Jackson Free Press

Baptist Hospital Eyeing Restaurant Building
Baptist Health Systems is in talks with owners of Keifer's Restaurant to purchase the Belhaven eatery's site on Poplar Boulevard. Baptist spokesman Robby Channell said that the move, while not finalized, is part of the hospital's plans to construct a five-story mixed-use office building nearby on the site of the KFC at North State and Manship streets, which it owns.

Channell said that he believed Keifer's had plans to relocate nearby. The restaurant's owners were not available for comment this morning.

With the help of the Greater Belhaven Neighborhood Foundation, Baptist has developed long-term plans for the 13 acres it owns in Belhaven, including a parking garage and condominiums near the office building.

"We're doing it one piece at a time," Channell said, citing economic uncertainty.

Landmark Healthcare Facilities, the Milwaukee, Wisc.-based firm that will manage the building, has not confirmed tenants for the office building's ground floor, which will house retail and a restaurant. Channell said that Baptist hopes to break ground on the building early in 2011.

Savoy Boutique Opens
Interior designer and stylist Thomas Roots is opening The Savoy Boutique, a women's clothing boutique and salon in northeast Jackson. The Jackson native has handled event planning and styling for local events for 20 years, through his own company Thomas By Design. Savoy is the new retail incarnation of The Bon Marche, Roots' previous design and styling business.

The boutique will offer women's evening and casual wear and employ two stylists, Roots said. The boutique opens Saturday, Dec. 11, with a grand opening celebration--featuring, music and to follow on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Regular hours for The Savoy Boutique are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Savoy Boutique is located at 4956 Old Canton Road. Call 601-506-7545 for more information.

Choctaw-Owned Business Wins NASA Contract
Applied Geo Technologies, Inc., a company the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians owns, will serve as a subcontractor for the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. AGT, which has its corporate headquarters in Choctaw, Miss., will provide laboratory management services for the center. The company has previously managed the NASA Stennis Space Center in Hancock County.

Business Events

The Jackson Business Accelerator Collaboration hosts a business plan workshop every Tuesday and Thursday, from 10:30 a.m. to noon or from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. J-BAC is located at the New Horizon Center, 1770 Ellis Ave. Call Michael Harris at 601-540-5415 or Andrea Morris at 601-371-1427 for more information.

The U.S. Small Business Administration hosts its 8(a) Business Development Workshop Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. The free event focuses on opportunities for small businesses to get federal government contracts. The workshop takes place in the SBA Conference Room at Regions Plaza, 210 East Capitol Street. Register by calling 601-965-4378, ext. 13, 14 or 19.

Venture Incubator hosts its Small Business Success Seminar Dec. 14, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The free event takes place on the second floor of Regions Plaza. Register by e-mailing [e-mail missing] or calling Wes Holsapple II at 601-906-4868.

Also on Dec. 14, the City of Jackson hosts a networking reception for primary contractors, subcontractors and vendors. Billed as a "relationship-building opportunity," the event will allow business owners to meet with Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. and city officials. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Jackson Convention Complex. For more information, contact Equal Business Opportunity Officer (EBO) Officer Pamela Confer at 601-960-1638 or Business Development Manager Mike Davis at 601-960-1851.

Previous Comments

ID

161214

Comment

I'm excited for the expansion but fear this "condo" side of the development may harm the rental market in Belhaven. Do we need a tower of condos ? Are they going to be focused for Doctor/Nurse types to live in or senior care housing, section 8's ? I'm interested in seeing who is allowed to live in a Baptist Hospital/Landmark run housing facility.

Author

Sanity

Date

2010-12-07T18:05:23-06:00

ID

161215

Comment

Baptist has 13 acres in Belhaven and still feels a need to wipe away a neighborhood landmark? Fair enough if they are actually moving, and another restauranteur does not want to take the space, but i am not convinced from this. There are plenty of empty buildings in that general area, as well as empty lots and parking lots that baptist may well already own, why not maximize the use of those? Where can we find more information on their "long term plans" that they have developed with the help of GBNF? A last question, what is the tax status of these plans. While i am sure that the hospital does not pay taxes on its land, this sounds like a for-profit venture that surely will be subject to property tax, right? The last thing Jackson needs is another non-profit taking land off the tax rolls - we already have Baptist downtown. (for that matter, what about the 13 acres that they own in B'haven, if it is not part of their non-profit mission, do they pay taxes on it? Could someone enlighten me on that situation?)

Author

jrt

Date

2010-12-07T21:54:36-06:00

ID

161218

Comment

Baptist does pay taxes on land except for where the actual hospital(Baptist Medical Center) is located.

Author

Baptist Medical News

Date

2010-12-08T09:23:54-06:00

ID

161219

Comment

I assume this means that Pizza Shack is also a goner?

Author

Kevin Slark

Date

2010-12-08T11:38:45-06:00

ID

161225

Comment

Hopefully Keifer's and Pizza Shack will relocate very nearby, either on the other side of Poplar, or maybe along Fortification Street. I love both places and would not want them moving too far away from their current locations.

Author

Izzy

Date

2010-12-08T13:55:59-06:00

ID

161234

Comment

This could really help with the development/gentrification around Fortification, I'd still like to know what type of residential housing will be provided ? Call me Ken Stokes but I think the gas stations are the biggest thing holding back redevelopment in this area, at least the one's not providing 24 hr security.

Author

Sanity

Date

2010-12-08T15:45:28-06:00

ID

161244

Comment

Sanity, you use "gentrification" as if it's a positive. Did you mean to say that?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-12-09T09:28:20-06:00

ID

161247

Comment

Why would a gas station hold the area back? People do need to have gas for their cars. While security would be a legitimate concern, it hasn't stopped the area from progressing. I'd hate for the Pizza Shack to move, but as long as they stay in the area, then I'll be good.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2010-12-09T14:28:08-06:00