Unrecovered: Vacant lots 14 years after Katrina
By JOHN E. BIALAS
Broadmoor Bureau Chief
They are wastelands. They are hallowed grounds.
The vacant residential and commercial lots are the gaping property holes in the Mississippi Coast landscape, most noticeable on the beach highway from Pass Christian to Biloxi.
Visitors seem to think the barren beachfront spots are small city parks, places where they can take a nice morning walk from their hotel during vacation time.
Perhaps they know nothing of Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed homes and businesses on Aug. 29, 2005. Sure, much of the Coast has recovered, but a lot is unrecovered.
I've taken many photos of the empty Gulfport spaces since I got my the first of my three trusty iPhones. The pictures go back to 2014 and below are four of my latest with Google locator maps:
Commercial property, 16th Street and Church Avenue
In the background is the White Cap seafood restaurant, which moved to Highway 90 near Courthouse Road after Katrina.
In the foreground is the property that was the home of T.O.'s, a bar the locals loved for about three decades until Katrina took it away.
I would hope someone would sponsor a T.O.'s Katrina memorial observance and then we would take the short walk to the Waffle House that was one of the first restaurants to come back after the storm.
T.O.'s is listed in a Sun Herald story published Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. The story's headline is "14 most-missed things that never returned to the Coast after Hurricane Katrina." You will want to read it.
Residential property, Highway 90 and Gulf Avenue
This is part of a big lot with a beach view. The home that was there might have been Spanish-style. Can't remember the description, though I believe it was one of the oldest beach homes in Gulfport and I know it was almost next door to Grass Lawn, which was rebuilt.
Commercial property, Highway 90 and Teagarden Road
A nice little shopping center was here for years and it included Outback Steakhouse, which moved northeast to what is known as Sangani Land, also known as the D'Iberville Boulevard of Unbroken Dreams. Outback is also listed in the Sun Herald's "14 most-missed things."
Residential property, Highway 90 and Kelly Avenue
This looks like a path to Second Street, one of the most beautiful and historic neighborhoods in Mississippi. It's about one block north of the beach.
Perhaps you could take a walk on the path or drive your car through it, and maybe neither is a good idea day or night. It might be trespassing.
Unrecovered vs. recovered
Many people think the Coast has recovered and others think we haven't. I'm with the others.
Sure, the Coast has made tremendous progress and we have many new restaurants and businesses that are thriving, and we have many new wonderful homes, but as I finish this, I have an earworm from Sgt. Peppers.
Hey, the power of positive thinking from Paul McCartney. Then there's John Lennon keeping it real.I've got to admit it's getting better
A little better all the time
So whose side are you on in the unrecovered vs recovered debate? I would like to know and I look forward to your comments.It can't get no worse.
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