Melton says parking lot deal pending

The Clarion-Ledger, 10/14/8

Mayor Frank Melton said he has a plan to give the men who own and lease a downtown parking lot about $400,000 over three years to clear the way for the development of two hotels and two parking garages.

But he failed to discuss the plan with the Jackson City Council on Monday, and without council approval, it cannot move forward.

The council instead voted 5-0 Monday to clear the way for the city’s redevelopment authority to use eminent domain to purchase the parking lot.

The 53-space parking lot at 124 E. Pascagoula St. has been holding up a $209 million planned development that would include hotels and parking garages on land across from the downtown convention center.