By Megan Ashley Fink

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Soon, the Isle of Capri casino will float away from Silver Street, and the people of Natchez Under-the-Hill are making visions for the future.

Jill Alexander, communications director for Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., said that the casino’s floating barge fashioned into a riverboat would be moved in the coming weeks, if weather permits.

“There are a few days of December included in (the date range), but a lot depends on weather,” Alexander said.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said he sees the historical and economical importance of Silver Street growing.

“My vision, personally, for Silver Street is to keep it as probably the most relevant historical spot in the city’s inventory,” Brown said.

He said the Natchez Under-the-Hill neighborhood’s economic potential is unmatched.

“It’s probably the most desired river stop on the Mississippi River other than New Orleans. We’re just blessed that we still have Silver Street and those historical buildings there on the river,” Brown said.

Brown said that he wants to see the area become a hub for tourist vessels in order to enrich the economy of downtown Natchez.

“About 30 percent of our direct employment is tourism or tourism related. We need to encourage that solid industry… tourists migrate (to Under-the-Hill) as soon as they come to the city,” Brown said.

The city government is still working out details about docking facilities at Natchez Under-the-Hill, Brown said, but the exit of Isle of Capri may allow another docking space for tourist-laden riverboats to land.

“We now have three, and probably four, and in 2017 we may even have a fifth boat docking, plus this new cruise ship that’s coming,” the mayor said.

Brown declined to provide details about the new cruise ship, but said it was supposed to be a large, upper-scale vessel.

“I’m told with very good assurances that probably within the next month it will be relocated to Natchez,” Brown said.

The mayor also said that the city is working to obtain state or federal funding to build a new docking facility for at least two vessels. Brown said that he would like the new facility to be located at Natchez Under-the-Hill.

“We’re not funded yet, but we’ve talked to everybody under the sun and we’ve got applications everywhere,” Brown said.

André Farish and his sister, Melissa Morrison, run Under-the-Hill Saloon, directly across from where the American Queen was docked on Wednesday. Farish said he was excited at the prospect of more riverboats coming to the area.

“We’ll have room for them now. Instead of parking in Vidalia, they need to be over here. It’s more historically correct,” Farish said.

Farish said he hopes to have more parking for their customers available where the Isle of Capri parking lot has been for years. The parking lot is privately owned.

Natchez businessman James Biglane and his family own the parking lot along with much of the property at Natchez Under-the-Hill.

Brown said that the jury is out as to what will happen with the parking lot.

“People are conjuring up ideas of how to use it, but the people who have to make the decision are the owners,” he said.

Brown said he estimated the Biglane family owns approximately 75 percent of the restored portion of Under-the-Hill.

“The Biglane family has been good stewards of the property they own Under-the-Hill,” Brown said.

Biglane’s office said that the Isle of Capri lease will run out sometime in the next year, but no definitive plans currently exist for developing the property.

Gail Guido, owner of Silver Street Gallery and Gifts and resident Under-the-Hill, said that she’s excited for new development in the area.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Under-the-Hill develop more for more tourist attractions like parks and museums. That’s what I have in my head, what I’d like to see happen,” Guido said.

Brown suggested that the National Park Service might seek to develop the area.

“The National Park Service has always had an eye on that property … they’d probably love to have it and use it. We don’t have a clue as to what the next use will be,” Brown said.

Guido said she’s also excited about the prospect of more riverboats landing across the street and what that would mean for business.

“I’m thrilled because I’m right at their doorstep… 75 percent of (my customers) are from Europe, and they’re on that blues trail from Memphis to New Orleans,” Guido said.

Brown said that he has approached the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help build up the Under-the-Hill area. Today area is approximately half the size of what it was before the Giles Cut, a 1930s era project that straightened the Mississippi River north of Natchez, but led to erosion at Natchez Under-the-Hill.

Brown said that it is unlikely that the city can restore Under-the-Hill to its original 22-acre size, but he feels that expansion beyond Silver Street is in store for the neighborhood.

“What I’d like to see is another boat dock landing space between (Silver Street and Roth Hill Road). And that will come,” Brown said.