Realtors break ground in Ridgeland

The Central Mississippi Realtors Association is finally planning to move to a new location in Ridgeland after almost 50 years. 

“We need more space so we can help more customers,” said Jo Usry, chief executive officer of Central Mississippi Realtors. “This new building will be 13,000 square feet, which will give us a lot more room for work, meetings, and community events.”

Usry said CMR has been in their old building downtown on North State Street since 1974, and that it’s time the company found a new and better location. 

Katie Warren, president of Central Mississippi Realtors, thinks the new location will be fantastic.

“The building will be right into the middle of the growth area in Ridgeland, which means it’ll draw a lot of potential customers,” Warren said. “There’s also other lots around it, where more future businesses can locate and grow around us.” 

Warren estimates this building to be finished in late summer or early fall of 2021. 

“The groundbreaking ceremony was on July 28 and construction then moved forward,” she said. “The audience for the ceremony was limited due to COVID, so it was just me, the building committee, and the architects.”

Warren said this building will provide many new opportunities with the available space, since the old building was way too small. They also plan to rent out conference rooms and classrooms. 

“It’s a great thing and our memberships will be able to grow more this way,” she said. “It’ll also be a very nice building, and I believe the builders are top notch and will do it right.”

Gary Parker, chairman of the Central Mississippi Realtors Building Committee, sees this as a great opportunity for the company. 

“It’s a tremendous decision,” Parker said. “It was great to sit and watch the committee members work on this. They’re intelligent and forward thinking. The effort of this new building is amazing, and it will serve as a place for the majority of our 2000 members.”

Parker said this project has been in planning as far back as before 2014 and is a huge step for the association. 

“It’s an opportunity that can be expanded in so many ways,” he said. 

Parker feels that Usry was a huge part of helping him and the committee prepare, and is a great leader. 

“It’s been a real experience and blessing from God to serve on this committee,” he said. 

The new Central Mississippi Realtors building will be located on 564 Sunnybrook Road, directly in front of Ridgeland High School, and behind the Patty Peck Honda dealership.