One grew up in real estate and the other in construction, but the two developers have formed a partnership that continues to grow. Their latest project may be the biggest of their lifetime, they said.

Glenn Green of Paul Green & Associates and Ricky Edgin of Edgin Construction Co. recently have participated in commercial developments such as Beechwood, the 25-acre site across U.S. 61 North from Northgate Shopping Center.

Also, Edgin developed the site and Green participated as an agent in the commercial development across from Day’s Inn on U.S. 61 South.

Now the men have joined to purchase 760 acres along U.S. 61 South — the two miles that include both frontage property and the land behind the frontage beginning just south of Trinity Episcopal School.

“This is a huge undertaking, but we thought we could do it together,” Green said.

He sees it as “unplugging the stopper that has been preventing the development” of that area south of town.

Green compares the new area of potential development with the area of about the same size from Tracetown shopping center to Trinity. “And we can do that all over again,” he said, referring to a map that shows some tentative plans.

The new 50-50 partnership is Hedges Plantation Land, LLC, named after the plantation the land surrounds. “We never expected this land would be available in this lifetime,” Green said.

The plantation that still bears the name The Hedges is not a part of the sale, is north of the area purchased by the new company and is protected by many acres surrounding it. It is on the west side of the highway.

To the east side of the highway, the development includes an area of residential development along Southwind Road. The Green-Edgin company has sold five tracts on that road, five to 11 acres each. One tract of 25 acres remains.

On the west side of the road, one buyer has purchased 95 acres and has plans to build a home on the site. Another tract of about 18 acres is under contract by another buyer.

Also on the west side of the road, some earth moving has begun, and the men said they have heard many rumors about the work they are doing there.

“We’re just leveling the land,” Green said. “There are no deals for a prison on that land or anything else.”

The next stage that will become obvious to those traveling 61 South toward Kingston is the tree cutting that will take place on the west side of the highway.

“It will look rough at first, but we’ll come back and plant and it will look better than it does now,” Green said.

Edgin admitted that this huge piece of land poses challenges. “It is challenging. There are very deep ravines,” he said. “But you have to have imagination with property like this.”

The idea of the development is still in its infancy, Green said. “This will be a planned mixed-use development, commercial along the highway and residential to the rear, with tree-lined boulevards coming through the commercial to the residential areas.”

Michael Cates of Paul Green & Associates is taking the lead on sale of the property. “We hope parts of this will be developed by large commercial developers so the land takes on some variety and attracts new businesses to Natchez,” Cates said.

It is high-end property, Green said. “It is expensive to buy and develop. We’re working on these plans with (civil engineers) Jordan Kaiser & Sessions and with a professional land planner,” he said.

The partners said they are driven to make the development as attractive and appealing as possible, not only to sell the property but to protect property they already own in the area.

They are cognizant of the beauty of the entrance to Natchez from the south and expect to maintain that ambience, they said. They will use both deed restrictions and covenants to protect the area.

“This is a clean, unspoiled entrance into Natchez, and we want it to be nice,” Green said. “The possibilities are unlimited. The only limit is whether Natchez is going to grow.”

On that subject, Edgin is positive. “I think Natchez is growing. And Natchez has been bottlenecked in this area for years. This development has great potential.”

The new company purchased the property from trusts associated with the estate of the late Grace M. MacNeil.

“We hope 20 years after this is developed Mrs. MacNeil could look back and say that’s a good use of my property,” Green said.

“With Edgin’s dirt work experience and Jordan Kaiser as our engineers, we can figure our costs, see what we can sell it for and see if it’s feasible,” Green said.