Ocean Springs unveils development in the Urban Renewal Plan

In August, the City of Ocean Springs announced the Urban Renewal Plan, a project that would be meant to bring in tourism and economic development for the city.

That plan, however, took a turn when residential neighborhoods found out they were in a designated area labeled “blighted.”

The city began looking for a new and improved plan that would keep residents happy while also growing the city. That plan was introduced to locals at the Urban Renewal Plan Public Hearing.

WXXV reached out to see how locals were feeling before the meeting.

It’s been a bumpy road for Ocean Springs’ Urban Renewal Plan.

Their previous plan put locals on high alert when their properties were deemed blighted.

“We were pretty happy when they scrapped the plan for urban renewal affecting individual people’s properties,” said Amy Carter, an Ocean Springs resident who protested the last urban renewal area. “but then we began to look at the new plan. Rumors ran rampant within all the groups.”

Rumor had it that the city was planning to build a huge conference center — and Carter hoped that wouldn’t be what she saw at the plan public hearing.

“I would like to see more recreation and green space,” Carter said. “and I think that just building another large building in the middle of a residential area is not going to have a good impact on that space.”

The new designated area is on Pine Drive, which includes two baseball fields, Ocean Springs public works, Ryan Youth Center, and some empty land in a residential area.

Mayor Holloway believes he’s found an answer to make everyone happy.

“It’s going to be 100% public access. It’s going to have ball fields, a new and improved Ryan youth center, with some basketball courts, and pickleball courts,” Holloway said. “The voting precinct will be in there along with some meeting space for groups, clubs, and stuff like that. Then the walking track… We’re going to put some shared parking with the hotel.”

That “conference center” is actually a Hilton boutique hotel, which will help pay for the parks and recreation development.

Public works will be moved to a more central area.