Recently the Mississippi Gulf Coast was represented at the “2024 Listen Up! Historic Preservation Conference” in Vicksburg, Miss. During the presentation of the 2024 Heritage Awards, the Heritage Award of Excellence in Rehabilitation was awarded to Coast Transit Authority Gulfport Transit Center, received by Coast Transit Authority (CTA) Executive Director Kevin Coggin and David Hardy, Principal, Eley Guild Hardy Architects. As quoted from the conference program, “A new vision is needed to make sure these churches, schools, stores, and homes are still around to meet the needs of future generations who will keep these stories alive.”
“CTA is pleased to be able to secure $10M in federal funding to preserve this MS Landmark building, which is now on the U.S. Park Service List of Historic Places. The adaptive reuse of this historic building allows it to function as the CTA hub of bus services in Gulfport, an administrative facility for the Mississippi Aquarium, and allows the public to enjoy the building as they remember it before its partial destruction by Hurricane Katrina. Local architect David Hardy of Eley Guild Hardy Architects did an outstanding job of managing the restoration of this building that is loved by the local community,” said Kevin Coggin, CTA Executive Director.
The CTA Gulfport Transit Center was previously the Gulfport Library. After Hurricane Katrina, the building needed preservation and a new vision. Kevin Coggin was able to fund the project with a grant and federal historic tax credits. Eley Guild Hardy Architects was chosen to implement the vision of the building and the CTA Parking Garage.
Coggin is a native Biloxian and lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Coggin has been employed with CTA since 1989. Seeing the successful preservation and growth of the CTA Gulfport Transit Center Hub is a benefit not only to the transit riders when transferring routes and to the Mississippi Aquarium but also to the City of Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the state of Mississippi. The vision Coggin has successfully implemented for this project now includes the CTA Tram Trolley and CTA Tram Bridge, which allows all mobility levels to travel safely between the CTA Gulfport Transit Center and Jones Park across Highway 90.
Coast Transit Authority is very thankful for the community partnerships, community’s support, and the team that keeps the “Gulf Coast rolling for you.” To learn more about CTA go to www.coasttransit.com or call 228-896-8080. Follow Coast Transit Authority on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to stay in the loop!
For more photos, go to: https://www.mississippiheritage.com/elevation-blog/2021/1/28/the-fight-for-new-formalism .
Photos from Mississippi Heritage Trust:
