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Ground broken for planned resort off Highway 25 |
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Saturday, 26 April 2008 |
 Paul Sims/SDN Elected officials and those affiliated with the $35 million Oasis Resort and Suites held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project Friday. Those turning shovels were Oktibbeha County District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer; left, Chris Taylor, standing in for partner Calvin Hicks; District 5 Supervisor and Board President John Young; Starkville Mayor Dan Camp; District 1 Supervisor Carl Clardy; state Rep. Tyrone Ellis, D-Starkville; Oktibbeha County Chancery Clerk Monica Banks; Debra Taylor, wife of partner Terrance Taylor; Justice Taylor; Louise Ashford, wife of Herman Ashford; Herman Ashford, one of the partners; Don Newton, with NDN Business Consultants, a project consultant and Ryan Ashford, one of the partners. By PAUL SIMS
Starkville Daily News
Elected and project officials broke ground on Oasis Resorts and Suites just south of Highway 12 Friday.
The first two phases of the overall $35 million project will include approximately 200 condo suites on 19 acres, project officials said.
The first phase will include a health center-welcome center and 84 condo suites, while the second phase will hold the remaining number of condo suites.
A proposed banquet hall is planned for a future third phase, they said.
THA Investment Group of Starkville is the primary group behind the project. Don Newton, with NDN Business Consultants in St. Louis, Mo. is also involved in the project.
"The whole premise of this project is the people of Starkville deserve better amenities for themselves and their relatives that come in town," Newton said. "We're going to build this thing with 5 to 7,000 members," he said.
Ryan Ashford, who studied architecture at Mississippi State University and is in the process of obtaining his architecture license, provided background on the project.
"While in architecture school, basically we were given the opportunity to come up with a dream project. This was something I ... brought to my Dad and ... discussed a little bit," Ashford said, saying he developed drawings but "they're nothing like the ones ... now."
Ashford, who is one of the partners involved in the project, added that it's a blessing to see the project become reality.
Several local elected officials spoke at the groundbreaking.
"For too long people have sat back and allowed Starkville to take a second seat to things that need to be done. We just really are appreciative to you all ... for the job well done in terms of trying to make something happen and help to grow Starkville and make it the place it should and can be," District 38 State Rep. Tyrone Ellis, D-Starkville, said.
"It's a great day. ... My congratulations to you," said John Young, Oktibbeha County District 5 supervisor and board president.
"It's good to see home grown folks beginning to step out and do things," Starkville Mayor Dan Camp said after the groundbreaking. "I think it would bring a lot of positives to the community."
Project officials stressed that the location, which on Highway 25 South about 1.3 miles from Highway 12 and very close to Bryan Field Airport, is accessible.
There will be future organization building meetings and project officials say they plan to start preliminary ground work within a month.
For information about the project, call 323-5191 or (888) 984-2468.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 27 April 2008 )
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