Video: Columbus Redevelopment Authority to Present Burns Bottom Plans to City Council

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – For 20 years, the Tupelo Development Authority has guided the rebirth of the Fairpark area downtown and is now starting work on West Jackson. Last fall, Columbus turned to a similar public-private partnership in hopes of having its own rebirth in old neighborhoods.

The Columbus Re-development Authority has targeted an area near downtown as its first area to use incentives and tax breaks to encourage more development. City leaders will hear the details at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

The Burns Bottom neighborhood, located near downtown Columbus, may soon have a new look. The Columbus Redevelopment Authority is hashing out preliminary plans to develop the area and will present those ideas to the City Council.

“The Burns Bottom Project is a project that the Redevelopment Authority and I have been working on for the past several months. What we’re looking to do is strategize with some ideas with the Council to see what’s going to be the best direction to go forward with,” says Christina Berry, the Columbus City Planner.

Burns Bottom is currently home to a 70-acre development that includes the Columbus Soccer Complex, which opened in 2012. The Complex has hosted several soccer tournaments, bringing in more visitors and business to the city. The Columbus Redevelopment Authority is exploring how to improve the area and still maintain a family neighborhood feel.

“At this point, we haven’t done any type of market studies or market analysis to see what would best fit the site. However, we feel like residential uses would be good and possibly some commercial uses also,” says Berry.

The Columbus City Council meeting will be held Tuesday night, starting at 5:00pm at the Municipal Complex.