Developers of the proposed CottonMill Marketplace project were in Starkville Wednesday and said they expect to complete financing on the $100 million-plus undertaking at the edge of the Mississippi State University campus by the end of the year.
During a special call meeting of the Starkville Board of Aldermen, CottonMill Development Group managing partner Mark Boutwell told city officials he anticipates financing for the project to be finalized between Dec. 28 and Dec. 30. Fellow CottonMill Development Group managing partner Mark Nicholas said a log cabin at the corner of Spring Street and Highway 12, where Burger King once was located, is set to be disassembled in early January and relocated to make room for the project.
The development is planned between Russell Street and Spring Street, north of Highway 12. The first phase of the project would transform the Cooley Building along Russell Street into a convention center with a ballroom and office space. A hotel and freestanding restaurant would be located to the south of the Cooley Building.
A five-story parking garage is planned between the restaurant and Highway 12, though the structure will be “encased” with residential units so passing motorists on Highway 12 “don”t see a parking deck,” Nicholas said.
The second phase of the project would include construction of retail anchor stores and other businesses, as well as additional residential units, Nicholas said.
“It will be world-class,” he said.
Aldermen Wednesday approved a resolution which puts the city in a position to move forward, through an $8 million Community Development Block Grant, to purchase land for construction of the parking garage. The land was appraised at $500,000, Mayor Parker Wiseman said.
Wiseman said he is thrilled to see the CottonMill project so close to construction. Nicholas gave a planned completion date of summer or fall of 2012.
“All of the signs are great,” Wiseman said. “The next three weeks will be critical to the success of this project and we feel very enthusiastic about the course it has taken.”
Nicholas also was relieved to see the project moving forward after four years of planning and months of delays.
“After four years, it”s remarkable that we are finally here,” Nicholas said. “This will be a defining moment for Starkville and Mississippi State University.”
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