Jackson's construction increased by tornado

Business Today

JACKSON -- The city of Jackson had a busy construction year in 2003. Permit reviews for 2003 were up 70 percent over 2002, but a large part of that increase, city leaders say, is based on reconstruction after the May 6 tornado.

"I think it would have been an average year without the tornado damage, but that put us over the top," said Jackson building and planning superintendent Janet Sanders.

The total declared construction value for 2003 was $21.8 million, up from $12.8 million in 2002, which was significantly down from 2000 and 2001.

Last year, the city saw the biggest increase in the area of commercial buildings, where $9.2 million was spent in the construction of 20 new commercial buildings, compared to only $613,000 in 2002, $2.4 million in 2001 and $3.6 million in 2000.

The tornado wiped out several businesses and accounted for much of the commercial construction figures. Immaculate Conception School is rebuilding its campus for around $3.7 million and Ceramo, which manufactures and distributes ceramic pots, reported construction of around $900,000. All told, that's about half of the commercial construction totals in 2003.

But not all the commercial progress was the result of the tornado.

A new senior apartment complex was built for $1.3 million; the Branding Iron restaurant was built for $360,000; Main Street Fitness constructed a $250,000 addition onto its facility and the old Wal-Mart building was remodeled for $250,000 and now houses retail outlets Fred's and Nearly Perfect Shoes.

There was a lot of new residential construction as well.