Mayor outlines Civic Master Plan changes in 2016

JACKSON, Tenn. — The city of Jackson’s Civic Master Plan outlines the next several decades for the Hub City.

Since its adoption last August, Mayor Jerry Gist said the groundwork has been lain to start implementing their vision.

“I think the important thing is we get it started and not let it lie on the shelf and gather dust, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Mayor Gist said.

The city’s master plan is expected to take decades to fully implement.

Mayor Gist said people in the Hub City can expect to see some changes in the area of the Old Hickory Mall in 2016, both aesthetically and economically.

“The mall area from Highland, say from Bon Air Circle down to Parkway, I think we’ve got to address, and down Old Hickory for at least 1,000 feet, maybe 1,500, to be dressed up from the streetscape aspect,” Mayor Gist said Wednesday.

The plan also calls for an effort to fill empty stores in the area as well as planning for more sidewalks throughout the city.

“The connectivity from a pedestrian standpoint, from one part of the city to the other, is important. Bikeways are important,” Gist said. “The infrastructure is going to be critical because we are a growing city.”

A growing city that Gist said has a plan to improve all sections — but it will take time.

“For a 20-year plan, it will take a while,” Gist said. “It’s going to take a tremendous amount of resources. We’ve got to leverage out state government. We’ve got to leverage the federal government to help us put together those resources to get some of the things that we need to do.”

Gist said the city is focused on continued economic development for parts of south Jackson as well as a $300 million state project to extend the 45 Bypass to run south to Highway 18.

The master plan will be re-evaluated in three years.

To view the city of Jackson’s master plan, click here.