A new development is being built within walking distance from Mississippi State University and the Cotton District.
The Belfry, a commercial and residential development, will be located along Russell Street across from the Cooley Building Physical Plant and will include seven buildings and a 65-foot bell tower.
The buildings will include 24,000 square feet of commercial space and 50,000 square feet of living space.
“It’s a mixed-use facility,” managing partner of Kimbrell-Crowson LLC Allen Kimbrell said. “About 12,000 square feet will be used for retail and 12,000 square feet will be used for professional office spaces, and all of the professional office space will have balconies.”
The office and retail space can be divided from 1,000 square feet up to 4,000 square feet and will be for sale and lease.
“The target tenant base for retail is restaurants and shopping,” Kimbrell said. “It’s class A retail space.”
The Belfry will house 33 condominium units ranging from 1,600 square feet to 2,515 square feet of total living space including porches. The units will range from two to three bedrooms.
“The condos start at $325,000, and all will include 10-foot ceilings, 8-foot doorways, hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steal appliances, a wet bar and porches,” Kimbrell said. “I think we’ll get second-home buyers, MSU alumni who would like a second home, retirees and some students.”
The property will have 141 on-property parking spaces, 68 of which will be covered.
The development will include green space with park benches, bike racks, fountains and mature trees.
The bell tower will be one of the most prominent features, chiming at appropriate times during the day, Kimbrell said.
“The overall attraction [of The Belfry] is, it’s a walking destination point,” Kimbrell said. It connects to the Cotton District and campus,” he said.
“It’s good that we are going to get more restaurants and shopping in Starkville because we don’t have a great deal right now,” junior biology major Kassie Hillard said.
Sophomore human sciencesmajor Scott Carter said the addition of another business would definitely spark interest among students.
“I think this development will probably bring great revenue to Starkville with shopping, but I think the space would be better used if it were a mall instead of condos attached to it,” Carter said.
Kimbrell said the developers are excited to bring Belfry to Starkville and MSU.
“I think it just provides an amenity and a convenience for more people to come to town and enjoy Starkville,” Kimbrell added.
The Belfry’s groundbreaking was held on Aug. 30. The Web site for the Belfry is http://thebelfry.kimbrell-crowson.com/.