PASCAGOULA — The donation of two downtown Pascagoula buildings to the Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority could boost efforts to revitalize that Gulf Coast city’s downtown area.

The Heidelberg Steinberger Colmer & Burrow law firm donated the former Parker Jewelry and Parsley’s Barber Shop buildings to the Redevelopment Authority on Thursday.

The authority will market the properties to potential occupants.

The property was originally going to be donated to the city, but city leaders recommended it go directly to the authority, which they created this past spring. The purpose of the authority is to spur development since it can act more like a private developer and avoid much of the red tape involved in city-led projects.

Authority Director Harry Schmidt told the board that city leaders have set aside $50,000 in economic development funds toward redeveloping the buildings.

When the law firm was deciding what to do with the property, there was “no doubt about who it would go to,” attorney Karl Steinberger told the authority board.

“A lot of people have fond memories of these buildings and they’ve got great potential,” Steinberger said. “Hopefully you guys will find the resources to make them something spectacular when it’s all said and done.”