Page 107 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2019

PASS CHRISTIAN
PASS CHRISTIAN REBUILDING AND THRIVING
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of The City of Pass Christian
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Lovingly known by locals as “The Pass,” Pass Christian boasts a rich history and was the state’s first resort community.
“At that time, rail was the only way of going or coming, but the dynamic changed drastically
with the construction of Highway 90,” said Mayor Leo “Chipper” McDermott. “Since the beginning, residential living has been our bread and butter, and now, 200 years
later, that’s still a key factor in our economy”
Driving along the Gulf, it’s impossible to miss the stately homes that stretch out across the waterfront. While McDermott considers nature to be Pass Christian’s number one asset, it
is also the city’s greatest liability. Located on a peninsula, Pass Christian is especially susceptible to storms and, like much of the Gulf Coast, took a huge hit during Hurricane Katrina.
However, following the damage caused by the storm, the city picked up where it left off and began rebuilding. “We found out just
how blessed were are as American citizens,” McDermott remarked.
“We as the Coast experienced so much generosity and have come out the other side able to help others in crisis.”
Today the city is thriving, and McDermott comments that the homes seem to keep getting bigger and better with residential areas extending from Scenic Drive to the perimeters of the approximately seven- square-mile city. “The amount of both residential and commercial building permits have increased every year, so things are trending the right way,” he said.
In 2019, the city hopes to continue growing, and has already had interest from new businesses who have purchased land with plans to build. A recent addition was Hotel Whiskey, which was Pass Christian’s first hotel since the 1920s. Hotel Pass Christian has also added to the city’s accommodations.
“We’re a small community and thankful for the businesses that we do have, such as O’Dwyer Realty and O’Malley’s Pharmacy, which recently opened up a new store downtown,” McDermott said.
“It’s a great place to live, that’s for certain.”
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January 2019 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 107
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