NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez and Adams County expect to hear from a developer today that may partner with the city to develop housing on Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Catherine streets.

The housing, Mayor Butch Brown said, is part of his plan to revitalize Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Catherine streets because they are entryways into the city. The housing would be scattered and developed on city- and state-owned lots, as well as adjudicated properties. Adjudicated properties are placed in local and state government hands in a variety of situations, such as when property taxes are not paid.

Brown said he hopes to incentivize development in that area under the Mississippi Health Care Industry Zone Act.

The act, which went into effect last July, authorizes the establishment of health care zones in the state where significant acute-care facilities exist. The law is designed to promote the growth of the health care industry in Mississippi and provides a range of incentives for health care development in the designated zones.

Because of the two hospitals in Natchez and other health care facilities in the area, a health care zone could be established in the city, in which Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Catherine streets would fall.

Qualifying health zones must be located:

-Within a 5-mile radius of an acute-health care facility.

-In a three-county region with a need for more than 375 acute-care hospital beds.

-Within a 5-mile area where an acute-care facility will be built before July 2017 that involves a minimal capital investment of $250 million.

The zones, Community Development Director James Johnston said, would allow health care businesses, such as laboratory testing facilities or medical supply distributors, that make an investment of at least $10 million or create a minimum of 25 full-time permanent jobs to be eligible for tax incentives if they locate within a health care industry zone.

Housing developers would also be eligible to receive additional points on their housing tax credit program applications if they developed in a health care zone.

David Kelly of Chartre Consulting said he expected to meet with the city and county at their joint meeting today to discuss his company’s work with other communities under the health care zone act.

Chartre developed the Old Bridge Place housing, formerly Stonehurst Arms, at the corner of St. Catherine and Rembert streets.

Kelly said he was approached by the city to develop housing in other parts of the city.

“They liked what we did (with Stonehurst), and ask if we were willing to help in some other areas in Natchez,” he said.

Kelly said more details of his company’ plans to develop housing will be available after the meeting with city and county officials today.