Biloxi and Gulfport Growth
Growth was all around in 2006 GULFPORT - The year 2006 brought numerous changes to the Coast’s landscape, including the further loss of treasured landmarks and the addition of new sights that might not have been imagined two years ago.
Among the most lamentable losses: Biloxi’s once-majestic Tivoli Hotel, opened on Feb. 19, 1927, fell to the wrecking ball. So did the former Broadwater Beach Hotel, whose glittery spaces had hosted gamblers, golfers and yachtsmen since 1939. Before the demolition crew arrived recently, the formerly proud, art-deco Broadwater had fallen into glum disrepair.
Then there are the new Coast landscape additions:
1.Growth has boomed above Interstate 10. With new subdivisions and shopping areas seemingly sprouting from the Earth north of the cities and in unincorporated Harrison County, this area has seen some of the most dramatic change.
2. The ferry. A new temporary ferry now fills a missing link and chugs from Bay St. Louis to Henderson Point and back, some days successfully, some days not.
3. Bridges. Concrete pilings for new bridges now dot the waters between Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian, and from Biloxi toward Ocean Springs. They are scheduled for full completion Nov. 30, 2007, and April 16, 2008, respectively.
4. Waffle House. Fans of grits, coffee and hash browns have been salivating at the site of several new Waffle House restaurants, being built to replace their hurricane-wasted predecessors along U.S. 90.
5. The Sound. Coastal beaches and waters have been returned more to normality by a continuing cleanup, both ashore and beneath the shallow Mississippi Sound.
6. Gulf waters. The underwater landscape also will become better, and hopefully more productive, by the moving of shells and other matter from Biloxi Bay to the Sound near Cat Island. The objective: Growing new oyster beds.
7. Casinos. The new Silver Slipper Casino at Bayou Caddy opened recently and stands pretty much alone in a mosquito-plagued area that once held fishing camps, shrimp boats and a seafood processing plant.
8. Condos. Like them or not, those irrepressible high-rise condominium projects with quixotic names have popped up on the beachfront along U.S. 90 and appear to be precursors of future growth.
9. Roads. The new Mississippi 605 extension road recently opened, giving motorists an alternative north-south parallel route to U.S. 49, running from the intersection of Lorraine Road and Interstate 10 to Mississippi 67.
10. Tall houses. Hurricane Katrina brought a dramatic change to the old practice of building homes near the water on piers or slabs. Many hurricane replacement homes started this year sit on stilts towering 12 feet or more above the ground - bad for burglars and furniture movers, but encouraging news for purveyors of fire protection equipment and elevators.