Officials Talk About Reviving East Biloxi
Before Hurricane Katrina, Point Cadet was once a shoreline thriving with factories and houses, a melting pot of seafood workers.
Ten years later and empty lots seem to be the only focal point in the area.
"If you ride around East Biloxi, it looks like vacant lot after vacant lot. I mean even if you put a snowball stand that’s an improvement."
Tonight, a panel of Biloxi officials met to discuss feasible ideas for an improved East Biloxi.
In the past, many ambitious plans have been tried but to no avail.
Former Mayor of Biloxi, Gerald Blessey believes thinking outside of the box is the key to reviving business in East Biloxi.
"Bringing back more variety in the seafood industry, boat building for instance, we used to have a lot of boat building on this end of town and we can bring that back. I think the city leadership; hopefully the next group of leaders will be very creative about how to address some of those issues."
More than just high insurance, but elevation regulations are impeding on further development in the once thriving area.
"If you do build a house you have to put it 15 feet in the air and then you can’t afford to get insurance on it and then nobody wants to buy the land so you’re stuck with the land."
For the panel of officials and members of the East Biloxi community, they just want to see their hometown revitalized.
Ten years later and empty lots seem to be the only focal point in the area.
"If you ride around East Biloxi, it looks like vacant lot after vacant lot. I mean even if you put a snowball stand that’s an improvement."
Tonight, a panel of Biloxi officials met to discuss feasible ideas for an improved East Biloxi.
In the past, many ambitious plans have been tried but to no avail.
Former Mayor of Biloxi, Gerald Blessey believes thinking outside of the box is the key to reviving business in East Biloxi.
"Bringing back more variety in the seafood industry, boat building for instance, we used to have a lot of boat building on this end of town and we can bring that back. I think the city leadership; hopefully the next group of leaders will be very creative about how to address some of those issues."
More than just high insurance, but elevation regulations are impeding on further development in the once thriving area.
"If you do build a house you have to put it 15 feet in the air and then you can’t afford to get insurance on it and then nobody wants to buy the land so you’re stuck with the land."
For the panel of officials and members of the East Biloxi community, they just want to see their hometown revitalized.
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