July 2026………………….Keeping Fondren Fabulous

From Vision to Visible Progress


July brought encouraging signs that years of discussion, planning and persistence are beginning to take visible form.


The groundbreaking for Fifth & Fondren marked a meaningful new investment in West Fondren and demonstrated the kind of thoughtful, neighborhood-scaled development envisioned through the Fondren Forward planning process. You will read more about the project and the people behind it later in this newsletter.


The Fondren Signature Streetscapes project is reaching a similar milestone. With a $411,660 grant from the Mississippi Development Authority in place, FRF is preparing for the project’s formal launch. That work includes finalizing the scope and project structure and selecting the partners who will help guide the branding and design process.


A groundbreaking and a project launch may look different, but they represent much the same thing: the point when preparation begins giving way to action. Both Fifth & Fondren and Signature Streetscapes demonstrate what can happen when a shared vision is supported by investment, collaboration and persistence.


Much of FRF’s role is helping make those connections: bringing people and ideas together, aligning resources and working with public and private partners to turn opportunities into action. Some of that work is visible. Much of it happens quietly through conversations, meetings and persistent follow-up before a project reaches the point when the broader community can see it taking shape.

July gave us an opportunity to celebrate that transition in two important Fondren projects while continuing the work needed to carry each one forward.


Thank you for supporting FRF and for helping us move Fondren forward together.


Follow us for more updates and event promotions:



Moving Fondren Forward Together, Doug


Fifth & Fondren Breaks Ground in West Fondren


Community leaders and development partners gathered July 21 at the corner of Lorenz Boulevard and Downing Street to celebrate the groundbreaking of Fifth & Fondren, a new five-unit residential development in west Fondren.


The project is being led by Jackson native and former NFL player Fred Brown through a partnership between Brown Collective Group and Elite Capital Group. It represents Brown’s investment in the community where he was raised and the first step in the partners’ broader interest in contributing to Jackson’s redevelopment.


“Fred Brown and his family are deeply rooted in this city, and this project is a reflection of his ongoing commitment to giving back to the community that raised him,” said Jason Brookins, a consultant to Brown Collective Group.


Brown attended Jim Hill High School, where he became one of Mississippi’s top football prospects and earned All-State and All-Metro honors. He continued his career at Mississippi State University, recording 50 receptions for 785 yards and five touchdowns over 23 games, before playing six seasons in the NFL.


With Fifth & Fondren, Brown is bringing the perseverance and commitment that shaped his athletic career home to Jackson. The development will add five modern residences to west Fondren while contributing new investment and energy to an important part of the district.


FRF was pleased to join the development team, neighbors and community partners in marking the beginning of the project and looks forward to watching Fifth & Fondren take shape.

Participating in the groundbreaking of Fifth & Fondren were (L to R), Senator David Blount, Leander Williams, Jr.; LWJ Construction, Fred Brown, Jim Adams, and Casey Chapman; managing partners with Elite Capital.

Signature Streetscapes Moves Toward Project Launch


Fondren Renaissance Foundation is preparing to launch the Fondren Signature Streetscapes project, an initiative designed to strengthen Fondren’s identity and create a more attractive, connected and welcoming district.


The $411,660 project is supported by a $339,328 Mississippi Main Street Revitalization Grant from the Mississippi Development Authority and $72,332 in local matching funds. The work will include district branding, streetscape concept design and selected placemaking improvements.


City Collective will help guide the project. The firm previously led the Fondren Forward planning process, working with community members to develop a shared vision and action plan for Fondren’s future. Its continued involvement will help connect the Signature Streetscapes work to that broader vision.


FRF is now finalizing the project scope and structure and reviewing potential branding partners. Those early decisions will establish how the work proceeds and how community input is incorporated into the branding and design process.


The project remains at the beginning of its journey. Specific designs and improvements have not yet been selected, and there will be more to share as the planning process moves forward.


Signature Streetscapes will provide an opportunity to better express what makes Fondren distinctive while improving how residents, businesses and visitors experience the district. FRF looks forward to working with City Collective, project partners and the Fondren community as the initiative takes shape.

Conceptual streetscape imagery from the Fondren Forward Community Vision. Specific designs for the Signature Streetscapes project have not yet been developed or selected.

Eubanks Creek Makes the Cut


The Jackson City Council has approved a contract for channel-clearing work along Eubanks Creek, the Belhaven Tributary and the Cany Creek Tributary. While the contract covers three waterways and does not fund the full Eubanks Creek vision, the inclusion of Eubanks represents an important early step toward transforming the creek corridor.


The larger Fondren Forward vision imagines Eubanks Creek as more than a drainage channel. Over time, the corridor could support parks, bicycle and pedestrian paths, neighborhood connections and other public amenities.


Before that vision can become reality, however, several distinct phases of work must occur. The creek must first be cleaned and cleared of accumulated debris and vegetation. Additional planning, engineering and infrastructure improvements will then be needed to mitigate flooding. Only after those challenges are addressed can parks, paths and other public amenities be developed safely along the corridor.


Fondren Renaissance Foundation and its partners will continue working with the City and other stakeholders to advance that broader strategy.

Eubanks Creek from the Seminole Ave bridge

Another project moving Fondren Forward


One outcome of Fondren Forward was a recommendation that FRF create a community development corporation to address under-utilized parcels and guide development.


As of July 1, Fondren Works – A Community Development Corporation became a legal entity with a six member Board of Directors, led by Chair Jeff Good. Other Founding Board members include Jonathan Lee, Andrew Mallinson, Tyler Archie, David Pharr and Kirk Sims. Sandy Carter and Rebecca Garrison will serve as staff for the effort.


Jack Allin led the 14-member Implementation team that created the name, bylaws, and mission/vision statements. After a 3-month planning effort, the Implementation Team created the Founding Board and turned operational responsibility to the new corporation. 


The Founding Board’s first focus is the 200 residential parcels between Taylor Street and Hartfield Street in west Fondren. They have created a baseline which documents each parcel’s ownership, use and tax status.


“It’s a starting point,” says Good, “one that we will use to guide investment, measure progress and ensure that future development reflects the values and needs of the people who call West Fondren home.”


2026 Fondren Renaissance Society Drive


We continue our annual Fondren Renaissance Society membership drive. The Renaissance Society has always been the "foundation of the Foundation", and is the primary way we fund the activities and events of FRF.


Down the right side of this newsletter, you will see many of your neighbor's names. Add yours to that list today by following the link below.


Thank you to our 2026 drive co-chairs, Molly and Robert Walker.


Fondren Renaissance Society

Happy birthday from Fondren!


Saltine is celebrating both its birthday and National Oyster Day with a week-long lineup of exclusive food and drink specials from August 3–9, giving seafood lovers plenty of reasons to stop by. 

 

Throughout the celebration, guests can enjoy $1.50 Gulf oysters alongside featured dishes like Crab Cakes with Crawfish Cream Sauce, Catfish Pontchartrain and house-made Chocolate Cobbler, as well as specialty birthday cocktails including the Birthday Cake Martini and Pirate's Cove.

Click on the image above for more information on our Fondren Forward study and master plan.

www.fondren.org


2026

Renaissance

Society


Renaissance Society members 

are the

 "foundation of the Foundation"


Become a Member!


Members

*Sustaining Member



Co-Chairs

Molly and Robert Walker



Lizzy & Tim

Abston


Gayle & Holmes

Adams


Chuck Addington & Gary Lambert


Gwen Agho


Meredith & Ben

Aldridge


Linda Allee


Hailey & Jack

Allin


Alicia L. 

Arrington-Thomas


Pamela & Jack Bach


Arden Barnett


Jennifer & Darrell

Baughn


Sarah & Michael

Bentley


Elizabeth & Barber Boone


Cathy Boone


Crisler & Doug

Boone


Helen B. Boone*


Mary Helen & Bo Bowen


Havilah & Dylan

Bradshaw


Brown's Fine Art & Framing


Cecilia Bullock


Kelly & Thorne Butler


Lida & Gregg Caraway


Ann & Sandy Carter


Chris Clark

The Pig & Pint


Janie & Stuart

Clarke


Kathy Clem


Nikki & Ken

Cleveland


Lyn Crawford


Kimberly & Thomas Dobbs


Dottie & Joe

Donaldson*


Susan Duke


Mary & Tom

Dunbar


Linda & Tony

Edwards


Kelley Walton Fenelon*


Amy & Arty

Finkelberg


Ashley & Rusty

Fortenberry


Fondren Fro-Yo


Prentiss Franklin &

Grant BeeBe


Martha & Davis Frye


Danelle & Kendall

Garraway


Jan Garrick


Alison & Thomas

Gilbert


Marcus Glenn


Debbie & Jeff

Good*


Jordan & David

Goodwin


Leigh & Andrew

Grady


Frenchie & 

Buddy Graham*


Sally & Lloyd

Gray


Betsy & Jason

Greener*


Peggy & David

Hampton


Christopher Hannibal


John Dillon Harris


Claudia & Robert

Hauberg*


Gray & Roxanne

Hilsman


Sarah & Randall

Hines*


Katie Hodges


Laura & Andrew

Humphries


Melissa & Robert

Hutchison


Lisa & Sai

Ireland


Brenda & Edley

Jones


Renee & Jimmy

Jones


Kristen & David

Keary


Frank Kossen


Melanie & John

Lauderdale*


Davetta & Jonathan

Lee


Kenneth Leggett & Jody Donald


Robert Lewis


Caroline & Dr. Albert Lin


Denise Lynch


Lynn & Phillip

Macon


Martha Magnuson


Barbara & Andrew

Mallinson*


Kristen & Jamie

Mallinson


Kathryn & William Mayfield/

LeFleur Dental Group


David Neil McCarty


Jen & Jay McGehee


Shannon & Matthew

McLaughlin


Beverly McMillan


Jessie & Bill

McPherson


Shani & Jackie

Meck*


Cynthia & Kent

Miller


Ann & John Milner


Claire & Chris Mokry


Misty & Clark

Monroe


Mary Clay & Matt

Morgan


Camille Morris


Britney & Jimbo

Moss


Rachel & Chris

Myers


Sally Nash*


Teri Newcomb


Deborah & Walter

Newman


Kenna & Josh Norris


Ronnie Nowell &

Marcus Glenn


Coleen O'Brien


Amanda & Scott 

Overby*


Regan & Billy

Painter


Kathy & Walter

Palmer


Pamela & Roger

Parkes*


Michelle & David

Pharr


Ardarian & David

Pierre


Barbara & Barry

Plunkett*


Becky & Don Potts*


Coleen and Wally Powell


Karen and Joe Powell


Vicki & Eddie

Prosser


Caryn & Steve Quilter


Tillie & Jimmy

Rosen


Pat & Joe Ross


Jennifer & Greg 

Schulmeier


Linda & Joe Showah


Caroline & Kirk

Sims*


Kandy & Joe

Sims


Ashlee & Brad

Smith


Leah Rupp

Smith


Carol & Bill

Sneed*


Anna & Neal Stephens


Sarah & Tim

Sterling


Sperri & Nick Strickland


Kayleigh Skinner &

Terry Sullivan


Jimmye & Andy

Sweat*


Mary Linley & Andrew Sweat*


Emily & Nathan

Tarver


Austin Terry


Lauren & Wade

Thompson


Rebecca & Morris Thompson


Belmont Phelps Trapp*


Versos Lounge


John Walker

Roots Remedy


Patti Reiss & Greg Walker


Molly & Robert

Walker


Adria & Terrence Walker-Brown


Wealth Hospitality Group


Sara Weisenberger


Emily & Stuart

Whitaker


Mary Alice & Donald White*


Kay & Aven

Whittington


WLBT

Ted Fortenberry


Julie & Dudley Wooley


Shanda Yates


Ye Olde Lamp Shoppe


*indicates sustaining member for more than 10 years