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Who knows who you might bump into
Published Friday, June 27, 2008
If you ever walked along the Vidalia Riverfront four years ago, you were assured of bumping into someone from Natchez.
It was a favorite spot to go for desperate photojournalists on a slow news day. I am sure many readers were tired of seeing Ben Hillyer photos of children splashing in the fountain or silhouettes of walkers pounding the concrete on the riverfront.
Many of my days staking out the riverfront looking for an interesting angle were spent meeting and talking to parkgoers. Inevitably I would meet someone from the other side of the river..
Conversations with Natchez residents always seemed to lead to one topic — why can’t Natchez have something like the Vidalia Riverfront?
As people flocked to the Louisiana side of the river, the Mississippi bluffs in Natchez stood empty.
Many summer days, I would drive five or 10 times along Broadway Street in hopes of finding one person standing in the gazebo.
The Vidalia Riverfront became for some Natchez residents a symbol of how Vidalia was progressing and Natchez remained mired in the city politics and squabbling.
Interestingly, while people grumbled about the issue on the Vidalia Riverfront, incremental changes were happening in Natchez.
The area was evolving at such a slow pace that it was barely perceptible by regular visitors.
Bowie’s Tavern added outdoor dining tables. The Country Inn and Suites hotel was emerging from the empty lot in front of the convention center. The city contracted with the Lane Company to add a casino at the end of Roth’s Hill. The Natchez Trails project received funding.
All the while, businesses like Cock of the Walk and Old South Trading Post were catering to tourists and locals alike.
In the span of four years, signs of life have begun to spring up along Broadway Street and the Mississippi River Bluff.
On recent photography assignments, I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of people in the area.
During a walk from my parking place to a hotel event, I saw a group of people rehearsing for a wedding at the gazebo, diners along Bowie’s Tavern filling the restaurant’s outside dining areas, clusters of people strung along the edge of the bluffs overlooking the river, guests enjoying the view from the hotel’s park benches and children playing in the park’s fountain.
It was a refreshing change from those days when I felt like I was the only one around with no one to photograph.
Instead of a blank, dusty parking lot for the convention center, the hotel has become a link between two popular restaurants. It has helped contain people and make the street more lively.
Amazingly, Natchez may end up with a vibrant energetic riverwalk after all.
Imagine the potential. When Lane Company’s proposed grandstand at the foot of Roth’s Hill is complete, when the Natchez Trails project is finished, the area between Broadway and the river could evolve into a bustling entertainment district offering dining, concerts, recreation — all with one of the most amazing views in the world.
All the elements are there.
With a little more focus from the city and businesses to provide amenities, like wider walks, benches, lighting and more places for people to eat, meet and have a good time, Broadway could end up resembling smaller versions of other regional entertainment districts — like Memphis’ Beale Street, New Orleans’ French Quarter or Birmingham’s South Side.
Then who knows who you might bump into. It just might be someone from Vidalia.
Ben Hillyer is the Web editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3540 or by e-mail at ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Ben, you give me hope that somehow, someway, some folks will wake up to our potential to be a beautiful small town with a great riverfront attraction like many other towns and cities have been doing.
More city emphasis on Broadway is a great idea. Maybe we can get rid of perpetual dumpsters while we are at it. But development under the hill, by the river, is also necessary and should not be completely turned over to casinos.
Now, tie these two areas together with trails and then connect them to the Visitor Center by trails, then connect them to Vidalia's riverfront by a bridge walkway and we'll have a true local gem and also a real tourist attraction.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 3:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is not going to be beautiful if the town doesn't get its act together OldGrandDad. All the jockeying for money and power will ruin what could be.
Don't worry about the trails though. The National Park Service is going to make some on that land on Canal St. and those will do what you wish.
The only thing we have to worry about is how all this is going to be paid for, and how bad the coming inflationary depression caused by all these spending programs will be.
Bloomberg said a couple of days ago 5000 dollar gold might not be unreasonable, and that with gold at 5000 oil would be at 500.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 6:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree about getting the act together. We've had plenty enough time for rehearsals. But I expect the Park Service to move at snail speed so I ain't counting on them. Have you noticed their own delapidated houses?
Oil at $500? Looks like I'm in the right business.
But I hear tell that someone skilled in placer mining can make a good living in eastern Alabama off of gold. And that was a couple of years back when I heard it. I guess its hard work, but it sure looks peaceful.
Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on June 27, 2008 at 6:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wouldn't it be great if the individual who has a death grip on Under-the-Hill sold at least a few of the buildings so that businesses could open there. Imagine what the Roth Hill riverfront and Under-the-Hill could be in combination with one another.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Idefinitelymight - If he figured he could make the money off of any development, he would do it. If he did sell it, he would have to make caboodles in the process. But don't forget, after you bought it or rented it you couldn't have late hours or any noisy patrons in the area or he would try to have you shut down or bankrupted by your legal fees fighting him.
Posted by speakeasy (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wouldn't it be nice if our Silver Street "Under the Hill" area could once again be lined with shops, restaurants, and become our entertainment district. I can't envision Roth's Hill Road becoming a component of public use with the advent of gambling down there. Isn't that road too narrow and with no outlet? What if there was a real emergency while that narrow, steep road is clogged with traffic? What if a big beer truck lost it's brakes on descent? Have they figured out the answers to these kinds of scenarios?
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on June 27, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There was some mention way back about trying to recover some of the Natchez Under the Hill property from the river???
Just think:
Duels in the street.
Merchants dressed in "period" costumes
Maybe some arts and craft exhibitions
And on and on.
Posted by speakeasy (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, Gary, I've always envisioned the same for the Roth's Hill Road area, with restaurants and shops. Roth's Hill is ready for that kind of thing: gardens, a close-up communion with the river, a restaurant, a marina, with a dinner boat cruising at sunset.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Many nights recently I have gone into Old South Trading Post and gotten some of his Bryer's ice cream on a cone and then walk along the walk behind it looking and admiring the sunset.....did it again last night after the storm and the sunset was gorgeous.
Posted by observer (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ben, there was a time when Roth Hill connected with Learned's Mill Rd. You could walk down one and come up the other, if I'm not mistaken. I believe there also used to be a road connection downstream to Water St. Of course high water is an annual, if temporary, problem.
Realistically, only the land along the river side of Broadway, on our bluffs, is suitable for the beautiful public park you envision with walking and biking trails and picnic areas. Our majestic view of the river from the 200 ft. bluff makes the Vidalia Riverfront pale in comparison.
Of course, (unless unwise developments occur) Vidalia gets to look at our beautiful, historic skyline of turrets and steeples, and we get to watch gorgeous sunsets across the river. Let's hope that there will be much more interest in developing the EAST side of Broadway into the shops, reataurants and attractions mentioned by Ben, and that the western side of the street will remain untarnished by buildings that block the access and the unparalleled view that should belong to all of us.
It seems a shame that were not more openings into the new hotel from the sidewalk on the Broadway side, where visitors and locals could shop and dine. This would have encouraged strolling the bluffs and sidewalks further. There was once a restaurant in the old Lombardo Building, and the Callon building, I believe. There are all kinds of possibilities for the future.
Let's just remember to keep any view blocking, dangerous developments off of the western side by observing the 100 ft. rule and the height restrictions.
Posted by chazbear28 (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SayItRight, don't forget that he wouldn't give up any area to park, even if you did own a building along Silver Street. No place to park; No customers. Oh, and the city is NOT going to help you with that.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The city sure won't help you, that's for sure, chazbear28! What I wanna know is why the city allowed only one person have options to buy that property Under the Hill? Why was he allowed to monopolize that area? And he's done nothing with this historic area known around the world! It's just a "buy and sit on it" kind of deal. I think it's a power trip! But hey...I made the old stoneface smile at me one time!
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why aren't the Garden Clubs taking on planting gardens along the top of the bluff? Why don't they do what they do best, garden!! Enhancing the public space with plants and flowers could turn that area into the Natchez Public Garden, like Boston's.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's not a power trip kpage. It is good business. He is just waiting to sell at the right time, and that time is getting close and it could be very right when it happens.
The fellow's grandfather, way back in the sixties, used to regularly attempt to buy a lot my grandfather owned on Canal St. at 504. I believe that lot my grandfather sold for not much was recently part of a parcel that sold for over a million to the Park Service.
Some people know things others don't. The more money you have the more money you can get, and the more money you have the more politicians like and ingratiate themselves to you.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad, if oil goes to 500 milk will be 25 a gallon if you can get it, bread will be 15 dollars a loaf or more. And that is if current ratios hold at all.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hoarding and glutton whatever, for whatever reason, is two of the seven deadly sins. Maybe the guy under the hill will realize this before it's too late. But I doubt it!!!!!!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I see EnKi's point as well as destiny's. As world-known as the place is, it's a shame he's so stingy with it; in fact he's downright anti-business. Has the personality of a flat tire.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on June 27, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The personality of a flat tire?
How about the terminology, "He had the personality of a door knob, but he wasn’t as outgoing or friendly as a door knob."
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm really not for the hoarding of stuff either destiny. Wealth has become far too concentrated in our country and the world at large. I was just pointing out how some people magically figure profitable things out way ahead of anyone else.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ya'll go look at what lot and home prices can be if you know the magic:
http://www.lostrabbit.com/homes-and-lots...
Posted by chazbear28 (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that he actually only owns a small part; The part that has the gate, and can grant or deny entry to Water Street. I do seem to recall that all of that Water Street area, to Roth Hill, was worked on at considerable expense to the tax payers.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If milk is $25 a gallon, I guess it will be time to get that cow I keep talking about.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hurry now. Cow prices will go up too.
Interesting article on WHO is driving up oil prices.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/O...
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Really, a cow should be worth two or maybe three barrels of oil.
It's back to the same old problem OldGrandDad. It would be good enough if no attempt was made to earn interest by trading contracts. This whole crazy money system is responsible for both the gains and losses.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"It is not going to be beautiful if the town doesn't get its act together OldGrandDad. All the jockeying for money and power will ruin what could be."
I agree EnKiKur. The book cooking and under-the-table dealings at the hospital are indicative of how this town works. Anyway somebody said that's what somebody said.
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