Video: Burns Bottom Debate Continues

[syndicaster id=’5659452′]

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — John Acker didn’t have much luck swaying county supervisors about the future of about seven blocks in what is known as Burns Bottom .

Columbus and Lowndes County leaders agree the Burns Bottom area just to the east of the new downtown park and soccer complex needs to be redeveloped. But they have conflicting views on who should develop it and what should go there.

“We would love a city county partnership, we would love a big happy family if that’s what we can come to. If we can’t then we’ll have to pursue other avenues, ” says Acker.

“I think that the county, on their own, should go ahead and buy the vacant lots and the dilapidated housing lots and turn that into green space, ” says Sanders.

The county already owns some Burns Bottom lots. Sanders says buying others as they become available and leaving them as green space would enhance the soccer complex and make room for future expansion. And it would avoid bad neighborhoods in the future.

But with or without the county, the city says getting control over all the lots would make it easier to attract a developer interested in a residential and commercial mix.

The city formed the redevelopment authority last year, following a model used successfully by Tupelo, Chattanooga and other cities around the country. The public-private partnerships acquire land and then work with developers to get the property improved and back on the tax rolls. The Burns Bottom area involves 68 lots worth taxed at about a million dollars.

“Try to determine what our partners are, and the financing and the planning process,” says Acker.

Acker says the Authority hopes to have appraisals completed within 90 days. Then it’ll pitch the next step.