[BamaGrad04]

Airport passenger counts down
Decline at Mobile Regional much steeper than neighboring airports
Tuesday, July 22, 2008By JEFF AMYBusiness Reporter

Passenger traffic at Mobile Regional Airport fell nearly 15 percent in June compared with the same month in 2007 and is off 7.5 percent for the first six months of the year, a much steeper decline than nationwide or at neighboring airports.

The drop came as airlines added more flights and larger planes in June, meaning some carriers saw their Mobile-bound planes only half-full on average. Airlines have announced that they will cut three weekday round-trips to Mobile after Labor Day, but officials warned Monday at a Mobile Airport Authority meeting that at least one more daily round-trip could be in jeopardy.

"Fuel prices increased, fares increased and passengers are really looking for the best value," Aviation Director Thomas Hughes said.

American Eagle, which added a fifth flight to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport as of June 1, has now warned that its planes are too empty to turn a profit, Hughes said. The airline's planes to and from Mobile, including a once-daily round trip to Chicago that will end after Labor Day, were 67 percent full in June, according to airport figures.

"The fifth flight to Dallas is not as strong as it needs to be right now," Hughes said.

The Air Transport Association says that with the current high price of jet fuel, the average plane needed to be 83.5 percent full to make a profit in the first quarter of 2008. Nationwide, the average plane was 77.2 percent full during that period.

American Eagle had 21.3 percent of Mobile passengers in June. A subsidiary of AMR Corp., based in Fort Worth, Texas, the American Airlines regional carrier said last month that it would cut flights between Chicago and almost all Gulf Coast airports, part of a company-wide cost-cutting drive.

Delta has said it will cut the number of round trips to Atlanta from seven to six after Labor Day and reduce its seat total on Mobile-Atlanta planes by 21 percent. Most of those seats were added at the start of summer.

Mark Sixel, an airline consultant, said disappearing passengers are being driven away by high prices as airlines try to raise enough money to stay solvent

"It's a fare issue at this point," said Sixel, president of the Sixel Consulting Group, based in Eugene, Ore. "As fares go up, you tend to make flying a less attractive alternative."

Sixel said that business-oriented markets such as Mobile have seen the greatest fare increases. Markets that have discount carriers or and cater to leisure travelers, such as Gulfport and Pensacola, benefit because airlines "have to be much less aggressive or that traffic will disappear," he said.

Traffic has fallen much less at Pensacola Regional Airport, 0.4 percent so far this year, while the number of fliers to and from Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport has risen 18.6 percent in the first six months of 2008.
Worldwide, passengers on U.S. airlines rose 0.4 percent in the first five months of 2008, the Air Transport Association said, thanks to a 5.4 percent growth of international travelers. Domestic traffic fell 0.3 percent.

[NitekKetin]

I saw that, but ESC is a burb deal. They did not want to be in the city.

At any rate, Bel Air has done much better over the years handling its vacancy problems than ESC. Have you seen a copy of ESC's leasing plan? Several retailers apparently backed out of that mall.

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Well, Bel Air Mall has proven to be much more healthier than ESC or Legacy Village. I mean, when inline tenant space is usually quickly leased by a quality national retailer. For instance, 22,000 square feet is be redeveloped as the first Forever21 store outside B'ham. The former Bombay space is transforming into Journeys Kids.

i think all the gadzook's are being converted into forever 21's, they are doing the same in Baton Rouge too. Hell, all the gadzooks carried more forever 21 line clothes than their own haha.

[10101000]

I love Bel- Air, but they have so many people robbing stores at night there. Two weeks ago when I was there someone robbed the store next to Bama fever Tiger pride. It was bad! I thought I was about to die.

[NitekKetin]

As Spanish Fort grows, its two EIFS-cladded disasters will have their share of various crimes too. Recently, the Best Buy store at Eastern Shore Plaza was robbed of nearly $11k in merchandise.

[10101000]

Sure, most people cannot afford to live on the eastern shore though.

[Bogue]

On a positive note.

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/1216718179230060.xml&coll=3

Another venue to view the bay.

[Port_of_Bama]

On a positive note.

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/1216718179230060.xml&coll=3

Another venue to view the bay.


Sounds good to me, now where is our theme park !

Has anyone heared anything about the Saltiaire development lately, from all of the retail talk that has been on this thread as of lately. The last I reda on the renderings of the developmet it suppose to have a retail town Contre included in the plans.

[MobiMan]

Bel Aire Mall has gotten bad to me, i use to love shopping there and walking around, but now we have all the rif-raft hanging out and not buying anything
shoplifting has gotten bad,

i avoid weekends and go mondays and tue during the day

[Bogue]

I proposed this earlier but it got sort of buried & I think the idea of a new public community college needs to be revisited. Bishop State has a terrible reputation and is in an awkward location relative to the population of the city (and to areas experiencing more rapid population & economic growth).

I would like to see something similar to that of Shelton State outside Tuscaloosa go up in town.

http://www.tuscaloosachamber.com/images/jpg/SSCC%20exterior1.jpg

I think such a building would look good in Mobile. My personal preference on location would be just south of the Loop where DIP & I-10 intersect. That area needs revitalizing, already has a local population endeavoring to better the area (the Loop Business folk), has a major police presence nearby, and it would be especially convenient for students in Midtown/Downtown, the Eastern Shore, & in the Tillman's Corner/Theodore area. An alternate site might also be somewhere along I-65 south of Saraland, but I would suspect most of the land in those areas might be more expensive to condemn/purchase. Putting it near the Loop would make it easier to extend public transport to it. It would also make it convenient to the Brookley area and the new industries **cough** EADS **cough** we hope to see locating there.... to say nothing of increasing the aesthetic value of that part of town & plopping a couple thousand new customers (faculty/staff/students) right down onto the laps of the businesses in the Loop.

The land where BSCC currently is located could then be opened for new development or sold to a private college.

...on paying for it... Alabama gets significant amounts of pork (even w/ the change from red to blue in Congress) and this is one "pork" project that would be of significant, lasting value.

[Bogue]

I am also curious about how things are going in the Saltaire development. It looked really cool to me. Anyone have any of the renderings? (or a link to them)

On the theme park: be careful what you wish for... you might get Visionla-...errrr... Alabama Adventure ;)

Although I wouldn't mind a water park being in town.

[| BRAVO |]

On the theme park: be careful what you wish for... you might get Visionla-...errrr... Alabama Adventure ;)

What's wrong with Alabama Adventure? My family has fun on day trips there... it's not overwhelming like Six Flags or Disney

[Bogue]

What's wrong with Alabama Adventure?

It was a money pit for most of a decade, mainly. The waterpark is what saved it.

[| BRAVO |]

It was a money pit for most of a decade, mainly. The waterpark is what saved it.

I think it's fun... they're planning on expanding it.

Do Mobile people venture over to Gulf Shores often for fun/theme park fun??? I've been so many times I'm sick of it. Only been to Mobile twice.

[| BRAVO |]

Give Mobile B'ham's massively bloated MSA (it covers 12 counties, many of them large ones) and it's already around 1.3-1.5 million.

Birmingham MSA is 7 counties - not 12.

Bibb
Blount
Walker
Shelby
Jefferson
St Clair
Chilton

The CSA includes one additional:
Cullman

[Port_of_Bama]

I think it's fun... they're planning on expanding it.

Do Mobile people venture over to Gulf Shores often for fun/theme park fun??? I've been so many times I'm sick of it. Only been to Mobile twice.


Yeap ,Destin , Fl and Blue Bayou( Baton Rouge, La) we want to change that and keep the money in Mobile. A water park would be nice !!

[Del]

Bravo, I took a couple of pictures of the Joe Cain "torches" today with my phone, but I have no idea how to insert them here (in fact, I'm having a little trouble getting them off of the phone). They do look a little disproportional but it's a fun & "funky" look. Unfortunately the city has planted a tree that totally obscures one of the torches - not sure which was there first, but I'm thinking probably the tree.

[NitekKetin]

Del, once you retrieve your photos from your phone, you can upload them via the Photobucket photo hosting site. Photobucket even generates the necessary tags around the URL of each photo, allowing for easy insertion into your posts.

[| BRAVO |]

Oh good.
Yeah, they came out of the shop looking much different than I drew them. I was a little disappointed. I heard about the tree :haha: The architect didn't tell us about that one. The tree was definately first and has the right of way in my opinion.

I'll be glad to post the pics if you want to e-mail them to me. I'll PM you now.

[MobiMan]

http://www.waterventures.com/pic9.jpg

http://www.waterventures.com/plan5.jpg

these are really cool check them out
but where in Mobile would you wanna see one of these

[NitekKetin]

I wouldn't mind hypothetically locating this waterpark along Industrial Parkway (AL 158) near the site of the Racetrack.

[MobiMan]

I would like to see one on these Downtown

http://www.buggy.com/images/vicclosed.jpg

[MobiMan]

sorry it wouldnt work heres the link

www.buggy.com

[pkp]

Airport passenger counts down
Decline at Mobile Regional much steeper than neighboring airports
Tuesday, July 22, 2008By JEFF AMYBusiness Reporter

Passenger traffic at Mobile Regional Airport fell nearly 15 percent in June compared with the same month in 2007 and is off 7.5 percent for the first six months of the year, a much steeper decline than nationwide or at neighboring airports.

The drop came as airlines added more flights and larger planes in June, meaning some carriers saw their Mobile-bound planes only half-full on average. Airlines have announced that they will cut three weekday round-trips to Mobile after Labor Day, but officials warned Monday at a Mobile Airport Authority meeting that at least one more daily round-trip could be in jeopardy.

"Fuel prices increased, fares increased and passengers are really looking for the best value," Aviation Director Thomas Hughes said.

American Eagle, which added a fifth flight to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport as of June 1, has now warned that its planes are too empty to turn a profit, Hughes said. The airline's planes to and from Mobile, including a once-daily round trip to Chicago that will end after Labor Day, were 67 percent full in June, according to airport figures.

"The fifth flight to Dallas is not as strong as it needs to be right now," Hughes said.

The Air Transport Association says that with the current high price of jet fuel, the average plane needed to be 83.5 percent full to make a profit in the first quarter of 2008. Nationwide, the average plane was 77.2 percent full during that period.

American Eagle had 21.3 percent of Mobile passengers in June. A subsidiary of AMR Corp., based in Fort Worth, Texas, the American Airlines regional carrier said last month that it would cut flights between Chicago and almost all Gulf Coast airports, part of a company-wide cost-cutting drive.

Delta has said it will cut the number of round trips to Atlanta from seven to six after Labor Day and reduce its seat total on Mobile-Atlanta planes by 21 percent. Most of those seats were added at the start of summer.

Mark Sixel, an airline consultant, said disappearing passengers are being driven away by high prices as airlines try to raise enough money to stay solvent

"It's a fare issue at this point," said Sixel, president of the Sixel Consulting Group, based in Eugene, Ore. "As fares go up, you tend to make flying a less attractive alternative."

Sixel said that business-oriented markets such as Mobile have seen the greatest fare increases. Markets that have discount carriers or and cater to leisure travelers, such as Gulfport and Pensacola, benefit because airlines "have to be much less aggressive or that traffic will disappear," he said.

Traffic has fallen much less at Pensacola Regional Airport, 0.4 percent so far this year, while the number of fliers to and from Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport has risen 18.6 percent in the first six months of 2008.
Worldwide, passengers on U.S. airlines rose 0.4 percent in the first five months of 2008, the Air Transport Association said, thanks to a 5.4 percent growth of international travelers. Domestic traffic fell 0.3 percent.

As someone who flies out of MOB every 2-3 weeks, I think our airport is one of our biggest weaknesses. Honestly, the fares to international locations (and many US locations) through the hubs are actually a little better out of Mobile than PNS or GPT, but any regional flights are cheaper out of the neighboring airports. I understand why the other airports have cheaper flights (low cost carriers), and more destinations (greater volume because of cheaper flights due to said low cost carriers), but we are a much larger market than either PNS or GPT. It's nuts that we would not at least be keeping our own market (about 1/2 of what PNS gets and 1/4 of what GPT gets) but we should actually be pulling from them. I am not sure how we deal with this. In the past, Delta has been dominant enough to step in and kill the low cost's fare for six months until they leave. Now, the market is more evenly distributed and I think a play by another low cost might work. However, its a tough business, so its hard to say. We are due for some fresh leadership at our passenger airport - we are one of the most booming cities in the US. We do not want to run that off witha shitty airport or lose any of the exisitng business we have that relies on cheap reliable flights (CPSI, SSI, etc...).

My 2 cents.

[phoenixboi08]

:tup: thank you for your humor, and ideas....i agree, you can't expect mobile, a city with less than 3/4 of a million people in the entire CSA to have everything a MAJOR US city has. I often compare it with Baton Rouge, because they are similar in size, have similar layouts (altho mobile's is much better), and have similar economies, (minus a major university in mobile of course - no, south does NOT count). I want to try and make Mobile the best medium-sized city it can be, by smart growth and forward thinking. But as always, my biggest complaint is that the city cannot attract good retailers, other than what every other mediocre town like Tallahassee and Pensacola have... We can do better, and eventually we'll get it right.
To increase standard of living, get better schools and stuff!

I just don't understand how we can expect "growth" and no ACTUAL growth. The population in this city will increase DRASTICALLY there is no avoiding it. It will happen. The question is not ARE we ready, but rather WILL we be prepared to handle it? At the rate that things are begining to unfold I wouldn't actually mind holding my breath!

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Ok so, if we want mobile to grow like crazy, and get all this cool stuff and a big tourism industry and all that jazz....lets do research on what Dubai is doing in the UAE, and take notes...they turned that town from a tiny little nothing into what it is now in a decade, all because they knew the oil industry would run dry, and they needed a new industry. So they decided tourism was their best shot, and they pulled it off! Not saying that we have to be the next Dubai, but we could probably learn some lessons from them! haha

[10101000]

I see your point, but Mobile is looking for a population increase not a place to hang for a few days and leave. Mobile wants a permanent population. Does that make sense?

[NitekKetin]

I think the city might see a slight increase in population, but the outlying suburbs, especially Saraland and areas north, with see phenomenal growth. The city of Mobile's population has never soared beyond 250k.

[10101000]

Well I believe that it will go abover 250m in years to come.

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Well I believe that it will go abover 250m in years to come.

250 MILLION? or thousand?? haha

[10101000]

250 MILLION? or thousand?? haha

250m means two hundred and fifty thousand 250mm means two hundred and fifty million.

[DruidCity]

I do think Mobile would benefit from more tourism. No, it's never going to be a Las Vegas, Orlando, or Dubai, but the city is missing out on a good bit of money that drives right past Mobile into beaches, casinos, and so forth
an hour or two away. Some of the most walkable, "urban" developments in the country are tourism-based districts.
Furthermore, the extreme lack of tourism in Alabama cities does hurt your air service. People fly to Alabama's "major" cities to do business or see family, not to vacation. Increase the demand for people to fly into your airport, then you'll see a better supply of flights departing.

Anyway, regarding city growth, here's the current census estimate link:
http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2007-4.html

If this is accurate, the city of Mobile's population is down about 7,500 from the 2000 census, as of July 2007, though it has been pretty much even since 2004.

[10101000]

There is only one Las Vegas, Mobile does not need to be like any of those cities at all. Mobile is its own and should be set apart.

[Electrical Porpoise]

Ok so, if we want mobile to grow like crazy, and get all this cool stuff and a big tourism industry and all that jazz....lets do research on what Dubai
Its easy to figure out what we need to do if we are going to do it like they did. Become connected with the Clinton's internally and then get them to sway public policy into your favor so you can succeed beyond your wildest dreams on Wall St.

Then we will have enough capital for one of these. :D

http://sniper1980.googlepages.com/dubai_towers.jpg

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Its easy to figure out what we need to do if we are going to do it like they did. Become connected with the Clinton's internally and then get them to sway public policy into your favor so you can succeed beyond your wildest dreams on Wall St.

Then we will have enough capital for one of these. :D

http://sniper1980.googlepages.com/dubai_towers.jpg

lol was "Become connected with the Clinton's internally" a double entandre??

[Electrical Porpoise]

lol was "Become connected with the Clinton's internally" a double entandre??Yeah, and I didnt mean for it to look like they possess "internally." But we all know Bill does. :D

[bystander1]

250m means two hundred and fifty thousand 250mm means two hundred and fifty million.

I thought 250K means two hundred and fifty thousand & 250M means two hundred and fifty million.

:frog:

[buckett5425]

I thought 250K means two hundred and fifty thousand & 250M means two hundred and fifty million.

:frog:

yea 1K=1000 ; 1M=1,000,000 and 1T=1,000,000,000

The abbreviations comes from the Greek suffixes. What is your system based on Tim? It had me bewildered also.

[Bogue]

Furthermore, the extreme lack of tourism in Alabama cities does hurt your air service. People fly to Alabama's "major" cities to do business or see family, not to vacation.

umm... Pleasure Island?

I will give you that tourism can significantly impact that issue & I suspect that if the city had built their Airport in Baldwin county instead of out west the numbers would be significantly different. There's still land available to fix this problem. Too bad we can't get Pensacola to come in on it and help build a large new airport between the two cities.

As far as Mobile's city population is concerned, the city took a beating just after the millenium (whole bunch of lost jobs, mainly... plus lots of folk moving across the bay as usual) and has pretty much recovered from that issue (though there're still lots of folk moving across the bay). Growth seems now to be radiating in a semicircle from Tillman's Corner, through the Schillinger's area, and up to Saraland. As ThyssenKrupp & the racetrack go forward I suspect Saraland will probably be the big growth area in terms of percentage population change for a little while. Even Pritchard's managed to get its feet under it somewhat. Gentrification will ultimately hit there if it keeps its act together. While those 2 areas are outside the city limits the city has made a few subtle overtures to annexing more of the areas in Tillman's Corner & Theodore. May not be the most glamorous parts of the county, but that's a lot of folk involved there & the city would be silly not to make a move on that if the people there are willing.

Personally, I would like to see Mobile, Saraland, Bayou La Batre, Pritchard, etc. disincorporate and re-integrate as a county-wide city structure. It's been happening all over the country and helps streamline government while giving the city cores more economic clout. It also brings sanity to places that are having issues with poor leadership (as happened in Pritchard leading to their bankruptcy). I really think that such a move would be beneficial for the top 4 cities in this state, esp. Mobile & B'ham.

http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_research1fc5_sup

Interesting projection on the population there by 2025. 740K or so. It's a page on immigration, but it's using census bureau figures (including the 2007 census bureau estimate) to calculate their projections. My only issue is that they include the entirety of Baldwin county instead of the small sliver that's actually w/in the current MSA. They're projecting a growth rate of 15% for just Mobile County (to just under 460K). Obviously, the rapid economic expansion in the area may affect these figures... so take them as just rough estimates.

As far as Tim's abbreviations. I've seen that used before... usually by tax folk (maybe b/c a mil = 1000th or summat'). I've just always used "K" b/c of the metric system.

[SouthSky]

Thanks for the link Bogue... I love statistics. They also don't take into account the possibility of adding counties to the metro, so the quite probable addition of 1-2 counties would add even more population. Of course, Airbus would increase that growth...

In Spanish 'mil' means thousand, so that could be another interpretation.

[Bogue]

http://www.waterventures.com/pic9.jpg

http://www.waterventures.com/plan5.jpg

these are really cool check them out
but where in Mobile would you wanna see one of these


From which development did you get these images? (I assume it's out of state, but just curious).

As to where I would locate a waterpark of that size... Might be nice and convenient just across the bay in Daphne taking out "Hamburger Hill", but the parking would be ridiculous. I suppose the best option would then be somewhere south of town if you wanted to put it on the bayfront like the first picture showed. If you were to locate it inland, maybe replacing "The Festival Centre" on Airport just west of I-65 or near where I-10 & I65 converge.


btw, anyone heard anything on the long-proposed Mobile-to-Mussel Shoals Interstate?

[Bogue]

Thanks for the link Bogue... I love statistics. They also don't take into account the possibility of adding counties to the metro, so the quite probable addition of 1-2 counties would add even more population. Of course, Airbus would increase that growth...


You're welcome, I do also.

The area's supposed to already have an economic growth rate of 55% for the next 5 years (think that was stated in January in the Press-Register)... & I'm pretty certain that's w/o the EADS contract figured into the mix. Washington County currently has around 18K in it & George (where the West Mobile suburbs are starting to sprawl out into) has around 19K or so. Those are the two most likely by most standards to be included in the near future, though I could see Jackson County (Pascagoula, which sits JUST the other side of the state line from Mobile and also includes suburbs of Mobile like Hurley) being included in the not-too-distant-future.

[MobiMan]

www.waterventures.com

thats where i got the images of the water parks

[nimsjus]

Did anyone post this? I did not see it when I was skimming...
Planners propose ideas for downtown
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
By JILLIAN KRAMER and KATHY JUMPER Staff Reporters
It seems Mobilians are demanding a Whole Foods store.
After more than 100 residents, business owners, workers and councilmen met Tuesday evening with city-hired urban planners to discuss the future of downtown Mobile, it was clear they were convinced the area could be home to the organic food giant.
"If nothing else, we expect you to get us a Whole Foods," Carol Hunter, the Downtown Mobile Alliance communications director, said to the crowd and planners, who yelled and whistled wildly
in response.
Led by EDSA associate principal urban planner Keith Weaver, the meeting at the Alabama School of Math and Science focused on initial plans to transform 9.9 square miles of Mobile into a more livable, workable area.
Share the waterfront with the Alabama state docks; create a downtown office district on Water Street; turn the old Hickory Street Landfill into a sports academy and park; revamp the Mobile Civic Center into a mixed-use entertainment complex; relocate the overpass leading to the Interstate 10 Wallace Tunnel; and place a Whole Foods store at the corner of Spring Hill Avenue and Broad Street. These are some of ideas the urban planners, from Baltimore, Md., are suggesting — and residents are thinking over.
Residents at the meeting expressed excitement over renovations to the civic center, and making the waterfront more accessible and roadways more bicycle-friendly. But they're also concerned that development along Water Street and its waterways could disrupt the city's industrial growth and that any changes to the civic center would interfere with Mardi Gras celebrations.
Their ideas and concerns were addressed Tuesday.The planners also held public meetings in March and they expect to return in October, according to Weaver. Their work will cost the city about $400,000, officials have said.
Dubbed "A New Plan for Old Mobile" the revision of the city's 12-year-old master plan covers an area bordered on the east by the Mobile River, the south by Interstate 10 and Duval Street, the west by Houston Street and the north by Three Mile Creek and the neighborhoods north of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
"After the March meetings, we researched and documented the trends. Now we're saying, 'Here's what we think you can do,'" said Russell Archambault of RKG Associates in Alexandria, Va., who is looking at economic issues in the plan.
An emphasis, according to the planners, is taking advantage of the city's water view.
"You are a water city with no access to the water," Archambault said. "The uses along there create a barrier to the water."
"It doesn't have to be an either-or situation — either have the riverfront as an entertainment area or as the docks," said Jesse Wiles, president of APD in Atlanta, a consultant handling housing and historic issues. But, he added, "The potential for growth downtown and tourism is hampered" by lack of waterfront access.
One idea is to develop what they called Dauphin Landing at the end of Dauphin Street, an area now occupied by the state docks. Planners envision an expansion of the Arthur Outlaw Convention Center, a waterfront hotel and mixed-use commercial area.
Archambault said planners understand the importance of the docks to the economy and the jobs it creates.
"We just want to get closer to the waterfront," he said.
The new master plan will offer urban design, historic, housing and economic goals for the targeted area, which was divided into three zones — zone 1, the downtown core and waterfront area; zone 2, Midtown North neighborhoods; and zone 3, Midtown South neighborhoods.
Deteriorating and neglected houses in zones 2 and 3 need to be renovated to reflect the area's history and culture, according to Wiles. "One thing that makes Mobile most attractive is the approach it takes to restoring its existing housing stock," he said.
The master plan would attempt to steer commercial businesses off Government Street to areas such as the intersection of Broad Street and Spring Hill Avenue and the downtown core. It suggests an office building district along Water Street.
The plan does not envision the city footing the bill. For example, any plan to redo the Civic Center would depend on how much money a developer brings to the table, Weaver said.
"It will not be the public sector that develops the area, but the private sector," Wiles said.

[10101000]

yea 1K=1000 ; 1M=1,000,000 and 1T=1,000,000,000

The abbreviations comes from the Greek suffixes. What is your system based on Tim? It had me bewildered also.

Well, in my profession we use the old Roman system, sorry. Using this system has become habit for me. I have provided you a link to read, thanks.

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/60697.html

[DruidCity]

Thanks for the article.

"You are a water city with no access to the water," Archambault said... "We just want to get closer to the waterfront."


Exactly ...

Share the waterfront with the Alabama state docks; create a downtown office district on Water Street; turn the old Hickory Street Landfill into a sports academy and park; revamp the Mobile Civic Center into a mixed-use entertainment complex; relocate the overpass leading to the Interstate 10 Wallace Tunnel; and place a Whole Foods store at the corner of Spring Hill Avenue and Broad Street...

The plan does not envision the city footing the bill. For example, any plan to redo the Civic Center would depend on how much money a developer brings to the table, Weaver said.
"It will not be the public sector that develops the area, but the private sector," Wiles said.

Another sports academy like the one in Daphne ?
That's the oddest of the lot.

While it might be the private sector that ultimately fills in the area, the notion that the city can wave a magic wand and just wait for all these goodies to appear without having to foot any of the bill is hard to believe.
If Whole Foods wants in downtown Mobile so much that they don't need incentives, they'd already be in. Even then, I don't expect they'd consider it unless it was part of some larger framework that includes a significant upscale residential component.
Without a significant public investment component, public "plans" for private "investment" don't have teeth.

[phoenixboi08]

Once the economy begins to expand, new ventures will become possible. The city will be able to do more of the things it WANTS to see done ITSELF. :D
It's just going to be awhile :(

[10101000]

I would like to see a park like Chicago has in there city. A amusement park that is.

[10101000]

I would also like to see more billboard advertisements in the Business District.

[MobiMan]

Tim where would you suggest they put Bilboard's
the only place i could think of, is on top of buildings
like in New York and New Orleans

[Port_of_Bama]

Thanks for the article.



Exactly ...



Another sports academy like the one in Daphne ?
That's the oddest of the lot.

While it might be the private sector that ultimately fills in the area, the notion that the city can wave a magic wand and just wait for all these goodies to appear without having to foot any of the bill is hard to believe.
If Whole Foods wants in downtown Mobile so much that they don't need incentives, they'd already be in. Even then, I don't expect they'd consider it unless it was part of some larger framework that includes a significant upscale residential component.
Without a significant public investment component, public "plans" for private "investment" don't have teeth.

I thought the downtown residential components are upscale ?

[Port_of_Bama]

From which development did you get these images? (I assume it's out of state, but just curious).

As to where I would locate a waterpark of that size... Might be nice and convenient just across the bay in Daphne taking out "Hamburger Hill", but the parking would be ridiculous. I suppose the best option would then be somewhere south of town if you wanted to put it on the bayfront like the first picture showed. If you were to locate it inland, maybe replacing "The Festival Centre" on Airport just west of I-65 or near where I-10 & I65 converge.


btw, anyone heard anything on the long-proposed Mobile-to-Mussel Shoals Interstate?



That could work in Mobile not to big are small .

[DruidCity]

I thought the downtown residential components are upscale ?

There are some, but downtown Mobile could stand a lot more.
I don't know how many people live near the Whole Foods in downtown Austin, for instance, but that's the sort of residential climate that can support a store like that.

[SouthSky]

If there's a Whole Foods that is placed at Springhill and Broad, you would see people coming from the eastern historic districts to shop as well.

[NitekKetin]

I'm having a hard time picturing a Whole Foods at the intersection of Broad and Spring Hill. The general area is just too slummy/ghetto fabulous at the moment. Now, Broad and Gov't, in the form of that Sav-A-Lot grocery store, that would be a better location for an upscale, possibly neighborhood- rejuvenating supermarket. The proposed site could even engulf a couple of blocks surrounding the store itself and add a parking structure and supporting retail.

As for billboards in Downtown itself: No. Just. No.

[Del]

I'm having a hard time picturing a Whole Foods at the intersection of Broad and Spring Hill. The general area is just too slummy/ghetto fabulous at the moment.

lol - think outside that box, NitekKetin! I've heard there is a big traffic count down Springhill going east at rush hour, so presumably they're all headed over the bay.

I'm laughing at the slummy comment - didn't they try to put the food stamp office or something in a little island in or near that intersection a few years back? It was a disaster, there was nowhere for people to stand in line before they opened and it was a car vs. child accident waiting to happen...I think it only stayed there for a month or so. So, from food stamps to Whole Foods! Watch our City Grow!

Seriously, I think we can all petition Whole Foods over the internet tubes all we want, and these planning folks can boldly speak its name into the microphone at the public meetings, but until the demographic density they want builds here, they ain't coming.

Billboards - I agree absolutely. Maybe gorgeous hand-painted murals on buildings that incorporate some kind of advertisement. But NO billboards, and certainly no digital billboards. Those things take ugly and intrusive to a whole new level.

[spookyapp]

Billboards downtown? Do you mean like Times Square? That would be completely ridiculous. Let's try to get some BUILDINGS and ATTRACTIONS down there before we put up a bunch of billboards. What developer is going to want to locate downtown if he/she may get bombarded with advertisements?

As for the water park fantasy pictured above... this kind of thing will never EVER be placed directly in the middle of the city. That is ludicrous. Replacing the Festival Center with one? :koko: An attraction like this is better left to being developed just outside of the city, maybe near the new race track complex or in west Mobile.

The developing consultants have got it right as far as waterfront access goes. FINALLY someone gets through to our local government about this. Hopefully the Bay park will be a step in the right direction.

A Whole Foods or even a decent grocery store is a great addition to downtown, and is way overdue. Hopefully, public transit and/or sidewalks can be adjusted so that area residential units will benefit, and eventually attract more residents to downtown with the added amenity.

[tredici]

That could work in Mobile not to big are small .

Considering it works like a charm in Decatur. Mobile could definitely handle it.

[Del]

More good news for Broad - the Red Cross is moving their headquarters (http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/index.ssf?/base/business/1216977345265960.xml&coll=3) with a helpful infusion of money from Kuwait. "The agency's existing headquarters at Dauphin and Broad streets will be put on the market, according to Elizabeth Saunders, a Red Cross spokeswoman."

[phoenixboi08]

More good news for Broad - the Red Cross is moving their headquarters (http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/index.ssf?/base/business/1216977345265960.xml&coll=3) with a helpful infusion of money from Kuwait. "The agency's existing headquarters at Dauphin and Broad streets will be put on the market, according to Elizabeth Saunders, a Red Cross spokeswoman."


I've been waiting for this to happen!!!!:D :D :D

[10101000]

Tim where would you suggest they put Bilboard's
the only place i could think of, is on top of buildings
like in New York and New Orleans

Yeah some where down there. I am not for sure where, but it does add an urban feel. I know it would look good if the right people do it. Like New Orleans, we are too small for New York Style.

[10101000]

[QUOTE=spookyapp;3693349]Billboards downtown? Do you mean like Times Square? That would be completely ridiculous. Let's try to get some BUILDINGS and ATTRACTIONS down there before we put up a bunch of billboards. What developer is going to want to locate downtown if he/she may get bombarded with advertisements?


You were saying! :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:

You make me laugh. I guess the Auburrn air is getting to you! LOL I am still laughing!:haha:

The Business district is big enough for advertisment, thanks have a good one.

[OCA REP]

[QUOTE=spookyapp;3693349You were saying! :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:

You make me laugh. I guess the Auburrn air is getting to you! LOL I am still laughing!:haha:

The Business district is big enough for advertisment, thanks have a good one.

:previous:
[B]Auburn Air is GOOD air! It is hard to beat! :tup:

[MobiMan]

We need a Monument of great size maybe the French and Germans can get together give us as a gift something like the Statue of liberty...lol

Everything we come up with is the same ole same ole
we need to come up with some new ideas
for our city

I also notice that a lot of people say they would like to see most things go to Saraland close to the Motorsports Park, I thought most of it was being built in Pritchard, im not a fan of Pritchard but it seems they finally have a Mayor that wants to do something, they are cleaning the place up, Saraland is over rated it's just a big nothing, those are 2 places that need some help, all i see in Saraland is metal buildings, nothing nice just a few neighbor hoods thats it,

But my point is although i know Pritchard and Saraland are part of Mobile as a whole, i want things to happen in the City of Mobile more than i want them to happen in either of those places, so bring a better Mall to Mobile, they can keep the Motor Sports Park, But bring us an upscale outside or a very upscale indoor 2 to 3 story Mall, with land being scarce building up is the best option, but build it with class, im so sick of seeing big huge no class no style boxes everywhere, It seems to me across the Bay they add a lot of artchitectural design to everything, actually i dont think they let them just build whatever they want, like here, i know DT they have to be approved and have to match the city,s plans, We definately dont need anymore Wal-Marts or Dollar Stores, I guess Wal-Mart is starting to build nicer stores but he have enough...Also if we can have 10 or more Wal-Mart stores, and i know Wal-Mart is cheap but we could have atleast 1 Macy's well i would much rather have a Bloomingdale's but either would do, plus bring in a Publix or a Whole Foods, or maybe one of these local stores could make a new branch with a new name and make it upscale they already have the conections for merchandise, and im sure they can locate specialty foods as well,

There are places for a water park in Mobile , we dont have to put it in Saraland by the motorsport park, although they already have one planned for later, if you look at an aerial map of The city of Mobile you will see there is enough land for a lot of the things we want, Zoo , Aqaurium, or whatever

We keep getting these storage units being built everywhere to
rows of metal buildings

Main streets should be lined up with nice big beautiful buildings
not storage units, or big metal wharehouses

[Bogue]

Replacing the Festival Center with one?

Why not? That's a ton of land in a development that's seen rapid decay over the last decade or so as newer developments like it expand in the Schillingers area. It's on the primary road through town, is convenient to I-65 (and thus, to all the new neighborhoods in the north and south of the county as well as the Eastern Shore), and is almost smack dab in the center of the current city population. You wouldn't even need the whole campus, really, and shopping centers undergo radical changes all the time... look at Springdale, for example.

More good news for Broad - the Red Cross is moving their headquarters with a helpful infusion of money from Kuwait. "The agency's existing headquarters at Dauphin and Broad streets will be put on the market, according to Elizabeth Saunders, a Red Cross spokeswoman."


I think that's great news. That's an interesting property. Could play a key role in deciding the shape of the revitalization there on that section of Broad.

I know everyone's all gaga over Whole Foods... why? It's overpriced nonsense, mainly. I think a nice indoor farmers market would be much more preferable. We'd be supporting local farmers, paying less for our food than WF would charge, eating healthier, it's a "greener" option (b/c there's much less transportation costs), and we'd be creating a community institution. Think for a second about the food crisis we just went through w/ Tomatoes... That issue didn't apply to those grown in Alabama, yet we were affected b/c we get our food from elsewhere all too often. Increasingly, our food supply is coming from other countries. It is infinitely safer to get food grown in our region than to get it from some factory-style food source out of the Midwest, Mexico, Chile, Guatemala, or China. This kind of thing, btw, is MUCH more "now" than just another "Whole Foods" place. THIS is the kind of thing the advanced cities all over the developed world are turning back to.

[Bogue]

I thought most of it was being built in Pritchard, im not a fan of Pritchard but it seems they finally have a Mayor that wants to do something, they are cleaning the place up

I think that Pritchard does deserve some commendation for what they've achieved here lately. They went from bankrupt to getting somewhat back on their feet (with very little help or support from anyone else, seemingly). There's still a VERY long way to go to get back to being a "nice" town (they were once upon a time, btw, though that was a fairly long time ago now). I think that, if they keep up the good work, that gentrification will eventually kick off there. Property is dirt cheap, there's some old neighborhoods, and it's very convenient to downtown. It may take a good long while, though b/c there's still a fair few neighborhoods in Midtown that will have to fill in before that kind of thing reaches the older parts of Pritchard. They'll need to address the crime issue (both the perceptual and the actual) first, of course.

As for your monument idea... I'd like it. :)

...maybe something with wings (b/c of our aerospace ambitions). I would think something along the lines of one of the "Spirit of Alabama"/"Spirit of the South" angels from mid-19th century newspaper engravings might be appropriate and attractive. You could probably get regional churches involved if you wanted a large classical angel statue. To build a statue as large as B'ham's Vulcan would require a huge amt. of money.

I'm in B'ham for school at present, and live right down the street from Vulcan. It's monolithic, but is lost against their skyline, often. They have a medium-sized park at the foot of the pedestal the statue sits on & they had a great July 4th fireworks display shot from it (the park). You can go up in an elevator to an observation deck around the base of the statue itself. The park also incorporates a very small (in terms of footprint) city history museum (it's 2 stories, but one is below grade) with a small plaza area right in front of it that's a big map of the area (and its older suburbs) made up of different types of local stone. Pretty cool for a park its size, altogether.

[spookyapp]

Why not? That's a ton of land in a development that's seen rapid decay over the last decade or so as newer developments like it expand in the Schillingers area. It's on the primary road through town, is convenient to I-65 (and thus, to all the new neighborhoods in the north and south of the county as well as the Eastern Shore), and is almost smack dab in the center of the current city population. You wouldn't even need the whole campus, really, and shopping centers undergo radical changes all the time... look at Springdale, for example.

Because that is a terrible location for a large attraction like a water park. There are several big-name stores in that shopping center anways--Academy, Circuit City, Bed Bath & Beyond, Guitar Center just to name a few--and to do away with that would be terrible for the retail in that area. Airport Blvd is built off of retail. Secondly, you mention that it is on a primary thoroughfare through town... which will mean one thing--terrible traffic!
Yes, you would need the whole "campus" for the water park (if you include parking, duh). A water park where the Festival Center is currently located is a most bizarre and idiotic plan. Let's develop somewhere that needs development.

[spookyapp]

[QUOTE=spookyapp;3693349]Billboards downtown? Do you mean like Times Square? That would be completely ridiculous. Let's try to get some BUILDINGS and ATTRACTIONS down there before we put up a bunch of billboards. What developer is going to want to locate downtown if he/she may get bombarded with advertisements?


You were saying! :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:

You make me laugh. I guess the Auburrn air is getting to you! LOL I am still laughing!:haha:

The Business district is big enough for advertisment, thanks have a good one.

I'm not sure what you find funny, but billboards downtown is quite bizarre. You may think we should do it just because some other city does it and because it may make us look like a "big city." How about we develop our own style of business district instead of relying on other cities to follow. What kind of advertisements are you suggesting? Care to break out the Crayolas and let us know what's going on in that head of yours? If I am a downtown developer, I figure that customers are going to appreciate a well designed, usable space more than a neon Geico sign. :koko:

[NitekKetin]

Spookyapp, I agree wholeheartedly with your explanation as to why Airport Boulevard in west Mobile shouldn't be the site of a hypothetical 'water park'. Though aging, the Festival Centre is still quite a viable commercial venue.

An Airport Boulevard water park would be akin to siting Alabama Adventure on US 280 near The Summit and I-459.

[tredici]

An Airport Boulevard water park would be akin to siting Alabama Adventure on US 280 near The Summit and I-459.

*winces at the thought*

[Bogue]

I think that area is larger than you give it credit for, water parks take up very little space (including parking areas). I base this off the old Ogle's waterpark in Pigeon Forge, which was heavily trafficked in the Summer months and was on an area less than a third the size of the current Festival Centre. This in an area whose traffic is decidedly more extreme than Airport Blvd.'s. Take a drive around that property sometime. The physical plant is pretty massive.

As for its viability as a shopping center, that's up for debate. Over the short-term, sure. Long-term is not remotely clear. Shopping centers opening in Saraland and on Schillinger have increasingly sucked shoppers away from that area. That will only increase considering all the development going on in those areas plus all of the shopping center development across the bay. It's a problem common in most cities. The inner ring of older shopping centers decays as the outer one(s) expand. Cities are then forced to revitalize that area. Why not plan ahead? There are plenty of shopping centers in that area to relocate the smaller stores to and there would still be room for one or two of the larger stores to remain. There's around 530K sqft of retail space. You'd need around 145K sqft for parking for 800 12'x15' spaces (90K sqft for 500 spaces of that same dimension). That leaves an area around 620' on a side or 385K sqft (or 660' on a side & 435K sqft if you go w/ 500 spaces) available.

On the traffic issue. That's a fair point, but there are three roads running near that property other than Airport... Cottage Hill & the 2 roads that border the property's western and eastern edges. Airport Blvd itself needs to be reconfigured in the leadup from I-65 to the hill just past the main section of development. Simply funneling the traffic onto the one street has proven to be a poor method. Not sure how to fix the problem appropriately. The simple (though expensive) solution would be a raised express route, but that would be both expensive and very unattractive. I think the traffic issue is becoming more of a through-traffic issue and less of a destination problem, so maybe they can do something with the light timing. I think they've tried that, though. Maybe turning off the left turn lights leading onto airport in that stretch an hour on either side of the highest peak point of traffic?

[10101000]

[QUOTE=(Tim);3694305]

I'm not sure what you find funny, but billboards downtown is quite bizarre. You may think we should do it just because some other city does it and because it may make us look like a "big city." How about we develop our own style of business district instead of relying on other cities to follow. What kind of advertisements are you suggesting? Care to break out the Crayolas and let us know what's going on in that head of yours? If I am a downtown developer, I figure that customers are going to appreciate a well designed, usable space more than a neon Geico sign. :koko:

Look, I see what you are saying. I am not asking to place a neon sign downtown. Only for certain things though. I cannot really explain to you all what I would like to see, but it is no big deal. This is all talk anyway. Auburn Air is the best air, I am a Auburn fan. I was just stating that you are in a town setting.

[bayou15]

:previous: :previous: Auburn fan sorry to hear that. Hope y'all bring back the refs again from 2006 .HA Geaux Tigers

[OCA REP]

[QUOTE=spookyapp;3695238]

Look, I see what you are saying. I am not asking to place a neon sign downtown. Only for certain things though. I cannot really explain to you all what I would like to see, but it is no big deal. This is all talk anyway. Auburn Air is the best air, I am a Auburn fan. I was just stating that you are in a town setting.

I think I have a general idea where Tim might be going with it. I have seen old pictures of downtown Montgomery (at Dexter Avenue) where a large Coca Cola neon-type sign used to be. This was well above street level and it made the scene (probably the 50's) look very cosmopolitan. I also remember a large Rexall (sp?) drug store sign that did not look out of place; In fact, it sorta added to the bustling street scene.

There were several neon type signs on rooftops, etc. on older historic buildings when we were in Florence, Italy back in early November. These were done right and did not come across as overly tacky. I guess it is all in how you present it.

[| BRAVO |]

[QUOTE=(Tim);3695992]

I think I have a general idea where Tim might be going with it. I have seen old pictures of downtown Montgomery (at Dexter Avenue) where a large Coca Cola neon-type sign used to be. This was well above street level and it made the scene (probably the 50's) look very cosmopolitan. I also remember a large Rexall (sp?) drug store sign that did not look out of place; In fact, it sorta added to the bustling street scene.

There were several neon type signs on rooftops, etc. on older historic buildings when we were in Florence, Italy back in early November. These were done right and did not come across as overly tacky. I guess it is all in how you present it.

I agree. I think (Tim) has a higher class of signage in mind than what you see in suburbia or the interstates. It can add a lot to an urban landscape.


Anybody happen to snap a pic of Joe Cain's? Anybody? :help:

[| BRAVO |]

A big thank you, thank you, thank you to del for snapping these pics for me.

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x264/hallman02/joecain1.jpg

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x264/hallman02/joecain2.jpg

[SouthSky]

That torch looks pretty close to the tree... maybe needs a trim? Haha.

Thanks for the pics regardless.

[Muskavon]

This is an interesting story about the state looking around in eastern Baldwin County for a new road to connect I-10 to I-65. Odd areas under consideration and I didn't see anything to suggest it'd be a limited access (Interstate-type) road. I guess it's one of those you read and check back in 5 years to see if anything went any further.

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/121706371586470.xml&coll=3

[tredici]

^^^ Oooo, I read that. Loved the story :) I'm all for it. Not only would it aid in evacuation of the coast, it would of course add some economic growth to some of the more economically depressed areas.

Not to mention that when people feel like they can get away from a hurricane, they don't feel as scared of living near the coast.

[Muskavon]

^^^ Oooo, I read that. Loved the story :) I'm all for it. Not only would it aid in evacuation of the coast, it would of course add some economic growth to some of the more economically depressed areas.

Not to mention that when people feel like they can get away from a hurricane, they don't feel as scared of living near the coast.

Although a lot could change about where the highway would ultimately be (if it ever happens at all), the reason I thought it was "odd" was how far east in Baldwin County they are currently looking and not necessarily connecting up with the Foley Beach Expressway. As you say, that could certainly spur yet more growth across the county, further sprawling Pensacola and Mobile together....but the funny part to me is it actually seems like that route currently would actually be helping relieve problems for Pensacola area residents more than anyone else.

Of course, being a resident of P'cola and knowing my state will probably never actually help us get to I-65 in my children's lifetime, I guess I'm happy that Alabama keeps helping us out (first 4-laning Highway 113 and now maybe this). ;)

[tredici]

Although a lot could change about where the highway would ultimately be (if it ever happens at all), the reason I thought it was "odd" was how far east in Baldwin County they are currently looking and not necessarily connecting up with the Foley Beach Expressway. As you say, that could certainly spur yet more growth across the county, further sprawling Pensacola and Mobile together....but the funny part to me is it actually seems like that route currently would actually be helping relieve problems for Pensacola area residents more than anyone else.

Of course, being a resident of P'cola and knowing my state will probably never actually help us get to I-65 in my children's lifetime, I guess I'm happy that Alabama keeps helping us out (first 4-laning Highway 113 and now maybe this). ;)

Haha, we're just such charitable people. Of course, maybe all this would help spur a regional inter-state alliance between Mobile and Pensecola. Imagine what a rain line extending from Mobile, through northern Baldwin, to Pensecola could do for the region. :banana:

[MobiMan]

It could actually hurt the city of Mobile, People coming from the north could bypass the City, they would take 65 South to I-10 then head West to wherever they are going, then the others coming from the North going to Florida would take the new route, leaving us in the bottom center of a triangle
it may help our traffic problem at the Tunnels, But may hurt us as well, We would still get the people from coastal Mississippi and the Western and Southwestern part of the United States, traveling to Florida and of course people from Florida going Westward, But it would affect us from the North and from the south ,for the people from Baldwin County and Pensacola that need to go North, they would just take the new route, So here we are again if this thing takes place, needing to bring more attractions here to bring more people to Mobile, Now thats the negative side of it, other than the evacuation part what would be the good points for Mobile, less traffic at the Tunnels,

Also they are building North of Mobile adding a Mall the Motorsports Park, just the Mall will stop people from up north from coming to Mobile to shop at our Mall, and now the eastern shore is adding even more shopping so that stops even more from coming from the east, we are in the middle the City needs to step in and figure some things out before we are left out

[Del]

Looks like the waterfront access at Arlington is really going to happen:

New park to open in Mobile (http://www.myfoxgulfcoast.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=87BD848C66700C2B5F33813C43225DB0?contentId=7041596&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1)

The plan drawings can be seen on the accompanying video.

[CottonCity251]

Also they are building North of Mobile adding a Mall the Motorsports Park, just the Mall will stop people from up north from coming to Mobile to shop at our Mall, and now the eastern shore is adding even more shopping so that stops even more from coming from the east, we are in the middle the City needs to step in and figure some things out before we are left out

I don't think Bel Air Mall will be left behind, or Springdale Mall for that matter. If none other, people in Mobile and points southward and west support the mall, hence, making it the regional shopping center. Don't forget, just because you see people shopping at Tanger Outlet in Foley or the Eastern Shore Centre in Malbis doesn't mean they don't shop in Mobile. I think the entire area enjoys the shopping options we have and use them all accordingly...like I do. More shopping is needed as the area continues to grow and I believe we have enough people to support all of them.

[phoenixboi08]

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/849/129jt1.jpg
I'd love to see pedestrian bridges like this used in Mobile someday

[NitekKetin]

Yes, Bel Air is pretty much established as a strong regional shopping center. It didn't exactly falter when ESC and Jubilee Square and a host of retail developments came online in the last decade, so I think it can withstand competition from commercial developments in north Mobile.

I don't think the development at AL 158/I-65 is going to be a conventional, department store-anchored mall. Its 95 acre site is a tad too small. It is probably going to be an open-air power center with big box/category killer anchors, such as Costco, Kohls and Target.

[MobiMan]

I believe its gonna hurt more than you think, the type of people frequenting Bel Air are socializing more so than buying...well excuse me actually since the stimulus checks yes sales are up , but before the stimulus checks they were flat...and when these new Malls open curiosity will take most folks to them, people love to shop at new stores even if they wear the same name... Bel Air isnt so great anymore,,, Target is supose to be relocating in the near future some time, which in my opinion is great, Wal-Mart, and Target, type stores dont belong in Mall's, i shop at all the Mall,s in our area but i shop Bel Air most only because its close, but i know quite a few people who dont shop Bel Air at all, they take the trip across the bay and will soon travel north of here also...but think of all the people that come here from up there only because this is the only close place for them to shop... the main thing that helps Bel Air is that the big name stores are bigger and have more to chose from, well we do have the largest Mall on the Gulf Coast so we do have more stores, but still the mall will feel a little discomfort, Mobile just needs better choices, something new

[mobile]

I know there is probably a good reason but why can’t the I-10 Bridge just be built right over the tunnel? Also, do the tunnels affect the size of ship that can pass through or do they go underground? I think they just go underwater and if so, then if they do build the bridge are they gonna tear down the tunnels? Thanks

[mobile]

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/849/129jt1.jpg
I'd love to see pedestrian bridges like this used in Mobile someday

It would be nice to have pedestrian bridges like that to get across Water and Government St. Except we could make ours that Aqua green color that Downtown Mobile likes to use. (The Convention Centers roof and the spire of the RSA tower)

[pboo74]

Has anyone been to the meetings about downtown yet?If so keep us posted,And I really believe that we could use a big movie theatre downtown like a Rave or a Monaco that would be nice.What do you guys think?

[mobile]

Has anyone been to the meetings about downtown yet?If so keep us posted,And I really believe that we could use a big movie theatre downtown like a Rave or a Monaco that would be nice.What do you guys think?


Yeah the Rave in Montgomery is alsome.

[NitekKetin]

I know there is probably a good reason but why can’t the I-10 Bridge just be built right over the tunnel? Also, do the tunnels affect the size of ship that can pass through or do they go underground? I think they just go underwater and if so, then if they do build the bridge are they gonna tear down the tunnels? Thanks

Placing the foundations for the bridge itself in Downtown and on Blakeley Island would be rather tricky. Honestly, I just don't see an I-10 bridge working anywhere around the Downtown area.

As for the tunnels, they are actually constructed underneath the riverbed itself. Even so, I still think they are susceptible to damage from wayward ship anchors, at least according to a Press-Register article from a while ago.

[tredici]

It could actually hurt the city of Mobile, People coming from the north could bypass the City, they would take 65 South to I-10 then head West to wherever they are going, then the others coming from the North going to Florida would take the new route, leaving us in the bottom center of a triangle
it may help our traffic problem at the Tunnels, But may hurt us as well, We would still get the people from coastal Mississippi and the Western and Southwestern part of the United States, traveling to Florida and of course people from Florida going Westward, But it would affect us from the North and from the south ,for the people from Baldwin County and Pensacola that need to go North, they would just take the new route, So here we are again if this thing takes place, needing to bring more attractions here to bring more people to Mobile, Now thats the negative side of it, other than the evacuation part what would be the good points for Mobile, less traffic at the Tunnels,

Also they are building North of Mobile adding a Mall the Motorsports Park, just the Mall will stop people from up north from coming to Mobile to shop at our Mall, and now the eastern shore is adding even more shopping so that stops even more from coming from the east, we are in the middle the City needs to step in and figure some things out before we are left out

you're very right about that. but, we can't know until the state steps up and the area governments step up to see what's going on. so far, it doesn't appear that that's being done.

[mobile]

If they do, I think it would look good in our city skyline. JMO

[Exodus]

It would be nice to have pedestrian bridges like that to get across Water and Government St. Except we could make ours that Aqua green color that Downtown Mobile likes to use. (The Convention Centers roof and the spire of the RSA tower)There is one over Water Street, it connects to the convention center.

[10101000]

[QUOTE=OCA REP;3696225]

I agree. I think (Tim) has a higher class of signage in mind than what you see in suburbia or the interstates. It can add a lot to an urban landscape.


Anybody happen to snap a pic of Joe Cain's? Anybody? :help:

Yes, that is what I am talking about. OCA also said that it would look more cosmopolitan. I will find some pictures and post.

[10101000]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm108/timothychase/image014.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm108/timothychase/2628889336_4a875c94b5.jpg
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[MobileLSUboy2005]

i think some cool Lamar digital billboards on the first alabama bank, i mean, amsouth bank,..achem...regions building parking garage near bienville sq. would be pretty cool ... i dont mind a few downtown advertisements, as long as they dont stick one on the roof of the Battle House Hotel...

about the Rave movie theater: yea they have one in Baton Rouge, and its pretty freakin awesome. i remember thinking Carmike's Wynnsong theater was the best, then Hollywood, but man...Rave blows them all out of the water with amazing digital projectors and screens 3x the size of Carmike's...we have a Cinemark theater here in BR too, but its just okay...

[10101000]

i think some cool Lamar digital billboards on the first alabama bank, i mean, amsouth bank,..achem...regions building parking garage near bienville sq. would be pretty cool ... i dont mind a few downtown advertisements, as long as they dont stick one on the roof of the Battle House Hotel...

about the Rave movie theater: yea they have one in Baton Rouge, and its pretty freakin awesome. i remember thinking Carmike's Wynnsong theater was the best, then Hollywood, but man...Rave blows them all out of the water with amazing digital projectors and screens 3x the size of Carmike's...we have a Cinemark theater here in BR too, but its just okay...

Daphne has a rave! All you have to do is get on I-10 and cross the bridge. Maybe they will build one Downtown. If you remember Baton Rouge did not have one in its mid-town area until fall of 2006. The other Rave on Oneal is pretty much like the borough of Rouge.

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Daphne has a rave! All you have to do is get on I-10 and cross the bridge. Maybe they will build one Downtown. If you remember Baton Rouge did not have one in its mid-town area until fall of 2006. The other Rave on Oneal is pretty much like the borough of Rouge.

I knew there is one in Daphne, but i live in West Mobile, so the gas these days just inst worth it... I think I've only been to the Oneal Rave once, i just go to the Mall of LA one since its closer to my apartment.