Preparing for a Better Tomorrow at the Former Kerr-McGee Site
The Multistate Trust has accepted responsibility for cleaning up and positioning the former Kerr-McGee Site in Columbus for safe, beneficial, and community-supported redevelopment.
In 2016, we started a Redevelopment Planning Initiative to determine how the Site might be reused in the future, following its cleanup.
The goals of the Redevelopment Planning Initiative are to identify reuse options that are:
protective of people and the environment
economically sustainable (more information)
community supported
Community Participation in redevelopment planning
The Multistate Trust believes potential redevelopment plans should reflect the community’s goals and vision for the future and result in a Site use that residents will consider an asset.
We’ve been trying to engage a broad cross-section of citizens and other stakeholders, as part of the Redevelopment Planning Initiative.
We’ve encouraged participation in availability sessions, focus groups, and neighborhood activities coordinated by our third-party planning partner, Orion Planning + Design. We have also conducted a community survey and provided the Memphis Town Community Action Group (CAG) with periodic updates on our planning efforts.
Our redevelopment planning overview fact sheet
Our redevelopment planning frequently asked questions (FAQs) fact sheet
our Neighborhood activities
November 2019 — Availability Sessions provided residents with the opportunity to offer input on and help shape draft redevelopment concepts for the former Kerr-McGee property.
April 2019 — Listening Sessions were held so that community members could share their ideas for future reuse of the Site.
April 2018 — A Community Meeting drew nearly 40 citizens and gave the public an opportunity to indicate their preferences for the former Kerr-McGee Site’s reuse.
Our Community Survey
We are committed to identifying reuse options for the former Kerr-McGee property that are safe, beneficial, economically viable, and community supported. We conducted a community survey to ask local residents what they want to see included in the Kerr-McGee redevelopment plan.
The following chart highlights the reuse alternatives that survey participants liked in order of preference. A health clinic and an adult education center received the most votes. Next, participants said they’d like the reuse plan to include a community center, bank or credit union, and single-family homes. A grocery and a manufacturing center were among the other preferences.
These survey results are being used to help shape possible scenarios for the future redevelopment of the Kerr-McGee property.
Participants completed the survey online or on paper. The survey was available at community events, distributed in the neighborhood, accessible on our Columbus website, and promoted in our newsletter and fact sheet handouts.
What uses do you most want included in the Kerr-McGee redevelopment plan?
Ongoing Activity
The redevelopment planning team has been preparing redevelopment concepts and implementation guidelines. These are based in part on public input provided through the community survey, listening and availability sessions, focus groups, and community meetings.
Learn about the Site’s Opportunities here and the Site’s Constraints here.
Our Market Study
As part of the Multistate Trust’s redevelopment planning efforts, a market study has been conducted to identify potential future land use and businesses that could be successful from an economic standpoint.
In order to attract development and business to the former Kerr-McGee Site that can contribute to the long-term benefit of the neighborhood, it is important to understand what the community needs, and what the local economy can support.
A few highlights of local economic conditions and market potentials by economic sector are listed as follows:
Housing
There is a need for more affordable housing in this neighborhood, particularly for seniors and disabled persons.
However, there may not be financing available to support construction.
Manufacturing
Limited access to the Site, and the availability of vacant property in other areas, may limit interest by companies that manufacture products.
Social ServiceS
Neighborhood-based educational and service programs – including workforce training, early childhood education, after‐school programs, services for the elderly, and access to affordable, healthy foods – would support overall neighborhood and community development.
Retail
Current information suggests the stores most likely to be successful would be those serving the surrounding neighborhoods.
OTHER POTENTIAL USES
Recent market conditions have been poor for transportation, warehousing, and entertainment businesses.
However, Lowndes County has experienced a recent increase in jobs in the information, technology, and professional services industries.
Prior Planning
Ensuring Redevelopment Fits with Existing Land-Use Plans
Future reuse of the former Kerr-McGee Site must meet City of Columbus zoning requirements and land-use laws. Recognizing that land use is governed locally, the Multistate Trust is committed to advancing redevelopment of the Site consistent with the goals of the City of Columbus, its leaders, and residents.
Our redevelopment planning is being performed consistent with the City of Columbus Comprehensive Plan and the First Memphis Town Plan.
City of Columbus Comprehensive Plan
The City of Columbus Comprehensive Plan identifies the former Kerr-McGee property as an activity center, or at least bordered by activity centers to the west and south, with a mix of industrial and medium density residential uses. Find a copy of the full plan here.
Preliminary Planning in Partnership with Mississippi State University
In 2016, the Multistate Trust worked with Mississippi State University (MSU) to lay the groundwork for redevelopment planning.
The MSU Department of Landscape Architecture prepared conceptual plans for the Site to help the community envision the range of potential future uses. The MSU College of Business provided an initial assessment of the market opportunities and financial considerations for future redevelopment.
The conceptual plans, as detailed in the Memphis Town Redevelopment Plan, illustrate a wide range of ideas and highlight broad strategies for land use and character. The Memphis Town Redevelopment Group held a public event to showcase the many options and to survey attendees to identity the preferred plans.
The two most popular plans are as follows:
Redevelopment of Other Superfund Sites
This map shows Southeast U.S. sites in reuse and continued use. Learn more here.
Learn how other communities in the Southeast United States are preparing Superfund sites for a better future. Read the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 report “Putting Sites to Work: How Superfund Redevelopment in the Southeast Region is Making a Difference in Communities” here.
Join us for our next
Public Meeting
Copyright © Multistate Environmental Response Trust 2023
