Rising Spring phase one completion expected in April

By Randy Bell

As dirtwork continues at the site of a major mixed-used development near Mississippi College, the company in charge of the Rising Spring project says it’s on schedule. At a December 2 Board of Aldermen work session, Century Construction Group’s Project Manager Paul Collins said the square where Robinson Spring is located will be the centerpiece of the whole development. The square will include a grass amphitheater and a stage at the main entrance off Highway 80.

The first phase of the project should be finished in April and bids awarded for the second phase a few weeks later. That work should be “substantially completed” in January of 2026.
MC’s Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer Laura Jackson says they had two $8 million pots of money to work with, and it looks like there’s going to be a little left over from the initial tranche after phase one is completed.

“Our focus is going to be on the property that is, what I would call, directly across [Highway 80] from the main campus, right across from McLemore Drive, and obviously, what is going on up on the hill by Springridge,” Jackson says. “The western end of the property, we really don’t have a firm plan for what will happen there.”

But, she says, “Spring Square is a high priority. The entrances to the highway are a high priority. How the traffic will traverse through the property up on the hill coming on and off of Springridge is a high priority, as well.”

Jackson says it’s possible that the project will have a roundabout at only one of the Highway 80 entrances.

“We had envisioned two almost back-to-back roundabouts at McLemore and at Capitol Street,” said Jackson. “It’s really going to depend on what MDOT sees that they can work into the project [and] what money we’re able to secure from the federal level to help offset that.”

Jackson says she’s satisfied with the progress that’s been made.

“You know, nothing ever goes as fast as you think it’s going to go. Working with state agencies, they have been very, very helpful. The Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation, the City of Clinton have all been very helpful,” she said. “But there is so much that has gone on behind the scenes. And, also, not really knowing what development is going to come there, we’ve had to make some adjustments to try to accommodate people that are wanting to invest money in the property.”

According to Jackson, the availability of parking spaces will be a crucial factor in determining the density of the development.

“Because we clearly can’t build bottom floor retail with restaurants, doctors’ offices, whatever and put loft residences on the top if we don’t have sufficient parking.”

She says a number of prospective tenants have reached out regarding the part of the development site that MC owns.

“The developer we’re working with is in communication with all of those people right now to say, ‘How many square feet do you need for what would make your space work?’ So, they’re piecing all of that together now.”

Jackson says, maybe in the next few months, they’ll be able to start making announcements about who’s coming to Rising Spring.