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Biloxi council weighs selling long‑idle Denelli Ballpark as housing developers press to build apartments
Summary
The Biloxi City Council debated declaring Denelli Ballpark surplus to allow a developer to build market‑rate apartments, with supporters citing housing and tax revenue needs and opponents urging family and community input and protections for historic park donations.
Biloxi — A heated debate over whether to declare Denelli Ballpark surplus dominated the Biloxi City Council meeting on April 21, as members weighed long‑standing neighborhood sentiment against a developer’s pitch to build hundreds of market‑rate apartments.
Councilman Kenny Gray said the unused East Biloxi park “has not been used in over 30 years” and argued selling the site could bring hundreds of families and much‑needed tax revenue to the city. “We had the opportunity to bring in 200 families that would spend money at our local businesses,” Gray said, urging the council to vote to surplus the land.
Opponents pressed for more community outreach and legal safeguards. Several council members and residents said the parcel had been donated decades ago with potential deed conditions and asked for time to locate donor family members and review any caveats. One emailed request from a family member asked the council to postpone action so relatives could attend and be heard.
City staff said declaring a parcel surplus is the first step in a longer process that would include appraisals, negotiation and written restrictions in any sale contract. Mayor Andrew Fo Gillage told the council such agreements commonly include timetables and claw‑back provisions to ensure developers deliver housing as promised.
Council discussion also highlighted broader fiscal pressures: members noted a projected $10 million budget shortfall and argued new housing could expand the tax base. Others warned against a double standard in park investment, saying some wards have received more city spending for parks and urban improvements.
No final sale or contract was approved at the meeting. Council members asked staff to verify deed restrictions, explore a request‑for‑proposals or conditional terms (including development timetables and reversion clauses), and report back. The item will return for further consideration with additional legal and appraisal work.
Why it matters: The vote will shape East Biloxi’s development direction, affect available park space, and set precedent for how the city balances neighborhood history and donor intent against fiscal and housing needs.
