OPINION: Waving back at the red convertible: Remembering, restoring, and reimagining Jackson

By Dr. Stacia V. Hunter

JA Guest Writer

One of my fondest memories  I can recall as a little girl occurred in October 1978, while standing with my mother, brother, and uncle at a parade in Jackson, Mississippi. The excitement was bubbling up as we waited – impatiently –to catch a glimpse of the champ, Muhammad Ali, Men’s Heavyweight Boxing Champion. He was in town to campaign for civil rights activist Charles Evers, who was running for U.S. Senate as an Independent candidate.

 I can still see Ali waving and smiling from the back of a red convertible, larger than life. Behind us loomed a massive building that seemed both grand and ghostly, almost frightening in its emptiness. At the time, I couldn’t understand why such an enormous place sat abandoned, pigeons fluttering in and out of its broken windows.

A Girls Imagination

 In later years, while riding with my grandfather through town, I asked him what this building was and why it was empty. He told me it was the King Edward Hotel, shuttered since the late 1960s after it opened in 1922. “But why did it close?” I pressed. He looked at me and said simply, “Because they didn’t want Black people to stay there.”

I felt deep sadness but also quiet determination. As a child, I believed The King Edward would come alive again, and years later, that dream came true under Mayor Harvey Johnson’s administration. The city’s partnership with Watkins Partners and Historic Renovation Incorporated made the $84 million renovation possible. Despite doubts and budget overruns, the hotel’s restoration became a strong symbol of Jackson’s renewal, showing what is possible when a city respects its history while advancing toward the future. Just as promising, in 2003, was the $20 million renovation of Union Station, which once replaced the Queen Anne Depot after being built in the mid-1920s. In addition, restoration of The Electric 308 Building, located on Pearl Street, began  in 2004, to its original glory of the 1930s.

Downtown Champions

 Downtown is Jackson’s front porch to the world, but it should also open opportunities for South and West Jackson. Without targeted policies for reinvestment, jobs, better transit, and neighborhood support, downtown risks staying isolated amid broader needs. While downtown revitalization can serve as an initial catalyst, it will only be effective if its benefits are extended to every neighborhood. Downtown revitalization alone will not improve schools, fix water infrastructure, or provide affordable housing in South and West Jackson without specific plans. It also doesn’t ensure that wealth reaches underserved neighborhoods. Likewise, many residents feel overlooked when downtown projects are highlighted while local issues remain unresolved.

 Supporting South and West Jackson

We understand renovating downtown properties can raise tax assessments, potentially boosting city funds for public services if reinvested citywide. Construction and new businesses can generate local jobs, especially when contracts favor local and minority-owned companies. However, the need for strong public transport is crucial for a vibrant downtown area. Improving bus routes, sidewalks, and lighting to connect South and West Jackson with jobs and amenities can make commuting safer and more reliable if these improvements are well-funded and well-planned. Moreover, the revival of civic pride can boost Jackson’s image and encourage involvement; however, such changes do not address the core problem of neighborhood disinvestment.

Jackson Jewels

 Jackson faces both opportunities and challenges for future growth. Among the overlooked sites is the city-owned Mynelle Garden in the west, a once-beautiful arboretum and botanical center created in the 1970s. It now requires restoration. Jackson City Hall, originally built in the late 1840s and rebuilt in the 1850s in Greek Revival style, survived the American Civil War undamaged. However, it needs attention to its exterior. The Farish Street District, established following the Civil War and Reconstruction era, emerged as a center for Black professionals and skilled artisans who founded businesses and constructed residences in the area. Most of the existing structures were built from 1890 to 1930.

 Anticipation of Revitalization

 Revitalization goes beyond just physical improvements. It restores dignity, invokes nostalgia, and fosters opportunity throughout the city. Projects like The King Edward Hotel and Union Station demonstrate the value of collaboration, but delaying progress could risk repeating past neighborhood inequalities. Still, after attending the Jackson Redevelopment Authority’s open house, I felt excited again about what’s coming to Jackson, especially as the JRA moved into Union Station to serve as an anchor tenant to help breathe new life into this nearly 100-year-old landmark.

Hard work is being undertaken to bring to life projects such as the Farish Street Redevelopment Plan, Farish Street Soul City Market and Lofts, the Lynch Street District, Poindexter Park Historic District, the Convention Complex District, the Farish Street District, the JXN TECH District, and the Union Station District. However, JRA’s focus also extends to five Urban Renewal Areas designated by the City of Jackson, involving activities initially such as acquisition, demolition, rehab, and bond issuance. These Urban Renewal Projects aim to eliminate the blight and slums that have overtaken our once vibrant city. These areas include the Central Business District, Hwy 80, Jackson State University, Metro Jackson (Metro Center Mall), and the Medical Mall.

Jackson deserves a future where every child – from downtown to South and West Jackson – can stand on the sidewalk, look up at a once-abandoned building brought back to life, and feel that same spark of belonging and hope I felt as a little girl watching my hero Muhammad Ali. That vision calls for more than celebration. It demands action, investment, and a continual commitment to ensure renewal reaches everyone. Only then can we honor our history, strengthen our current efforts, and create a future worthy of all Jacksonians.