[MobiMan]

I think the MoonPie is ok but i would have rather seen a huge Jesters Head , three Mardi Gras faces together with a Jesters hat on, dropped from a 100' pole, they could actually do that in the Mardi Gras park once its built

Mardi Gras is Mobile
the Moonpie is a Mradi Gras Tradition but its still not Mobile
Mardi Gras is a Mobile Tradition

I would have went with the Mobile Tradition

it fits with Mardi Gras being so close
after Jan 1st

[nimsjus]

Does anyone have a picture of what the courthouse annex next to the future Mardi Gras park is supposed to look like? All I could find was a Press Register article that mentioned it would have historic detailing.

I would really like to see any designs if people know about them. If I remember correctly, there were issues with it not being appropriate to sit within the Church St East Historic District. The architectural review board was invovled. The county then threatened to pull the Mardi Gras Park land deal and hold things up with the property so the architectural review board let them move on along with their original design. Through all of that, I never actually saw a design. I imagine it is nothing special and assume it is a fairly modern looking building if it is inappropriate by the architectural review board's standards. Anybody have any idea what it looks like?

[MobiMan]

Actually they did play around with the design to make it more historically correct for the area, it would have been screwed up to let them build a big huge box that had no design to it,
for a simple park

[Alxx611]

I remember seeing the rendering:

its nothing too special, its a very long red brick looking building, maybe about 4 or 5 floors and in the middle part of the building, the roofline on the facade makes kind of a pyramid shape. and then it was the six flags of the city in front of it.

its currently under construciton now and the steel beams or on the 4th level

[MobiMan]

Hey everyone i wanted to get some feedback on Taxi Service's
here in Mobile, i was curious and decided to call a cab just to run a few errands, DownTown and around, anyway i called Yellow Cab and about 2 hours later finally someone showed up, as soon as i got in the car i owed the guy $2.50 and as the minutes went by, i owed the guy another 34 cents for every 6th mile there after, when i got DT to do the things i had to do , knowing i was gonna be atleast an hour, i thought about getting the Cabbie to wait for me but he said that would be $18 an hour, which isnt bad, but i wasnt sure how long i would be, and since it took him 2 hours to pick me up from home i was worried it would be another 2 hours picking me up from DT,
well i got him to leave me, figuring i would take my chances
and ill be damned if it didnt take an hour and a half for the same guy to pick me up again, and i even tipped the guy $5 bucks on top of the $30 i paid him to get me there, I know $5 bucks isnt a lot to tip but i dont usually use Taxi's so i didn't know what to tip a Cabbie, besides its not like he brought me drinks during the ride

has anyone else used the local Taxi Services and if so how did it go

[BlessedMobile]

I am told that the pie will go up and not down. This from a city official who DOES KNOW. The city has heard from a number of news outlets who want to get some information on the event and will cover the story. There will be moon pies for the celebrants. We may laugh at this right now but city officials are supportive of the event and want it to become a Mobile tradition. I suggest that those of you who are history oriented to be there so you can say you saw it the first year.

[elb401]

I've never taken a taxi in the US before so I wouldn't know what it is like here. But if you ever take a taxi downtown again (which will probably be never) go to the battle house front desk and have them call you a cab. those cabs will be there in about 5-10 minutes, never fails.

[Alabadrock]

The only place I've ever taken a cab is in DC. And of course, up there, they're constantly driving around. This isn't the case in Alabama, anywhere. Birmingham, I think has a few cabs that drive around constantly, but no where near the scale of the larger metros.

I don't think I'll ever try to take a cab until I possibly live in downtown Birmingham in the future, and that only if more cabs become more available.

[Del]

Last year during the holidays an elderly neighbor told me that the taxi service had told her she couldn't make an appointment for a taxi at a particular time, she just had to call when the time came and wait for somebody to show up, however long that might take. Your experience shows that can be an awfully long while. Frustrating for the elderly who want to stay independent and not rely on the kindness of friends & family for transportation.

[Bogue]

The whole bridge thing is a waste of time & money.

A. there's already a (sparsely used) bridge... make better use of it by extending a section of I-165 out to connect w/ I-10 and (w/ correct signage) you siphon most of the I-65-bound traffic out of the tunnels. Is that TOO simple for ALDOT to understand? A significant percentage of the west-bound tunnel traffic is just trying to get to I-65... particularly a majority of those folks heading to the beaches in Summer.

B. the state has plans on deck to build a new interstate up the western side of the state. Where it joins with I-65 is not yet stated (they're currently doing the site planning by an article a few weeks back) but one option has it joining both I-65 & I-10 in Baldwin County. That would further dampen the amt. of traffic going into Mobile.

Part "A" gives you a short-term, low-cost fix while Part "B" gives you a long-term one. Neither of these impacts industry or extends travel times (it actually lessens travel time to I-65) & acts as an accessory funnel to help evacuate people should that (God forbid) be needed.

Having lived in Birmingham and spent a fair bit of time in Atlanta I can say that Mobile's traffic issues on the Bayway & Wallace Tunnel are really minor inconveniences by comparison.


I will agree that the exit/on ramps on I-10 near the tunnel need to be rethought (and several removed). Those right there at the tunnel are downright dangerous. W/o them that also frees up some of the bottleneck. There's no pronounced reason that folks coming out of the Bankhead Tunnel need to jump back on I-10 to get into the Wallace Tunnel nor is there a definite reason for folks who just got off the Bayway onto the Causeway to need to get back on it. Those exit/on ramps are part and parcel to WHY traffic slows, not some mythological fear of tunnels.

I also agree that it's completely ridiculous to impede industry (to ANY degree) in Mobile just to lessen the commute time for folks in Baldwin County or for passers-through from elsewhere. This is OUR city and WE are the only ones who matter when it comes time to make superfluous traffic decisions. The other folks can get stuffed as far as I'm concerned. They chose to leave or to take that route and they can deal with the consequences. It is not our responsibility to ensure their speedy passage through our territory, only that it be made as safe as possible. Speed isn't exactly conducive to safety. We're ultimately doing them a favor by making them slow down.

[MobiMan]

Bogue

you made some good points one being that if the ramp leading into the tunnel were gone it would help a small amount, but still not enough,
as for the mythological fear of tunnels, thats not a myth but a fact, i know a few people that are very scared of those tunnels, and it has nothing to do with the ramps entering from the right side, they have a fear of being under ground, under water, in a tunnel that they fear may colapse or just a bad wreck within the tunnel could cause a cotastrophe, 1000's of people have those fears

ok the northern route you love so much just isnt gonna work get over it, oh and this is our city but that interstate is state and federal, so everyone has the right to use it as often as they wish
and the western highway is 30 or even 40 years down the road we need something done now



last but not least, it is completely ridiculous not to impede when need be, for Mobile to grow we need better access, better roads and we need them now, the longer simple minds hold this up the more its going to cost you and i later, and again its absolutely stupid to think Baldwin County is the cause of all these problems, and if i remember correctly we live in the United States of America, UNITED, we are all one country not 50 small countries, state and federal money pays for the interstate, your money, my money, new yorkers money and Baldwin Counties money, so they belong to all of us

I BET ALL OF YOU THAT ARE AGAINST THIS BRIDGE WILL BE THE FIRST ONES TO CROSS IT LOLOLOLOL

THEY SHOULD POST A SIGN THAT SAYS IF YOU WANTED THE NORTHERN ROUTE TAKE THE NORTHERN ROUTE
BUT THE REST OF US WONT BE SEEING YOU BECAUSE WE WILL BE TOO FAR AHEAD OF YOU

[Port_of_Bama]

:previous: I agree with you the bridge traffic is bad but not as bad as it is in Atlanta. Most of the traffic that goes through the tunnels are from our Louisiana and Texas friends , Baldwin County commuters new what they were getting into when they decided to move over there.

I just wish that if possible:


A. Widen the tunnels and add lanes/a lane to the bridge.

B. Just add lanes/ a lane to the bridge.


It would be silly to hurt our port for a new bridge.Our port is one of the many elements that attracted other industries into our area .

[DirtySouf]

Personally, I think a loop or bypass around the city is more important than an I-10 bridge. Mobile has serious infrastructure needs that could seriously hinder the city's development if not addressed early. However, most of those needs seem to exist in the western part of the city. A bypass or loop would not only ease congestion and help infrastructure but would also spur economic development, both residential and commercial along its route potentially all the way to the Mississippi line. Every major city where I have ever lived had a loop/bypass. Why would this not be a priority here?

[Port_of_Bama]

And another good point a loop is needed in this city. Mobile has some of the worse street level traffic to me. Interstate traffic gets dense but if flows and .I have notice an in increase in interstate traffic since I have been back home and street lavel traffic is another story(Springhill,Moffett,[B]Airpport[B],Govt, etc. I-10 needs to be 3 laned from Mississippi to Pensacola. There is substantialy amount of commuters from(Jackson,George,Green County Mississippi) that work and shop heavely in Mobile.

[Alabadrock]

I still say that my obscenely impossible spiral bridge would be freaking awesome!!!

[Exodus]

And another good point a loop is needed in this city. Mobile has some of the worse street level traffic to me. Interstate traffic gets dense but if flows and .I have notice an in increase in interstate traffic since I have been back home and street lavel traffic is another story(Springhill,Moffett,[B]Airpport[B],Govt, etc. I-10 needs to be 3 laned from Mississippi to Pensacola. There is substantialy amount of commuters from(Jackson,George,Green County Mississippi) that work and shop heavely in Mobile.It IS terrible, the worst out of any other city I've been in. This place needs to beef up its bus system, or get a rail system, or another freeway, or something, and it needs it bad and asap.

[BlessedMobile]

Personally, I think a loop or bypass around the city is more important than an I-10 bridge. Mobile has serious infrastructure needs that could seriously hinder the city's development if not addressed early. However, most of those needs seem to exist in the western part of the city. A bypass or loop would not only ease congestion and help infrastructure but would also spur economic development, both residential and commercial along its route potentially all the way to the Mississippi line. Every major city where I have ever lived had a loop/bypass. Why would this not be a priority here?

The bypass was discussed when Schillinger annexation talk was the local buzz. The city is not in favor of any road that will encourage business and people to settle around a roadway that is not in the city. Most of the bypass would be on top of Schillinger and go through Prichard and Saraland before reentering I-65 by way of Hwy 158. We all agree that Schillinger is where snails go to get lost in traffic ( who would notice) The city and county would have to build the road and that is not on their wish list. You would have had to buy the land when the area was much less developed than it is now to pay an affordable price.

[BlessedMobile]

Bogue

you made some good points one being that if the ramp leading into the tunnel were gone it would help a small amount, but still not enough,
as for the mythological fear of tunnels, thats not a myth but a fact, i know a few people that are very scared of those tunnels, and it has nothing to do with the ramps entering from the right side, they have a fear of being under ground, under water, in a tunnel that they fear may colapse or just a bad wreck within the tunnel could cause a cotastrophe, 1000's of people have those fears

ok the northern route you love so much just isnt gonna work get over it, oh and this is our city but that interstate is state and federal, so everyone has the right to use it as often as they wish
and the western highway is 30 or even 40 years down the road we need something done now



last but not least, it is completely ridiculous not to impede when need be, for Mobile to grow we need better access, better roads and we need them now, the longer simple minds hold this up the more its going to cost you and i later, and again its absolutely stupid to think Baldwin County is the cause of all these problems, and if i remember correctly we live in the United States of America, UNITED, we are all one country not 50 small countries, state and federal money pays for the interstate, your money, my money, new yorkers money and Baldwin Counties money, so they belong to all of us

I BET ALL OF YOU THAT ARE AGAINST THIS BRIDGE WILL BE THE FIRST ONES TO CROSS IT LOLOLOLOL

THEY SHOULD POST A SIGN THAT SAYS IF YOU WANTED THE NORTHERN ROUTE TAKE THE NORTHERN ROUTE
BUT THE REST OF US WONT BE SEEING YOU BECAUSE WE WILL BE TOO FAR AHEAD OF YOU

Mobi...it would please me to no end to make those northern lovers take the "long way" every time. Tell them it is the "right thing" to do for Mobile. Any time I hear or read of a "concerned citizen" speaking out against the bridge I just follow the money trail back to Old Mobile money or some business entity with unsupported claims of damage from the bridge. Maybe these people think that nothing can go on under a bridge or yearn for the bygone days of a 10 story skyscraper the Van Antwerp Building. Build the bridge...Build it now!

[buckett5425]

Mobile dosnt need a new bridge to replace the tunnel, it is a huge waste of money. What Mobile really needs to do, is take the money that would be spent on a new bridge, and instead develop public transportation, stop suburban development, and promote smart growth priniciples. The solution isnt in allowing more cars to travel faster, but instead getting more cars off of the roads. People shouldnt live 20 min from where they work, on the other side of the bay. People shoud live 5 to 10 min from where they work, preferably within walking distance. We as a nation spend way to much money on roads, which we really dont need at all....(this goes for every southern city)

[pboo74]

Can anyone give me some good eating places to eat at downtown,pizza,pasta,burgers,steaks etc... i'll b coming home for the holidays so i'am going downtown 2 support the eatiers there...

[Muskavon]

Mobile dosnt need a new bridge to replace the tunnel, it is a huge waste of money. What Mobile really needs to do, is take the money that would be spent on a new bridge, and instead develop public transportation, stop suburban development, and promote smart growth priniciples. The solution isnt in allowing more cars to travel faster, but instead getting more cars off of the roads. People shouldnt live 20 min from where they work, on the other side of the bay. People shoud live 5 to 10 min from where they work, preferably within walking distance. We as a nation spend way to much money on roads, which we really dont need at all....(this goes for every southern city)

That is all great stuff buck...but unless you are going to enlist the help of the Gestapo to kill anyone who decides to live in Baldwin County (or wherever) or force their prices up 6,000% artificially....you can dream in a utopian world for the rest of your life and not solve anything. And beyond the Mobile traffic...what always gets ignored in this thread is I-10 at the tunnel is a bottleneck for thru-way traffic that sends goods and services across this country accounting for billions of dollars in lost time/revenue. We can nuke Mobile's entire population and it still won't solve the clusterf*&k that is the tunnel in Mobile. It will get fixed. You might as well get used to that. My suggestion is you find a way over the bay you can support. The one you have isn't going to hack it.

BTW, if you hate "sprawl" and people living all over...you shoulda first demanded that billion dollar steel plant not be built north of the county (guess what....that will become a continuous stream of buildings, fast food places, Wal-Marts and homes to Mobile proper now) and you should stomp out the racetrack in Prichard (same reasons). No growth unless it is weenie densification in the core!!! So silly. It is funny to me that the biggest thing that has happened to the Gulf Coast in 20 years (the steel plant) is actually going to cause larger commuter times and more sprawl than you ever dreamed of. Again, unless those German owners bring in Nazi guards...you aren't going to make the plant manager live in Mt. Vernon. Nor should you be able to.

[10101000]

So what New York is like that.

[buckett5425]

That is all great stuff buck...but unless you are going to enlist the help of the Gestapo to kill anyone who decides to live in Baldwin County (or wherever) or force their prices up 6,000% artificially....you can dream in a utopian world for the rest of your life and not solve anything. And beyond the Mobile traffic...what always gets ignored in this thread is I-10 at the tunnel is a bottleneck for thru-way traffic that sends goods and services across this country accounting for billions of dollars in lost time/revenue. We can nuke Mobile's entire population and it still won't solve the clusterf*&k that is the tunnel in Mobile. It will get fixed. You might as well get used to that. My suggestion is you find a way over the bay you can support. The one you have isn't going to hack it.

BTW, if you hate "sprawl" and people living all over...you shoulda first demanded that billion dollar steel plant not be built north of the county (guess what....that will become a continuous stream of buildings, fast food places, Wal-Marts and homes to Mobile proper now) and you should stomp out the racetrack in Prichard (same reasons). No growth unless it is weenie densification in the core!!! So silly. It is funny to me that the biggest thing that has happened to the Gulf Coast in 20 years (the steel plant) is actually going to cause larger commuter times and more sprawl than you ever dreamed of. Again, unless those German owners bring in Nazi guards...you aren't going to make the plant manager live in Mt. Vernon. Nor should you be able to.

Well, you sure did prove me wrong. Obviously, a city with public transportation and a dense core is a utopian idea, because people have only been building cities that way for the past 5,000 years, minus the last 50 years of this century because of the automobile. As for the new steel plant, a nice small walkable community could be built near the plant that provides all the services that community would need, with public transportation linking the community to Mobile. It can be done, they way its been done for hundreds of years, you just have to give people the option, people want to live this way, which is why Traditional Neighborhood Developments have begun to replace subdivisions. If you really want to spend time in traffic, and watch all the crappy suburban sprawl take over your city, then enjoy it. But dont complain about traffic and the need to widen roads, because that will not solve a single one of the problems mobile is going to have in the next ten years. As for the tunnel causing billions of dollars in lost revenue and time, thats a wild exaggeration, I think you just want to see a new pretty bridge in your skyline, and who can blame you. I hope federal dollars do not pay for this project, but if you want it, build it, but im sure it will come with its own traffic problems. Bridges and tunnels always seem to serve as bottle necks.

[DirtySouf]

The bypass was discussed when Schillinger annexation talk was the local buzz. The city is not in favor of any road that will encourage business and people to settle around a roadway that is not in the city. Most of the bypass would be on top of Schillinger and go through Prichard and Saraland before reentering I-65 by way of Hwy 158. We all agree that Schillinger is where snails go to get lost in traffic ( who would notice) The city and county would have to build the road and that is not on their wish list. You would have had to buy the land when the area was much less developed than it is now to pay an affordable price.

Well it should be on their wish list. I'm not from here and I'm unsure who does all the prioritizing and making decisions around here. I've truly enjoyed my stay for the past year and a half but cannot continue to deal with ever-growing infrastructure woes. I keep abreast of economic development issues and some projects are quite fascinating. However, infrastructure needs to desparately be addressed in and around the city. Although a new bridge is important, I personally don't think it is the most pressing issue. I think the city, county, and region needs to address roads and routes on this side of the bay including some sort of bypass, loop, or spur. The infrastructure is terrible, the worst I have ever experienced. Lack of infrastructure impedes progress. If ALDOT is not capable of this, maybe the region should contract the work out (BTW ALDOT is also the worst department of transportation I've ever experienced). Every other state can build roads adequately and efficiently on a local and regional level (except of course Louisiana). Sometimes I feel like I live in a time warp. Look around! It is not impossible. There is a way to drastically improve the current situation. If something is not done soon, I guess Mobile will remain a city of perpetual potential.

[Muskavon]

So what New York is like that.

That's one of the funny things I think about NYC. People call it dense. Yes, the core is. But since NJ and Connecticut don't seem to be accounted in that equation...it seems like such a pretty model with all those tall buildings squeezed together. Well, I disagree totally. That city actually takes up about 70% of New Jersey and 10% of Connecticut. It is sprawl on top of sprawl on top of sprawl. Hell, it connects with our other models of "density"...Philly and DC in an almost unending sprawl of human population. What is even worse about that model to me is...no one there does much of any manufacturing or farming anymore....so they actually encourage (by demand) the rest of the US (and world) to sprawl while having the nerve to wonder why it is happening (we must all be stupid, of course, is the answer). If you are making steel, making paper or growing tomoatos...you or your industry are probably sending a good bit of it to NYC (and the actual greater parts), so they can carry on. If you want to get real liberal about it...you could call Miami the southern tip of NYC's massive sprawl like none ever seen on Earth. I won't mention their ever increasing need for water from everywhere else.

As far as NYC having interstate blockages and no one giving a damn...who goes into Manhattan on their way to some other place? From north or south? It is ok that traffic gets stacked up there. Not ideal, but ok.

[Muskavon]

Well, you sure did prove me wrong. Obviously, a city with public transportation and a dense core is a utopian idea, because people have only been building cities that way for the past 5,000 years, minus the last 50 years of this century because of the automobile. As for the new steel plant, a nice small walkable community could be built near the plant that provides all the services that community would need, with public transportation linking the community to Mobile. It can be done, they way its been done for hundreds of years, you just have to give people the option, people want to live this way, which is why Traditional Neighborhood Developments have begun to replace subdivisions. If you really want to spend time in traffic, and watch all the crappy suburban sprawl take over your city, then enjoy it. But dont complain about traffic and the need to widen roads, because that will not solve a single one of the problems mobile is going to have in the next ten years. As for the tunnel causing billions of dollars in lost revenue and time, thats a wild exaggeration, I think you just want to see a new pretty bridge in your skyline, and who can blame you. I hope federal dollars do not pay for this project, but if you want it, build it, but im sure it will come with its own traffic problems. Bridges and tunnels always seem to serve as bottle necks.


I really don't disagree with what you are saying believe it or not. I'm just not sure you can really turn every Fred and Julie with the 3 kids and 2 dogs to live across from the paper mill in a neighborhood full of the same people they hate at work 10 hours per day. But it sounds good.

[Verve]

Personally, I think a loop or bypass around the city is more important than an I-10 bridge. Mobile has serious infrastructure needs that could seriously hinder the city's development if not addressed early. However, most of those needs seem to exist in the western part of the city. A bypass or loop would not only ease congestion and help infrastructure but would also spur economic development, both residential and commercial along its route potentially all the way to the Mississippi line. Every major city where I have ever lived had a loop/bypass. Why would this not be a priority here?

I'm not sure how a bypass loop in the western area will solve many of the traffic problems in the city. I don't see I-65 being a major traffic problem. Most of the problems occur on the east-west surface streets such as Airport Blvd, Dauphin St, Springhill, & Govt. Putting a loop around the city (which would have to be beyond Snow Road) will allow some of the through traffic to bypass the I-65 corridor but would do nothing to help alleviate the nightmare that is Airport Blvd between the mall area and Schillinger. It definitely won't do anything to help the bottleneck across the river and bay.

A bridge or another tunnel that doesn't disrupt commerce on the river or riverfront development is an answer to short-term problems. However as others have stated, we need to think long-term about reducing sprawl and coming up with other transit measures (light rail, etc). Now is the time to start focusing on that. We've had a warning about fuel prices that will make commuting by car become a bigger burden when gas prices rise again. We never seem to learn to plan for the future.

[BlessedMobile]

Well it should be on their wish list. I'm not from here and I'm unsure who does all the prioritizing and making decisions around here. I've truly enjoyed my stay for the past year and a half but cannot continue to deal with ever-growing infrastructure woes. I keep abreast of economic development issues and some projects are quite fascinating. However, infrastructure needs to desparately be addressed in and around the city. Although a new bridge is important, I personally don't think it is the most pressing issue. I think the city, county, and region needs to address roads and routes on this side of the bay including some sort of bypass, loop, or spur. The infrastructure is terrible, the worst I have ever experienced. Lack of infrastructure impedes progress. If ALDOT is not capable of this, maybe the region should contract the work out (BTW ALDOT is also the worst department of transportation I've ever experienced). Every other state can build roads adequately and efficiently on a local and regional level (except of course Louisiana). Sometimes I feel like I live in a time warp. Look around! It is not impossible. There is a way to drastically improve the current situation. If something is not done soon, I guess Mobile will remain a city of perpetual potential.
Dirty...you do live in a time warp. I thought everyone liked our bus schedule. You've told us something is wrong so tell us what your solutions are and where the money will come from. What infrastructure? and please don't say light rail and a bypass; those have been mentioned and explained away as not being feasible. Read "feasible" as too much money for too little return. So tell us where it is better and why?

[Bogue]

Mobi, not to question your reading comprehension but you completely misunderstood the point of my post.

I-65 connects with I-10 well west of downtown. US 98, US 43, & US 45 all empty onto I-65. All 3 of those are either before or just after I-165 diverges. All of that traffic can be circumvented around the tunnels w/ a minimum expenditure of cash (relative to the wasteful construction of a giant bridge) and w/ negligible impact on the business and commercial interests of the city. That eliminates traffic from most of the growth areas in the county from needing to use the tunnel altogether. This isn't the same as the "Northern Route" that you so churlishly deride. It's just a simple bypass to get traffic from points north and northwest across the bay without going through downtown at all. This is, afterall, part of the purpose I-165 was meant to serve. That's why it has so many virtually empty lanes. This is just an accessory route to the already extant Wallace Tunnels... not a full divergence of I-10 northward.

Without that traffic from I-65 coming in you take a huge chunk out of the tunnels and put it directly on the Bayway.


Also... the actual incidence of folks who are phobic of tunnels is MASSIVELY dwarfed by those with phobias of heights or open spaces. You would also have to be pretty severely Claustrophobic to have an issue with the Wallace Tunnels given their size & high ceilings. The bridge over the Mobile River will have to be extremely high to accomodate shipping. You trade one minor phobic influence for a much larger one.

The idea that fear of tunnels is a good reason for opting for a bridge is one of the least credible arguments made in this whole fiasco. This is why I referred to it as mythological.

Mobile's "access" by road is better than many cities of a similar size, actually. But it's funny you bring up "access" b/c this completely unnecessary bridge downtown would impede shipping access while wasting money on the pointless building of an unsightly monument that could be better spent increasing Mobile's (or in concert w/ regional bodies, Mobile's & one of our sister communities') access by air. Ultimately that is a much more glaring transportation issue that will be more more of an impedance to the growth of the area.

As for the ownership of a road. Everyone has the right to use any public road as much as they wish. That doesn't change the jurisdiction. All that impacts is the parameters at which a road is supposed to be built and maintained. If the state could just build whatever it wanted whenever it wanted then they would've built that western bypass a few years ago. The simple fact is that they're constrained by public will & the laws that govern the republic & the state. As they should be in a free society. Just because a person pays taxes doesn't mean they have an actual say in what another state or municipality does with its share. No one in Michigan can tell us what to do with our industrial incentive packages, nor can we tell Utah whether or not they can use federal tax money to salt roads at the ski resorts. The same principle applies within a state as well.

Baldwin bears very little fault for Mobile's issues in a general sense, but they are one of the largest segments that regularly require the use of the tunnel. In this very specific issue they are a big cause of the traffic. I fail to see how you can gloss over this. Without that increase in traffic associated with the suburban increase on the Eastern Shore there is virtually no regular issue with traffic at the tunnels. While it's certainly true that a majority of people passing through there are passers-through from I-65 & I-10 they don't constitute so large of a regular majority that they would put a strain on the tunnel on their own.

[Bogue]

Dirty, there are a couple of other reasons why the western bypass idea is an issue. Some of it might have to pass over the water supply to Mobile which brings in a host of environmental issues (esp. given their recent track record with that body of water), they originally wanted land on which an endangered (or maybe just "threatened") species (not a particularly glamorous one, the gopher tortoise, I believe) was common, and the way development has spread westward you're not far from the Mississippi line now if you put it westward enough. Might have to get cooperation from that state unless you bow it back around and at that point you're adding more miles onto the journey and unless all of that is controlled-access you're just going to eventually end up with another Schillinger. There are a lot of minefields to get through and the state just gave up on pushing for it.

They did have an article in the paper where they were building a connector road between Hillcrest and I-10 (it's been in planning for more than a decade, though).

The street-level stuff is really the only place where things can be done and that will be difficult because many of the prime options for widening into accessory thoroughfares have neighborhoods strung closely along them that would have to be displaced. Maybe eliminating a few intersections by carrying a few streets over Airport, etc. at major intersections would be a way to speed the flow of traffic. They're supposedly already doing all they can with lighting tricks. Not sure I believe it, but that's what they usually say.

Busing did get some momentum behind it when the gas prices were at their peak. I suspect when the economy recovers (God willing) and the price ratchets up again we'll see that momentum swing back to it somewhat. While I would love to see a lightrail system running from the airport to the Pleasure Island beaches it's just not cost-effective relative to the amt. of riders willing to do public transport right now.

[phoenixboi08]

I don't understand why they can't do something more around the area where the Cochran (Afrcatown...whatever it is) bridge is. I don't think any ships go PAST that point...so it CAN'T hurt the port...I don't know. I just don't think that assuming that a bridge will hurt the port is a fair assumption. I mean have you ever taken a look around? Huge engineering marvels are accomplished everyday! Who's to say that a decent solution can't be arrived at? I think we should start thinking of ways to make everything work instead of arguing why what's been proposed WON'T (the city does I mean). That always seems to be why nothing gets done.

[skycaptain]

I am constantly amused by our obsession with bypasses and loop roads. The cities without them want them. The cities with them want more of them. Of course, most cities have allowed so many driveway cuts directly off these roads that they no longer serve the through traffic they were intended to serve, hence the need for bypasses to the bypasses. When will we learn?

Since Atlanta completed its loop back in 1961, perhaps we feel we too must have one to be considered a true big city. I often wonder how Charlotte, Nashville and Birmingham managed to get so large with only a half loop? Didn't they read the handbook? Or, is it possible that bypasses/loop roads in themselves neither create nor prevent prosperity? Huntsville was not even connected to the Interstate system until the late 1980's, yet it managed to become Alabama's fourth-largest and fastest-growing city even before that connection.

Since the early sixties, Atlanta has tried to build its way out of traffic congestion. It has failed horribly. So, what makes us think we can just build, and widen, and build even more and have a different outcome than Atlanta's? Our traffic problems will only be alleviated in a sustainable way when and only when we start building our communities differently. Let's get our heads out of the sand!!

[Del]

Funny you should mention Atlanta - we just returned from visiting relatives who live outside the loop. The husband was bemoaning his daily commute and they're worried about their children commuting to high school. I was very glad to get back to poky Mobile with its two little skyscrapers.

[NitekKetin]

Someone should start a petition to name the proposed Bypass the Haziel Fournier Loop.

Happy New Years!

[CottonCity251]

Someone should start a petition to name the proposed Bypass the Haziel Fournier Loop.

Happy New Years!

oOokay...lol. Where'd that come from...why her???

[NitekKetin]

I was in a facetious mood yesterday.

Alternate Titles:

Azalea City Loop
New Henry 'Hank' Aaron Loop
Airport Bypass

[mobilebadboy]

Not sure what it looked like in person, but the moonpie garbage looked horrible via FOX 10. And the drop, err raise, was a bit off as far as time goes. Maybe the leprechaun fell asleep. I know I wouldn't have stood in the cold for that. Hell, I wouldn't stand in the cold in Times Square, but still.

Now Hong Kong, man their new year kickoff was awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyDrc5qBaRs (even better in HD!)

Maybe something like that with the RSA, a finale implosion of the bank tower.

Happy New Year anyway.

[nimsjus]

I was excited about the idea, but the execution idea was definitely not up to snuff. The crane looked terrible and te fact that all of it sat across the river in a big industrial parking lot looked pretty bad. I bet it would have looked better from the battleship with the city as the backdrop than the view we had of it looking out towards the Austal facilities. This event needs a more permanant home like the ball in NYC. It also needs a better public space to hold people who want to come. The paper said Cooper Park (which is tiny) was full around 11:00 PM and it said there were about 5,000 on hand. If this is going to be a big event it needs to be held in a big space. Block of some streets or something. I think the new MardiGras Park will be a good place for an event like this because it will be a fairly open space and you could raise/lower the moonpie on the clocktower that has been proposed so that is doesn't look so low budget with the crane. Just my personal thoughts. All the publicity that this event generated was definitely a positive for spreading the word about Mobile.

[Musicisright]

I braved the cold to go down last night and I was surprised at how packed it was! It was disappointing that the moonpie was so far away that you couldn't really read it...I wish it could have been on our side of the river. And the super-long fireworks show was good.

When I got home I turned on CNN and watched the replay of New York's celebration and then an hour later, Central Time Zone's. I was pleasantly surprised to see footage from the moonpie "drop" (personally I didn't see it rise OR drop). But it was cool they mentioned us.

With the lights on RSA being such a major stand out, I wish they would incorporate the rising or the dropping of the moonpie with the tower. There could be spotlights along with the ever-changing tower lights, and when the clock hits midnight, the crown could start strobing!

[spookyapp]

I was excited about the idea, but the execution idea was definitely not up to snuff. The crane looked terrible and te fact that all of it sat across the river in a big industrial parking lot looked pretty bad. I bet it would have looked better from the battleship with the city as the backdrop than the view we had of it looking out towards the Austal facilities. This event needs a more permanant home like the ball in NYC. It also needs a better public space to hold people who want to come. The paper said Cooper Park (which is tiny) was full around 11:00 PM and it said there were about 5,000 on hand. If this is going to be a big event it needs to be held in a big space. Block of some streets or something. I think the new MardiGras Park will be a good place for an event like this because it will be a fairly open space and you could raise/lower the moonpie on the clocktower that has been proposed so that is doesn't look so low budget with the crane. Just my personal thoughts. All the publicity that this event generated was definitely a positive for spreading the word about Mobile.
The proposed "Mardi Gras Park" (shudder) is an even smaller space than Cooper Riverside.

[pkp]

The proposed "Mardi Gras Park" (shudder) is an even smaller space than Cooper Riverside.

Yes, but Church Street and all of the area surrounding Ft. Conde can be used. The obvious place for the moonpie to be permanently is on the clock tower that is supposed to be in the Mardi Gras Park.

[nimsjus]

Yes, but Church Street and all of the area surrounding Ft. Conde can be used. The obvious place for the moonpie to be permanently is on the clock tower that is supposed to be in the Mardi Gras Park.

Yeah my point was that Cooper is small and is completely confined by buildings, the river, and a major street that the city would never block off. At least at the new Mardi Gras Park streets and other community space (ft conde, gvt plaza, etc) could be used if the event becomes larger. I like incorporating the RSA Tower in this like Times Square, but there is not really a good public space to congregate in downtown that is close to the tower, but far enough away that you could still see the top of it. My biggest point is that this event needs to become alot more professional and organized if it is going to continue and become a big community event. Hanging a moonpie with lights from a crane across the river is not going to cut it in the long term. First Night Mobile was about as successful as an alcohol-free New Years Celebration could be in Mobile. Maybe they should incorporate the moonpie drop/rise into a similar celebration (local art, music, food, dance, fireworks, etc.) only this time around allow alcohol and drop a light up moon pie from some structure downtown.

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Ok so now the northern-bypass route option is out. (good) that wasnt going to do anything, and everyone knew it. So in order to not hurt the shipping industry, and make them quit crying...why cant we just build another tunnel south of the one we already have that is six lanes wide and doesnt have a 90 degree turn to get into it?? The tunnel sections could be built right there on the river like all the other ones before it , and that way ships can go over, and everyone's happy... Hazardous cargo would still have to go over the Cochrane bridge, but who cares.... then just build a new section of the bayway that woudl go south of the battleship and then connect in where the existing structure is at about where the middle-bay onramp to the bayway is....

oh yea, PS....at my apartment this AM in Baton Rouge we had about 3 inches of snow! haha of course LSU didnt cancel finals...

ok so i meant to do this sooner, but finals and then a 10-day trip to Israel delayed me...
give comments (i know you have plenty) on this proposal... and in true mobile fashion, tell me why it CANT work...
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/dshulm1/newbayway.jpg

OR

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/dshulm1/tunnel.jpg

[phoenixboi08]

I think the second proposal makes the most sense. And could definitely work...however, I worry about the problems the bridge may pose for air traffic. Although, I don't know too much about this. But I do not think it wise to put it quite so near the MAE...Definitely a few miles up. But this is exactly what I've been thinking as the best possible solution.

[BlessedMobile]

Your sketches are very interesting. The tunnel aspect would cross the new container terminal and the upcoming TK offloading terminal. I doubt the state docks would like any disruption or use of their land for an approach or tunnel. I can't see where the tunnel approaches could be anything other than ground level which would then tie-up the land permanently. I thought the waterfront people preferred the route closest to downtown if they were forced to accept a southern route. It is great to have some dialogue on the bridge/tunnel.

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Your sketches are very interesting. The tunnel aspect would cross the new container terminal and the upcoming TK offloading terminal. I doubt the state docks would like any disruption or use of their land for an approach or tunnel. I can't see where the tunnel approaches could be anything other than ground level which would then tie-up the land permanently. I thought the waterfront people preferred the route closest to downtown if they were forced to accept a southern route. It is great to have some dialogue on the bridge/tunnel.

oh yea, i forgot that google's image doesnt show the container terminal... haha maybe i can use yahoo's (which is updated) and come up with a new location...

[BlessedMobile]

oh yea, i forgot that google's image doesnt show the container terminal... haha maybe i can use yahoo's (which is updated) and come up with a new location...

Google Map shows Mobile from at least five years ago. IP closed in 2000 and was demolished a year or so later. I wish someone would update our image. There have been so many good changes. Anyone know how this is done?

[Verve]

I like both proposals especially since they place the route away from the downtown areas. They also shorten the distance and eliminate the tricky curve that's at the present tunnel.

The impacts on the Mobile approach side would seem to be more conducive to an industrial area than to the downtown commercial and business area. I'd much rather see bridge piers on industrial land than where they are currently proposed. Any route that would avoid conflicting with downtown development and port activities would be much better.

[10101000]

I braved the cold to go down last night and I was surprised at how packed it was! It was disappointing that the moonpie was so far away that you couldn't really read it...I wish it could have been on our side of the river. And the super-long fireworks show was good.

When I got home I turned on CNN and watched the replay of New York's celebration and then an hour later, Central Time Zone's. I was pleasantly surprised to see footage from the moonpie "drop" (personally I didn't see it rise OR drop). But it was cool they mentioned us.

With the lights on RSA being such a major stand out, I wish they would incorporate the rising or the dropping of the moonpie with the tower. There could be spotlights along with the ever-changing tower lights, and when the clock hits midnight, the crown could start strobing!

I like your idea.

[10101000]

Mobile’s Money Making Moon Pie

Last Updated: Fri, January 02, 2009 - 10:07 pm


Diana Lucio The City of Mobile says more than 12,000 people showed up at Cooper Riverside Park to ring in the New Year, but city leaders admit everything didn't go according to plan.

The moon pie was only lifted about 100 feet into the air, only half of what was planned, because it was too windy. City leaders also admit some of the numbers were difficult to see.
While the moon pie celebration may not have gone off without a hitch, some businesses are still cashing in the crowd.
With less than a month to prepare the event, the City of Mobile says at $9,000 tax payer dollars, the moon pie was a money maker."All we can say is look at the proof in the pudding...the numbers were here and the economic side was here so we feel good about that,"Said Barbara Drummond, a spokeswoman for te City of Mobile.

Maura Garino is the General Manager at the Holiday Inn. Garino says the holiday season is usually one their slowest, but when word got out about the moon pie they booked over 100 rooms.
"We have a new asset we can reuse the moon pie from year to year and the exposure that it gave us will probably increase our Mardi Gras business as well,"Said Garino.

The City of Mobile says the moon pie celebration was mentioned in 383 cities, reaching an estimated 8.1 million people.
Next year, the City would like to bring it across the bay and there's even talk of erecting a permanent pole.

http://www.wkrg.com/local/article/mobiles_money_making_moon_pie/22297/

[10101000]

http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/12-26-2008/0004946966&EDATE=

Other press

[MobileLSUboy2005]

neato....a freakin moonpie pole....

[BlessedMobile]

I am pleasantly surprised that so many people went downtown for the moonpie event. I figured there would be 5-6 thousand max. They will fix the usual errors from a first time event and make it much better next year. I do know Barbara Drummond and she is a VERY CAPABLE organizer for any event; she will take it from here. You can be sure that next year there will be more paying sponsors who will push to have the event expanded. Thanks Fred for getting the moonpie rolling!

[10101000]

I am very thankful for the moonpie. Mobile is really looking great these days.

[Exodus]

I like the second one, looks like it could really work actually.

[BlessedMobile]

I heard something the other day from a usually reliable source that sounded interesting. Searcy Hospital is closing their Mt. Vernon site but they are looking at moving to somewhere in Mobile with eyes on the old Providence. Employees were told that TK had bought the campus. Anyone confirm this?

[nimsjus]

I heard something the other day from a usually reliable source that sounded interesting. Searcy Hospital is closing their Mt. Vernon site but they are looking at moving to somewhere in Mobile with eyes on the old Providence. Employees were told that TK had bought the campus. Anyone confirm this?

I worked up there in December and there are talks of moving, but nothing was remotely close to happening. It takes money to pick up and move and there is not alot of that floating around right now. If schools are being told to cut back you can imagine what happens in less popular state agencies like mental health. I never heard the old providence as a potential site. USA owns it now and has nursing, physical therapy, and other programs there plus physician clinics and the VA. Everything I heard about a move was centered around the renting space at the long term care facility at the old Knolwood Hospital (now Infirmary West). The maintenance cost alone at Mt Vernon is far more expensive than paying rent to someone else. They are also having a difficult time getting physicians to work there because Mt Vernon is so far from Mobile and none of them want to live up there. Im sure it will face some stiff opposition from the publice no matter where they try to move it. Noone wants a mental hospital in there neighborhood.

[BlessedMobile]

Nimsjus...thanks for your assessment. I know about the use of Providence but the Knollwood possibility is more plausible to me. I could not see Searcy closing without somewhere to go. There would be a lot of complaining by the neighbors wherever they would relocate. Please post what you hear as you sound to be much closer to what is going on than I am.

[yeahwhatever]

i thought this was pretty cool and figured most of you would enjoy it

http://www.imageurlhost.com/images/l1aa1op01fwcrnccl38v_thumb.jpg (http://www.imageurlhost.com/viewer.php?file=l1aa1op01fwcrnccl38v.jpg)

[nimsjus]

Nimsjus...thanks for your assessment. I know about the use of Providence but the Knollwood possibility is more plausible to me. I could not see Searcy closing without somewhere to go. There would be a lot of complaining by the neighbors wherever they would relocate. Please post what you hear as you sound to be much closer to what is going on than I am.

I'm out of the loop now as I am doing rotating internships for school and I have since moved on. That GM&O building is amazing. Where was that done? Todays paper has a great article about the potential for Mobile's Federal Courthouse Project to be included in a new public works program being discussed to stimulate the economy. Apparently our project is one of the top 5 on their list to get done. It has already been designed and land bought near Detonti Square.
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1231755371171870.xml&coll=3
There was also an article on Sunday about the sale of the Amsouth Building falling through for the moment. The group that had "purchased" it ended up not ebing able to secure funding due to the absurdly tight credit market. THey said any other time they would have had no problem getting money for this project, but right now noone will lend. They are plan on continuing to try to make this project happen. Meanwhile a couple of other interested parties are touring the building and may make bids on it. Hopefully someone gets it going soon. There was also a seperate article on new RSA Tower tennants on the 32 and 33 floor. They have the highest occupied floor to date. the buidling is now 70-80% leased according to the article.

[Port_of_Bama]

I worked up there in December and there are talks of moving, but nothing was remotely close to happening. It takes money to pick up and move and there is not alot of that floating around right now. If schools are being told to cut back you can imagine what happens in less popular state agencies like mental health. I never heard the old providence as a potential site. USA owns it now and has nursing, physical therapy, and other programs there plus physician clinics and the VA. Everything I heard about a move was centered around the renting space at the long term care facility at the old Knolwood Hospital (now Infirmary West). The maintenance cost alone at Mt Vernon is far more expensive than paying rent to someone else. They are also having a difficult time getting physicians to work there because Mt Vernon is so far from Mobile and none of them want to live up there. Im sure it will face some stiff opposition from the publice no matter where they try to move it. Noone wants a mental hospital in there neighborhood.




South`s nursing school will be moved to the new multi million dollar building Fall of 2009. The old providence location will no longer be the nursing school if you go on university you will se the new nursing school right on the corner huge building that is near complete. So it could be true that Searcy may be moving into the old providence but I do know that South`s Nursing school is moving on campus Fall of 09.


I wonder why Mobile is the top 5 I`m not complaining just wondering ? I like the rendering of the fed court house it looks very futuristic and would do that area some good. I remeber a few people was complaining about it breaking the street grid but I believe that it`s a big predestrian bridge that will connect it to another other side of the building and not just a building it self.
Hopefuly ground will bw broken to help boost the conomy and our I-10 route will be changed as well to help aid in the economy.

[SouthSky]

There was also a seperate article on new RSA Tower tennants on the 32 and 33 floor. They have the highest occupied floor to date. the buidling is now 70-80% leased according to the article.

I've been up in the top of the RSA Tower and if I am not mistaken, the 34th floor is occupied. :shrug: (Maybe?)

Anyone know the occupancy of the AmSouth Tower?

[nimsjus]

I totally forgot about USA finishing up that health science building there facing university. It looks really nice. I guess that would make the old providence more available. I havent heard any news about USA getting rid of it or not.
As for the Amsouth building, I tried to go back and find the article saying the deal fell through and I could not find it anywhere. If I remember correctly it said that they were about 50% full. Toomey said that the tennants are just signing short term leases until a new owner is settled on. He said they have several prospective tennants, but none of them will get on board until they can sign a longer term lease when the new owner is established.
I went downtown last weekend. The new Hampton looks awesome. It really adds alot to that block. Also the old Neisner's Building that Hargrove Engineering redid looks really great. Ever since I can remember the big front windows of the old department store had been covered with crappy looking painted murals that looked like they were made by local 1st graders. Now it is a big open reception area with wood floors and modern fixtures. They also added an awesome balcony that is not original to the building, but looks really good. They will have a great spot for Mardi Gras now.

[CottonCity251]

I totally forgot about USA finishing up that health science building there facing university. It looks really nice. I guess that would make the old providence more available. I havent heard any news about USA getting rid of it or not.
As for the Amsouth building, I tried to go back and find the article saying the deal fell through and I could not find it anywhere. If I remember correctly it said that they were about 50% full. Toomey said that the tennants are just signing short term leases until a new owner is settled on. He said they have several prospective tennants, but none of them will get on board until they can sign a longer term lease when the new owner is established.
I went downtown last weekend. The new Hampton looks awesome. It really adds alot to that block. Also the old Neisner's Building that Hargrove Engineering redid looks really great. Ever since I can remember the big front windows of the old department store had been covered with crappy looking painted murals that looked like they were made by local 1st graders. Now it is a big open reception area with wood floors and modern fixtures. They also added an awesome balcony that is not original to the building, but looks really good. They will have a great spot for Mardi Gras now.

Wonder if Hargrove is moving all there offices to that one location?? I know they have two other offices in the area; one at Washington Ave. and Hank Aaron Loop and the other in the white office building up Government St. near Dollar General and the beauty supply place.
I see work is coming along on the Courthouse Annex also. I really wish Metro could be moved and something nice could be incorporated into that area.

[MNT]

http://mattthomas.net/common/safdie.png

Just wanted to include a rendering of the Safdie design for the U.S. Courthouse in Mobile. I read the article that nimsjus linked to above and was really happy to hear about some forward momentum on the project. I lived in Savannah and was going to SCAD during the design and construction of the Jepson Center at the Telfair Museum, and Moshe Safdie's design for that building was delayed over and over by historic preservation officials concerned with the placement of a modern building in Savannah's historic district. We certainly don't have that problem with this project. The new courthouse would place an amazing public building on two blocks in an area of downtown (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=St+Joseph+St+and+State+St.,+Mobile,+AL&sll=30.695113,-88.043285&sspn=0.008986,0.015321&g=St+Joseph+St+and+St+Anthony+St.,+Mobile,+AL&ie=UTF8&ll=30.695036,-88.043854&spn=0,359.976525&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=30.695113,-88.043285&panoid=yPokll3sSCZOWvpvz3GgzA&cbp=12,205.90290292203656,,0,3.4232282359802406) currently dominated by parking lots, in the shadow of the RSA tower.

I had the chance to meet Moshe Safdie after the Jepson Center was finished. He's an amazing architect and Mobile should be really proud to have his work in our city.

[BlessedMobile]

Wonder if Hargrove is moving all there offices to that one location?? I know they have two other offices in the area; one at Washington Ave. and Hank Aaron Loop and the other in the white office building up Government St. near Dollar General and the beauty supply place.
I see work is coming along on the Courthouse Annex also. I really wish Metro could be moved and something nice could be incorporated into that area.

I met one of the higher managers a while back and he said they intended to move everyone to the new office.

[BlessedMobile]

I read with surprise on al.com that Ron Johnson is a local developer selling 64 lots at distress. Ronnie works for The Mitchell Company; its their development. There was no mention of The Mitchell Company in the article. Mitchell is on hard times but surely they can man-up to selling the lots.:shrug:
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/insider.ssf?/base/business/1231668936150190.xml&coll=3

[nimsjus]

A couple of unrelated things I meant to mention a while back and forgot about until today...
FIrst of all if you get a chance to buy or read this months issue of Mobile Bay Monthly I would recommend it. It is an Old and New Issue I guess for the New Year. It has an article with a list of the Top 10 Architectural Losses in Mobile over the years. Also an article on restaurants that have been around Mobile for a long time and have become local icons. Also a big article with lots of good picture called Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow that shows similar views/buildings at different points in time. The whole issue was pretty cool.
The other thing is my wife and I went to The Bull restaurant (downtown on Dauphin) the night of the Colbi Callait concert at the Saenger and the food was great. It is upscale Latin/Spanish Food. It was a nice change of pace from the usual offerings at many of the local places. She had a pinwheel of pork that came with some amazing potatoes and I had duck in a mole sauce. Wine was good dessert was tres leches and was pretty good. I would recommend it. We also were able to buy a gift certificate from www.restaurant.com where they sell restaurant gift certificates at discounted prices. There are 10-15 local places on the site that do similar deals. We bought certificates to Cafe Royal, The Bull, Cafe 615 and Blu Bistro over Christmas when they were running a deal where 25$ certificate cost 4$. Normally I think you get a 25$ certificate for 10$, which is still a good deal.

[Electrical Porpoise]

Why is is so hard to design courthouses for Mobile? Dont get me wrong, its a cool looking building and is well designed, but we need something more historic looking.

[BlessedMobile]

A couple of unrelated things I meant to mention a while back and forgot about until today...
FIrst of all if you get a chance to buy or read this months issue of Mobile Bay Monthly I would recommend it. It is an Old and New Issue I guess for the New Year. It has an article with a list of the Top 10 Architectural Losses in Mobile over the years. Also an article on restaurants that have been around Mobile for a long time and have become local icons. Also a big article with lots of good picture called Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow that shows similar views/buildings at different points in time. The whole issue was pretty cool.
The other thing is my wife and I went to The Bull restaurant (downtown on Dauphin) the night of the Colbi Callait concert at the Saenger and the food was great. It is upscale Latin/Spanish Food. It was a nice change of pace from the usual offerings at many of the local places. She had a pinwheel of pork that came with some amazing potatoes and I had duck in a mole sauce. Wine was good dessert was tres leches and was pretty good. I would recommend it. We also were able to buy a gift certificate from www.restaurant.com where they sell restaurant gift certificates at discounted prices. There are 10-15 local places on the site that do similar deals. We bought certificates to Cafe Royal, The Bull, Cafe 615 and Blu Bistro over Christmas when they were running a deal where 25$ certificate cost 4$. Normally I think you get a 25$ certificate for 10$, which is still a good deal.

Nimsjus...thanks for the tip about the restaurant coupon site. Those are some very good deals. I am going to send this to some of my "restaurant going" friends.

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Why is is so hard to design courthouses for Mobile? Dont get me wrong, its a cool looking building and is well designed, but we need something more historic looking.

haha seriously! i know so many people from Mobile and not that think we have a serious issue with designing courthouses....mainly the Government Plaza....sheesh...i keep hoping a hurricane will blow those ridiculous sail-looking roof panels right off!

[CottonCity251]

haha seriously! i know so many people from Mobile and not that think we have a serious issue with designing courthouses....mainly the Government Plaza....sheesh...i keep hoping a hurricane will blow those ridiculous sail-looking roof panels right off!

I like the design...I wish they would have went upward so it could only take one city block. Looks modern with a historic touch with the columns and all. Everything downtown doesn't have to be historic you know, we need a little diversity. I say preserve what we already have and build today's architecture also...more of the New South, less of the Old South.

Also, when I went downtown yesterday I noticed how better N. Royal St. looks with the addition of the Hampton and Hargrove's office. Ft. Conde Village really has enormous potential...could be Mobile's French Quarter, it is the oldest neighborhood in the city dating back to the founding. The exit ramp off I-10 really hampers what it really could be. Hope more people jump on the wagon to get that demolished. I went by the old American Bank Building lot that Mike Cowart, developer of the downtown Hampton, now owns and it is fenced in with two rig trailers, a portable, and material on the ground...thought it was suppose to be a parking lot until further notice??...anybody?

[Verve]

I agree about the design of the new federal courthouse. It is very forward-looking and is a design by a renowed architect. If we stuck with the traditional historic design, we'd never get past the Georgian style and architecture would never advance.

Despite what people think about the Government Plaza building, years from now that design will be something valued for being different. That sentiment might not occur in many of our lifetimes but there are a lot buildings that we treasure now that were not so well received in its day.

[Electrical Porpoise]

Despite what people think about the Government Plaza building, years from now that design will be something valued for being different. Hopefully that different will be because it burned down.

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Hopefully that different will be because it burned down.

hahahaha yeaaa

well, i dont dislike the new courthouse design, but I too wish it would've gone vertically so that it could be seen in the skyline and not take up 2 blocks....i am all for modern architecture; i wasnt suggesting i didnt like the ideas they had

[Exodus]

A couple of unrelated things I meant to mention a while back and forgot about until today...
FIrst of all if you get a chance to buy or read this months issue of Mobile Bay Monthly I would recommend it. It is an Old and New Issue I guess for the New Year. It has an article with a list of the Top 10 Architectural Losses in Mobile over the years. Also an article on restaurants that have been around Mobile for a long time and have become local icons. Also a big article with lots of good picture called Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow that shows similar views/buildings at different points in time. The whole issue was pretty cool.
The other thing is my wife and I went to The Bull restaurant (downtown on Dauphin) the night of the Colbi Callait concert at the Saenger and the food was great. It is upscale Latin/Spanish Food. It was a nice change of pace from the usual offerings at many of the local places. She had a pinwheel of pork that came with some amazing potatoes and I had duck in a mole sauce. Wine was good dessert was tres leches and was pretty good. I would recommend it. We also were able to buy a gift certificate from www.restaurant.com where they sell restaurant gift certificates at discounted prices. There are 10-15 local places on the site that do similar deals. We bought certificates to Cafe Royal, The Bull, Cafe 615 and Blu Bistro over Christmas when they were running a deal where 25$ certificate cost 4$. Normally I think you get a 25$ certificate for 10$, which is still a good deal.I thumbed through it a few days ago already, it's a great issue:tup:

[Exodus]

i thought this was pretty cool and figured most of you would enjoy it

http://www.imageurlhost.com/images/l1aa1op01fwcrnccl38v_thumb.jpg (http://www.imageurlhost.com/viewer.php?file=l1aa1op01fwcrnccl38v.jpg)That is a really good model, thanks for posting:tup:

[phoenixboi08]

Thought I'd post all of the renderings of the Courthouse for those who haven't seen them already.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg267/gmedespair/Courthouse/603.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg267/gmedespair/Courthouse/952.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg267/gmedespair/Courthouse/Publication1.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg267/gmedespair/Courthouse/Publication4.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg267/gmedespair/Courthouse/Publication3.jpg
Sorry it's sideways...

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg267/gmedespair/Courthouse/Publication2.jpg

By the way, can anyone PLEASE take some pictures of the Hampton Inn and Nieske (Sp?) Building? I'm in Birmingham, for school, and didn't get to see it over the break.

[nimsjus]

Downtown Picklefish now has its second proposed reincarnation after Pintolis fell through. The PR says that a Pensacola based pizza restaurant wil be opening in the location soon. Im glad something is going in there and a pizza place makes perfect sense since it is already geared towards that. I just wish it was locally owned like Picklefish. Anyone know of any Pcola pizza places that it might be?
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/kjumper.ssf?/base/business/123227371728120.xml&coll=3

[elb401]

Thats great news!! I hope that it happens. maybe they can remodel the inside.

[nimsjus]

Congressman John Murtha will be in town with Bonner and Artur Davis of Bham to show him our plans for the tanker including site visits and meetings with people from EADS and our local governemnt. Murtha is the chair of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee and would be a great person to have on our side. He also will check out Austal while he is here since they are doing some Navy work. Sounds like our entire congressional delegation (Rep and Dem) is working together to make sure the state lands this deal. Glad to see that Davis is backing us because he does not represent our area yet he sees the benefits to supporting projects statewide. He also is big buddies with President Obama, which cant hurt.
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1232619407263590.xml&coll=3

[Port_of_Bama]

Congressman John Murtha will be in town with Bonner and Artur Davis of Bham to show him our plans for the tanker including site visits and meetings with people from EADS and our local governemnt. Murtha is the chair of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee and would be a great person to have on our side. He also will check out Austal while he is here since they are doing some Navy work. Sounds like our entire congressional delegation (Rep and Dem) is working together to make sure the state lands this deal. Glad to see that Davis is backing us because he does not represent our area yet he sees the benefits to supporting projects statewide. He also is big buddies with President Obama, which cant hurt.
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1232619407263590.xml&coll=3

Well i hope that gives us an edge and I realy wish the Federal Court House was going up in stead but that`s better than no construction either way it`s good for that area.

[MNT]

I think it's a hopeful sign for Mobile's tanker dreams that Artur Davis is getting involved. Good on Rep. Bonner for working with the Dems to try to seal this deal.

[MNT]

Why is is so hard to design courthouses for Mobile? Dont get me wrong, its a cool looking building and is well designed, but we need something more historic looking.

Sounds a lot like the controversy when Safdie's art museum was going through approvals in Savannah... everyone wanted it to be "historic." Guess what -- it's a modern building. It ain't history yet. Let's let a contemporary building look contemporary, and what's history look historic. :)

As for Government Plaza, it isn't exactly my tastes either but I imagine in a handful of decades it's going to be remembered as one of the few lasting examples of postmodern architecture in this area. That is, if they maintain it...

[SouthSky]

Good news and bad news:

Construction is moving well at the TK plant in Mobile county:
http://blog.al.com/live/2009/01/large_tksteel.JPG
(Press-Register photo - Mike Kittrell)

However, according to the Press-Register, the startup of production will be pushed back to 2010.

http://blog.al.com/live/2009/01/thyssenkrupp_startup_of_stainl.html

Some more good news: no one will be fired of the 177 that have already been hired.

[nimsjus]

More on TK in todays paper. It looks like thy will open one division then eventually complete plans by opening the stainless division later.
In other HUGE news, RSA has plans to buy the Amsouth building!

RSA plans another buy downtown
Saturday, January 24, 2009 By KATHY JUMPERReal Estate Editor
The Retirement Systems of Alabama plans to buy the 34-story AmSouth building at 107 St. Francis St. for $6.75 million and update the existing office space, according to court records and David Bronner, chief of RSA, the state's $24 billion pension fund.
Less than two weeks after investor Alan Shuman of Reading, Pa., backed out of his $7.2 million offer to purchase the building because he couldn't find a lender, Bronner came forward with a bid that was $700,000 less, and it was accepted by the New York-based owners.
This will be the third major purchase funded by RSA in downtown Mobile: The $200 million RSA Battle House Tower and adjacent 238-room Battle House Hotel project off Royal and Dauphin streets, which opened in May 2007; and the Riverview Renaissance Hotel, which was renovated for $60 million in 2008.
The AmSouth building sits right across Royal Street from the Battle House Hotel.
Bronner read a Press-Register article about the AmSouth deal falling through, and "I thought maybe there was an opportunity there," he said Friday. "It's not a done deal. We're having the lawyers submit the papers to the court today."
The owners of the 280,000-square-foot building filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2008, citing $450,000 in late mortgage payments. Mobile Tower Limited Partnership put part of the blame on the loss of major tenants to RSA's new 35-story Battle House Tower, according to leasing agents.
Attorneys for the owners filed an application Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court asking for a Feb. 10 hearing to approve the sale, according to Larry Voit of Silver, Voit & Thompson in Mobile. The purchase is expected to be finalized sometime in February, he said.
RSA has paid $100,000 in earnest money and has 30 days to inspect the building, according to court records.
Bronner dismissed rumors that he wanted to put condominium units in the building. "Basically, I think the building is sound, it just needs to be fixed up," he said.
He said the 480-space parking garage is unique, and he plans to turn the AmSouth space into nice Class B space, which will offer potential tenants an alternative to the Class A space in the RSA office tower.
That tower has about two floors of space remaining for lease, Bronner said. There is a total of about 460,000 square feet of office space.
The AmSouth building has about 100,000 square feet of available space, according to John Toomey of Toomey & Co., leasing manager for the building.
There is also a major tenant waiting for the AmSouth building to be purchased so they can work out a lease agreement, the owners' attorneys have said.
RSA's purchase would further rejuvenate downtown's commercial district, said Irving Silver, an attorney for the AmSouth's owners.
"RSA has clearly demonstrated that it does not wish to operate anything that is not in keeping with a first-class operation," he said.

[SouthSky]

Big news there... I wonder when they're going to release the specifics.

Thanks for posting, nimsjus.

[BlessedMobile]

To me, the best thing about RSA buying the building is that they will actively market it outside of the Mobile area to companies wishing to relocate or expand into our area. The high tech companies in the expensive locations would surely like to move to our fair city! It won't hurt to have the RSA fix up the building with an endless supply of state employee money. Too bad it will come off of the tax rolls. Can we say "another spire"? Thanks David.

[MobileLSUboy2005]

. Can we say "another spire"? Thanks David.

If Bronner has his way...haha

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/dshulm1/_mg_1385crreed863funny.jpg

[NitekKetin]

Great News.

Now, if the RSA would transform the base of the AmSouth tower into usable, pedestrian-friendly retail space.

[BlessedMobile]

If Bronner has his way...haha

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/dshulm1/_mg_1385crreed863funny.jpg

Well, it kinda' starts to look corny now. Nice, quick work LSU. Fixing that monolith will take a good architect and a lot of money. I have only one request of the RSA...please don't have the same Battle House lobby designer pick the colors...can we say "ho house"? Don't get me wrong, I like the Battle House except for the carpet design and colors. I stared at the AmSouth building today from Serda's and can't imagine how RSA can make that place look updated. We'll see and hopefully be pleased.

[phoenixboi08]

Great News.

Now, if the RSA would transform the base of the AmSouth tower into usable, pedestrian-friendly retail space.

I never would have thought of that! Good idea...if only the RSA tower had more parking space...Since RSA would own both, couldn't they share between the two buildings?

[Alabadrock]

I was in Mobile for the Senior Bowl this weekend. MDB was providing entertainment for the game. Anyways, I was pleasantly surprised with how much the Ladd had improved in a single year. There was a larger crowd and seemed like there was much more excitement. They seem to be doing a good job with growing the popularity.

[nimsjus]

Ladd will be better next time you are down. It is getting a major overhall (paint job and skyboxes) for the arrival of USA football. The whole stadium will be red white and blue and skyboxes will be added across from the press box. All that combined with the new turf and other minor improvements will make for a decent stadium (especially for a SBC school. Maybe one day they will finish the bowl by filling in the corners. The area around it has also been proposed to be part of a new historic district so the surrounding area may improve over the coming years as well.

[nimsjus]

Great News.

Now, if the RSA would transform the base of the AmSouth tower into usable, pedestrian-friendly retail space.

Im with you Nite. I would be more excited if he wrapped the parking deck in retail/office space and redid the ground level to make it more accessible from the street. The only street level interaction is the pohlmans shop in Royal and some tiny entrances on the other two sides (plus the parking deck dominates most of its footprint. Judging from Bonners complete disregard for Montgomerys Downtown Master Plan (encasaing their historic judicial building in a big glass box), I doubt he will do anything to improve the building from that prospective. He will probably update the interior more than the exterior so that the office space is up to todays standards. I bet the exterior gets some additions (Im expecting a green roof like RSA in Montgomery,no more spires) but not a complete overhual. It will still be recognizable when they finish. Now whether recognizable is good or bad is a whole other thing.

[Alabadrock]

Ladd will be better next time you are down. It is getting a major overhall (paint job and skyboxes) for the arrival of USA football. The whole stadium will be red white and blue and skyboxes will be added across from the press box. All that combined with the new turf and other minor improvements will make for a decent stadium (especially for a SBC school. Maybe one day they will finish the bowl by filling in the corners. The area around it has also been proposed to be part of a new historic district so the surrounding area may improve over the coming years as well.


Yea, I fully expect the stadium to be nice soon. I think Mobile is a great place for college football. USA could be the next USF. It's a great money maker.:tup:

[MobileLSUboy2005]

Im with you Nite. I would be more excited if he wrapped the parking deck in retail/office space and redid the ground level to make it more accessible from the street. The only street level interaction is the pohlmans shop in Royal and some tiny entrances on the other two sides (plus the parking deck dominates most of its footprint. Judging from Bonners complete disregard for Montgomerys Downtown Master Plan (encasaing their historic judicial building in a big glass box), I doubt he will do anything to improve the building from that prospective. He will probably update the interior more than the exterior so that the office space is up to todays standards. I bet the exterior gets some additions (Im expecting a green roof like RSA in Montgomery,no more spires) but not a complete overhual. It will still be recognizable when they finish. Now whether recognizable is good or bad is a whole other thing.

i could see something like this one my friend Buckett (Steven) drew a long while back, that ive shown on here several times:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/dshulm1/AmSouthBankBuildingremodel6.jpg

or this
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/dshulm1/AmSouthBankBuildingremodel4.jpg

[SouthSky]

Personally, I would like either one of those.

Maybe Dr. Bronner reads these forums? That would be nice. :D

[nimsjus]

I think something like that first one is very likely. I like the second as well and think it would be something a little different for our sky line. That seond one kind of reminds me of something like the Palms in Vegas. Not as flashy, but it is a big rectangular box with some decorative stuff on the top but no a-frame roof or spire or any of the other usual building toppers.

[BlessedMobile]

Bronner thinks outside the box. I fully expect the building to have a updated look on the outside and inside. We don't have the marketing arm he has to recruit companies to Mobile from declining areas or even overseas. Downtown is saturated with available office space and he knows it. What is in short supply is large spaces for what would be single users like a company needing a lot of space. He will have to go find the big users. It would be really nice if the parking garage on Bienville Square could be made to look like something other than a parking garage...gee that thing is ugly.