Taylor’s new downtown neighborhood debuts for sellers

The Oxford Eagle
12/07/2006

Developers sought to reinforce the down-home, arts-friendly tune they’ve played since first introducing their concept last fall, as “Plein Air” debuted Wednesday evening at an event for the local real-estate community at Taylor’s Big Truck Theater.

The first 10-acre phase of the 65-acre project received approval from the Taylor Board of Aldermen Tuesday evening, and the first six homes now under construction went on sale Wednesday. The project is a closely held endeavor by developers Campbell McCool of Oxford and Stewart Speed of Jackson, who are building the homes and commercial buildings themselves rather than selling lots to other builders.

“Our view is that we are part of downtown,” McCool said.

Although the homes are first to go up, construction is set to begin in the first quarter of 2007 on a six-acre commercial district, McCool said. Among potential tenants currently in discussions with the developers are an upscale combination grocery, coffee bar and newsstand, as well as a retro-style diner, an antique mall and a professional office.

“When there’s nothing there, the attitude is kind of like ‘Show me,’” McCool said. “Fortunately we appear to have one or two visionary-type entrepreneurs who can see what we’re putting together and grasp the whole concept.”

Broad effects

Taking its name from the artists’ term for an outdoor-painting movement, Plein Air was renamed from the initial title — “Main Street Taylor” — at the request of local leaders who held a series of meetings with McCool at the outset of the project.

While some Taylor residents expressed concern that the project might ruin the feel of their rural community, most of those who were opposed have now “come around,” Mayor Jim Hamilton said at Wednesday’s gathering.

“The commercial component of it is very exciting to me, because sales tax is what funds a municipal budget,” he said.

The town is also set to receive a new building to serve its volunteer firefighter unit and the local water association as part of separate sale and land-swap deals with the developers, who are also donating $100,000 toward the project. There are no immediate plans for the property which currently holds the Taylor 9 fire station.

Plein Air is also working with BellSouth to soon bring a T-1 line down to Taylor, where wireless Internet access for the town are also part of developers’ plans.

Local sculptor Bill Beckwith echoed many of his neighbors, saying Wednesday that if development’s going to come to Taylor, this is the kind you’d want.

“It was well-thought-out, well-planned,” he said. “When someone comes into your community and says, ‘I think I’ll spend several million dollars instead of throwing up the cheap stuff,’ it’s a good thing.”

The houses in Plein Air are being built in the style of older Southern homes, with wood siding, metal roofs and front porches. The first set of houses is priced from $233,000 to $293,000 and ranges from 1,257 to 1,849 square feet.