For Andres Duany, Jackson's assets include its airport, colleges, a few of its residential neighborhoods, its collection of mature trees and its civic buildings from the 1930s.

But ask the renowned Miami architect and "new urbanism" expert about the city's shortcomings and the list is more daunting. There are design flaws misguided development tactics and too many parking lots. And don't even talk to him about the citys Steel Magnolia trolley system.

"Would a dignified human being actually be caught dead in a fake 1980s streetcar based on a cheap truck?" he said. "No, what cities need now is a low-level, well-designed, low-platform bus that is dignified."

One city consultant said that while the comments were a bit much, they ultimately served as good constructive criticism.

Duany, of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co., was in town with a team of colleagues last week to work on the LeFleur Lakes flood-control and development project. The Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District formed the LeFleur Lakes Development Foundation last year with an eye toward hiring experts to determine how to finance and develop the project.

Duany pointed to success stories in other cities such as Venice and Memphis, which combined food, drink and the sight of water to create a nexus where people gathered without having to get into cars. He painted a vision of harbors, homes table umbrellas and small recreational boats.

And here's a little of what Duany had to say about Jackson:

Aside from the Mississippi TelCom Center, downtown Jackson buildings look like clones of buildings in other cities, and the city has lost its character around the Capitol: "Jackson has demolished more of itself, more of its downtown, than any other city that I can see, certainly of its size. It's a very empty city, lots of parking lots."

Jackson is getting out-of-date design advice, possibly from advisers who are not keeping up with the trends: "There's a certain provincialism, perhaps."

Jackson should see itself not relative to other capitals but to its own suburbs: "You're competing against the suburbs, and the suburbs are outperforming you."

Jimmy Heidel, the city's economic development consultant, said that while he initially was taken aback by Duany, for the most part, he couldn't disagree. "At first, I was a little offended. Then I started thinking, 'Dadgum, he's right. We've got to look at these things,' " said Heidel.

He referred to one remark the architect made, questioning why the planned redevelopment around the Telecom Center, which includes a convention center, hotel and a slew of new retail shops couldn't take advantage of Town Creek to create a scenic waterfront.

"The comment was well taken. As a matter of fact, the people that are looking at the hotel and some other developments in the area, I've already presented that idea to them," he said.

Heidel, who said Jackson is still looking to fill its city planner position, envisions diners next to small boats in a flowing creek and said some of the fences and parking lots Duany complained about will be gone.

Duany said that in the 1950s and '60s, cities demolished buildings in the pursuit of parking, at a time when renovation was rare. But while other cities have managed to develop a lot over the past 10 years, Jackson has done little.

A lot can be accomplished with the right resources, and the mayor, residents and governor on board, he said, referring to Providence, R.I., a city which underwent a downtown revitalization boom with its creation of bonfires blazing on river water.

Jackson's development potential, however, may be delayed because of the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, he added.

Duany, who is known for design work around the country, including in Seaside Fla., noted that cities have managed to overcome serious problems, including fears about crime.

Michael Barranco, a Jackson architect working with Duany on the LeFleur Lakes plans, said Jackson Mayor Frank Melton is in dire need of good advisers and should stop focusing so much on crime in the city.

"He needs a little humility to say, 'OK, I'm really interested in this crime thing, but I need people around me that can take the ball in development and economic recovery,' " he said.

Loren White, a 39-year old Jackson resident, said Duany gave the mistaken impression there is little to see in Jackson. There is the governor's mansion and city parks, he said, saying some of Jackson's assets simply suffer from poor access and a lack of marketing.

Although he would like to see the visions of Venice-like waterfronts take off, he is concerned that the city might get more than it can handle if too much shoreline real estate is developed and not enough residents bite.

"If you make too much of a good thing, it's not as valued," he said.