The former Sara Mayo Hospital on Jackson Avenue, which sat for more than two decades as a hulking blighted eyesore, has reopened after a massive renovation as a mixed-use complex that promises to bring new life to a long-neglected corner of the Lower Garden District.

Metairie-based developer Kailas Companies has spent the past two years converting the 2.3-acre property — an entire city block bounded by Jackson Avenue, Chippewa Street, Josephine Street, and St. Thomas Street — into The Jackson, a two-building complex with more than 200 apartments, office and retail space, a parking garage, recreational area and a park.

The project, which included renovating and adding a sixth floor to the original hospital building and constructing a new, 9-story tower next to it, cost more than $62 m

See Full Page