Fondren Forward

A bold vision for Fondren’s bright future.

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What is Fondren Forward?

Fondren Forward is an ambitious effort to envision the next chapter of the community’s success.

Fondren is an iconic and beloved Mississippi destination known for our vibrant arts scene, eclectic architecture, welcoming atmosphere, local businesses, funky culture, charming homes, and wonderful people. Our community is a celebrated success today because of decades of grassroots passion from residents and business owners alike. To sustain our prosperity in the face of evolving challenges, Fondren must define the vision of its future today.

To that end, Fondren Forward is an inclusive, community-driven planning initiative designed to craft a visionary roadmap for Fondren's future as well as a fundraising campaign aimed at supporting vital community improvements. This undertaking is a thoughtful investment in shaping the next phase of Fondren. It allows to plan strategically for the days ahead and ensure a place in which we can all be proud. The success of Fondren Forward hinges upon your participation in this journey, as we need your ideas and feedback, so we can all work together to make our community be the best it can be.

What areas does Fondren Forward consider?

Fondren Forward considers the future of our whole community.

Fondren Forward considers a comprehensive vision that embraces opportunities across every facet of Fondren, spanning our neighborhoods, businesses, amenities, parks, roads, and trails. This initiative also extends its perspective beyond the community's boundaries, carefully examining adjacent uses and anchors to ensure a holistic approach to growth. Fondren Forward also looks to the larger city of Jackson, considering all the ways the best Fondren can help support the best Jackson, recognizing that a sustainable neighborhood can help propel the broader vision for an improved and thriving capital city.

Why is Fondren Forward important?

Long-term planning on behalf of the community protects what we love about Fondren today.

Safeguarding Fondren’s special culture is an active role, not a passive one. Long-term planning efforts on behalf of the community protect what we love about Fondren today, but they also create unique opportunities to proactively capitalize on changes and investments that generate shared benefits for all. Fondren residents often express their desire for a more diverse mix of community amenities, activities, and services, and many of these assets are only delivered with new development. Such improvements can be beneficial but only when we have a shared understanding of what community members want, need, and hope to preserve. This proactive stance mirrors the tried-and-true means through which great communities foster meaningful change. This is why your input is vital, as we shape a shared vision that reflects all of our hopes for this community.

How can I get involved?

Take the survey to share your vital voice and guide our work.

You’re in the right place. To start your journey with Fondren Forward, you can:

Learn about in-person events where you can engage with us.

Support this work with financial assistance that will drive change.

Stay in the loop with project updates, milestones, and news.

Discover resources about how we can foster a great community.

Reach out to us with questions, comments, or concerns.

By connecting with the Fondren Forward webpage and the options above, you have access to a number of important resources and tools. Most importantly for now, you can take part in our online survey to provide your vital and candid feedback, which is the backbone of this endeavor. Explore the site to learn about other opportunities, including in-person discussions that will occur over the coming months. You can also find tools to learn and share with your friends and neighbors, so that we can invite as many folks to this inclusive process as possible. Lastly, sign up to stay connected to our updates and reach out to us if you have questions.

More about Fondren Forward…

To instigate lasting change, communities require a shared vision that not only charts a course forward but also directs day-to-day decision-making toward that destination. For Fondren Forward, this vision takes shape as a community master plan, a comprehensive framework encompassing economic development strategies, preservation of cultural assets, conservation of natural resources, provision of community facilities, current and future housing requirements, zoning and land use, transportation and mobility, and prioritized allocation of public funds. While these aspects may seem mundane or utilitarian on paper, it is their strategic interplay over time that truly defines and sets apart a great community. Fondren Forward, therefore, offers a distinctive opportunity for you to actively contribute to shaping the community goals that will direct our master plan and establish our collective future.
Fondren Forward launches on January 1, 2024, but its duration remains open-ended, which is a good thing. The initiative unfolds in multiple phases, each dedicated to distinct priorities. The inaugural Phase I, spanning from January to September 2024, concentrates on large-scale, comprehensive master planning. Future phases will follow to execute the recommendations and deliver the investments laid out in the master plan. We will adapt and shape these timelines responsively, allowing purposeful flexibility that accommodates evolving developments.
Fondren Forward is being overseen by the Fondren Renaissance Foundation (FRF), whose mission for more than twenty years has been to promote the preservation and revitalization of the greater Fondren community, empowering people, organizations, and neighborhoods to contribute to the economic growth, stability, and quality of life in Fondren. The venture is being shepherded by a steering committee of diverse volunteer leaders who represent Fondren residents, property owners, renters, business owners, advocates, and City staff. Expertise is being provided by advisors from City Collective and Kimley Horn. FRF works in collaboration with the Fondren Business Improvement District and closely with OurFondren Neighborhood Association. Lastly, and most importantly, Fondren Forward is driven by you and passionate community members like you! This undertaking will be guided by a months-long, robust, and transparent campaign to capture community input through multiple events and communication channels.