JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – By January, Metrocenter developers say Phase One of renovations will be underway, bringing new life to the old structure. Christopher Jones, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, began working to revamp the mall in 2020 but encountered roadblocks. Now he outlines the next steps.

“We named the project Project Hope,” Jones said.

Nearly five years after first being on site at the Metrocenter property, the developer has seen hope turn into funding and construction. Jones, the managing partner of Emerchant Capital Group, plans to transform the mall into a mini-city. The group owns the core of the mall, 56 acres.

“We’re working with the city, now City of Jackson and Councilman Hartley and the mayor’s office to create an improvement district similar to what you would have in Eastover,” said Jones. “The thing that we’re proposing are able to be zoned here. We’re working on a grocery store. We sent letters out already to target. We’re gonna incentivize target to set up a store here”.

The 56-year-old said Heritage Bank will fund the improvement district. It will include 600 apartments, police, fire, and a clinic.

“Infrastructure and renovation of the current site — that’s $80 million,” Jones said. “What we’re trying to do now is in tandem take care of the existing infrastructure, the existing building conditions and build a new component simultaneously,” Jones said.

The Metrocenter is in Ward 5 Councilman Vernon Hartley’s district. He is monitoring the progress and working closely with Emerchant Capital to help the project come to fruition.

“We need sustainable development there. If we have that then we can encourage other businesses along Highway 18 as well as Highway 80. That’s the goal,” Hartley said.

Monday, crews were installing fencing before replacing water and sewer lines. By late summer or early fall, Jones expects major movement on the five-year project.

“In the past there have been promises that were not kept,” Jones added. “I just want the city to know that we’re sincere about it. We’re dug in. We’re not going anywhere,” he said.

The developer said Emerchant Capital Group has not used any city tax dollars during the process. Retro Metro owns a portion of the mall. The Randy Travis Foundation owns the former Burlington location. Jones said he’s in talks with Retro Metro.

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