[nimsjus]

The museum is still in the works. Our congressmen decided to try to get more funding for it by trying to have a Hurricane Center incorporated into the project as part of what I would call pork barrel legislation. For that reason the project was put on hold until the fate of the center was decided. The center was just recently killed in Congress. The site has been cleared(which was a project in its own due to asbestos), but sadly construction has not started. You may want to check out the awesome exhibit on Pompeii at the Exploreum downtown though. The Museum of Mobile is located on the same block. All within a block of Alabama' new tallest skyscraper and the refurbished Battle House Hotel. Sorry we didn't get that museum done in time for your visit.

[elb401]

they are putting some of the exibits in at the airport until the museum is built. thats good sign that it is still on.

[nimsjus]

~6 hours until the big announcement. Hoping we get some good news with our coffee in the morning.

[SouthSky]

Yeah... and I'll be here in Baton Rouge overnight tonight so bad news here is good news for Mobile.

[thoraudio]

It's Mobile. (http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/05/thyssenkrupp_chooses_alabama_a.html)

Good for Mobile. Good for Alabama. :tup:

[HSVTiger]

Congrats to Mobile County!

[SouthSky]

News story from here in Baton Rouge:
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/breaking/7458542.html

[pboo74]

musicisright,hey have you took any pics of the rsa/battlehouse?if so please post.luv your pics:tup:

[Musicisright]

Thank you, pboo.

Yeah, they're here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=70528&page=50), in the RSA Tower thread.

[nimsjus]

From the Press Register
Twenty-two of the 24 lofts have sold at the Mattress Factory at 412-416 Dauphin St., which should open next month, according to Lydia Craft of REMAX Partners . The units were priced in the $140,000s a year ago, and some have resold in the $220,000s, she said. The investors kept two units for themselves, she said.

White-Spunner Construc tion has begun work on the $830,000, 9,000-square-foot spa and fitness center on the top of the nine-story RSA Battle House Tower parking deck at 55 N. Water St., according to court records. The parking deck was funded by the Retirement Systems of Alabama.

A three-bedroom suite in the Battle House, a Renaissance Hotel , has been named the Al St. Clair Suite , in honor of St. Clair, who worked with the city to bring the RSA hotel and tower project here. St. Clair now manages the Al abama Cruise Terminal .

[pboo74]

you know it is nice that we have 2 big'major projects that will come online about the same time in 2010' racetrack' steelmill' awesome.....:yes:

[austin356]

you know it is nice that we have 2 big'major projects that will come online about the same time in 2010' racetrack' steelmill' awesome.....:yes:



Thats the same time EADS and Austell will start production if they win their respective contracts.

The two I mentioned here will together will have an economic impact similar to the ThyssenKrupp.

[austin356]

Also I have some good news about Downtown related to ThyssenKrupp that was in some obscure article that I do not remember where.


TK, is a Debt-Free company (thus giving it a price premium on wall st) and they wanted to stay that way so they freakin turned down Alabama's incentive offer of $900m in tax-free bonds.

This has major implications for downtown because downtown had several tens of millions dollars worth of projects apply for these bonds but they were being reserved for TK. Most of these projects (couple dozen I think) would not get off the ground without this "subsidized financing". It is almost a sure thing now that they will get the bonds, if they still want them, since (to my knowledge) there is not anything major lined up to use them.

But there is no way we can allocate $900m just to downtown, so we need to find out a new place to use them before the GO zone expires. I hope we can use these bonds to 1)revitalize downtown 2)bring in a new industry (non-heavy), maybe something hightech that can go towards diversifying us away from steel, boats, snowbirds, and planes. Allocation to a developer who wants to build a research park is the ideal use.

[bayourat 15]

:cool: Hey I got a idea! ALL of South Mobile County from the Mississippi state line to Dog River looks like a red-headed stepchild in all of this. Most of the money from the hurricane fund needs to go toward the people south of Hwy 90. The money was instead used for the steel mill.(WHICH IM THRILLED ABOUT) But as was posted earlier was not needed. At the least the county/state needs to finsh the road from I-10 to Bayou La Batre(whats left of it) to boost the economy and a quicker way out if a storm comes

[DruidCity]

Also I have some good news about Downtown related to ThyssenKrupp that was in some obscure article that I do not remember where.

TK, is a Debt-Free company (thus giving it a price premium on wall st) and they wanted to stay that way so they freakin turned down Alabama's incentive offer of $900m in tax-free bonds.

The "obscure article" you might be referring to is one in the print edition of the Tuscaloosa News the other day, as Tuscaloosa is the northeasternmost county within the GOZone.

[austin356]

^Oh yes

T-town stands to benefit from that greatly. Though, t-town really does not need it.

Midtown Village was constructed because of that funding though, it was said to happened because of the funding, and would have fell through without it.

[CottonCity251]

This is good news for the Maritime Center, I guess.

[austin356]

This is good news for the Maritime Center, I guess.



What is? The Go Zone funding TK left?

If so, thats not the case in this very specific instance, b/c the center would have to be built with direct government funding. The incentives TK dropped were just the right to issue bonds that are tax free (like fed. gov. debt)........ thus reducing the rate of interest by the tax rate.

[CottonCity251]

Here is that article...

GO Zone aid sought downtown

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

By KAIJA WILKINSON
Business Reporter

A new, 540-space parking deck, a seafood shipping operation and a Forte Conde bed-and-breakfast are just a few of the projects that could emerge downtown with the aid of hurricane relief financing program.
The Downtown Mobile Alliance, with the support of the mayor's office, seeks $44.4 million in tax-exempt Gulf Opportunity Zone Act bonds to help finance 28 projects worth more than $141 million.

There's a rub, however; the state has already allocated its entire $2.2 billion in GO Zone lending to other projects, including nearly $1 billion held for what state officials have called a major economic development project near Mobile.
"At this point there's no allocation remaining," acknowledged David Calametti, business development manager for the alliance, who has worked to group several smaller projects into the one large GO Zone application. "It's all committed."

But the alliance, the city and members of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, which would issue the bonds, believe the bonds could eventually become available, Calametti said.

And the idea to group the projects, a notion brewing since spring, has spurred landowners and developers "to put pen to paper" to come up with creative ways to use property, he said.

Chances are most of the projects will happen even if they don't end up being financed by GO Zone bonds, he said. The alliance is also educating downtown developers on other incentives that can be used either in place of, or in addition to, the tax-exempt bonds.

Larry Posner, who has renovated nine of 13 city-owned buildings in Fort Conde, praised Calametti's "ferreting out all the possibilities," which included tax credits and taxable bond financing.

Posner's newest plan is to transform a historic building on St. Emanuel Street in Fort Conde into a bed and breakfast or boutique hotel at an estimated cost of $5 million, but backers have been scarce thus far.

"No one will lend me money," he said, adding that some banks were willing to make a loan if he created more office space.

"But I don't think we need any more offices downtown right now," he said.
Still, Posner said his project does not hinge on getting GO Zone financing. "I believe I will be able to proceeds on this," he said. "I essentially believe I will be able to provide collateral for the bank so they will loan on the project."
The parking deck, which is proposed at 2 N. Royal St., is one of five separate projects proposed by David Constantine. The seafood operation, to be called The Hillery Fish & Seafood Co., would be on St. Michael Street and could mean 10 new jobs.

The Downtown Mobile Alliance is a partnership of the nonprofit Main Street Mobile Inc. and the management corporation formed last year to run the city's business improvement district.

Calametti met with members of the Mobile Redevelopment Authority on Monday, hoping to have them sign off on the joint request so it could be sent to the governor's office. Several authority members could not attend, however, so the matter was continued and another meeting will be scheduled.
No one in attendance at the Monday meeting said they expected any opposition to the plan.

"Our package is all ready to go," Calametti said. "This is the easy part."
Congress late last year approved the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005, touting its tax credits and economic development programs as a way to boost economic recovery from Hurricane Katrina in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Under the law, Alabama can approve up to $2.1 billion in tax-exempt "GO Zone" bonds over the next five years. Tax-exempt bonds typically carry lower interest rates.

Alabama Development Office Director Neal Wade said the current GO Zone financing allocations are not set in stone. Rather, the governor's decision to reserve $900 million in bonds is a "place holder" that would allow the ADO to use up to $900 million as incentives on any one of three major projects he declined to name.

State Finance Director Jim Main said in August that the $900 million was being held to lure a major prospect to Mobile, promising that the deal could be larger than the Mercedes assembly facility in Tuscaloosa County.
Main declined to name the company, but in August, ThyssenKrupp AG said it would build a $3 billion steel complex in the southern U.S. and identified Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana as places it was shopping for sites.
Wade said Tuesday that the state could dedicate the $900 million in bonds to "one project, several projects or not use it at all."

Calametti said that, like anyone in Mobile, he wants the city to land giant deals such as the Northrop Grumman-EADS North America tanker assembly plant (already promised $255 million in GO Zone bonds) and ThyssenKrupp. But the downtown redevelopment projects that seek GO Zone financing, he said, offer a relatively big bang for the buck.

The projects collectively would create about 330 permanent jobs, not to mention about 800 during construction, Calametti said.

© 2006 The Mobile Register
© 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.

[austin356]

Parking deck at 2 N Royal?

ugh eeewww

Thats not the place, nor does the place have a need with the city deck a few feet away.


Thats a good spot for a office or mixed use building.

[nimsjus]

Parking deck at 2 N Royal?

ugh eeewww

Thats not the place, nor does the place have a need with the city deck a few feet away.


Thats a good spot for a office or mixed use building.

I agree... Any new parking decks should be built north of Dauphin or at the Civic Center. We don't need more parking in the CBD/Governement plaza area. If we have to build a parking deck, how about one for the civic center so that the parking lots can be redeveloped. All new parking decks should be required to have retail on all four sides making them look like buildings with parking hidden on the insides. Charleston just finished a deck like this and you can barely tell it has a deck. Just a couple of entrances/exits on opposite sides of the building with the rest of the streetscape containing retail/office space.

[nimsjus]

I did a little walking around after dinner downtown tonight and alot of projects have had some progress. Matress Factory balconies were being poored. Hancock Bank has began renovating the bottom of St Emanuel Place and they have some temporary signage and window dressing stuff up. Maybe having some rent flowing in on the first floor will help speed up the loft conversions upstairs. There was an older couple moving furnishings into this project on Dauphin:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w222/nimsjus/IMG_2590.jpg
We peeked in and the townhomes all have hardwood floors or 18x18 ceramic tile with nice wood stairwells, crown moldings etc.

The Carriage Works project:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w222/nimsjus/IMG_2592.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w222/nimsjus/IMG_2591.jpg
Still no progress...Maybe waiting on presales or money, I don't know. The sign claims there will be 4 2 bedroom townhomes. It looks like it will be two to three seperate structures with maybe parking in between.
There was no progress on the coffee shop that is opening on Royal next to compass. Wachovia also has not moved into its space in the bottom of the Battle House parking deck either but they have a ATM open. Hampton Inn has put a sign up on there new construction site. That was all I noticed during my trip.

[pkp]

How does anyone think a TCBY would do downtown?

[austin356]

How does anyone think a TCBY would do downtown?


I have an addiction to that crap.... I spend $40 per month on it, so you could count me in as a patron every time I get a chance.

[BamaGrad04]

I have an addiction to that crap.... I spend $40 per month on it, so you could count me in as a patron every time I get a chance.

Screw that; count me in as a damn investor! :cheers:

(I, along with Austin, also suffer from an unbreakable addiction to that sweet soft serve.....)

[pkp]

My wife and I have an application in right now. We have a few locations in mind, but if we move forward, it will only be downtown.

[elb401]

I think that is a great idea!! I would stop by almost everyday while I'm out downtown. What area of downtown are you thinking of putting it?? I live in Midtown and it would sure beat driving to west Mobile to get some of that ice cream.

[pkp]

It has to be a high traffic area - Royal or Dauphin. The rent is higher but you have to be there right now. There are several properties that would fit the bill. If we move forward, I think we will be getting into a location by the end of the summer and hopefully opening in the fall. I am not a fan of franchises, but with such a niche product, I am not sure how well a non brand name business would go. Plus, without any local competition in the area, I don't think it will be an issue as long as the building maintains its historical character - and it will because I am very anal about that.

[nimsjus]

I think the TCBY idea is a great one. You arent running any local businesses doing the same thing out of business(none exist) and it brings another name brand option to downtown. I would think if you could get somewhere between the hotels on Royal, Dauphin, the parks, and the cruise terminal. I can't even imagine how much money could be made with a TCBY across from Cathedral Square or Bienville. I guess that is the high rent district too though. Good Luck with the venture!

[Scottybo]

700 more jobs for Mobile:

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/1179393380245160.xml&coll=3

What do you do after landing ThyssenKrupp AG, the biggest industrial prospect in Alabama history? Keep working. Members of the Mobile Industrial Development Board on Wednesday approved tax breaks for three new projects that collectively could create 700 local jobs.

ThyssenKrupp announced last week it would build a proposed $3.7 billion, 2,700-worker steel mill in north Mobile County. IDB members were briefed on the German steelmaker's plans Monday, then met again Wednesday to approve incentive packages for two existing manufacturers and a third that is eyeing Mobile.

The group is led by Austal USA, which is proposing a $34 million expansion of its Mobile shipyard. The project includes construction of a $4 million router shop and a $30 million assembly bay and bulkhead along the Mobile River.

Advertisement






Austal received a break on local, non-educational property and sales taxes worth an estimated $1.2 million over 10 years, based on the creation of 400 jobs at an average salary of $43,870. The project would raise Austal's total employment to 1,123 workers.

"We've had a lot of wonderful news over the past week, and this is another very exciting project for us," said Bill Sisson, vice president of economic development for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

Construction of the router shop will begin within the next two weeks and be completed within seven to eight months, according to Austal officials. Construction of the assembly bay would begin early next year and take about a year to complete.

EADS CASA received a $1.6 million package of tax breaks tied to construction of a pair of aircraft hangars at Mobile Regional Airport.

The $46.5 million project includes a 38,000-square-foot hangar that will serve as the final delivery center for all EADS CASA aircraft sold to North American customers. The company, a Spanish subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., broke ground on the hangar in April and is scheduled to complete construction by the end of this year.

A second phase of the project would include construction of a 90,000-square-foot aircraft assembly plant, contingent on the company and its partner, Raytheon Corp., winning a contract to build light cargo planes for the U.S. Army and Air Force. A decision is expected by June 7.

If successful, the team would create a minimum of 150 jobs at Mobile Regional paying an average annual salary of about $38,000. EADS CASA currently employs 25 workers in Mobile.

"This is a project that kind of gets overshadowed by some of the other things we have going on, but it really has a lot of long-term potential for our community," said Bay Haas, executive director of the Mobile Airport Authority.

Also Wednesday, the IDB approved a $179,000-package of tax breaks for Southeastern Builders and Developers LLC, a Columbus, Ohio-based company that is evaluating sites for a proposed $9.1 million modular home factory.

Company officials said they've narrowed their search to sites in Theodore, Century, Fla., and Hattiesburg, Miss. Southeastern Builders would assemble modular homes for the booming housing market along the northern Gulf Coast, according to Steve Lambert, the company's president.

"We've identified this area as one of the fastest-growing markets in the country, and we've got to be close to it or else we get eaten up by transportation costs," Lambert said.

The project would create 150 jobs over the next two years at an average annual salary of $36,000, according to the company. Lambert said he expects to choose a location within the next four weeks and have the plant up and running by Oct. 15.

[pkp]

Mobile is going to have to start seriously recruiting, both from our limited pool of unemployed and more importantly from other states and internationally. We are going to have a major labor shortage with all of these projects.

[elb401]

I agree....we need to recruit from out of state big time or even from the northern part of the state. This could become a major problem for us in the future.

[Blazer85]

I agree....we need to recruit from out of state big time or even from the northern part of the state. This could become a major problem for us in the future.

Your best bet would probably be out of state. The Birmingham area is seeing record-low unemployment right now (somewhere around 2.8-3.0%). I believe all of Alabama, in fact, is seeing some record-low unemployment.

[elb401]

Well I didn't necessarily mean B-ham but places like Red Bay, AL. I would hate to attract people from shrinking communities. We might just have to recruit out of the region and international like pkp said.

[Blazer85]

I hope and think that all of the positive economic indicators (thousands of new jobs, high income growth, low cost of living, low unemployment, etc) coming out of Alabama will encourage alot of young couples to move Alabama from areas where supply exceeds demand. I think Alabama's brilliant economic development team has created an environment such that Alabama will be pretty much second to noone in terms of attracting business and development. I think decades from now, Governor Riley will be regarded as one of the key people that changed the whole face of Alabama.

[HSVTiger]

I hope and think that all of the positive economic indicators (thousands of new jobs, high income growth, low cost of living, low unemployment, etc) coming out of Alabama will encourage alot of young couples to move Alabama from areas where supply exceeds demand. I think Alabama's brilliant economic development team has created an environment such that Alabama will be pretty much second to noone in terms of attracting business and development. I think decades from now, Governor Riley will be regarded as one of the key people that changed the whole face of Alabama.
Many Huntsville companies that recruit out of the state are finding the biggest obstacle to getting people here is the stereotype the state has.
"Yes we do have electricity and wear shoes" "No we are not all rednecks"
However once they come they love it, many are shocked to find that Alabama has mountains, beaches, and modern retail centers. The cheap housing realtive to the rest of the country is also a big selling point.

[Brown Duckz]

Alabama is a new born state now, it's just going to take awhile for the people outside of the state, and specifically those who don't know Alabama to realize.

[Grogck]

Many Huntsville companies that recruit out of the state are finding the biggest obstacle to getting people here is the stereotype the state has.
"Yes we do have electricity and wear shoes" "No we are not all rednecks"
However once they come they love it, many are shocked to find that Alabama has mountains, beaches, and modern retail centers. The cheap housing realtive to the rest of the country is also a big selling point.
Without getting too specific, I work for a marketing company and last year had the chance to observe several focus groups at the major regional metros regarding the state’s image. All the other regional metros actually had a fairly positive image of the state. The one glaring exception was the focus group in Atlanta (we didn't do Charlotte although I would've expected it to mirror ATL.)

Why the big discrepancy between Atlanta and the other regional metros? Because Atlanta is a much more ‘cosmopolitan’ city with a MASSIVE influx of recent transplants (predominantly from the rust belt and the NE.) It was frustrating to hear the stereotypical remarks leveled toward Alabama, especially considering the fact that Georgia is no different outside the downtown Atlanta region (even suburban Atlanta is no different than suburban B'ham.) And you would think that some of the older transplants would’ve had some of their prejudices softened by now, but that didn't appear to be the case (it's as if Atlanta was an island unto itself.) It was yet another strong reminder that we have a LONG way to go in shaking the stereotypes that people outside the region hold toward our state.

It’s not shocking really. I deal with business contacts all over the country and I never cease to be amazed at the redneck perception (in spite of the fact that they’re ironically calling on us, an Alabama-based company, for professional help.) I’m honestly not sure we’ll ever be able to shake the image – at least not for several generations. If the business environment is thriving though that’s the important thing. Smart business leaders can look beyond the cultural stereotypes to the bottom-line.

[austin356]

In regards to Industrial Recruitment and its future: My opinion:

I have moved my post to the ThyssenKrupp Thread because of after the fact relevancy.





I agree....we need to recruit from out of state big time or even from the northern part of the state. This could become a major problem for us in the future.


They HAVE actually been doing better than the south has, though the south has pretty much caught up. Finding workers in NAL is about the same difficulty as in the Mob. The best bet would be to advertise in Michigan. Seriously, Wyoming, who has a labor shortage do to the coal industry, has been putting up billboards in economically distressed northern areas. The ADO should begin working on a plan to implement such for the state of Alabama.

Just think, you are a layed off Chrysler worker who is living off unemployment insurance and you see a sign that has a picture of Mobile, and says For Jobs jobs jobs galore call x number, and then it changes your life? Cause it has for thousands already.

[BlessedMobile]

Grogck...Hearing what Atlanta people think of Alabama is hardly a surprise. As a native Georgian...we think Atlanta is a foreign country. The white collar workers at the mill will be recruited mostly from the South and Mobile is considered a prime location for young people and professionals. If you are like so many other B'hamers you like to come down here and visit the area to eat the seafood and enjoy the seashore....lots of other young peope from all over the South see the same thing. Young and old, get your resumes out and come on down...jobs are plentiful and the water is beautiful. We have a great job for YOU!

[Grogck]

Grogck...Hearing what Atlanta people think of Alabama is hardly a surprise. As a native Georgian...we think Atlanta is a foreign country. The white collar workers at the mill will be recruited mostly from the South and Mobile is considered a prime location for young people and professionals. If you are like so many other B'hamers you like to come down here and visit the area to eat the seafood and enjoy the seashore....lots of other young peope from all over the South see the same thing. Young and old, get your resumes out and come on down...jobs are plentiful and the water is beautiful. We have a great job for YOU!Indeed I do. I briefly attended school at USA for a couple quarters and fell in love with Mobile (also have family in Baldwin county.) The Mobile area's a great place to live and I'm glad to see it booming right now.

Most of the workers likely will come from the immediate region. I fully expect there will be a recruitment from select outside areas too though. Such is always the case whenever a major operation goes into place.

[BlessedMobile]

Come home Grogck.....native sons are chosen first!

[Grogck]

Sorry, but as much as I love the Mobile area, Birmingham is my home and I love it here too.

[Grogck]

What's the status of Mobile getting a second cruise ship? I know the terminal would probably have to be expanded. But it seems like it's pretty much a foregone conclusion Mobile will eventually land a second ship. They're clearly having no problems filling the ship and I'm sure everyone would like to see another (hopefully larger/newer)ship added. Any semi-official word on that front?

[nimsjus]

This would be perfect if we had a big project ready to go(Mobile Landing, Maritime Museum, Courthouse Condos, Downtown Towncenter retail, etc)... I think we are missing the boat on this. Hopefully alot of smaller projects will put it to good use.
GO ZONE BONDS
Downtown developers could benefit instead
Saturday, May 19, 2007By KAIJA WILKINSON-Business Reporter
ThyssenKrupp AG, the German steelmaking giant that plans to build a $3.7 steel facility in north Mobile County, reportedly plans to forgo nearly $1 billion in Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, or GO Zone, funding that the state of Alabama had reserved for the mill, freeing up that money for dozens of other projects that had been waiting in the wings.

Downtown developers are among those who could benefit.

The Downtown Mobile Alliance, with the support of Mayor Sam Jones' office, announced last fall that it would seek $44.4 million in GO Zone bonds to help finance 28 projects worth more than $141 million. But since then, the list has changed, as one development group sought other financing and a major riverfront project has been delayed.

State officials have said that ThyssenKrupp has no plan to use the $900 million in low-interest bonds that the state reserved for the steelmaker as a way to lure it to Mobile.

Congress late in 2005 approved the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, touting its tax credits and low-cost loans as a way to boost economic recovery along the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast.

Alabama had up to $2.1 billion in tax-exempt "GO Zone" bonds available, but last year chose to freeze allocations with $900 million still unused as it eyed the steel mill project.

Though Alabama won the project with an incentives package worth at least $811 million, analysts have said ThyssenKrupp will likely build its plant without borrowing money and doesn't see the need to take on debt, even at a favorable interest rate.

However, state officials are not yet ready to allocate the $900 million elsewhere, awaiting a letter from ThyssenKrupp officially declining the offer of GO Zone funds.

If and when the letter is received, entities and individuals that had previously applied for the financing will be notified, said Kathy Johnson, director of public affairs for the state's Finance Department.

The Downtown Alliance has tapped Denise Browning of Hunter Ventures to re-work its plan to group several projects and apply for the low-interest loans. Browning said that she has found that several developers either decided to pursue their projects without the financing or would not be ready to move forward this year.

A revised request for GO Zone funding could be as little as $17.5 million, she said, though the alliance might pursue its original amount and make that money available to new developers.

Among projects that fell off the original list of 28 are a bundle of five projects, including a 540-space parking garage, that collectively were seeking more than $10 million in financing, and Water Street Landing, a massive condo development that was seeking $15 million.

Browning said that the law firm behind the five projects decided to use other financing, and that the downtown waterfront condo development is unlikely to get under way this year.

[BlessedMobile]

What's the status of Mobile getting a second cruise ship? I know the terminal would probably have to be expanded. But it seems like it's pretty much a foregone conclusion Mobile will eventually land a second ship. They're clearly having no problems filling the ship and I'm sure everyone would like to see another (hopefully larger/newer)ship added. Any semi-official word on that front?

We are closer but it won't be a much newer and certainly not a much bigger ship. The turning basin by the Cochrane bridge is not big enough for a ship much larger than we have. I talked to the Maritime Museum people over the weekend and they say that another parking deck must be built before another ship can come in; after thinking about it...that does make since. I sure don't want a bunch of parking garages directly on our waterfront. Since the cruisers mostly come in on the same day for the 4pm departure I really don't see where the city benefits much form the cruise ship. Think about it...they arrive, get onboard, ride and eat, come back, get in their car and leave town; just where is the money spent in Mobile? Oh yea, and the likely new bridge may go right over the cruise terminal but NOT over the Maritime Museum.

[nimsjus]

What's the status of Mobile getting a second cruise ship? I know the terminal would probably have to be expanded. But it seems like it's pretty much a foregone conclusion Mobile will eventually land a second ship. They're clearly having no problems filling the ship and I'm sure everyone would like to see another (hopefully larger/newer)ship added. Any semi-official word on that front?

From the Press Register today...
Cruise ship buzz heats up
Sunday, May 20, 2007By KAIJA WILKINSONBusiness Reporter
Vacationers continue to book cruises out of Mobile on Carnival Cruise Lines Holiday as far out as a year, but several signs point to the cruise ship, the oldest and smallest in Carnival's fleet, being replaced by a larger ship as early as November.

Mayor Sam Jones and Al St. Clair, director of the Alabama Cruise Terminal, were in talks with Carnival officials last week, and some industry watchers have said the Holiday will likely be involved in Carnival's plans to shift vessels to a business partner in Spain.

Miami-based Carnival Corp. &plc has taken delivery on four new ships this year, and has 16 more on order for delivery by 2011. When a cruise line puts new ships in service, it typically creates a domino effect as old ships are cycled out of the lineup.

More significant is Carnival's new partnership with Orizonia Corporacion, a Spanish travel company positioned to serve a growing industry there.

In announcing the partnership, Carnivals said that it anticipated building the Spanish company’s fleet with vessels in the Carnival line.

Jennifer de la Cruz, Carnival spokeswoman, declined to say which ships, or how many, would be transferred. But Oivind Mathisen, editor of New York-based industry magazine Cruise Industry News, said Carnival’s two oldest ships, the Holiday and the Celebration, are the most likely candidates.

Terry Horne, a seasoned cruiser from Hueytown who sailed on the Holiday earlier this month, told the Press-Register that crew members said the Holiday is probably headed to Spain, and will be replaced by a larger ship around November.

[pboo74]

We are closer but it won't be a much newer and certainly not a much bigger ship. The turning basin by the Cochrane bridge is not big enough for a ship much larger than we have. I talked to the Maritime Museum people over the weekend and they say that another parking deck must be built before another ship can come in; after thinking about it...that does make since. I sure don't want a bunch of parking garages directly on our waterfront. Since the cruisers mostly come in on the same day for the 4pm departure I really don't see where the city benefits much form the cruise ship. Think about it...they arrive, get onboard, ride and eat, come back, get in their car and leave town; just where is the money spent in Mobile? Oh yea, and the likely new bridge may go right over the cruise terminal but NOT over the Maritime Museum.Did you happen to ask them blessedmobile about when construction will start on the museum?

[Grogck]

We are closer but it won't be a much newer and certainly not a much bigger ship. The turning basin by the Cochrane bridge is not big enough for a ship much larger than we have. I talked to the Maritime Museum people over the weekend and they say that another parking deck must be built before another ship can come in; after thinking about it...that does make since. I sure don't want a bunch of parking garages directly on our waterfront. Since the cruisers mostly come in on the same day for the 4pm departure I really don't see where the city benefits much form the cruise ship. Think about it...they arrive, get onboard, ride and eat, come back, get in their car and leave town; just where is the money spent in Mobile? Oh yea, and the likely new bridge may go right over the cruise terminal but NOT over the Maritime Museum.The money may not always be spent directly in Mobile (some might book a hotel the night before or after) but some of that money will be spent elsewhere in the state - particularly those that reach Mobile via the I-65 corridor (which is where many of the bookings are coming from.) A hotel stop in Birmingham or Montgomery on the way down. Meals elsewhere. Gas fill-ups for sure. Little things, but they cumulatively add-up.

And obviously it provides a new audience for the Mobile area - which the area can then market itself to. And since the number of repeat cruisers in the industry as a whole is climbing you have multiple chances to make a good impression and market the city and surrounding areas. Even if they direct impact seem minimal it's obviously not a bad thing.

[BlessedMobile]

Did you happen to ask them blessedmobile about when construction will start on the museum?

PBoo...I did talk to them at length about the project. The city has committed 10 million to build the building and the non-profit museum is about to start on the fund raising to do the exhibits and staffing. There are already 3-4 people who are permanent and working on the exhibit planning. The exhibit manager told me that they were actually going to have a cutaway of a ship where people on the bridge would get an OmniMax experience of being onboard a ship. The quality of exhibits is such that our museum will be a serious tourist draw to Mobile. These are highly qualified people who are putting this together. Mayor Jones is very supportive of the project. It will be built in the now open area just north of the cruise terminal. A crosswalk is planned.

[BlessedMobile]

The money may not always be spent directly in Mobile (some might book a hotel the night before or after) but some of that money will be spent elsewhere in the state - particularly those that reach Mobile via the I-65 corridor (which is where many of the bookings are coming from.) A hotel stop in Birmingham or Montgomery on the way down. Meals elsewhere. Gas fill-ups for sure. Little things, but they cumulatively add-up.

And obviously it provides a new audience for the Mobile area - which the area can then market itself to. And since the number of repeat cruisers in the industry as a whole is climbing you have multiple chances to make a good impression and market the city and surrounding areas. Even if they direct impact seem minimal it's obviously not a bad thing.

Grog...this must be my reply day. I have been told by the cruise people that most customers come from an area about 6 hours away. If that is correct, those who are taking the cruise can ,and most likely do, drive in on the day of their departure. I for one do not want another parking garage directly on the waterfront for another cruise ship especially if we get little or nothing from OUR investment. There would be some overlap in the cruises so the same garage can not be used for both ships.

[nimsjus]

A couple of tidbits from the most recent Lagniappe...
Ch-ch-changes
There are more announcements for MiMo and LoDa in the restaurant arena. Across from the Korbet’s Square strip on Airport at the Loop, the same group that runs the USA/Spring Hill Mellow Mushroom is building another development on the north side of the street next to Regions Bank. No more hauls out to WeMo to get your Mellow Mushroom fix – which is something I do frequently. Their whole wheat, honey like crust is hard to beat, and I enjoy the pizza with pesto, spinach and portabella mushrooms with jalapenos.
Thank goodness that the Tijuana Flats space on Catherine Street will not be empty for long. WOW Wingery and Café will be open in two months – hopefully with great wings – and will be strongly supported. The company is out of Biloxi.
And downtown, work continues on the old Quatorze building on Conception Street, with an establishment called Bacchus, a "small plates" bar that should open by the end of summer or early fall. The old Loretta’s building will not be gathering dust for long (well, I guess dust had slowing been gathering in there for quite a few years) when Noell Broughton opens his sports bar concept there in early summer. The menu is still in the works and it will be interesting to see the transformation from mid century mod to sports bar take place.

Give ‘em time
There’s already been some complaining about the Trellis Room at the Battle House Hotel regarding price at night. Hey folks, give them time, it takes a lot to open up and get in the groove. And time will also show if the food is worth the price.
I for one stayed at the Battle House the first Saturday it was open and my expectations were exceeded. Forget and get over the rug in the lobby – the place is stunning (and if you want to see a hideous rug, go check out the disaster of a black light poster carpet they just put in the Convention Center).
The service was attentive and cordial throughout the hotel, my room was well decorated, comfortable and had nice touches, along with one of the largest and nicest hotel bathrooms I have ever encountered.
I am really excited to have a refined place to eat breakfast, especially for business. At my business meeting on Sunday, the buffet had perfectly fresh fruit, some of the best cheese blintzes I have ever tasted, pastries made in house and crispy, peppered bacon (that I think I may have eaten a dozen pieces of).

Aritcle on a new sushi place downtown:
http://www.lagniappemobile.com/article/891
For you guys are in town, support these spots if they are good, in hopes that they hang around and increase the momentum that downtown is building. If a few of these are a success that will encourage more local and national retail/food to come on down too.

[nimsjus]

Where are these guys headquartered in town now? If not downtown, any chance they make that move after this merger?
$156.2 MILLION DEAL
Tuesday, May 22, 2007By KAIJA WILKINSONStaff Reporter
Mobile-based BancTrust Financial Group Inc. and The Peoples BancTrust Co. Inc., based in Selma, will try again to merge in a $156.2 million deal announced late Monday by the companies.

The new company will retain the BancTrust name and have its headquarters in Mobile, said W. Bibb Lamar Jr., president and chief executive officer of BancTrust Financial Group, who is set to become president and CEO of the newly combined company.

The deal would form the fifth-largest bank holding company in Alabama, the companies said.

The merger, expected to close in the third or fourth quarter, will not affect BancTrust's 400-plus employees and will likely add to payroll in coming years, Lamar said.

The combined company hopes to achieve double-digit growth -- 10 to 15 percent -- each year for the next several years, Lamar said. "As you open new branches and go into new locations, that means more jobs," he said.

Under terms of the agreement, Peoples shareholders will receive cash and stock worth $25.50 per share of Peoples common stock -- $6.37 in cash and the remainder in BancTrust shares.

Peoples' announcement last December that it was exploring strategic options sparked speculation that it would be put up for sale, but the bank's directors announced in March that the bank would remain independent.

Peoples has 23 offices in 10 Alabama counties, according to the company.

"We feel like Peoples' stockholders, employees and customers will benefit tremendously from the combined resources and larger geographic presence that this combination creates," Don J. Giardina, Peoples president and chief executive officer, said in announcing the deal. "The Peoples and BancTrust cultures are complementary, and we believe strongly that the principles and ideals that have guided these two financial institutions will be strengthened to the mutual benefit of all parties involved."

Lamar said BancTrust tried to join with Peoples in once before in late 2000, but that deal, a "merger of equals," fell through for a number of reasons. Now, he said, the timing is right since the merger means a stronger bank.

We will have the resources to compete," he said. "I think both of us recognize that to compete we have to keep growing. We're mutually compatible, and that's good for our shareholders, good for customers and good for our employees."

The newly combined company would employ about 700 people and would have approximately $2.4 billion in assets, nearly $2 billion in deposits and 54 BankTrust branches in Florida and Alabama, according to the companies.

Richard P. Morthland, former chairman of the board of Peoples and a major shareholder, called the deal "a joining of the forces that will make the bank better."

Speaking from his home in Selma, he said the companies are a nearly perfect fit, with the footprints overlapping only in Prattville.

Morthland is among a group of shareholders, calling themselves Stockholders For Progress, who split from the board to name new director nominees. Peoples delayed its annual meeting after receiving the nominations from the breakaway group, and no annual meeting has yet been set.

But in announcing the merger agreement, the banks noted that both the Peoples board and the Stockholders For Progress group backed the merger agreement, which remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Earlier this month, BancTrust reported that first-quarter profit fell in comparison to its 2006 earnings, blaming a softening Florida loan market and shrinking net interest margins.

BancTrust said it made $2.45 million, or 22 cents per share, for the quarter, down from $3.73 million, or 33 cents per share, during the first three months of 2006. Officials at Mobile's BancTrust (Nasdaq: BTFG), however, said they are optimistic about 2007 and beyond.

Peoples, meanwhile, reported that its first quarter earnings fell from $2.5 to $2.2 million. In announcing those earnings, Giardina noted that net interest income and noninterest income increased over the first quarter, "and while salaries and benefits expense increased; it was primarily the result of our continued expansion into higher growth markets."

FTN Midwest Securities Corp. on May 11 rated BancTrust a buy, saying the company had "arguably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to take advantage of the "turmoil" in its core markets, created in part by the recent merger of Regionals Financial Corp. and AmSouth Bancorp., and build a "significantly more valuable franchise."

BancTrust shares closed Monday at $18.95, down 2 cents on the day. The shares have traded between $17.94 and $28.25 in the last year.

Peoples closed unchanged Monday at $22.90. Shares have traded from $16.84 to $26.07 in the past year.

[bayourat 15]

Hey.....why not a new highrise in downtown . For the bank:shrug:

[bayourat 15]

No it will never happen. How bout move the bank's headquarters in the 480ft(counting the anntena its Alabama's second tallests skyscraper) Old Amsouth Building. Maybe they could spend a little money a give her a facelift.



And whats the word on the crown for the Amsouth Building. Like I said a few months ago , Put an A-frame Roof on top . Like the one B-ham and Shreveport has. I don t think the Crown will look good.:banana:

[BlessedMobile]

Nims...I think BancTrust calls HQ the relatively new office building they put up at the intersection of Old Shell and MacGregor. It is very nice but now it may be a bit small for a soon-to-be larger bank.

[matguy7070]

Hi everyone.

You know, many weeks ago I posted a constructive critism (and I will admit opinionated) post. Yet my post also pointed out the many loves I have for my former digs in Mobile. I have a great love with Mobile, especially because family and friends are still there, beautiful treelined streets and homes, and the Bay and Gulf at large.

But this is the kind of hate mail I received just yesterday from a Mobile member on these boards to remain annonymous:

You need to stop dissing on Mobile, and do not come back at all. You have posted to much negative about Mobile, AL. Fist off The RSA Tower is only the beganing. They approved 3 new high rises over 900 feet for Mobile, and that will be higher than where you live in little saint loui.... Have a nice day.

Now that is hateful, untruthful, and a nasty personal attack. Not to mention grammer flawed.
:(

[matguy7070]

I was going to keep this member "annonymous" but he is now "hijacking" every St. Louis thread that I post in or posted by posting anti-St. Louis this and that and "notes to matguy7070" in these threads.

This is the user:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/member.php?u=25550

See his lovely hijacking posts (example):

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=131210

How very sad. I have been on the boards for over two years - and I have never seen anything like this.

I have reported this to the mods of these boards. If anyone knows this poster, please let him know that this makes Mobile and himself look not too favorable.

[bayourat 15]

Who Cares! quite da b_tching. Be positive in this thread for once.

This thread is about the development of Mobile. :koko:

[Scottybo]

Hi everyone.

You know, many weeks ago I posted a constructive critism (and I will admit opinionated) post. Yet my post also pointed out the many loves I have for my former digs in Mobile. I have a great love with Mobile, especially because family and friends are still there, beautiful treelined streets and homes, and the Bay and Gulf at large.

But this is the kind of hate mail I received just yesterday from a Mobile member on these boards to remain annonymous:



Now that is hateful, untruthful, and a nasty personal attack. Not to mention grammer flawed.
:(
LOL at 3 new highrises over 900 ft.

[Musicisright]

This kind of stuff makes me really mad. There are a couple of new forumers from Mobile that I've been watching on this site. They seem young, or at least immature. Matguy, you have the right to speak your mind in these forums (timothy certainly did in your thread). So hopefully the moderators will take care of him and anyone else who tries to cause trouble.

[Musicisright]

Yeah, where the hell did he come up with 3 highrises over 900 feet? Is he 10?

[Exodus]

:previous: :jester: Maybe he's combining the height of the three condo towers, but I'm not so sure that combining the height of the condos would even come to 900 feet. Does anyone even have figures for those condos yet ?

[matguy7070]

Thank you all.

It's just silly and immature, hopefully the mods will look at it.
Just irritating more than anything.

He also wrote in one of the St. Louis threads about the "3 story mall that is going to blow away anything in St. Louis"

hmmmmm???? :shrug:

Is BelAir adding a couple floors or is a new mall really and finally planned for Mobile. We were hoping for a new mall in Mobile since the early 90's. I WOULD like to see that happen in Mobile. A really nice upscale one. NOT on the Eastern Shore and not way out in West Mobile either.

Tanks again... and seriously, is there plans for a new mall?

[Scottybo]

Thank you all.

It's just silly and immature, hopefully the mods will look at it.
Just irritating more than anything.

He also wrote in one of the St. Louis threads about the "3 story mall that is going to blow away anything in St. Louis"

hmmmmm???? :shrug:

Is BelAir adding a couple floors or is a new mall really and finally planned for Mobile. We were hoping for a new mall in Mobile since the early 90's. I WOULD like to see that happen in Mobile. A really nice upscale one. NOT on the Eastern Shore and not way out in West Mobile either.

Tanks again... and seriously, is there plans for a new mall?
None that we know of.

[Exodus]

:previous: I haven't heard anything. I do know that one mall was closed.

[BamaGrad04]

:previous: I haven't heard anything. I do know that one mall was closed.

Springdale wasn't closed, but it was converted to more of a big box lifestyle center, with several big retailers all serving as "anchors" to each other rather than to a large number of smaller retailers. Springdale as a mall just couldn't keep up with Bell Air, so I think what they did was def. the right move, as it prevented it from becoming nothing more than an empty shell (i.e. Montgomery Mall)

[Exodus]

:previous: Yeah, we left from Bell air and went over to the other one only to find out that it was just the big box stores anymore. No big deal really, because my purpose was to shop at fye, which was there and a lot bigger and better than the one at bell air:)

[austin356]

Hey everyone........... What do you guys think about the 3 highrises over 900ft?

We are going to freakin blow Charlotte, Atlanta, and Miami over the smoky mountains.

[Musicisright]

OMG, I heard they're gonna build three exact replicas of the Chrysler building! One will balance on top of the RSA Tower, one will replace the gazebo in Bienville Square, and one will float in the Mobile River! Oh also a twenty-three story mall will be built on top of Ft. Conde!1

[bayourat 15]

Just came through downtown awhile ago, and all i have to say is Wow! Its lit up like Smokey on the movie "Friday". ...... The Lafayette(sp?) Hotel has lights running down the sides it looks a hundred times better. Somebody spent some money. The Amsouth Bld. has new lights on the roof , the gov. plaza has got all its inside lights on , and man y'all have to see(if not already) the Battle House! Id hate to Know who has to pay that power bill!

I go thru downtown about once a week ,but never really look at its beauty.

In just the past year alone ,you can see and feel the positive energy happening.:cheers: :cheers: :tup: :cheers:

[BamaGrad04]

You are all funny. Well I guess you will find out soon enough, and I never said that it would blow st louis out of the water. It just goes to show that you all do not even pay attention to what is printed, but to only facts of what has been told... See ya!!!!:tup: And my bad on the 3 I meant 2, but it will be in the next decade. I know you all do not have facts on that yet, but I have insite to it. Sorry to all that I got upset about someone taking about my home town, and yes it was stupid of me to post that. You are all right, and I take worng, for getting a head of the game. Do look for a new mall in the next two years, you will see it in the media in about six months.... PROMISE!!!

:previous: And that's edited?????

Anyway, you are saying that in 10 years, we will se 2 900 ft. towers in Mobile.....I sure wish I had your "insite".

[pkp]

Banktrust is headquartered downtown. It is on the corner of St. Joseph and St. Michael. It.s operations are based downtown as well on the corner of Royal and St. Louis and they have no plans to move anywhere - just got finished with big interior renovations on both buildings, which are about four stories each.

[Blazer85]

2 900ft towers in Mobile in the near future? Umm... for who/what?

[BamaGrad04]

2 900ft towers in Mobile in the near future? Umm... for who/what?

He's delusional....

[Exodus]

He's delusional....Or he's being sarcastic. Either way this poster has issues.

[10101000]

Thanks

[BamaGrad04]

Hey, we're just kidding around. We're all just a little puzzled at the top secret 900 footers, that's all. Hell, I'd love to see that, it just doesn't seem like the right time.

[eastbayblu]

Actually...he is sort-of half-way, but not really correct on something...first of all..he claims to be an architect so he "knows whats happening before the public". I find that suspect. Anyway...there have been NO 900'+ towers approved for downtown. Until the RSA fills up and there is some more redevelopment of the existing structures, I think Mobile will be hard pressed to get any new high rise office towers.

What is in the VERY early stages of approval and development is the 7-story Hampton Inn at Royal and Conti. Believe me, this building is no where near 900'...it's actually more like 75 feet high...not bad...but not 900...

There has actually been some stirrings of a new mall in the Mobile area...specifically, somewhere in the western part of the City or just outside of the City limits. Developers with a firm that was not named were in my office asking some very very general questions about the City's requirements. The developer did mention that they build 1 million sq ft, at a minimum...like I said...this was very very very general talk, and nothing in stone, and no specific site, just questions about some city requirements...

So...I guess bottom line is that maybe he was telling some half-truths, more likely just talking crazy...

[DruidCity]

There has actually been some stirrings of a new mall in the Mobile area

I can easily believe that. Not only is Mobile entering a significant growth phase, but Mobile County is also significantly "underretailed," and GOZone financing incentives are a nice hook.

I know that some developers in the Tuscaloosa area have been scrambling to get projects underway under GOZone deadlines, and metro Mobile is an infinitely hotter market than us.

[nimsjus]

I hate the idea of shopping further west. The city and metro are both trying to move that way and this would only further the sprawl. Plus downtown/mistown are actually in the center of the metro area so everyone may be more inclined to shop there if it is a quality project. Why not redevelop the old malls into more modern towncenters or just refurbished expanded indoor mall (maybe even consider combining the two into one large shopping destination). All the cool cities are opening modern, downtown/midtown, new urbanist, towncenters. All the suburby,sprawly cities/towns are opening big sprawling outdoor shopping venues. The problem is if the group does not want to abide by restrictions placed on the development by the city (style,scope,zoning, etc), then they will just move five feet further away in the county where they can do whatever they please. That would be depressing...

[bayourat 15]

A couple things.....






1)The condos on water street are waiting on air rights. what the hell is that?

2)Oliver ,the developer, is looking to build an office tower also.


3) Rode through downtown again last night , and Wow! Every building was lit up. I could feel the progress


4) Second Cruise ship, in order to get a bigger ship they must dredge out pinto pass for a bigger turning basin . I was told tug boats can t assist the ships , i didn t neaux that.

A parking garage is needed. Put it across the street at that dump called the Mobile Civic Center.


5)Move Labor Finders away from Bienville Square it seems to attract bums and thugs to the park and the surrounding area.

6)Royal St. is looking good , lots of development going on.

7) The RSA Tower .....wow! ...Had to wear my Costa Del Mar 's to see the crown. Wish it was lit up red ,white and blue


8) May be just me ,but when you look at the skyline from a distance it is divided in two. One cluster , the gov. plaza , the admiral sims hotel (whats up with the second tower?) and the redone Lafayette Hotel. And then u have the Rsa tower , Amsouth building , Riverview and others.
The property which sits in the middle (the old Mobile Co. Courthouse) would ajoin the two. I just hope the county decides to put a Highrise condo( check out Baton Rouge's downtown center piece called i think River ridge) with lots of retail space. There is room also for the Mardis Gras theme park if they would build it taller(40stories) and not outward. This would compromise the arguement , Condo or Park?

9) The Riverview, they are working nonstop gutting that baby out.
Work on the 100ft or more crown should begin First of the year.


10) Geauxing to get ''Wiskey Bent :slob: and Hell Bound" tonite at the Hank Williams Jr. concert in Orange Beach!

Y'all have a great 3day weekend! And Pray for our country!:tup:

[BlessedMobile]

Bayourat...the air rights issue is coming from CSX because the Water Street Landing would be partially over the tracks.

[bayourat 15]

I don t see a future for this project . do you?

[Brown Duckz]

Costa Del Mar :cool:

[Bama_75]

Why not? The convention center is built over the tracks.

[nimsjus]

Press Register Real Estate column mentioned several dowtown properties...
Sullivan-St. Clair Market ing Public Relations and local investors plan to spend $1.6 million in the purchase and renovation of a 20,000-square-foot building at 202 Government St., at Conception Street, according to Rich Sullivan , president of Sullivan-St. Clair. The public relations firm will relocate there in January, he said. The ground floor will be enclosed for parking, and the second and third floors will be offices. Zito Russell Architects designed the offices, and the contractor is Paladin Con struction Group . Grubb & El lis Peebles & Cameron handled the transaction.
A local investor paid $423,000 for a vacant lot at 55 N. Section St., at the corner of Magnolia Avenue, in downtown Fairhope, according to Blake White of Roberts Brothers in Daphne.
A 5,670-square-foot building at the corner of North Conception and St. Michael streets was purchased by an investor for $205,000, according to John Vallas of Saad & Vallas Realty Group , who represented the buyer. Part of the building was formerly a deli and yogurt shop. The buyer will renovate it for retail and office use on the first floor and put residences on the second, Vallas said. John Peebles of Grubb & Ellis Peebles & Cameron worked for the seller.
The city of Mobile is trying to sell the four-story City Hall North annex at 350 St. Joseph St., via sealed bids, according to Bill Demouy , director of the city's real estate division. The 47,650-square-foot building with a basement on more than 1 acre, also fronts Water Street. The bids will be opened June 13 at 4 p.m., he said.

[nimsjus]

I hope the guy gets to continue his good work. That area is all we have left of our most historic area. It needs to be saved before it is lost. Who thought it was a good idea to plant the Civic Center and the Interstate on top of what used to be our most historic neigborhoods. Now we have on little row of buildings surrounded by the interstate overpasses next to a hokey fake version of an old fort that is poorly maintained.

Fort Conde Village project hits snag
Developer ready to restore more houses, but lease with city expires Sunday, May 27, 2007By KATHY JUMPERReal Estate Editor
Larry Posner has renovated nine of the 13 buildings in historic Fort Conde Village off Royal Street in the last eight years and has the money to restore more, but his lease with the city has expired.

"The lease says that if the buildings are not restored by a certain time, they revert back to the city," said the Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-based developer with an office in Mobile. "I'm not willing to restore somebody else's building."

He said he has not been able to get city officials to return his calls.

"The city communicates to others and it gets back to me," he said. "Nobody says no, they just don't call."

The lease ended at the end of 2006, and the city kept extending it in good faith, according to Al St. Clair, who was a city consultant when Posner leased the land in May 1998. St. Clair now manages the Alabama Cruise Terminal.

Posner's lease agreement with the city was to have spanned 50 years with a payment of $100,000 a year or 5 percent of the gross revenue from the development, whichever is less. The contract has four 10-year options to extend the lease, the city's real estate office said.

"What's frustrating is that there's not a waiting line to do these buildings," St. Clair said.

Posner said he has the money and is ready to start work on the 1830s Hall-Ford house and adjacent 1850s Spear-Barter house on St. Emanuel Street.

The city wants Posner to complete those buildings, according to Al Stokes, chief of staff for Mobile Mayor Sam Jones. The city's legal department must first review the public/private venture documents, he said.

"I can appreciate that he's a little frustrated, but the wheels of government sometimes grind slow, and we've been tied up with ThyssenKrupp," Stokes said.

ThyssenKrupp AG announced May 11 that it plans to build a $3.7 billion, 2,700-worker steel mill in north Mobile County.

Stokes said he plans to meet with the developer this coming week. But the lead city attorney on the case is on vacation for two weeks so it's not likely that any action will be taken, he said.

"I feel optimistic that we'll work through this," Stokes said.

Posner said he has invested $1.3 million in Fort Conde buildings so far. Holmes & Holmes Architects in Mobile designed the project, including a cluster of houses dating from 1836 to 1914 which were renovated and now leased as offices..

"I still believe in the project," Posner said. "It gives me a lot of pleasure to see the buildings fixed up. But I'm not going to go forward unless the city cooperates -- and gives me a green light and a couple of smiles."

[Musicisright]

i never said that waterstreet will be the highest.

timothyncrystal said:

The one [condo] on water street will not list it's status, but stated that will be the tallest in the south for residential towers...So there you go.. I know my stuff. Read the news paper in the real estate section, and you can find out a lot of information....

[Musicisright]

^ But you do have to back up your statements on here with proof. If you don't, few will take you seriously and you'll lose a lot of trust if you get caught in a lie like you did. There's no room for blatant falsehoods.

That being said, I hope we can continue with the discussion about Mobile development, an issue that I'm sure is important to both of us.

[SouthSky]

I thought this would be of interest for some of you all:
"St. Louis Street Concept Plan"
http://www.downtownmobile.org/images/news/stlouisconcept.pdf

[BamaGrad04]

Yeah, I saw that a couple of months ago; real interesting. Although it's just conceptual, it would be great to see several blocks transformed into something like that.

[SouthSky]

We desperately need most of the additions cited in this traffic report for the metroplex.

http://www.downtownmobile.org/images/news/street_smarts__report__final__070308.pdf
(Its a rather large pdf, by the way)

[SouthSky]

Sorry for the double post, but here is another rendering of the Hampton Inn destined for North Royal:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e36/ellisb123/hamptoninndowntownmobile.jpg

[BamaGrad04]

Where did you find that rendering????

[bayourat 15]

Today is the day that the city leaders look at new plans for the downtown area. The master plan will be decided late summer.(string of pearls 2)


hopefully more highrises! and tear down the civic center the last thing good thing to happen there was the Hank JR. concert back in 95 :haha:

[SouthSky]

Where did you find that rendering????

Downtown Mobile Alliance's website.

http://downtownmobile.org (http://downtownmobile.org/)

[Exodus]

They need to remove that thing on the corner.

[nimsjus]

Another historic downtown rennovation completed...
Ten million dollars and more than two years later, Mobile's main library reopens today
Thursday, May 31, 2007By JEFF AMYStaff Reporter
After two years in shoebox-sized exile, the Mobile Public Library returns home with a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. today.

The main library, now renamed for the late Ben May, has doubled in size after $10 million in renovations and expansion.

And users, at least, are ready.

Shelves were already filling up with books and videos that users have requested, even as library employees and workmen scurried to finish the building in time for opening day.

Overall, library officials hope the new facility will bring more people in to borrow books, borrow video and audio recordings and use computers.

"What it should mean is we're going to have more people who are going to come in and use the library," said Spencer Watts, director of the Mobile Public Library.

The changes are evident just inside the door. Instead of winding through a back passageway into the building, there's a new main entrance facing the parking lot to the south.

Inside, visitors will find a new circulation desk, plus a cafe that will be run by Creative Catering.

With the size of the building having grown to more than 49,000 square feet, there's more room for almost everything.

The children's story room has escaped from a former storage closet into something that can truly be called a room. There's also now a department for older children and teens.

And back magazines and newspapers have moved upstairs, uniting with the reference desk.

The main reading room has been painted to recapture its 1928 appearance, when the George Rogers-designed building opened. Bernheim Hall also flashed back to its original look, getting beige carpet and seat coverings.

The vacated magazine department, next to Bernheim Hall, is now a meeting room for groups seeking smaller or more informal quarters than the auditorium.


Before the expansion, computers and desks were likely to be crammed into hallways and corners of the library.

Now, a whole room on the second floor, formerly home to adult fiction, is set aside for computers. Overall, there will be 65 computers with Internet connections, up from 27 in the old building. Also more than doubling are stand-alone chairs as well as desks for reading, going from 70 to 161.

The window next to a second-floor reading desk in the new portion of the building is Watts' favorite place in the new part of the building. It looks out over the Church Street Graveyard, whose northern wall is only feet away from the southern edge of the addition.

"I love the view of the graveyard from here," Watts said.

The budget for the expansion ballooned from $6.6 million to almost $10 million, in part because of the increase in construction costs after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That storm was also one reason the work took a year longer than planned.

Of the $10 million, Watts said $4.5 million has been raised from private donors, including $1 million from the Ben May Memorial Fund, $500,000 from the J. L. Bedsole Foundation and $400,000 from the Dr. Monte L. Moorer Foundation.

May, a businessman and founder of Gulf Lumber Co., died in 1972. He left his fortune to the Ben May Charitable Trust, an endowment that was worth $12.4 million at the end of 2005. The trust supports the memorial fund, which is administered by the Community Foundation of South Alabama. Cost overruns forced the library to raise $400,000 in recent months to be used to complete the parking lot running along Washington Avenue and to do more landscaping. That work won't be done until the end of the summer, meaning that until then, most visitors arriving by car will have to park on gravel or dirt.

The main library relocated into the Mobile Civic Center's Expo Hall at the beginning of construction, but Katrina ripped off part of that building's roof.

That forced another downsize into rented space across the street from the main library, a 3,400-square-foot, 20,000-volume operation dubbed Mini Main.

The reopened main building will house 160,000 volumes out of 590,000 in the overall system. And, unlike the pre-renovation days when intricate maneuvers were required to put books back onto crammed shelves, there will be room for growth.

"We had reached the point where every new book that came in meant an old book had to leave the collection," Watts said.

While every branch in the system will probably have the latest bestseller from Dan Brown or J. K. Rowling, less common titles are most likely to reside at 701 Government St., the system's primary reference library. "A lot of times, when we get down to a single volume for a title, this could be the place where it could very well be," Watts said.

Library employees are conscious of the role that the building has played in the lives of many local book lovers and hope that its renovation will return it to its position as a temple to reading.

"For a lot of Mobilians, this was the library," Watts said. "A lot of people, as children, were introduced to books and reading here. When they think of a library, the image of this building is what pops into their mind."

[pkp]

That site is great - here is another item I found there - this is a street seriously needing some TLC:

http://downtownmobile.org/images/news/stlouisconcept.pdf