Developers offer their thoughts on 2016

Gary A. Taylor, of Gary A. Taylor Investment Co., said the outlook for retail and office development in the Jackson area remains on pace with the last three years.

“Retailers are being more selective and cautious with the expansion of new stores in second-tier markets such as Jackson,” Taylor said. “It seems as though they are spending more time and effort evaluating the market to have a better understanding of the demographics and how it all relates to their business model.”

Taylor said, “Technology has continued to reduce the footprint of most retailers due to online shopping, therefore this will result in less square footage of new construction moving forward. However, there are still several major retailers and restaurants who eventually want to be in the Jackson market.”

In North Jackson, Taylor looks to develop Smith Farms, where a movie theater, supermarket, office complex and residential development are just a few of the projects envisioned to occupy space between Oil Well Road and Old Humboldt Road and surrounding areas off the U.S. 45 Bypass.