After years of research and persuasion, in January 2009 New Orleans developer HRI Properties forged an agreement with the city council for the redevelopment of the Threefoot building into a hotel... with significant financial backing from the city.
Much of Meridian rejoiced at the news that the building would not only be saved, but used for the economic development of downtown. But just as many Meridianites were uneasy with the $14 million risk the city had to take to save the landmark building.
One of those uneasy people was mayoral candidate Cheri Barry. While former Mayor John Robert Smith gave his full support and then some to the project, Barry approached it with caution.
After taking office, Barry pushed the city council to terminate their agreement with HRI, but when it looked like the council would stick with the project, HRI pulled out. Without the cooperation of the mayor, they said, going forward with the project just wouldn't be possible.
But the developer said there's still a vague possibility that they will come back to resurrect the building sometime in the future. As the cliche goes: The Threefoot is dead-Long live the Threefoot.
