Melton aims to fire builder

The Clarion-Ledger, 2/3/8

By now, a two-block stretch of Farish Street in Jackson between Amite and Hamilton streets was supposed to be a main downtown attraction for entertainment.

But with little progress made on the project, Mayor Frank Melton again has said he is ready to “pull the plug” on the developer of the Farish Street Historic District.

The city, through the Jackson Redevelopment Authority, signed a contract in 2002 with John Elkington of Performa Real Estate Inc., the same company that spearheaded the revitalization of the now-famous Beale Street in Memphis. City officials thought Elkington could bring the same energy to Farish Street.