I can’t find anything about this on the Meridian Star site (I don’t think they put all their articles online though), but I’ve heard from a couple of sources that after what appears to me to be a study with a pre-ordained conclusion, the proposed Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center project will include the demolition of the Meridian Hotel building, the five-story structure that rises just adjacent to the bridge going over the railroad into downtown.
The first I remember hearing about this proposed project was back in July 2010, and here’s what I had to say then:
And a rare article out of Meridian–am I wrong but do we hardly ever hear anything from that part of the state except about the Threefoot Building?–about the downtown site chosen for a new museum, the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center. According to the article in the Meridian Star:
Museum board members say an architect will decide whether to renovate the current buildings on the property or demolish them and construct a new building.
The buildings in question–one of which is the old Meridian Hotel–are right in the heart of the downtown historic district and are very prominent as you cross the bridge into downtown, so let’s hope they will be renovated instead of demolished. I wish the board members would be more cognizant of the property they have acquired and not be throwing around demolition options from the start. When I first moved to Mississippi, many moons ago, Meridian had one of the most intact turn-of-the-20th-century urban environments in the state, older than Jackson’s downtown. Now, after years of losing one building here, one building there, two buildings over here, it is diminished considerably–still impressive, but disheartening to those of us who knew it before.
Built around 1910, and probably one of the earliest “skyscrapers” in Meridian, the hotel is listed on the National Register and is part of Meridian’s local historic district. My sources also tell me that the Meridian Historic Preservation Commission has possibly already given a demolition permit on this project, which, if true, is pretty astonishing. If the preservation commission isn’t protecting the historic districts, who is?
Anyone have any further information about this project? I would love to find out that I’m wrong here. The hotel looks to me like a mini-King Edward Hotel, and actually from the exterior seems in better shape than the KE was when it was fixed up a few years ago. Why can’t Meridian take a cue from that project and see the potential in this building?
And didn’t I read that there is a shortage of housing in the Downtown area? I think this was in the Meridian Star in late spring.
Posted by Toml | June 9, 2011, 8:34 amHere’s the article:
http://meridianstar.com/local/x350355100/Study-shows-need-for-housing/print
Posted by Toml | June 10, 2011, 6:38 amI’m truly puzzled that the Meridian Hotel could not be renovated into a boutique hotel, offices, apartments or any number of uses. Demolishing it seems incredibly shortsighted.
Posted by Tom Barnes | June 10, 2011, 10:53 amWhat in the world is going on in this town? Do they not respect anything historic. It is truly sickening to tear this down and obviously the HP commission is ruled by the purses of the town. Sad little town Meridian is becoming. When will they learn this is so important?
Posted by concerned citizen and someone with common sense | August 24, 2011, 1:27 pmPlease, this is an important fight. Once this is lost, so will so much more. It is up to the Citizens to fight City Hall. It is worth saving. For those they do not understand, it does NOT cost more to renovate in the long run. It is better for the history of the City. Look at waht has been lost.
Posted by concerned citizen and someone with common sense | August 24, 2011, 1:29 pmI had the opportunity to tour the old hotel prior to demo and as a civil engineer I concluded that the structural integrity of the building was shot.
Posted by Shaun | December 27, 2011, 4:36 pmShaun what do you think could have been done to prevent the building from getting to such a state?
Posted by Thomas Rosell | December 29, 2011, 4:45 pmIs the site already gone? I visited downtown Meridian yesterday and couldn’t seem to find it.
Posted by Robbie | April 19, 2012, 10:26 amYes, it’s gone. You can see the lovely stripped site just to the east of the 22nd Avenue overpass at the railroad.
Posted by ELMalvaney | April 19, 2012, 11:23 am