The City of Jackson is one step closer to purchasing the "Jackson Plaza"

12/13/22

JACKSON, TENN (WNBJ)-

“I'm very optimistic that is going to happen because we need it. We need some redevelopment for that area,” Mayor Scott Conger said.

But before the area project happens, the city council has to give it the final okay. Today in a special called city council meeting, the council passed the budget amendment on first reading to add the 4-million dollars to purchase the "Jackson Plaza" into the budget.

The council will take up the matter again in their January 3rd meeting for the second reading.

“There's a lot of boxes and things that we have to check, a lot of considerations that we have to have on the greater area and the impacts of something like that would have and a lot of coordinated effort with adjacent property owners," said City Councilmen Paul Taylor who is the Budget Committee Chair.

Then the council has to vote for the city to buy the 20-plus acres of the “Jackson Plaza”.

The mayor is pushing to build the arena convention center, “I think this is a huge endeavor. You know, we have a lot of momentum in the city of Jackson. If we're going to do something, which is time for us to do something, do something big," Conger said.

Council members want to buy the property, but some want to explore all the options for the site, “We understand that it's the geographic center of our city and so it's really important that whatever redevelopment happens there that we get it right," Taylor said.

Once the council approves the purchase they want to have studies done to see what the best use for the property would be.

Don’t expect too much change here anytime soon, the council and the mayor agree it could be years before we see something new here.