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Subscribe to City LineOctober 30, 2009
From the office of Mayor George Schloegel
We spent this week traveling around our city urging people just like you to join the new Gulfport Peace Corps, a group of citizens providing community service by working with youth and seniors in the city.
We spoke to a room full of businesses leaders at the Marriott on Tuesday and delivered the same message to the Orange Grove community yesterday.
We are asking you to give an hour of your time each week, volunteering to help Gulfport reach its full potential. The work will be fulfilling, your effort will be appreciated and the payback will be phenomenal.
Also this week we received a response from Gov. Haley Barbour to our letter last month on tax credit housing, and we are pleased to tell you that Gov. Barbour fully supports our position and belief that the supply of available homes in Gulfport must be monitored closely.
The good work of Gerald Blessy’s team and Habitat for Humanity and Renaissance will continue to rehabilitate homes in Gulfport, and we are just as grateful for the support expressed this week by Gov. Barbour.
The City of Gulfport has worked diligently since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to provide quality affordable housing and to give all of our citizens an opportunity to become homeowners.
However, we have a dangerous surplus of available housing in our area and if we are not careful, the impact of such an over supply could be disastrous.
In September just 223 homes were sold in South Mississippi, but 787 houses were added to the Multiple Listing Service in that same month.
As of this month there were 2,388 homes for sale in Harrison County alone, according to MLS. That number does not include homes being sold by the owner. Another 1,158 homes have been withdrawn from the listing service because their contracts with the MLS had expired.
The number of available homes in Gulfport must be monitored closely and we appreciate the governor’s commitment to help.
Our city is moving in the right direction. Gulfport is already good, and with your help, together we are making it great. Have a fun and safe weekend and be aware of our spooky youngsters if you plan to be out driving Saturday night.
Sincerely,
George Schloegel
Mayor
Four openings in four days
Gulfport Main Street Director Lisa Bradley reported this week that four new businesses in as many days have cut ribbons downtown .
Krebs, Lasalle, LeMieux Consultants, an engineering and planning firm, opened new offices Tuesday on the second floor of the Hewes Building on 14th Street.
Wednesday afternoon, Stiefel Nicolas, a financial firm, opened its doors for the first time on 26th Avenue in the Clower Building.
The new Clay Oven restaurant opened Thursday in the old Christian Science Building, and Watson’s Piano Bar will follow tonight when it officially opens on 25th Avenue.
“This has been a very busy week in Gulfport,” Mayor Schloegel said. “Despite the national economic climate, we are proving to be as resilient as ever.”
City Hall expects several other grand openings in the coming weeks, not only downtown, but throughout the city.
Office of Public Information - rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov - Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 - FAX: 868-5800
