Open Air; Farish Street; 609

The opinions expressed in the following program did not necessarily reflect the views of the Mississippi educational network or of its staff. Hi I'm Jack Schweitzer for open air. We're going to be talking about the Farish St.. Historic District neighborhood Foundation today. My guest is Michael hervé. He is executive director of the factory street historic district neighborhood foundation. Very glad to have you here. Thank you Jack. Appreciate it. Farrish street you just mentioned the name and all kinds of interesting exciting thoughts come to mind. A lot's going on in Ferris street. Give us a little background. OK good. We're really excited about the things that are taking place right now. I think that historically you can look at a community that has in fact made major

contributions to the local community to the city of Jackson and the neighborhood is represented a a wonderful example of African-American heritage and culture. And certainly today the implementation of various projects in the Fair Street community will go a long way towards preserving the interpretation and the opportunities for economic development in the Fair Street community. As you know the Fair Street community in Champa says approximately 700 residential units several commercial corridors and then a compas is about one hundred twenty five acres of land in the downtown central business district of Jackson. Jackson Mississippi is downtown central business district from say Farrish and I'm it going down all the way along Ferry Street to Monument past monument. Actually all the way up the fortification street and then from fortification over to Lamar Street that encompasses the proximal one hundred twenty five acres.

It's a pretty big area. It is. It is. And what we're talking about here the first stages am I correct in saying that the first stages are in process right now as we speak. Yes. About the regeneration of that whole area. Right. The restoration Fair Street Foundation working in partnership with the city of Jackson and several other partners including national and state partners is moving towards the implementation of various projects for the restoration of residential and commercial opportunities in the Fair Street district. We have had a wonderful relationship working with the Department of Planning Archives and History The National Trust for Historic Preservation. The local initiative Support Corporation and we're bringing many partners to the table which is what an effort like this is required bring in various partners to take on the opportunities and the challenges that we will undoubtedly deal with with the restoration of the Fair Street community.

Will Farish St.. Jackson Mississippi is really almost like. A dream that is getting to become real. Yes is it not. It is. It is I think the interesting part and certainly did you give credit to to the residents and to the to the foundation members is that from a policy perspective the Fair Street district was listed on the national register as early as 1980 and then it was listed again on the local Jackson City register in 1994. Unfortunately we just had a lapse of time since there's been any significant implementation. With respect to the restoration and the Fair Street community but the I think the steadfast spirit the commitment and the courage to pursue this is really coming to fruition today. Well here we are it's Sunday afternoon May 24th 1998. And if someone would take a walk down Ferry Street say sometime during Monday through Friday at any rate

you're going to see some activity going on workman and. Putting places back together again. Absolutely part of the overall interpretation is in fact incorporating a walking tour for the Fair Street community which will deal with the commercial spine itself and the obviously the restoration of the Alamo which is is one of the first projects to come online. But we also have the smith Robinson museum. We also have what we call the Scott Ford homes which will be the interpretation of two midwifes practices in the Fair Street district. We also have the residential block which is currently underway at this time so that is a major Restoration Initiative currently taking place which includes the restoration of thirty seven shotgun units into 35 Welling's for single family family dollars for elderly and for our low income families. Do you see down the line. Months and maybe even a few years from

now. What different types of living components will be their homes are. Apartments are what will that consist of. Right because it is a historic district. Demolition is really not encouraged and we will try to work to restore as many existing to Alans as possible. And then we're also look for selective in feel. New construction. And again bring in various partners to the table is one way of achieving that. We look for opportunities to work with the churches in the Fair Street community working with groups such as Habitat for Humanity the Jackson Metro Housing Partnership. And there's roles and opportunities for everybody to play within the context of the Fair Street district and that's what we would hope to do. I think down the road you would look at some opportunities where private investment would come back into the district and probably looking at opportunities such as above the first floor of commercial spaces that would create loft

apartments. We would be looking at a lot of homeownership type issues in promoting as much as the home ownership issues as we possibly could could could support. And just looking to build upon the existing fabric that does exist in the Fair Street community. You brought along about five pictures that I'm going to show you right now if we may take a look at those and see what's what's going on there. This lead us here. This is part of the existing conditions of the first phase of the residential project that's currently under a demolition phase and so what you're seeing in this picture is where the existing siding in and its roofing materials and things are being removed from these units. OK. This is another photo of the work in progress where and in the rear of several of the units we were able to expand them to put on an

additional bedroom and increase the actual size of the unit and you're starting to see the formation of the actual unit itself in and the materials that are being applied for that new new unit. And that's the primer paid I believe already down. That's correct that's just a primer paint and there is approximately six or seven different paint scenes that we are incorporating back into that particular project would be an interesting colorful collection of it will be. It will. OK. Here is a front shot of one of the shotgun houses and as you can see it has it's in essence been completely revamped as far as a new roof. You see the new window seals being installed new door frames casings will also be installed. It will eventually have a porch with a railing on it and the entire facade itself will be completely redone on the interior of these units it will be a complete restoration with all new plumbing

mechanical electrical systems flooring cabinets and so forth. All right. Here is another linear shot of some of the homes facing the Ferris Street corridor. And this is the first phase of the 30 35 units that were currently under restoration with. All right. Sort of a. Little pullback shot there of a of a shotgun home. It is and it's also an area where we'll be putting some major infrastructure improvements each each to each of these homes. We'll have a complete new infrastructure provided So what you're looking at there is part of the manholes for the new water and sewer systems that will also be installed as the overall development of this project progresses. This is exciting. I know you all are excited about everything that's going on down there this is like a great big a very important movement for

the community of Jackson Mississippi. Yes. Could not this idea really spill out into other communities all around the state of Mississippi. I think that it certainly could because of the partners that we have working on this project and looking at the unique character qualities that the Fair Street district provides and take a holistic approach towards community and economic development using preservation as the as the incentive and the the basis of preservation as a way to rebuild communities. Looking at the Heritage looking at the culture I think it could set a wonderful example as well as complement much of the existing historic preservation efforts throughout the state of Mississippi. I'm going to pause for a telephone number this is not a call in program but. People around the state may have some questions that you know I'm not able to get to hear during our half hour so you may call a Ferry Street historic district neighborhood foundation at one area 6 0 1 The number is nine for nine four thousand.

And again to get back to some of the the details of the building and renovation that's going on there. What types of of workman are used. What's what's going on. What we're doing right now is that we are engaged with a local minority contractor who serves as general contractor responsible for hiring all of the subs on this particular project and that in enough of itself has been a really strong opportunity for the for the contractor because it's it's a job that's large enough that really creates an economic opportunity because of the large number of homes that we are restoring So we're seeing the participation of contractors the subcontractors the mechanical plumbing Carpenters a lot of people that can actually identify with the community and have actually roots or neighbors or even have live in the Fair Street district so it brings in I think it brings an extra level of pride and

commitment towards making this project a doable project. And of course there are restaurants in place there right now and you've got the Apollo Theater there right now. Right. So it's not like it's all in the future. A lot of it is going on in place right now. That's right. We currently have about three of four major initiatives in the pipeline. The phase one of this residential project will be immediately followed by a Phase 2 so that we can continue to build upon the progress for the residential restoration. In addition to that we have the Scott Ford homes which will be the first to house museums in the Fair Street district which will show the interpretation of the midwife practices that were taking place in the Farrah Street community. So in addition to the entertainment district that a lot of people have heard about. There are multiple number of other projects that we are also consecutively working on. Certainly the churches cannot be overlooked in working in partnership with several churches on both residential programs and other community support programs is an

ongoing initiative of the Fair Street Foundation as well. So you've got social economic. You've you've got people that are going to be affected by many different facets of all of these processes that are in motion. That's correct. That's correct and we feel that it's part of the overall holistic approach to community and economic development by bringing the various partners you know empowering the residents in the community to be a part of the process and working towards a revitalization of different different aspects in tiny in the various various uses to the opportunities for for people to visit or people to live. The smith Robinson museum is another example of that time in institutions and businesses and really looking at this community and is as it was in its heyday and being a very viable and thriving thriving community. So you have people living there and people that are working there and restaurants and places of entertainment and. Smith Robertson you

see him of course that's known in many parts of this country right. Right. It absolutely is it's a wonderful facility has a tremendous amount of potential. The Farrah Street district itself is so. Strategically located to the downtown central business core and literally abuts the downtown capital and many of the state office complexes and certainly looking at this along with some other broader initiatives that one of our partners the National Trust is involved in which would include restoration of the King Edward Hotel and the telecommunications center. These are the types of overall development initiatives that have a relationship that when they it's a ripple effect that when one of them takes off and the other one start to happen you can build upon that towards the overall rejuvenating off that entire area of downtown Jackson. Really almost anything good can happen here. Absolutely at ho it's a win win situation all of cross the board.

Yeah. Just just thinking about the tourism really. Can get you excited when you think about the types of people and where they're going to be coming from. Just a look at what's going on right. Exactly and there many people have been calling and asking questions and certainly we are looking at the Entertainment District is it still a primary economic development opportunity. We feel that we will continue to pursue the development process and move that project along. Identifying additional sources of financing as well as improving the status of the development team bring in the best management and development partners to the table to assist in that effort. Continue with the strategic app acquisitions of property on the Fair Street area and continue to strengthen the project so that it can in fact become a reality and bring brought to fruition. I guess as you said it is important to call it the Federation. The street area because it doesn't compass the the blocks that are around all around very street is right on the entertainment

district is just one of the the projects and programs within the fair Street district itself which encompasses the entire community. We're just just talking about just that one thing what kind of. Entertainment do you foresee happening right in addition to what presently has already been done in addition to what's presently there we'd like to see where Mississippi can basically claim its musical heritage and build upon both the blues and the and the jazz and spiritual interpretations that have have really blossomed grown out of Mississippi and have been you know really relocated to other parts of the country including to Memphis and Bourbon Street and New Orleans but really looking at the opportunities to build upon the rich music and the and the also as far as the food and the indigenous foods and restaurants to to Mississippi. And we would like to keep that theme in terms that the best the Mississippi being able to locate those types of businesses and entrepreneurs

and the Fair Street community. And so when that time comes and some of that time is right now the entertainment is going on right now. It'll just be more of it in the future. That's correct. I want to repeat that phone number if I may. For those interested not it not this is not a call in program but after we're finished during the week. If you have any further questions that you might like to have answer call the Ferry Street historic district neighborhood foundation at 1 6 0 1 9 4 9 4000. Let's see this is 1998. Ninety nine one hundred one two three by twenty hundred three say five years from now what do you think you're going to say when you walk down every street. I think you'll see a lot of pedestrians a lot of tourists visiting the entertainment district and also visiting the other wonderful facilities in a fair strict community like the Smith Robinson museum the Scott Ford homes the

looking at the restoration of the residential redevelopment in the area. I think you might find an assortment of young artists and professionals relocating back into the downtown area or one of the feeder of the opportunities that the inner cities do provide in terms of their access to the arts and the ATR and performances and a lot of the cultural things that just don't exist outside of the inner cities itself. And I think you'll see a viable vibrant community coming back. There is something about a neighborhood that comes back. If you can capture or recapture just a bit of what it was and then build on that to what it can be that isn't exciting. That's exactly what we want to do and certainly there are several models throughout the country including 18th environ in Kansas City which is primarily a redevelopment area but certainly a wonderful story in terms of the interpretation and the

contribution of the bebop jazz form of jazz that's been provided there also. One Hundred and Twenty fifth Street in New York in U Street in Washington D.C. I think we're in a position to really set a standard and to create an opportunity of what the Fair Street community really is all about. So it's just very possible that in the not too distant future people will be talking about. Farish St. in Jackson Mississippi. Absolutely absolutely. As a particular type of music and experience that you can have here that you wouldn't get on the new street are up in Kansas City. That's right New York. That's right. It would really be targeted as a regional destination. So that you're really looking at what the contributions of the Mississippi culture have been and certainly looking at what Fair Street was in his heyday in terms of being the center of commerce and trade in the African-American communities where people recognize you could do everything from Farah's street from being born to die in unfair streets and creating the same type of

economic opportunities today celebrated with the various aspects that we've talked about. Is it also possible that that it becomes in addition to. The neighborhood for a living and entertainment that it also can become really an educational vehicle for young people. Absolutely. One of the primary missions of the Fairfield foundation is the preservation restoration interpretation economic development but an overall educational focus so they have to build upon the wonderful stories and the contributions of the builders that were from Africa African American ancestry and professionals throughout the community that made major contributions. And this community and to the city of Jackson provides an opportunity for young children to reinforce their own self-esteem and their own own understanding of contributions of African-Americans to this to the Fair Street community and in Jackson Mississippi.

Evidently from what you're saying the way you're talking. You get the feeling you've talked with older people you've explored some of their their ways of thinking about the place in which they lived. You talk with them and maybe they gave you some of their direct recollections and of times gone by like the Midwest for a writer and the music of course at the old palace. I was at the Palace Theater the Palace Theater an old palace theater. They the bands and the orchestras that used to play there it's phenomenal. A lot of the elderly people in there in the community in particular remember you know back 40 in 50 years and talk about the different artists in the Big Band Era and various musicians that have all traveled in and song or played on Fair Street in the old hotel which was the location of where many of the artists would stay at that time. Just a lot of different.

Very interesting stories in terms of community and community living. Is that old hotel by any chance still in existence. It's it's still in existence it's certainly in a state of deterioration now and I'm not sure in terms of its opportunities for being restored. But it is still standing but. Is it true that Duke Ellington actually played there at one time very straight. That's my understanding that in most of the big band era artist readings of the various research and essays that have been written about fair astri talked a lot about the various blues in and big band artists that did in fact play on Fair Street Blues big band jazz I guess you have been blues things of that nature yes. Sounds exciting. I think it is wonderful. Yes. I don't know whether I'm imagining this or not. Maybe you can fill me in but I was driving by. Near the corner of a mitt and fairish hole maybe about a month

or six weeks ago and I could have sworn I heard music coming from somewhere and I thought and my hearing was there was music coming from somewhere to the. I'm not sure there are several sound alike outside. It's not like music was being played outside. It could have been we have actually one of the churches conducts a lot of the outreach ministries in the area and and is often times using outdoor gatherings. The location that you describe is very close if not in the same approximate area where we're on the restoration and there's a lot of just activity you know in and around the sides and a lot of noise in the way of machines and equipment so it is it is a very active community right now. I got the impression as I was. Driving and part of the time walking along Ferry Street. Just a month ago that this there's a lot going on here at this is something's happening I just had to find out what it was.

Well I think is the beginning of the overall restoration in the renovate renovation renaissance of the Fair Street district. What would a young person for example say in grade school even just by knowing what's going on and happening here might be inspired to become somehow involved either in the trades or in music or the arts with this whole fiery street excitement. I think so I think all of those examples that you just talked about both professional politicians doctors lawyers brick masons carpenters all existed within this community and being able to pass on to our children and understanding and interpretation as to the contributions that Africans and Americans have made to the district and also to Jackson and in many instances on a much broader scale. I can't help but help give children a better understanding in terms of the choice in the direction

of their own endeavors that they would like to pursue to put it all together. Takes so much work by so many different people I can't can't get over all of this. Well it's true it's a commitment that the majority of the people are very strongly supporting the restoration of the Fair Street community and where we have a lot of partners at the national state and local levels all working and pitching in to help out in this effort. A tremendous amount of partners and by bringing the national concerns to stay concerns the Mississippi Heritage Trust is one of those partners archives in history has been one of the partners we're looking to build additional partnerships with other state and local agencies in continuing to write grants and research opportunities to bring more resources to the restoration efforts in the district. I guess it just it takes an effort the effort that it takes to bring this about is just that it has to be so sustained and so all encompassing with so many different types of people.

I think that's very important because if you don't look at the entire development of the district or just look at one component then it's not likely to be as successful or have as many supporting opportunities to to make it more successful. So the broader the approach and looking at breaking down the actual phased implementation of the projects will strengthen the overall success of the Fair Street district. And everybody just working together to make it happen that's it seems that's one of the most important components of all everybody sticking together and working together to bring it about. That's right. That's right. I want to thank you Michael Herbie executive director for E Street historic district neighborhood foundation for sharing with us about a truly exciting neighborhood an area that's exciting to be a part of of that project. I know and I thank you. Thanks for coming and sharing with us. Thank you Jack I appreciate that and preaching the opportunity to talk to your audience and thank you so much. Thank you. And.

If you have any questions or comments write to open air Mississippi educational television. Thirty eight twenty five. Ridgewood role. In Jackson Mississippi 3 9 2 1 1. Open air is a production of the Mississippi educational television.