Page 78 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2019

That plan includes:
•A new Façade Grant Program for the gateway to the downtown district, which will create connectivity between the traditional downtown, Jones Park and the Mississippi Aquarium.
• An Upper Floor/Downtown Housing initiative.
• Infill development with pop-up retail opportunities. (Hint: Backlot)
• Public Art programs and the creation of pocket spaces for people to work and gather in. These projects will encourage creativity, collaboration and productivity.
• Placemaking projects that can be implemented over a 12-month period. Placemaking is a multifaceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces.
This plan capitalizes on our community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of promoting people’s health, happiness, and well-being thereby creating a place to live, work and play!
So much has happened since early 2018. Where are we today?
The Master Plan Phase II is complete. A copy of the plan can be found on our website at www.downtowngulfport.com click “About” and go to the Master Plan Phase II section.
In early 2018, Gulfport Main Street was awarded a grant
to work on and prepare our Master Plan Phase II. The planning phase of this project involved our stakeholders, residents and businesses in an effort to help us navigate and prioritize our future projects. Those contributions and ideas gave us the foundation of our Master Plan Phase II.
We created the Trackside Innovation District (north of the railroad tracks) and in that district we are developing the Backlot Project. What is it?
The Backlot at Trackside Innovation is an urban retail and hospitality community utilizing refurbished cargo containers
and newly constructed retail clusters, in
a public/private partnership, to continue the revitalization of downtown. This plan will utilize Lean Urbanism, a small-scale, incremental community that requires fewer resources to incubate and mature. We
will work together with the city, builders, planners, architects, private entities and non-profit to advance community-building and create new businesses.
A short slide show presentation can
be found on our website at www.downtowngulfport.com click “About” and go to the Backlot at Trackside section, scroll down to the Trackside Innovation District reports.
Gulfport Main Street does so much for the City of Gulfport and the entire coast besides planning events. We hope to help create lifestyles that you can build your future around!
FISHBONE ALLEY MUSIC SERIES
Every Wednesday & Friday - March through the end of September Approximately 74++ dates for live music in downtown Gulfport!
10TH ANNUAL VIEW THE CRUISE October 5 & 6 Schedule and details on opposite page
HALLOWEEN DOWNTOWN TRUNK OR TREAT October 26 Lots of children’s activities & sugary treats!
HONEY BEE FESTIVAL October 27 Downtown event with over 70 vendors, food & music. Bee keeping classes. Honey inspired food & beverages
SUGAR PLUM FESTIVAL December 7 Free Family Event in Hancock Bank Park from 3-until parade starts. Sugar Plum Parade - Downtown starting at 6:30pm
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN ON MAIN STREET
Like Gulfport Main St. on Facebook to keep up with what we’re doing! Laurie Toups 228.868.3414 ltoups@gulfport-ms.gov