The much-delayed development formerly known as CottonMill will soon be given new life now that a committee has been established to oversee the approval of new designs and a new construction manager.
The committee was officially formed Tuesday night after the Starkville Board of Aldermen added the motion for consideration to the consent agenda. The motion originally called for Mayor Parker Wiseman and one alderman to serve as the city representatives, but it was amended to include three aldermen: Ward 2 alderman Sandra Sistrunk, Ward 4 alderman Richard Corey and Ward 5 alderman Jeremiah Dumas. The city’s members will join a representative from “The Mill” project, along with a representative from Mississippi State.
Sistrunk says she thinks Mark Castleberry will likely represent The Mill and the Cooley Center, while MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw will represent the university.
An $8 million Community Development Block Grant through the Mississippi Development Authority is slated to provide some of the funds for the project.
Plans for a four-level, 650-space parking deck will be included in the new project, regardless of who is chosen from the recent request for proposals.
Those RFPs were due no later than 10 a.m. today.
The selection process will likely move quickly, Sistrunk said, adding that she is a little surprised the grant funds were still available.
“I really doubt it takes months,” Sistrunk said. “We need to stay on track to make sure we get those things done.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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