Downtown Starkville, Miss., is set for a revitalization project to enhance pedestrian accessibility and connection with Mississippi State University. The $9.5 million first phase includes street improvements and landscaping, with plans for a second phase to follow. The project aims to minimize disruption to local businesses and draw inspiration from successful urban revitalization efforts in other cities.
City of Starkville render
Plans include adding street lights, increasing the size of the sidewalks and incorporating more rails, stairs and benches to offer support and rest areas for pedestrians.
The effort to revitalize downtown Starkville, Miss., is officially under way after five years of planning, setting the stage for construction to begin in May 2025 and last approximately 18 months.
The pedestrian-focused project aims to enhance the downtown's accessibility and appeal. Plans include adding street lights, increasing the size of the sidewalks and incorporating more rails, stairs and benches to offer support and rest areas for pedestrians.
Starkville, a city of slightly more than 25,000 people, is located in east-central Mississippi, and best known as the home of Mississippi State University (MSU).
According to a March 18, 2025, article published in The Reflector, the university's student-run newspaper, the first phase of the project is being funded with $9.5 million from state and federal sources. Phase 2, expected to follow its completion, will require an additional $3 million.
A major goal of the revitalization is strengthening the connection between downtown and the MSU campus. Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill often references this vision with the phrase, "From City Hall to Lee Hall."
Plans include a walking path linking downtown to the university.
In addition, landscaping improvements are slated to be made along Main Street, including lining the sidewalks with trees to provide shade for pedestrians.
Areas surrounding the Downtown Innovation Hub, an MSU building that offers office space for businesses, will see changes as well, such as removing barriers between Washington and Lafayette streets and the sidewalk in order to create more space for pedestrians and events.
Downtown Starkville's bus stop, in front of the Hub and Regions Bank, also is due for a makeover, noted The Reflector. The bus stop could potentially move to a more central location or be rebuilt where it currently stands with the overall goal of enhancing downtown's appeal to visitors while improving pedestrian safety for residents and college students.
Starkville's Plans Will Minimize Disruption to Downtown Stores
City officials have joined with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership (GSDP) to complete the project.
A primary concern about the construction timeline revolves around the stores on Main Street that could have their storefronts blocked off by the project. GSDP plans to promote those businesses online during the project to assure the public that they are still open and can be accessed while construction crews work in downtown Starkville.
Paige Watson, director of Main Street for GSDP, called the project "transformative," and is key to building the future of Starkville.
She added that events will be planned to keep the city's Main Street active despite the construction.
Chris Williams, associate engineer of the city of Starkville, also outlined strategies to maintain full access to downtown's shops.
"Depending on the contractor, customers will be able to either walk across the block to get to a store or temporary sidewalks will be put in place," he told The Reflector.
Some opposition to the downtown project raised concerns about delivery trucks and traffic flow, particularly trucks extending into travel lanes. However, Spruill reassured the public that parking behind Starkville Café will be available and side streets will accommodate delivery trucks to minimize disruptions.
The city's revitalization plan draws inspiration from similar projects in Athens, Ga., and Greenville, S.C. The same company that planned the construction for those cities, Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., based in Raleigh, N.C., designed Starkville's updated downtown layout.
According to The Reflector, bidding for the project opened on Feb. 25, 2025, and will close March 26, 2025, at 2 p.m. The construction contract will be finalized in April 2025, with work scheduled to begin shortly thereafter.
Other Starkville construction projects also are in the works to further pedestrian safety.
For instance, Williams highlighted upcoming improvements at the intersection of Lampkin and Montgomery streets, including bike lanes and shorter pedestrian crossing distances.
"[The changes will] shorten the length of time the pedestrian is on the street," Williams said.
In addition, the Montgomery Street intersection near the Starkville-Oktibbeha County Library will be updated with new sidewalks and pedestrian signals.
With these changes, Starkville's downtown aims to become a more welcoming destination for residents, students and visitors alike.
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