Top 3 list of things to make Starkville great......

[Smoked Toag]

Since many of us are descending upon Starkville this weekend, and if not, likely very soon, let's revisit the age-old discussion about how to make it better.

1) Get rid of the Highway 12 high-speed ******** running from Hampton Inn/Chick Fila up to Highway 182. This is PRIME walkable area. Obviously those two intersections can stay, and I know the speed limit is already low, but those ramps at Russell/Stone, University/Barr and even around Bully Blvd. need to be reworked. There's already an intersection that stops you at Russell/Stone, so why the need for all the other high-speed infrastructure like it's 1983? Slow that **** down, put speed bumps, whatever. At the very minimum, we better get on some pedestrian bridges. I'm still surprised no one has gotten hurt in that stretch yet. And not to mention the development that could happen in some of that space if we got rid of all those damn ramps.

2) Is there anywhere on the Tenn-Tom that could be developed into a decent lake resort area? Columbus Lake? Aberdeen? Obviously we won't ever have Lake Martin or Smith Lake, but maybe a Sardis?

3) Keep Joe Max Higgins in town.

 

[Dawgg]

*A Target

 

[blackjackdog3]

Convert old rail tracks to trails. This would be great for a college town.

More upscale Country Club/golf course(It’s a shame Old Waverly isn’t in Oktibbeha County)

Massive improvement on Oktibbeha County lake with surrounding development

 

[Go Budaw]

1) More useable outdoor recreation space (walking trails / greenways)

2) A legit live music venue for mid-sized crowds / acts. Something on par with The Lyric in Oxford or Druid City Music Hall in Tuscaloosa. Most importantly, should be owned an operated by someone who has a legit interest in cultivating local music scene.

3) One or two decent craft breweries with taprooms and indoor / outdoor entertainment (cornhole, darts, kids games, etc.). Key need is no young professionals with kids really have anywhere to go in town where they can relax and have a beer, but still bring their kids and let them cut loose a little bit.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Convert old rail tracks to trails. This would be great for a college town.

This would be huge and wouldn't need a major investment of funds, if the city could just get the rail road to give them up.

 

[RingN2012]

Not sure if it's always been this way but most ofthe students working in the service industry are terrible. Have had bad service at many restaurants in Starkville on recent visits. Seems to be a trend, young managers and staff with no sense of urgency

 

[Maroon Eagle]

2) A legit live music venue for mid-sized crowds / acts. Something on par with The Lyric in Oxford or Druid City Music Hall in Tuscaloosa. Most importantly, should be owned an operated by someone who has a legit interest in cultivating local music scene.

Truth.

Whatever happened to the State Theatre downtown?

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

Meagan Mullen approves this post.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

Making that area more walking friendly could be a start.

I didn't get a chance to make it to Starkville last season except for the egg bowl

 

[dawgman42]

Not sure if it's always been this way but most ofthe students working in the service industry are terrible. Have had bad service at many restaurants in Starkville on recent visits. Seems to be a trend, young managers and staff with no sense of urgency

Hi, welcome to America, 2022. Have we met?

 

[Dawg1979]

Tear down the eye sore that is Dorman. Yep I’m that guy

 

[PirateDawg]

Good list and great idea

1) The Cotton District is what is right about Starkville. 182 going west past 12 is an eyesore. Something needs to be done to clean that up. It is the ugly side of town and anyone coming in from that direction would think Starkville is a sorry sight.

2) Noxubee Refuge is a great place to visit and close to campus. It is a state park so it isn't like visiting some places on a big lake but we've always enjoyed it. It would be great if Columbus could get a casino to locate on the Tenn-Tom waterway. The old industrial side of the river would be a great location and only a short drive from Starkville. We used to go to Columbus back in the day for dancing and drinking.

3) Adding walking/biking trails from campus to all parts of Starkville would be great. I like the idea of converting the old railway into a hiking trail but add biking to it.

 

[Go Budaw]

Truth.

Whatever happened to the State Theatre downtown?

It’s still there and has been run as some form of bar / restaurant, by various proprietors, over the past 15-20 years. None of the said proprietors have had even the slightest clue on how to operate a live music venue, or even cared enough to use it as such.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

More bars and outdoor patio drinking spaces. Outside of cotton district. It's a little cramped in there but the cotton district is s great small bar scene. Just need more of that or expand it further down

 

[Maroon Eagle]

That's a shame.

 

[atomic dawg]

Since many of us are descending upon Starkville this weekend, and if not, likely very soon, let's revisit the age-old discussion about how to make it better.

1) Get rid of the Highway 12 high-speed ******** running from Hampton Inn/Chick Fila up to Highway 182. This is PRIME walkable area. Obviously those two intersections can stay, and I know the speed limit is already low, but those ramps at Russell/Stone, University/Barr and even around Bully Blvd. need to be reworked. There's already an intersection that stops you at Russell/Stone, so why the need for all the other high-speed infrastructure like it's 1983? Slow that **** down, put speed bumps, whatever. At the very minimum, we better get on some pedestrian bridges. I'm still surprised no one has gotten hurt in that stretch yet. And not to mention the development that could happen in some of that space if we got rid of all those damn ramps.

Im guessing you dont currently live in Starkville and if you do, you must not travel through that area on a weekday morning. If you put speed bumps and "slow that **** down" it would be an absolute fuster cluck between 7 and 9AM. Its bad now as it is... but it works most days. That is THE major artery for east bound traffic out of town and to campus and there is a lot of it. You could funnel some traffic up Jackson/389 to the bypass but thats not really a feasible work around for most. Im all in favor things being more walkable but this simply would not work.

 

[atomic dawg]

That place has always had problems staying open for too long. Dave Hood had it for a while back in the 00s... If I remember correctly what he told me several years back, it was just a handful to operate and I think the rent was high. State Theatre did seem to do okay during the Doe's Eat Place era - late 00s. They actually had some decent sized acts coming in at one point, but I think the summer lull is always a problem for any place like that in Starkville. And the crowds started to shift to the CD in the school year around that time too.

 

[paindonthurt]

Have you been to Starkville country club lately?

 

[Smoked Toag]

Im guessing you dont currently live in Starkville and if you do, you must not travel through that area on a weekday morning. If you put speed bumps and "slow that **** down" it would be an absolute fuster cluck between 7 and 9AM. Its bad now as it is... but it works most days. That is THE major artery for east bound traffic out of town and to campus and there is a lot of it. You could funnel some traffic up Jackson/389 to the bypass but thats not really a feasible work around for most. Im all in favor things being more walkable but this simply would not work.

You're right, I don't. And your POV is definitely valid, but it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't. The high speed design never should have been pumped through there, but you can also say we should have never located the university in Starkville. As it stands, we can't go back in time, so we have to get going on mitigation. We better get to work on some barriers and more pedestrian bridges before something bad happens.

 

[johnson86-1]

Since many of us are descending upon Starkville this weekend, and if not, likely very soon, let's revisit the age-old discussion about how to make it better.

1) Get rid of the Highway 12 high-speed ******** running from Hampton Inn/Chick Fila up to Highway 182. This is PRIME walkable area. Obviously those two intersections can stay, and I know the speed limit is already low, but those ramps at Russell/Stone, University/Barr and even around Bully Blvd. need to be reworked. There's already an intersection that stops you at Russell/Stone, so why the need for all the other high-speed infrastructure like it's 1983? Slow that **** down, put speed bumps, whatever. At the very minimum, we better get on some pedestrian bridges. I'm still surprised no one has gotten hurt in that stretch yet. And not to mention the development that could happen in some of that space if we got rid of all those damn ramps.

2) Is there anywhere on the Tenn-Tom that could be developed into a decent lake resort area? Columbus Lake? Aberdeen? Obviously we won't ever have Lake Martin or Smith Lake, but maybe a Sardis?

3) Keep Joe Max Higgins in town.

The only thing Starkville really needs, and it will be hard to do now, is a dense, dominant bar district with at least one and preferably two pretty decent sized venues. The cotton district is great but there needs to be one decent sized venue. Mainstreet has potential but it's a little far away from campus and has to compete with the cotton district. If you go from hwy 12 by campus to the end of mainstreet, that's ~1.14 mi. If you have the bars and restaurants and retail establishments on that street confined to half a mile, or even better, two quarter mile stretches running parallel to each other, it would really change the feel of everything.

 

[Maroonthirteen]

I really like what Starkville is trying to do with University Dr. The "bar scene" needs to continue to be developed along University until one day, it is one continuous entertainment district from the Cotton District to Downtown. It is getting there. Just keep concentrating on that area. I was a little disappointed Walkons built out on the highway but they are a national brand and not local. So I don't know about the fit to university drive.

People mention THe LYric. I know yall will disagree here however......Rick's has much better musical acts than anyone in Oxford. I know of 3 girls that drove down from Oxford to go to Ricks for Bailey Zimmerman. Ricks has an awesome place for live music.

Seriously, a Target would help. But a town that small isn't getting a Target. However the biggest thing Starkville needs is positive talk from US. People are always talking up Oxford. Ive been there plenty. It is ok. But Starkville and Oxford are damn near the same town. Be proud of Starkville and take people with you to experience it.

 

[PooPopsBaldHead]

1.) Flo and Eddie's
2.) Bulldog Deli
3.) El Sombrero

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

The big hat was our regular spot.

 

[Mr. Cook]

Since many of us are descending upon Starkville this weekend, and if not, likely very soon, let's revisit the age-old discussion about how to make it better.

1) Get rid of the Highway 12 high-speed ******** running from Hampton Inn/Chick Fila up to Highway 182. This is PRIME walkable area. Obviously those two intersections can stay, and I know the speed limit is already low, but those ramps at Russell/Stone, University/Barr and even around Bully Blvd. need to be reworked. There's already an intersection that stops you at Russell/Stone, so why the need for all the other high-speed infrastructure like it's 1983? Slow that **** down, put speed bumps, whatever. At the very minimum, we better get on some pedestrian bridges. I'm still surprised no one has gotten hurt in that stretch yet. And not to mention the development that could happen in some of that space if we got rid of all those damn ramps.

2) Is there anywhere on the Tenn-Tom that could be developed into a decent lake resort area? Columbus Lake? Aberdeen? Obviously we won't ever have Lake Martin or Smith Lake, but maybe a Sardis?

3) Keep Joe Max Higgins in town.

The problem I have with this topic is I'm not sure whether to be truthful or snarky. There is a part of me that wants to provide meaningful feedback because MSU deserves a much better town around it.

Then, I quickly remember the (*ahem*) leadership in Starkville and anyone involved in "economic development" and suddenly the inspiration disappears like a fart in the wind.

I love my MSU campus and miss the atmosphere and great memories. But Starkville? Well, like Mississippi it needs a LOT of help which will take more than 3 wishes...er... things

 

[coach66]

I got just one

Outlaw obnoxious loud vehicles, they suck!

 

[Maroon Eagle]

And Mississippi State Government loves to spite the state’s most important resource — which is its people.

Taxing Mississippians’ forgiven student loan debt?

Reason Number 266485874 why recent graduates leave the state:

They are not valued by the state.

Link: Here.

 

[Tomdh3]

Good list and great idea
1) The Cotton District is what is right about Starkville. 182 going west past 12 is an eyesore. Something needs to be done to clean that up. It is the ugly side of town and anyone coming in from that direction would think Starkville is a sorry sight.

2) Noxubee Refuge is a great place to visit and close to campus. It is a state park so it isn't like visiting some places on a big lake but we've always enjoyed it. It would be great if Columbus could get a casino to locate on the Tenn-Tom waterway. The old industrial side of the river would be a great location and only a short drive from Starkville. We used to go to Columbus back in the day for dancing and drinking.

3) Adding walking/biking trails from campus to all parts of Starkville would be great. I like the idea of converting the old railway into a hiking trail but add biking to it.

Noxubee is a federal refuge, not a state park.

 

[Dawgbite]

1) More useable outdoor recreation space (walking trails / greenways)

2) A legit live music venue for mid-sized crowds / acts. Something on par with The Lyric in Oxford or Druid City Music Hall in Tuscaloosa. Most importantly, should be owned an operated by someone who has a legit interest in cultivating local music scene.

3) One or two decent craft breweries with taprooms and indoor / outdoor entertainment (cornhole, darts, kids games, etc.). Key need is no young professionals with kids really have anywhere to go in town where they can relax and have a beer, but still bring their kids and let them cut loose a little bit.

I love to try every brewery I come across but a bunch of crumb snatchers all jacked up on Mt Dew and turned loose is not a desirable selling point for a lot of people. Now get off my lawn.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

And Mississippi State Government loves to spite the state’s most important resource — which is its people.

Taxing Mississippians’ forgiven student loan debt?

Reason Number 266485874 why recent graduates leave the state:

They are not valued by the state.

Link: Here.

I haven't been to the Starkville for a while but if it's still somewhat the same town that I left it really just needs a couple of small industries or some other sources that can infuse some more jobs and money from some source other than the University. It doesn't have to be some kind of major size plant. They just need some things to help bring up the per capita income in the folks that live there.

 

[The Maroon Pug]

What is the status of Mayhew Junction off of Eckford Dr.? Are they open to the public yet?

 

[GTAdawg]

Have you been to Starkville country club lately?

We prefer to keep the out of towners off our property******

 

[paindonthurt]

We have to know each other.

CCAF?

 

[cytubb]

More FREE PARKING!

 

[HotMop]

Casino
Lottery
Top Golf

 

[Go Budaw]

I love to try every brewery I come across but a bunch of crumb snatchers all jacked up on Mt Dew and turned loose is not a desirable selling point for a lot of people. Now get off my lawn.

Check the vibe in Bham or Memphis or Huntsville or numerous other spots where they have that set up. It’s not nearly as bad as you’d imagine. There’s basically nowhere unique to take kids in Starkville where there is mutual family enjoyment, ****, outside of McKee Park, or the movie theater….I don’t even know where you take kids, period. Folks who have kids want to get out of the house, with or without them. Best to provide options for both.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

Need to find out a way to connect the two areas but it's pretty far apart right now with Out much in between. Need a few more bars between there with big venues.

 

[Go Budaw]

And Mississippi State Government loves to spite the state’s most important resource — which is its people.

Taxing Mississippians’ forgiven student loan debt?

Reason Number 266485874 why recent graduates leave the state:

They are not valued by the state.

Link: Here.

Damn. What a 17ing joke. Curious how that works for a debt that isn’t even owed to the state. Looks like maroonmadman was onto something about both parties robbing folks.

 

[Mr. Cook]

I haven't been to the Starkville for a while but if it's still somewhat the same town that I left it really just needs a couple of small industries or some other sources that can infuse some more jobs and money from some source other than the University. It doesn't have to be some kind of major size plant. They just need some things to help bring up the per capita income in the folks that live there.

"Time Stands Still" in StarkVegas. Gas stations, check cashing, and fast food (mostly chicken). Exactly what every vibrant, diversified economy needs ***********

 

[Maroonthirteen]

The only thing Starkville really needs, and it will be hard to do now, is a dense, dominant bar district with at least one and preferably two pretty decent sized venues. The cotton district is great but there needs to be one decent sized venue. .

I agree with this. However, my question is.....if a person did build a decent size sports bar, with open air seating, TVs...nice place.... could it compete with Walk-ons and BWW?

 

[Maroonthirteen]

"Time Stands Still" in StarkVegas. Gas stations, check cashing, and fast food (mostly chicken). Exactly what every vibrant, diversified economy needs ***********

This is one of the major things holding Starkville back.......talk like this.