WAVELAND
(WLOX) -- One South Mississippi city is getting the help of a statewide
organization in its downtown rebuilding efforts. The city of Waveland
is teaming up with the Mississippi Main Street Association to
rebuild Coleman Avenue.
"It has a long history and it's
certainly a part of the heart and soul of this community," said
Charlie Cornelius with the Waveland Community Coalition.
The coalition is just one organization pushing to get residents involved in rebuilding the downtown district.
"Government
is doing the best that it can. Citizens also have the ability to
leverage themselves into this effort, and this is the vehicle by which
we can do it," Cornelius said.
It's an effort that now includes the Mississippi Main Street Association.
"Main
Street is all about a community working together and taking ownership
of the process together, so we wanted everyone involved from the very
beginning," said Stacey Pair, President of Mississippi Main Street.
The association will
help the city finalize plans for Coleman Avenue. It will also open
doors for more funding and a team of expert design professionals who
will preserve the uniqueness of Coleman Avenue.
It's something that long-time resident and business owner Kathy Pinn can appreciate.
"We're
not the pretty little perfect little town. The buildings are gone, some
of the people are gone and the vision has gotten blurred, but maybe
through the Mississippi Main Street process we can come up again with
our vision of what Coleman Avenue will be," Pinn said.
Mayor
Tommy Longo says the city is now waiting on CDBG funds and money from
the Department of Transportation, which could be here as early as this
week. Then it won't be long before the people of Waveland start seeing
a new, yet familiar downtown district.
by Elise Roberts
Lise Foy, Manager of Greenwood Main Street, shared some exciting news with MMSA. 
