While many people stayed home during the coronavirus pandemic, planners and developers in Biloxi were preparing $2 billion in projects for when the country opens up again.
“Transformational projects,” Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich called them in his recent State of Biloxi virtual presentation. He said Biloxi has a vision — and a plan — to take these proposed projects beyond pretty pictures and make them a part of the city.
It’s happening at The District on Howard, where the former JC Penney building has been vacated and is being prepared for renovations and the first lease is signed for a business at the historic Barq building, said Bobby Gillon, director of marketing and leasing.
The announcement of what that new business will be is expected on March 5, when the District Green will open with a block party and give the public a feel for what is coming downtown.
It was tough during the pandemic shutdown last spring, he said, and in the months to follow as investors waited to see what would happen.
“Leasing pretty much came to a halt,” he said.
“We’re hoping and expecting and planning on things opening up,” he said, and he expects three more tenants to sign leases soon and the first businesses to open in late spring and summer.
More parking is needed for the new businesses downtown and when the Biloxi Shuckers resume play at MGM Park, where the home opener is scheduled for May 11.
Biloxi’s public works department is making enhancements to the parking area under the I-110 bridge, Gillon said, creating a walkway to the new Fly Llama Brewing and the Martini’s bar and restaurant that will open at the Machado Patano building. The area will be strung with lights to make it safe and inviting, he said. Gilich said the transformation of Howard Avenue began when the street was paved in brick.
Now, work is underway to transform the old Josette’s costume shop on Howard into 23 high-end apartments with two ground- level retail spaces. Owner Jourdan Nicaud said the apartments will be ready by the end of the year.
His family continues to make repairs on the historic Magnolia Hotel into Field’s Flights steak and oyster house. Until the work is complete, the chefs are giving a preview with a pop-up restaurant at their sister restaurant, Fill-Up with Billups, just down the street.
The first step to restoring the downtown Saenger Theatre was getting the exterior secure.
Saenger Theatre Construction
“Contractors have wrapped up the renovations to the fly tower, or the large area that houses the stage equipment,” Gilich said. Now they will begin sealing bricks on the outside to help reduce future interior damage.
The big developments on the horizon in Biloxi are casinos — the $1.2 billion UMUSIC resort proposed by Universal Music at the former Broadwater site in West Biloxi, and a proposed $700 million casino at the Tivoli site in East Biloxi. The rock band Kiss planned to cut the ribbon on a Rock & Brews casino resort in East Biloxi, just as the pandemic hit.
Each of the casinos faces challenges, most notably to raise the money needed to go to the Mississippi Gaming Commission and get permission to proceed. UMUSIC casino is expected to draw 2 million visitors a year but doesn’t have easy access from the interstate. The Tivoli property also needs site approval from the Gaming Commission and Rock & Brews has a choice waterfront site but is tucked away off U.S. 90.
Gilich said that construction value in the city was $30.8 million more in 2020 than in 2019, with permits issued for 465 commercial projects and 968 homes and residences.
Community Bank Biloxi
“We saw completion of apartment complexes, homes and businesses such as Pep Boys Automotive Center on Highway 90, Shipley Do-Nuts on Popp’s Ferry and The Cannery Bar n’ Grill on Shriners Boulevard in Woolmarket,” he said. “We saw permits issued and construction begin for the new Community Bank Building in downtown, the Biloxi Public Schools Performing Arts Center and the Margaritaville amusement park — just to name a few.”
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