The Jackson City Council has approved rezoning for the long-vacant YMCA on Fortification Street.
The council approved the rezoning from light industrial to community mixed use. The plan is to eventually approve a mixed-use housing and recreation site called Prado Conservatory according to the developer Gabriel Prado, president and CEO of PraCon Global Investment Group.
“Their vote gives us the opportunity to save a property that has been dilapidated for years and transform it into something meaningful for Jackson. Our commitment to this city is long-term, and we believe Prado Conservatory can become a signature example of what is possible when vision, persistence and private investment come together,” Prado said in a statement.
The YMCA closed in 2017 and has sat empty since. PraCon plans to convert the existing YMCA building into about 60 multifamily units and add approximately 100 more units in a new five-story building.
The YMCA building sits along the Pearl River and PraCon said that part of the property’s appeal will be its proximity to the river, which could be revamped in the coming years thanks to a proposed flood-control lake project
For decades, Jackson Metro area officials have debated how to address flooding along the Pearl River. While indicating support for a version of the controversial project, federal officials recently said that a final environmental impact study is needed before any final decision is made about the design. Environmental groups have criticized the project saying it would destroy wildlife habitats downstream, and have also pointed to much cheaper flood control alternatives.
However, advocates of the project say that in addition to better controlling the river’s flooding, the project would open up new recreational and economic development opportunities.
“Prado Conservatory is an incredible fit along with the Pearl River Flood Control Project and the larger vision creating Jackson’s riverfront. Bringing new housing, recreation and private investment to a long-vacant property on the Pearl River creates exactly the kind of momentum that can help turn the riverfront into a destination and a catalyst for growth,” said Jeff Rent, President & CEO of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership
PraCon has become one of the Jackson Metro area’s most prolific developers with projects including Topgolf in Ridgeland, Prado Lofts in Jackson and a potential foray into data centers.
“Prado Conservatory is another demonstration of our confidence in Jackson and our determination to complete projects that others may have already given up on,” Prado said.
