new commercial for Towne Green Inc. at 1117 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
▪ $336,000 for new commercial, First Bank & Trust, 1253 Jackson Ave., Pascagoula
▪ $300,00 for shops for Lassitter Homes, 10725 Mississippi 63, Moss Point
▪ $300,000 for finish of offices and mezzanine, Mississippi Power, 2908 28th St., Gulfport
▪ $290,000 for The Inlet, 2501 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
▪ $288,000 for new commercial units at 3417 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
▪ $269,000 for renovation at Keesler Federal Credit Union, 2420 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
▪ $239,000 for foundation at Mississippi Aquarium, 2100 E. Beach Blvd., Gulfport
▪ $200,000 for renovation at 10490 U.S. 49, Gulfport
▪ $187,000 for addition for Seeman Composites, 12481 Glascock Drive, Gulfport
▪ $170,000 for accessory building for Gulf Pride Land Holdings, 13525 Wilfred Seymour, Ocean Springs
▪ $80,000 for renovation, 2 restrooms, parking lot for Jourdan Nicaud, 9506 Creosote Road, Gulfport
▪ $47,000 for renovation at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, 246 Dolan Ave., Gulfport
▪ $25,000 for nail salon/spa, 12258 Shriner’s Blvd., Biloxi
▪ $20,000 for new hand-washing station, Beau Rivage, 875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi
▪ $20,000 for pole barn for farmers’ market, 7095 Lakeshore Road, Bay St. Louis
— Treen Report
This story was originally published July 6, 2020 at 5:50 AM.
