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Developer David Watkins has just informed the Jackson Free Press that the Jackson Redevelopment Authority has chosen a proposal presented by him, Deuce McAllister and Historic Restoration Inc. to restore the Standard Life Building. JRA chose their proposal from three, including one from TCI of Dallas, with close connections to controversial businessman Gene Phillips, a friend of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton. (See post below.) Earlier today, TCI won their bid to develop the $180 million Convention Center hotel.

Last year, Melton tried to derail HRI’s plan to redevelop the King Edward Hotel in order to divert the project to Gene Phillips.

“I was sort of surprised,” said Jackson attorney David Watkins, who is working with HRI on both the Standard Life and neighboring King Edward redevelopment. “We knew we had the best plan, but that doesn’t mean you always win.”

More details soon.

Previous Comments

Great news for Jackson! I can’t wait to see their plans.

#93044 | Author: tombarnes | Date: Jun 27 2007

YAY! I sure could use some good news. I hope Melton doesn’t try to do anything to HRI. Also, I wouldn’t mind if Watkins or McAllister ran for office in Jackson one day. 😀

#93045 | Author: LatashaWillis | Date: Jun 27 2007

Thanks JRA board for looking out for the city that fm wants to give away.

#93046 | Author: jada | Date: Jun 28 2007

Despite all the naysayers, the news keeps getting better for Jackson. Let us all hope and pray that Frank keeps his hand out of this cookie jar.

#93047 | Author: golden eagle | Date: Jun 28 2007

Go Saints! 😉 In case anyone missed it, the Saints added Kendrick Clancy from Ole Miss as a free agent. You can’t pass up the great publicity that having a Deuce McAllister involved in rebuilding downtown provides. And, it certainly doesn’t hurt that the Saints are now a good NFL team! Way to go Deuce, David, HRI, and the rest of your team! Hey… Didn’t Mayor Melton say one of his problems with the JPS Bond project was that it was going to an out of state company? That he was only trying to stay LOCAL by trying to (wink, wink) “promote” IMS to the Board over the other local company they chose? So, what makes the TX company and Gene Phillips local? I doubt the FBI overlooks the contradicting statements Melton makes each day.

#93048 | Author: pikersam | Date: Jun 28 2007

MFP Solutions Lab logo

The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.

Founding Editor Donna Ladd is a writer, journalist and editor from Philadelphia, Miss., a graduate of Mississippi State University and later the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she was an alumni award recipient in 2021. She writes about racism/whiteness, poverty, gender, violence, journalism and the criminal justice system. She contributes long-form features and essays to The Guardian when she has time, and was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press. She co-founded the statewide nonprofit Mississippi Free Press with Kimberly Griffin in March 2020, and the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the state's top CEOs in 2024. Read more at donnaladd.com, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @donnerkay and email her at donna@mississippifreepress.org.