The Historic Fondren District has become one of Jackson’s most attractive “in-town” communities in which to live. The many wonderful and diverse neighborhoods surrounding Fondren’s urban town center are flourishing with new families and home renovations. Fondren has truly become the vortex for the rising “creative class” of artists and young professionals in the metro area.
      Today, Fondren represents all that the New Urbanism concept of the 21st Century is attempting to emulate in surrounding communities; however the authenticity and true character and flavor of an historic urban neighborhood cannot be copied.
      Development potential for new mixed-use projects involving retail, residential and office space combined in the same structure is extremely high in Fondren. The City of Jackson recently passed new zoning laws which will encourage this type of development in “downtown Fondren” and in the adjoining blocks of Taylor, Lorenz, Mitchell and Oxford.
      The exciting new Fondren Place development planned for the 1930’s Duling School building and grounds by Mike Peters and Andrew Mattiace represents just such a project. Scheduled to break ground in 2006, this extraordinary project, involving restaurant, retail and condominium living, will ultimately change the face of Fondren in a very positive fashion.