TO THE CASUAL observer, it might look like nothing more than a vacant suburban lot.

But to North Jackson architect Sam Coker, the strip of land located at the corner of Ridgewood Road and Northside Drive is much more.

To him, it’s a sign of great progress. Last year, Coker formed the Northside Partners, a limited liability company, to purchase the property at 1607 E. Northside Dr.

In doing so, Coker and the partners wanted to clean up the area, which to many is the unofficial entrance to one of the Northside’s nicest neighborhoods. And while it’s obvious that the property is vacant, it’s clear that the members of the Northside Partners have accomplished their goal.

“Our goal was to clean it up and get the house gone,” Coker said. The house, a gray one-story with a questionable history, was removed at the end of the year by Todd Means.

And the property itself has been maintained by Coker. “Hopefully, we’ll get the money to landscape it soon,” he said. Although there are no concrete plans for the community-owned property, he said they’ll likely turn it into a public green space for neighborhood residents to enjoy.

“We’ve had about 12 people to donate and have raised almost enough money to pay the property off,” Coker said. “I would like to think if we could raise $20,000, we could do more.”

One resident, Kirk Taylor, said he has no objections with the work that’s been accomplished there. Taylor lives a short distance from the property on Northside.

“The house that was there was an eyesore and word had it that it was a drug house,” he said in a recent telephone interview. “They tore it down and made the area better.”

Anyone who donates to the Partners automatically becomes a member of the group and technically becomes part owner of the property. Coker wouldn’t release the amount of money collected.

For more information on the Northside Partners, call Coker at (601) 932-3035.