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Vidalia sees growth spurt in construction, business
Published Sunday, July 6, 2008
VIDALIA — Nearly every Vidalia Board of Aldermen meeting contains an agenda item that might as well be labeled “growth.”
In the last year, the city has granted 24 occupational licenses for new businesses and eight building permits for new business construction within the city. The city also granted construction permits for 10 new residences.
That amount of development for the town of approximately 4,250 residents is what Mayor Hyram Copeland called “an all-time high.”
“We have the most construction going on in Vidalia I have ever seen, both in businesses and houses,” Copeland said.
In fact, it was that growth that attracted Ryan Paul to Vidalia.
The owner of the commercial complex across from Wal-Mart on Carter Street, Paul said he was trying to choose between Ruston and Vidalia to build the complex.
“We went with Vidalia because we saw where the commercial property industry needed space for new tenants,” Paul said.
He said through reading local newspapers and talking with Copeland, he realized just how quickly Vidalia is growing.
“The economic potential in Vidalia has been on a boom,” he said.
He said out of the four commercial spaces he had up for rent, three of them have already been snatched up and turned into a home care agency, a gym and he converted one of the spaces into a business of his own, Afterglow Tanning Salon.
“We’re just down to one,” he said. “We had them rented out before construction began.”
Likewise, Dr. Ibrahim Seki opened a private family practice on Carter Street two and a half months ago based on supply and demand.
“This is a growing town and it needs more family practices,” he said.
Most, but not all, of the new businesses are local, but when Wal-Mart opened two years ago local leaders predicted it would generate other national businesses, and Copeland said other chains are eyeing the city with a mind to open there.
That, however, leaves a hanging question — where?
Much of the commercially zoned areas of the city have already been developed, and other currently empty lots are in the process of being sold for that same purpose.
In fact, the city seems to have developed right to its borders, just beyond Logan Sewell Road to its west and buffering the Mississippi River on the Vidalia Riverfront on the east.
Part of the reason the town has developed along the lines it has is because of a master plan the city adopted a few years ago that encouraged businesses to develop along Carter Street, which is a shared route with U.S. 84, which in turn connects U.S. 61 to U.S. 65.
“It’s only natural to want to develop on Carter Street because of the high amount of traffic,” Copeland said.
With the four-laning of U.S. 84 completed, traffic along Carter Street is projected to increase to 42,000 vehicles a day, Copeland said.
That traffic was part of why Seki located where he did.
“I get so many people from Monterey,” Seki said.
He said he also gets patients from Jonesville and Ferriday.
“Vidalia is the hub of this area,” Seki said.
And though the Riverfront has seen significant development in the last few years — Slough Daddy’s moved into an existing building, but the Comfort Inn and Suites, the Riverpark Medical Center and the Vidalia Convention Center were all new construction — there is still some room on the riverfront for more beyond the current Promise Hospital construction and the proposed Holiday Inn site, Copeland said.
“There is still approximately 10 acres for development left on the riverfront,” he said.
Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton said less restrictive development regulations in Vidalia, like their mixed use Riverfront, allows Vidalia to grow more freely than Natchez.
“Historically they don’t have as many guidelines,” he said of Vidalia.
Middleton said Natchez’s stringent development codes, particularly downtown, can contribute to slower development in the area.
Most of Vidalia’s growth hasn’t been in its small downtown district, though. It has been along the riverfront or down Carter Street.
The last time the city annexed any commercial property was approximately five years ago. But some areas within the city may have to be rezoned to accommodate new businesses, Copeland said.
“There is some land on Logan Sewell Road and behind Popeye’s (on Murray Drive) that doesn’t have a lot of residential development on it,” he said.
As for Copeland, the land squeeze in the city hasn’t left him feeling squeezed.
“It’s a good problem we have,” he said.
President of the Adams County Board of Supervisors Henry Watts said he believes Copeland’s “open door policy,” for business development in Vidalia has worked to the city’s advantage.
“He’s always open to ideas and welcomed business,” Watts said of Copeland. “That kind of can-do attitude is contagious.”
In fact, Watts said Natchez could learn a lesson from Vidalia.
Watts said Natchez is widely known as a good place to have a party and a difficult place to do business.
“That’s frustrating,” he said.
Watts, like Middleton, said development restrictions in the downtown area can make bringing new business to the area unnecessarily difficult.
Watts said if local leaders made a greater effort to have an open-minded attitude about business development in the city, the city would benefit.
“They can turn it around,” he said.
Comments
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to agree with Watts this time....Vidalia is growing in leaps and bounds...Ruston is also growing like crazy....
Hats off to Mayor Copeland...Vidalia has done a wonderful thing with there riverfront.....
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 2:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez needs an "attitude adjustment" if it is planning on growing "into the future" like Vidalia.
I'm surprised Vidalia has not built any appartment complexes. It seems like that would be a good thing for the Vidalia community to consider expecially since the school system seems to be doing so well.
Posted by him2her (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Natchez keeps letting the BLUE HAIR Ladies run your town you will never grow!!!!!!!! Look what they did to Fat Momma's ; stop the building look you put vents on your roof thats too big,. you put air cond. uints next to the houses to close. Wonder why people dont build in Natchez ????????? Look at the schools, kids jumpping on the teachers. Wounder why Vidalia is growing??????????????????????????
Posted by james (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NATCHEZ HAS A RAILROAD & BETTER RIVER ACCESS ?YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE LINING UP FOR INDUSTRY OVER THERE! (MAYBE BLUEHAIR)
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You made some goodpoints there letschat.....I guess the things that make you go hmmm...
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I grew up calling Vidalia West Natchez. Now I guess I live in East Vidalia. You people that don't want the Isle of Capri here better look at where most of Natchez's income comes from.
The old money people are dying out and their stuckup kids don't care about the upcoming death of the oldest city on the river. If caught out in a good rainstorm they would drown. Meanwhile wellmeaning politicians who don't really mean well go around patting themselves on the back kissing up to the wealthy while the typical Natchezian is looking for somewhere to live where people actually want growth.
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Me personally Moved to Vidalia many years ago and would not move back to Natchez for anything! It is a Great Town with VALUES! People are not Rude, they smile, waive, talk NICELY, There is no TRASH, We have GREAT Schools, and we Care about our KIDS!! What about NATCHEZ, a STINKY walmart, trash everywhere, The School are uncontrolable, NASTY ATTITUDES, CRIME (a lot more)and any way ,,,,, Sorry to offend some!
Posted by him2her (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If they dont' keep the kids from Natchez out of our schools in Vidalia we are going to be just like Natchez THE BIG CHEZ. If they would like their kids to go to school in Vidalia move over here and pay taxes.
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tourism and preservation have their place in the economic scheme of things, but it can't support an entire city or town.
Natchez has seen a lower tourist turn out this year and the reason is higher fuel costs. This chain reacts to higher food, hotel/motel rooms, and so on.
Even the casinos will see a drop in their take, and not just because of the high water.
There is a fine line between saving the past and stagnating progress.
It is a hard high wire act to walk without a net.
Attitudes do have a lot to do with it. As long as the majority of people refuse to believe that their kids can be a problem, it will not change. The kids learn their attitudes from home by watching and listening to how their parents act and talk. The old saying is " Children live what they learn!"
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to the Afterglow Tanning Salon a couple of weeks ago and OMG! That is incredibly gorgeous! Super nice place, super state of the art tanning beds, and super sweet people that own it! I would recommend this place over anything we have in the area! Just walk in the place and you'll see for yourself....you'll think you're in DALLAS!
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For the town of Natchez to grow, it first needs a sound infrastructure for outlying areas. Predominately, south of town. Don't forget, underground utilities! Then the rest should follow. Housing being job one. Calling all banks and realtors. Take advantage of all those open fields. Think about all the material and labor that goes into building just one single home. It would be much too long to list here. And who will supply these things? Is it not businesses and workers (jobs)?
Posted by speakeasy (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The "blue haired" ladies have nothing to do with the perceived restrictions on "progress". Those women have simply worked together to save a few old homes which people from all over the world come to see. Give them a break! If it wasn't for that effort, which was started forty years ago, this place would have dried up and gone with the wind as did Int. Paper, Armstrong, the 70's oil boom. Natchez CAN HAVE, with visionary leaders, the best of both worlds: respect for the successful heritage tourism industry AND business, jobs. But, it takes vision, hard work on the part of all of us. And yes, attitude has everything to do with it and that includes YOU!
Vidalia may be booming, but I prefer to live in Natchez where we can shop, take care of business, dine and wine, without fear of being run over by eighteen-wheelers.
Thank you, "sayitloud", but I much prefer this and us over Dallas' congestion and Texas-ways.
I read these comments and I honestly wonder why you people, who complain constantly, don't just pick up and go elsewhere, find a really great job, where you can enjoy rows of strip malls, acres of new tract homes, packed four-lanes, and most importantly! No Bluehairs!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vidalia is growing, but I bet in about 3 years the growing pains are going to show. Growth needs to be planned and organized. Hwy 84 is going to get so crowded there will have to be a bypass in a few years probably. I am glad for Vidalia though, they have done a better job with their school system which is the biggest attraction to the area in my opinion.
Posted by momoftwo23 (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am proud of Vidalia. It is much cleaner than Natchez. I wouldnt dare put my children in school in Natchez either. I would be scared of what would happen to them everyday. The school system is a major attraction for someone moving to this area. CLEAN UP NATCHEZ!!!!
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
grrbrts...What are the banks and the realtors going to do if the land owners do not ask the realtors to sell thier property and the developers do not request financing from the banks? I am confused by your statement. Should a land owner sell their property to a developer, the developer will provide the necessary infrastucture. You cannot force growth, it happens because two interested parties enter into an agreement.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on July 7, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree on the schools. There is absolutely no way I would ever move to Natchez JUST because of the schools. Is there anyone (in charge) in Natchez that has enough sense to realize what a HUGE problem they have? I can't afford private school but I won't sacrifice my child's education or safety. I am not racist but I won't send her where she is the only white child in the school either.
If Natchez would ever get it together, they might attract more people. But until then, everyone will continue to migrate across the river.
Posted by bikerider (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 3:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I HOPE WE CAN GET A HOME DEPO ,AUTO ZONE,AND MOST OF ALL A BARN HILL RESTURANT LIKE THE ONE IN MONROE
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I so love my little town. Vidalia is a place I always wanted to live. Once my family moved here, around 1990 (from Ferriday), we haven't been happier! I almost feel like I grew up here. I guess I had to grow up in Ferriday and then live in Natchez awhile to appreciate the coziness of Vidalia. We don't have gang problems or a bad school system. People are friendly. I can walk in my neighborhood with much less fear than on our neighbor's streets. I only wish Natchez was like that. She's so pretty. But the higher-ups in Ntz have turned a blind eye to gangsta's taking over so it's not even safe to walk the streets...at ANY time.
Posted by ghost (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i want chili's.....or a hooters lol
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately it's not likely we'll get many big box chains becasue we are not on a major interstate. Home Depot has very specific guidelines for where they place a store and one of their main parameters is the distance to a major interstate.
Posted by SandraSue (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thirty -eight years ago I moved from Natchez to another state. About every two years I return for a visit. For about the last 15 years I have noticed the extreme rudeness of the clerks at WalMart , JC Penny's, and other stores. I was appalled at the rudeness, for which there was no excuse. I would not want to move to Natchez after seeing the unfriendly people.Most employers instruct the employees to be cheerful and polite to customers. I can't help wondering what happened to the gentility of "The Old South". However, while visiting Vidalia, I found the situation to be the opposite. Could it be that the employers in Vidalia are more astute?
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