Taylor to be developed

The Daily Mississippian
06/01/2006

The village of Taylor, locally acclaimed for its catfish and art, may soon experience a boost in population with the addition of a 200-home development scheduled to begin construction this month.

A 65-acre site located on the corner of Main Street and County Road 335 will soon feature a commercial area with buildings similar to those on the Oxford Square, surrounded by residential homes, said real estate developer Campbell McCool.

McCool is working with Stewart Speed of Jackson on the project, which is expected to be fully completed in 10 years.

"The whole concept is a traditional neighborhood development," McCool said. "[The development is] very pedestrian oriented. The idea is to park your car and walk up to the town square for dinner, go to the picture show, go get dessert and listen to a concert on the square."

The development, previously called Main Street Taylor, is currently nameless due to concerns voiced by Taylor residents in public forum sessions last year.

Citizens of the village also expressed uncertainty about light pollution caused by streetlights, an issue that was appeased with the decision to install hooded streetlights in the area, as well as parking and architecture restrictions.

"We are quite aware that for the Village of Taylor this is a big change," said McCool. "We've tried to be extremely sensitive and go extremely slow."

The population of Taylor, which was home to 298 citizens in 2000, could possibly be doubled by the addition, said Taylor Mayor Jim Hamilton.

He said real estate inquiries are common in the area and while the village has not always had property to sell, the new establishment will offer prospective buyers a variety of land.

"I think [the addition] will be good," Hamilton said. "Change is inevitable. We're too close to the development of Oxford to escape what's going on there."

The development should positively influence the economy of Lafayette County because of increased taxpayers and sales tax, McCool said.

Mark Van Boening, interim chair and associate professor of economics at Ole Miss, agrees that the development will benefit the county, citing increased home sales as a factor, but feels that negative affects may also be felt by residents.

"The quality of living may be a different issue," Boening said. "It's going to change the nature of the small town from a small secluded place to much more urban."

McCool hopes to avoid altering the character of Taylor by accentuating the villages' art community.

Keith Stewart, a potter in Taylor and owner of Stewart Pottery, said the establishment appears to be a well-thought out, pedestrian pleasing development, but he is aware that the addition of homes could bring more indifferent people to the area.

"I don't see it as a bad thing," Stewart said. "[McCool] is a community-minded person who wants to do something of value. People have a right to do with their property as they wish as long as it's not some public health concern - something obnoxious and hazardous."

Sculptor William Beckwith, who owns a studio near Taylor Grocery, believes the establishment will be a good addition to the community.

"I think we'll get some new blood in town, which is new energy," he said.

McCool, who has lived in Taylor in the past, said the overall public reaction to the development has been positive and he does not expect the new area to compromise the atmosphere of the community.

"I think [Taylor] is a very unique blend of old time values and caring people combined with the wonderful flavor of arts," McCool said. "Oxford is just exploding and people view Taylor as a wonderful alternative, so we think it's going to just fit."