In recent years, several businesses on the Broadway Drive and West Pine Street corridor in Hattiesburg have relocated to other areas, leaving ample opportunity for other commercial endeavors along those major thoroughfares.
In order to help steer and guideline future development in that area, officials from the City of Hattiesburg have implemented the Right Down Broadway program, a master planning process designed to engage a broad range of community stakeholders, residents, and business and property owners to re-envision those corridors as vibrant, sustainable, and economically thriving places. To that end, residents are encouraged to take the Right Down Broadway survey online at www.hattiesburgms.com/broadway to give their input on the plan.
“There’s a lot of interest in that corridor – it’s a crucial corridor that connects some key streets in downtown,” said Nathan Satcher, senior planner for the City of Hattiesburg. “So we want to make sure we’re moving in the right direction
The study area includes all commercial properties along Broadway Drive and West Pine Street between 6thAvenue, the railroad line, U.S. 49 and the residential neighborhoods to the north of the corridor. However, the Cloverleaf Center mall is not included in that designation.
In addition to the online survey, several public events have recently been held to garner public feedback on the master plan. That included a community workshop on May 1 at Grin Coffee Roastery on Broadway Drive, along with a focus group for property owners on May 2 at Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center.
“We had probably about 150 people come out (at Grin Coffee) and provide their input on what they’d like to see, and some opportunities and challenges along Broadway,” Satcher said. “The survey is kind of some of the same questions we asked (at the meetings), just in an online format.
“Right now, we’re looking at taking all that information and compiling it, and coming up with some kind of direction based on what the public’s interest in the corridor is, and what they see is important. (We want to) come up with some solutions to address the public’s perception of how they want to see Broadway developed.”
The Right Down Broadway program identifies potential zoning and land use changes, mobility and infrastructure needs, and opportunities for public open space and parks that achieve the community's vision.
“Again, it’s a crucial corridor, and the city is also working on completing the Hall Avenue Overpass (project), where Broadway will connect directly to that overpass,” Satcher said. “That area may experience a lot more traffic in the future, and that’s garnered more attention for redevelopment of that corridor.
“With the plan in place, and some kind of guiding legislature on how we would develop it, that gives us a better stance of how we move forward with it as it redevelops.”
