[bayou15]

Today(12/12/07) was the day the mayor had his annual lunching. On tap was latest economic developments and the forcast for 2008. Was invited but had to work:tantrum: Anyone got the scoup?

[Port-City_J]

I like that it sounds like it would get people downtown 4 new years.

[Alxx611]

Yea, New Orleans has the gumbo drop, New York of course has the ball drop, and Atlanta has the peach drop. I think a moonpie drop would be pretty cool. II dunno about having a lot of real moonpies flying out of it, I see people going crazy and violent, but maybe just one giant metal one or something.

[CottonCity251]

Where will it be dropped from?

[Port-City_J]

I agree with Alxx611 . I think I would look better if they drop one huge aluminum moon pie. They should light it up 2.

[BamaGrad04]

Mobile has been named Carnival Cruise Line's "Port of the Year"

Friday, December 14, 2007By KAIJA WILKINSONBusiness Reporter

Mobile's cruise port has received the top national customer service award -- Port of the Year -- from Carnival Cruise Lines, based on feedback from customer comment cards.

The award recognizes, at least in part, the work of Cruise Services USA Inc., a shore services company with 35 to 50 employees in Mobile, who serve at the Alabama Cruise Terminal downtown.

The Charleston, S.C.-based company has been under contract with Miami-based Carnival for almost two years, Walter Thorn, president of Cruise Services, said Thursday. Thorn said he's proud of reaching the top during the company's first full year in Mobile.

The Holiday, though one of Carnival's oldest and smallest ships, has been popular since making Mobile its home port in 2004.

The ship's capacity, based on double-occupancy of cabins, is 1,452 passengers, but it left Mobile on Thursday with 1,625 passengers, a typical load, said Sheila Gurganus, general manager at Alabama Cruise Terminal.

Gurganus said that on cruise days, about 100 people work the terminal.

Snagging the top award among Carnival's 11 year-round home ports is a team effort, involving everyone from terminal staff to the longshoremen who load and unload luggage, Thorn said.

"It only takes one person to tick off a guest, and they remember that all the way through their cruise," he said. "Cruisers expect a good time from the time they get out of their car at the terminal to the time they leave."

Vance Gulliksen, Carnival spokesman, said Mobile's embarkation team "gives new meaning to the term 'Southern hospitality.'"

The Holiday has since Oct. 18 sailed from Mobile without a contract between the cruise line and the city.

Al St. Clair, director of the Alabama Cruise Terminal, along with city leaders, has been negotiating a new agreement with Carnival. That deal, which would be back-dated to Oct. 18, will go before the City Council on Tuesday.

The new agreement includes three one-year contracts, with the first running through the end of 2008.

Both the old and proposed contracts give Carnival the right of first refusal should another cruise line want to set up shop in Mobile. City and terminal leaders have been courting a second or larger cruise ship for at least a year and have said that strong demand for Holiday cruises bodes well for making that happen.

The customer service award can only help, Gurganus said. "It lets (cruise lines) know we can take care of guests," she said. "We want a bigger ship, and this is one more thing that shows that we can do it."



This is great news and a step in the right direction to hopefully snag an additional ship.:tup:

[CottonCity251]

Hopefully we'll get another ship or a larger one now.:fingerscrossed:

[Port-City_J]

That's another positive step 4 Mobile.

[bayou15]

http://www.cityofmobile.org/news.php?view=full&news=1213 :tup:



:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

"Damn the Torpedos! ,Mobile is Full Speed Ahead!" (Bayourat15, 2007)

[Port-City_J]

Sounds great hopefully they will bring some great new plans and ideas 4 Mobile. More positive news 4 Mobile.

[nimsjus]

This could not come at a better time. The momentum Mobile has built allows these guys to push the envelope with suggestions for future developments. Think about how people scoffed at Mayor Dow when he said he would build the convention center, revitalize Dauphin St as an entertainment district, build a new Govt Plaza, build museums, cruise terminal, etc. People thought that was far fetched and Mobile accomplished it all. This is basically the new "String of Pearls" and think about what would have to be said to be "far fetched" now. It was tough to get things started from a stand still in the 80's, but this time around the momentum is built and Mobile should be able to move through the next New Vision for Old Mobile even faster than the String of Pearls. I can't wait to hear what they suggest. Not to mention we already have several side projects already moving (Bring Back Broad, SpringHill Village, Mardi Gras park) that probably won't even be included in this stuff because they are already underway and this report is to set future goals.

[bayou15]

:previous: :tup: :tup: :cheers:

[BlessedMobile]

I think Dow did a good job but you give him way more credit for the good things mentioned in the posting. Arthur Outlaw put together the Convention Center and Dow ran for office promising to let the citizens vote on its construction....Dow won and we never voted. The Government Plaza is a county project not associated at all with the city other than the city is a tenant. No one is better at telling you how hard he works for Mobile than Dow himself. A lot of good things happened because Bronner came to town with government worker money and the city coffers were full due to a good economy. Dow is a good spokesperson for the Motorsports Park, that's why they hired him...he can talk.

[nimsjus]

I think Dow did a good job but you give him way more credit for the good things mentioned in the posting. Arthur Outlaw put together the Convention Center and Dow ran for office promising to let the citizens vote on its construction....Dow won and we never voted. The Government Plaza is a county project not associated at all with the city other than the city is a tenant. No one is better at telling you how hard he works for Mobile than Dow himself. A lot of good things happened because Bronner came to town with government worker money and the city coffers were full due to a good economy. Dow is a good spokesperson for the Motorsports Park, that's why they hired him...he can talk.

Im not necessarily giving Dow complete credit for all of that, but his administration developed the String Of Pearls concept and completed it. Another mayor may not have been as forward thinking. His ability to "talk" parlayed alot of resources that got the momentum going in Mobile.

[BlessedMobile]

You are right nims...Dow was an important part of the many good things that happened to Mobile in his 16 years. I am hopeful that his talking skills can be parlayed into a big track for the area. He was famous for promoting himself in public forums but now he is being payed to promote the coming track...I hope he does his job well.

[bayou15]

Are you ready for some Football ! :banana: http://www.cityofmobile.org/news.php?view=full&news=1214

[housingdev-TParker]

The design has been approved for the Probate Court building:
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/119797325384090.xml&coll=3

On Monday, the review board reversed its earlier ruling on a 7-1 vote, with Tilmon Brown casting the lone dissent.

"We arrived at a structure that became acceptable because of a series of compromises," Brown said. "If we want to be a great city with great architecture, sometimes you can't compromise."

When asked if board members felt pressured to accept the changes, Brown said, "No comment."

Ever since I visited downtown Savannah, GA I had dreams that Mobile could follow in its footsteps. We are making a great step in the right direction by restoring the historic structures downtown, but we if we want Mobile to truly become a beautiful, revitalized city, things like this can't be railroaded just to save a buck.

[LHG]

It would be great if the city would lead by example...

[10101000]

Well, I can understand why they want it to fit in with the style in that area. I would love to see a modern, metal and glass building, but I do not know if it will happen while certain ones are in the building commission. Mobile is still better than what it used to be and is leading by example. Mobile has the tallest building for a city its size, does Savannah? Also, Mobile is an original French town and I feel that it should stick to some of its roots. There are other buildings in Mobile that reflect 21st century design, and too bad that they were not in the downtown district. Hopefully in the next decade, with the momentum that it has now, new commissioners will see that downtown also needs modern structures. I am sure it will look fine, at least it is infill.

[10101000]

http://www.hdsarchitecture.com/work.html

I saw this the other day, it has nothing to do with downtown, but Springhill area. When you click on the link you will see projects on your left side, read down to Springhill Offices and click on that. You all might know about it already, it was interesting to see. This same firm built the Real Estate Centre in the business park.

[BlessedMobile]

I drive I-65 every day and can't think of anywhere like this. Since it is a "work in progress" maybe that means it is in the planning stages. Nice look though. There isn't much land left in the Springhill area that you could build something like this unless it is land near the Whitney and Colonial Bank buildings but that belongs the the Archdiocese which would lease it to someone. I hope this is just something that has not been announced yet. There is no telling what is out there on the internet which we just have to find to be in-the-know...good find Tim!

[NitekKetin]

Perhaps it will be constructed on the site of the old Bellsouth Celluar building at College Lane and I-65 Service Road.

[bayou15]

My view on the court building will be posted tomorrow:hell: :hell: And it's geauxing to be ugly!! (no pun intended).

[nimsjus]

Has anyone seen anything about the "New vision for old Mobile"? Bayou said it was supposed to be unveiled yesterday at the city council meeting. I checked the Downtown Alliance site and the City of Mobile site and didn't find anything other than the fact that it was to be discussed at the last city council meeting. I'm sure the Lagniappe will cover it like they do all city council meetings, but that won't be out for another week or so.

[CottonCity251]

Has anyone seen anything about the "New vision for old Mobile"? Bayou said it was supposed to be unveiled yesterday at the city council meeting. I checked the Downtown Alliance site and the City of Mobile site and didn't find anything other than the fact that it was to be discussed at the last city council meeting. I'm sure the Lagniappe will cover it like they do all city council meetings, but that won't be out for another week or so.

At the meeting, the Council awarded a contract with EDSA, Inc. to develop a master plan for the downtown, midtown and waterfront areas called “A New Plan for Old Mobile.” The plan will cover all aspects of living, visiting, and working in those areas. This is just the beginning, the plan has not been drawn up yet.

[nimsjus]

Ahh I see. I knew the request for proposal had been out for a while, and I guess I just forgot you have to pick someone to come up with the preposal before the proposal can be finished. I put the cart before the horse. Do yall know a timetable for the presentation of their report?
P.S.-The fam and I will be staying at the BattleHouse after coming down for to do Christmas with my family. I'm pretty pumped. High school reunion at the Brewery that night also so it should be a great one night trip to Mobile. Wish I could stay longer.

[nimsjus]

Nice to have more waterfront access. I hope they do this up similar to the 5 Rivers Park on the Causeway. A fishing pier would be a really nice addition as well. That is not an area I would go to very often unless they do some cleaning up of the surrounding neighborhoods. Hopefully this will be done as part of the Bring Back Broad deal.
Land deal made for Bayfront Park
But agreement doesn't include Arlington Point Wednesday, December 19, 2007By KAIJA WILKINSON and BEN RAINESStaff Reporters
The Alabama State Port Authority plans a public park by late 2008 or early 2009 on more than 20 acres just east of Brookley Industrial Complex on Mobile Bay, part of 46 acres it agreed Tuesday to buy for $1.3 million from the Mobile Airport Authority.
But the park does not include a key element of the plan the Port Authority discussed as early as 2003 -- inclusion of Arlington Point. That 15-acre, man-made spit of land juts into the bay between Brookley and the McDuffie Coal Terminal.
"I would love to see Arlington Point itself eventually incorporated, but we're not there right now," said Jimmy Lyons, who runs the state docks.
The docks will use some of the land it purchased to replace wetlands it destroyed in developing its new container terminal at nearby Choctaw Point.
Lyons said the park will have a boardwalk winding through wetlands, and could eventually include walking trails, gazebos, kayak launches and a parking area. Plans for a pier included in the park plan developed by Spectrum & Associates are uncertain, he said.
In addition to its $1.3 million to buy the Airport Authority land, the state docks would spend about $2 million to develop the park, Port Authority officials said, and another $5 million to create the new wetlands, a project headed by Thompson Engineering.
Facing criticism that the state docks' container terminal and railyard development at the former site of Monroe Park would rob residents of their last hope for meaningful public access to Mobile Bay, Lyons in 2003 announced plans to create a new park for the city centered around Arlington Point.
The Point would provide areas for fishing, picnicking and wading in the water. The plan was applauded by community leaders who have seen much of the city's 30 miles of waterfront devoted to industry.
But the Port Authority did not own Arlington Point. The U.S. Army owns the land, and the Airport Authority has about 30 years left on a lease of part of the property.
In 2003, docks officials said they were confident they could make the plan work, possibly by swapping some state docks land for rights to Arlington Point and adjacent properties. That optimism was maintained during a series of public meetings in early 2005, when docks officials presented drawings of what the new park centered on Arlington Point would look like.
However, in October 2005, up to $2.5 million in improvements to an existing dock facility at Arlington Point was included as part of a package of incentives used to lure a tanker aircraft assembly center to the Brookley Field Industrial Complex.
That project, plus a Coast Guard presence on Arlington Point, have tied up the Arlington Point property, docks spokeswoman Judy Adams said.
EADS North America and Northrop Grumman Corp. have teamed in an effort to win the U.S. Air Force contract. If successful, the companies would create an estimated 1,000 new jobs at Brookley.

[nimsjus]

Bham getting streetcars, Why not Mobile? Do we have the critical mass downtown to support it and what would the route be?

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1198142104262830.xml&coll=2&thispage=2

[elb401]

they have talked about it here. Maybe when our downtown in a little bit more developed again. It is also talked about in the bring back broad. just later phases. I don't know if B-ham has the people to pay for it.

[Port-City_J]

will anything be going on in Mobile on new year's eve?

[bayou15]

Alot of drinking!!:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[CottonCity251]

will anything be going on in Mobile on new year's eve?

The city is throwing a block party in Fort Conde Village where you also have to watch the fireworks show from because of the construction work being done at Cooper-Riverside Park.

[pboo74]

I hope that when all is said about the new Mobile that it includes venues downtown such as,open air mall such as the riverwalk in neworleans,lots of reatil stores for people off the cruise ship will have to places to shop at,zoo, etc...just more entertaniment for people to come downtown for? what do you guys think.

[pboo74]

Also kinda on topic but mobile leaders have to come together and make something happen for downtown,it's alot of talk that goes on in mobile instead of just doing it.pedstrian bridge,maritime musuem,park/condo retail property,waterstreet landing.Just a couple of things that come to mind.Mobile we are way behind we are slowly slowly making progress,''''be proactive instead of reactive..stop talking and start doing,and the people on here that are from mobile knows what i'am talking about when i say this. give your thoughts on this?

[CottonCity251]

I don't know why they didn't incorporate retail into the cruise terminal instead of the way it is now. I would love to see more midrise development sprout downtown and along I-65 between Airport Blvd. and Dauphin St.

[BlessedMobile]

I think that you young folks probably know why downtown retail and cruise terminal retail aren't there...private investors can't make any money! Even the RSA Tower would not be there if it weren't for public money such as from Bronner. Anyway, I can tell you that what is happening downtown is condo/apartment investing. When it is really good then you will see investors build for rental rather than sell. People and money come BEFORE retail. It is going to happen in the next few years probably following the conversion downtown of a few more buildings into apartments. The first to come will be those selling staples such as grocery and personal care. No one is going to build a retail business off the cruisers as they are not here to see Mobile but to take a big boat ride...They are in and out. Stay excited and plan the move to downtown.

[pboo74]

I think that you young folks probably know why downtown retail and cruise terminal retail aren't there...private investors can't make any money! Even the RSA Tower would not be there if it weren't for public money such as from Bronner. Anyway, I can tell you that what is happening downtown is condo/apartment investing. When it is really good then you will see investors build for rental rather than sell. People and money come BEFORE retail. It is going to happen in the next few years probably following the conversion downtown of a few more buildings into apartments. The first to come will be those selling staples such as grocery and personal care. No one is going to build a retail business off the cruisers as they are not here to see Mobile but to take a big boat ride...They are in and out. Stay excited and plan the move to downtown.

Yes but before they deport they always look for a place to shop,not only cruisers,but for Mobilians period.I'am 33yrs old and the first 20 of them was spent in mobile and it's always been slow to do anything.Go to the other ports and you will find numerous of shopping places,resturants etc.. when people come they want to explore the city either if it's before are after a cruise.

[Port-City_J]

pboo 74 u r right Mobile is way 2 slow. From every area I’ve been Mobile is by far the slowest area in building or decision making. I've been saying this 4 a while now.

[CottonCity251]

This not really about downtown, but check out Mobile's new starter page on Emporis.com (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/?id=mobile-al-usa). Also, read the About Mobile section. I emailed them with some more detailed information on Mobile and they replied they can't insert the information without a source. If anyone would like to help me with this please PM me or let me know, so the huge amount of people that use this site get a better picture of Mobile than the bullshit they put.

[housingdev-TParker]

...Mobile is by far the slowest area in building or decision making...

I can't say that I disagree, and I have heard this comment by many others... but this topic does puzzle me. A city is made up of its citizens. Now, while some officials have a say-so in decision making (development, funding, etc.), I don't think any one person or organization is holding Mobile back. There are plenty of people in Mobile who are brilliant, ambitious, and talented enough to make a positive change for this city. I believe that it takes positive collaboration among these people to transform great visions into action.

I would love to see this type of collaboration among Mobile's 20-somethings; After all, they will soon be shaping this city through their occupations. That is where my initiative lies, I encourage others to act upon theirs -no matter their age, occupation, or "social status." :tup:

"The most effective way to get something done, is to get something done." -Earhart

[pboo74]

pboo 74 u r right Mobile is way 2 slow. From every area I’ve been Mobile is by far the slowest area in building or decision making. I've been saying this 4 a while now.

That's right also port city j

[10101000]

That's right also port city j

Oh yeah, since every where else in Huntsville, Montgomery and B-ham is just so fast! I mean, they think about it today and build it tomorrow! That is why Nordstroms will not be open untill 2012 in B-Ham becuase they are so fast! :haha:

[bayou15]

Happy New Year to all my fellow posters. Hope the 2008 threads will be just as great. remember tonite, click it or ticket !

[CottonCity251]

The RSA Tower is supposed to be having a light show, following the fireworks show, at 12:15 a.m.

[housingdev-TParker]

Did you guys see this? News on the downtown comprehensive plan:

http://blog.al.com/live/2008/01/mobile_spends_400k_for_plan.html

[CottonCity251]

Did you guys see this? News on the downtown comprehensive plan:

http://blog.al.com/live/2008/01/mobile_spends_400k_for_plan.html

$400,000, thats not so bad. As a matter of fact, is this enough?

[nimsjus]

Did you guys see this? News on the downtown comprehensive plan:

http://blog.al.com/live/2008/01/mobile_spends_400k_for_plan.html

And this from the day before...
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/119900975489280.xml&coll=3
Marine Street(Oakleigh's oldest street) is undergoing a revitalization thanks to the Oakleigh revolving fund. The group buys, restores, builds, and sells houses in the district. Pretty cool how they are even taking empty lots and building replicas of historic homes from photos and old blueprints that were destroyed in the past.

[pboo74]

And this from the day before...
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/119900975489280.xml&coll=3
Marine Street(Oakleigh's oldest street) is undergoing a revitalization thanks to the Oakleigh revolving fund. The group buys, restores, builds, and sells houses in the district. Pretty cool how they are even taking empty lots and building replicas of historic homes from photos and old blueprints that were destroyed in the past.

Maybe when they ask the people in the community about their input they'll come up with some of these suggestions,zoo,aquarium,riverwalk,outdoormall or indoormall,movie theatre,retail,just to name a few.If anyone is on here that goes to the meeting please bring some of these ideas up.Also maybe have a riverboat or 2 for dinner crusies downtown,something like charleston,and savannah have,A downtown where citizens can drive and dock their boats downtown also. What do you guys think?Downtown Comprehensive Plan

[nimsjus]

Does anyone know who to contact to have the name of this thread changed? I didn't really mean to limit it to a one year thread when I started it. If they could take the 2007 off the end of that, we coudl keep this thread going.

[MobileMoving]

Does anyone know who to contact to have the name of this thread changed? I didn't really mean to limit it to a one year thread when I started it. If they could take the 2007 off the end of that, we coudl keep this thread going.

You might try this link from the FAQ page to send them a message: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/sendmessage.php

[CottonCity251]

Does anyone know who to contact to have the name of this thread changed? I didn't really mean to limit it to a one year thread when I started it. If they could take the 2007 off the end of that, we coudl keep this thread going.

Create another one and call it Mobile Development News 2008 so it won't be limited to downtown. Or rename this one Mobile Development News.

[Alxx611]

Hope everyone is okay with starting a new thread as we begin 2008.

Remember this isn't limited to Downtown. Throw in some Midtown, West Mobile, DIP, and Metro Area developments.

In the works:

Riveriew Plaza Hotel renovations/spire:


http://cache.marriott.com/propertyimages/m/mobrv/mobrv_areainfo_left.jpg

http://cache.marriott.com/propertyimages/m/mobrv/phototour/mobrv_phototour01.jpg

http://www.al.com/images/newshp/tower2.jpg

http://www.gmcnetwork.com/portfolio/images/riverviewHotel/riverviewHotel_main.jpg


Downtown Hampton Inn-7 stories-Royal and Conti Street

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e36/ellisb123/hamptoninndowntownmobile.jpg


Mardi Gras Park

http://www.gmcnetwork.com/portfolio/images/mardiGras/mardigras_main.jpg

http://xs512.xs.to/xs512/07063/3034mardi_gras_park.jpg


Gayfers Building Renovations

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b375/Alxx611/http---downtownmobileorg-images-new.jpg

Mobile Maritime Museum



http://www.lyonszaremba.com/images/_images/nmmRend02_lg.jpg

http://www.mobilelanding.com/Pic_MaritimeCtr.jpg

http://www.cityofmobile.org/images/news/museum_kickoff_and_hal_newser_012.jpg


Thyssenkrupp Steel Plant

http://betterinternetradio.com/images/drawing_al_germansteelplant.jpg



Crescent Theatre-Dauphin Street

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b375/Alxx611/downtown/DSCN0483-1.jpg


Mobile Probate Court Building-4 stories


Airbus Facility

Senior Bowl Headquarters

[Port-City_J]

are they still going to build the Mobile Maritime Museum, and if so when?

[Atlguy33]

So much is happening in Mobile! Awesome! I want to get down there again soon.

[CottonCity251]

So much is happening in Mobile! Awesome! I want to get down there again soon.

Not too much, hopefully this year will bring much more!

[10101000]

Question

When will the crown on Riverview be completed? I have not been home since 12/22.

[10101000]

The Bass Pro Shop, the centerpiece tenant, is expected to open around Aug.15, he said.

City officials from both Spanish Fort and Daphne and representatives from Baldwin County have been invited as well, Cypress Equities Southeast Development manager Bronson Smith said.

In comparison with the Eastern Shore Centre, which is considered a “lifestyle center” and has a lot of smaller boutiques, the Spanish Fort Town Center is a “big box center,” Smith said.

Cypress Equities is the development arm of The Staubach Company, a global real estate advisory firm.

Smith said that the Spanish Fort Town Center has a different product type than the Eastern Shore Center, since the big tenants have approximately 100,000 square feet. Approximately 732,674 square feet of retail will be going into the center, Smith said. Anchor stores at the Spanish Fort Town Center include J. C. Penny, Kohl’s, Circuit City and the Bass Pro Shop.

Marriott Courtyard, Fairfield Inns, La-Z-Boy and Wachovia have also signed contracts. “We are in lease negotiations with others,” Smith said.

Smith thinks that Baldwin County and the cities of Spanish Fort and Daphne will be very pleased with the potential retailers with whom Cypress Equities are currently in negotiations, he said. The multifamily aspect of the development comes in the form of 240 apartment homes. Colombus Realty Partners, Ltd., of Dallas, Texas, will be developing 240 apartment homes which will have connectivity to the Spanish Fort Town Center. Site work has begun and an October 2008 completion date is proposed.

One reason the Spanish Fort location was chosen was because of visibility on I-l0, Smith said.

“Baldwin County is growing like wildfire.The population growth well substantiates a development such as this,” Smith said.

Furthermore, it’s also a good location because I-l0 runs across the entire United States and Hwy. 98 runs primarily through the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, he said. U.S. 98 is the primary access to the Spanish Fort Town Center, Smith said.

“We have been working on and have come to an agreement for a frontage road that is going to connect from Hwy. 98 over to the highway where the Eastern Shore Centre is,” Smith said.

Baldwin County, the city of Daphne, Timber Creek and Cypress Equities are all contributors to the road, he said. The frontage road will nol be completed before the Spanish Fort Town Center opens, but Cypress Equities have come to an agreement with the parties that it will be completed, Smith said.

http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2007/12/07/local_news/doc4756cc6a7b8ad011478169.txt

[10101000]

http://www.downtownsaltaire.com/

http://www.dauphinrealty.com/FowlRiver/

http://www.thevillageatcypresspoint.com/

http://www.bonsecourvillage.com/home.aspx

http://www.thewharfal.com/index.asp

http://www.bamabayou.com/waterway_district.htm

http://www.mobilelanding.com/

http://www.daphnebayfrontvillage.com/

http://www.cypressequities.com/DevelopmentDetail.aspx?property_id=10010&property_category=2

http://turquezaholdings.com/

http://www.thevillageofspringhill.com/charrette/index.asp

http://www.whlarchitecture.com/

http://www.cypressvillageorangebeach.com/

http://colonialprop.com/property-info/?cid=1286

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/ProfileSE.aspx?LID=14949536

http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2007/12/17/local_news/doc47601b3482d31909030295.txt

http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=6405&State=1&res=1024

http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2007/12/02/local_news/doc4750805d9b705097139486.txt

http://www.thepalmsatfoley.com/

http://www.gulfplace.net/

http://www.steelwood.us/

http://www.theretreatatorangebeach.com/

http://www.shellbanklanding.com/

http://www.cariberesort.com/

http://www.legacyvillageatspringhill.com/

and last but not least
http://truedine.com/

Forgive me for the links, but I do not have a lot of time to post pictures and such.

[NitekKetin]

Spanish Fort Town Center will be the most underwhelming development in South Alabama. Most of the retailers signing on to this unneeded development would be better off locating stores in existing regional shopping centers. Just across I-10 and US 90, Jubilee Square in Daphne is rather struggling and could use Fresh Market, Circuit City, and Lay-Z-Boy. Bass Pro Shops would have brought much-needed foot traffic to the back of Eastern Shore Centre, if it were located there.

Colonial's Craft Farm disaster seems to have failed at attracting the fashion tenants it was seeking. It went from Ann Taylor Loft, AE and Coldwater Creek on its preliminary site plan to a mattress retailer, fast food eateries and some service random tenants. Blah!

[10101000]

Sorry you feel that way, at least it is something other than dirt and dead space. It is development and it is needed. It does take time for places like this to grow. At least you have the beach and nice retail close by. It will all come together, it just takes time. Think about the whole Mobile and metro area about 15 years ago! Metro Mobile now has ten times more entertainment and retail to offer than what use to be. You have to think about the positive things. If the city would had went off of what most old Mobilians wanted for downtown, the RSA Tower would not even be there. Trust me, Eastern Shore Centre is getting plenty of foot traffic and I talked to the marketing director when I was home for the holidays and had great things to say about the place. I would like to see more different types of retail, but you only need so many Coldwater Creek and Ann Taylor Loft stores! What about Whole Foods, J Crew and A/X. Give it time, I am sure that it will all be awesome in a few years. At least Mobile has more now, and that is all that matters.

[nimsjus]

New Lagniappe out...
www.lagniappemobile.com

[NitekKetin]

Well fifteen years ago, Airport Boulevard/I-65 was a strong retail destination. Springdale Mall had a recent renovation, anchored by the state's largest department store-Gayfers; Bel Air Mall had quality in-line tenants such as Bailey Banks & Biddle and Lillie Rubin; the Festival Centre rounded out the retail mix with a selection of strong big box stores. The entire west Mobile shopping district seemed more...vibrant than it does now in these hyper competitive times.

Spanish Fort Town Center would be more acceptible if its various components weren't so scattered about. Secondly, what retailers would tenant some of these vast in-line spaces? This 200 acre boondoggle would have been better off as a pine forest.

Going into its fourth year, Eastern Shore Centre has a noticeable vacancy problem. At least 20,000 square feet is just sitting in that lifestyle center unleased, so, this mall needs another anchor to bring foot traffic around the place. Hopefully the new megaplex will be a success.

[10101000]

Well fifteen years ago, Airport Boulevard/I-65 was a strong retail destination. Springdale Mall had a recent renovation, anchored by the state's largest department store-Gayfers; Bel Air Mall had quality in-line tenants such as Bailey Banks & Biddle and Lillie Rubin; the Festival Centre rounded out the retail mix with a selection of strong big box stores. The entire west Mobile shopping district seemed more...vibrant than it does now in these hyper competitive times.

Spanish Fort Town Center would be more acceptible if its various components weren't so scattered about. Secondly, what retailers would tenant some of these vast in-line spaces? This 200 acre boondoggle would have been better off as a pine forest.

Going into its fourth year, Eastern Shore Centre has a noticeable vacancy problem. At least 20,000 square feet is just sitting in that lifestyle center unleased, so, this mall needs another anchor to bring foot traffic around the place. Hopefully the new megaplex will be a success.

Have you been there lately? Have you seen that they are trying to fill it in. A new restaurant and a new movie theater and from the word on the streets more stores are looking to come in. They had to lower the rent so stores would come in. It was too high at one point and now it is reasonable. The BLVD in BR is $310 SQ foot and Apple is paying some of the highest rent in BR just to open there, they will have 20k sq feet of retail space. Spokesmen for Apple stated that more locations were being looked at and Mobile was one and they did not say where, rather far south Alabama was what they said and unless they plan to build it in Gulf Shores. I have talked to a Macy's spokesman in Ohio and she said that they construct 10 new stores per year, I did mention that she needed to look into Mobile, because of its significant growth and it has needed one since 1990. She would not confirm anything, but did say that it is possible. Also, Fox 10 has shown a lot of their advertisements and they do not do that unless they plan to open are construct a new store. Macy's is still a high-end store, but since they were bought out by another vendor they have down-scaled there prices to JC Penny's prices. Mobile can do that for sure.

[10101000]

http://www.white-spunner.com/whats.php?news=30

White-Spunner Construction Announces Plans for New LEED Office Building
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007

[Mobile, AL] – Owners of White-Spunner Construction, Inc. announced plans to build a new office for White-Spunner Construction, Inc. on 6.5 acres at the southwest corner of Interstate-65 and Government Boulevard. Construction is currently underway at the site.

The 40,000 square foot, two-story office building will be constructed on 3.5 acres, leaving additional property open for future company growth. The office building will take approximately eight months to build and will be built under LEED guidelines, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED features include an open floor plan with tinted windows, numerous skylights, large windows, motion-sensitive lighting, water-efficient systems and the use of recycled materials and environmentally-friendly approaches during construction.

Company owners have also obtained an option on an adjoining 18.5 acres and plan to develop a mixed use office park on the site. The site will have tremendous visibility as the first office development located on I-65 as travelers turn north from I-10. Initial plans for the business park include a lake, fountain and walking paths in addition to 27 business lots and three lots fronting I-65 for hotels or restaurants. The property has views of the Heron Lakes Country Club golf course next door and is located across the Interstate from Hank Aaron Stadium.

White-Spunner Construction, Inc. is a general contracting and management company based in Mobile, Alabama with branch offices in Orange Beach, Alabama; Dallas, Texas and Raleigh, North Carolina. Incorporated in 1981, White-Spunner Construction is committed to safety, quality and integrity. One of the leading construction companies in the South, White-Spunner Construction is licensed in 35 states and works closely with clients on multi-family, industrial, commercial and retail projects. White-Spunner Construction prides itself on completing every project on time, on schedule and within budget. For more information, visit www.white-spunner.com or call 251-471-5189.

# # #

[NitekKetin]

Have you been there lately? Have you seen that they are trying to fill it in. A new restaurant and a new movie theater and from the word on the streets more stores are looking to come in. They had to lower the rent so stores would come in. It was too high at one point and now it is reasonable. The BLVD in BR is $310 SQ foot and Apple is paying some of the highest rent in BR just to open there, they will have 20k sq feet of retail space. Spokesmen for Apple stated that more locations were being looked at and Mobile was one and they did not say where, rather far south Alabama was what they said and unless they plan to build it in Gulf Shores. I have talked to a Macy's spokesman in Ohio and she said that they construct 10 new stores per year, I did mention that she needed to look into Mobile, because of its significant growth and it has needed one since 1990. She would not confirm anything, but did say that it is possible. Also, Fox 10 has shown a lot of their advertisements and they do not do that unless they plan to open are construct a new store. Macy's is still a high-end store, but since they were bought out by another vendor they have down-scaled there prices to JC Penny's prices. Mobile can do that for sure.

I've last visited Eastern Shore Centre this past weekend and saw numerous closed stores and unleased spaces. Beyond the multiplex site preparation behind the mall, there was some renovation going at the former Dish It Out store near Objects. It seems as though the limited number of new retailers coming to Eastern Shore Centre are just moving into previously occupied spaces.

The Wharf and Legacy Village might be potential sites for a possible Apple store. However, Mobile and Baldwin Counties don't seem to have *that* many Mac users to make a store here viable.

[10101000]

I thought the same thing about MAC too, but they do not talk a lot. B.R. got wind of them coming back when I first moved here and then there was not anymore news. I thought that it was going in another development here, but it did not and then we found out about three months ago that it was coming to Mall Of Louisiana's The Blvd. When they released that information Apple released a web page and I cannot find it anymore but it shows the cities where they plan to build. Mobile was a few list down from B.R. I could care less where it goes as long as it is done. I have a feeling that high-end retail is coming in quicker than we all think and you would be surprised to see that Mobile's income can actually handle it. I saw some of the stores in Bridge Street Towne Centre and they have some never even located in the south. If Huntsville can have it, so can Mobile. Maybe they want to build downtown and are just waiting to see when there are more residences there. From my understanding at meetings held with Mobile Alliance, they hired a group to strictly lure retail for pedestrians. Anyway, there are so many things going on over there that it is hard to keep up, I just wish they would let people that want the retail to get evolved. Another way to find out information about Business in Mobile is the Business View from the Chamber. They normally send out these publications about the whole area and not just about downtown. Another thing, the new leasing office for Bel-Air LaSalle, has something up there sleeve because the new leasing manger told me that the mall was full and they do not have a lot of space but was wanting more to come in. http://www.shopatbelairmall.com/ The new web site. This is what I did, I found the guys email address and contacted him about a change in the mall. My guess is that people need to email this cat and let him know how much retail Mobile needs. If enough people push him then something can happen. I have seen it numerous times. Truly one person can make a difference.
http://www.jllretail.com/en-US/contact/ This is the link for their email, and I encourage everyone to give him your thoughts. It can only help, what can he tell you, no? Give it a shot everyone, lets get some reatil and change here.

[NitekKetin]

Not to turn this into a mall thread, but for the last 20 or so years, Bel Air has always wanted to develop the tracts west and immediately south of JCPenney. This is purely speculative, but Macys could potentially anchor a nice new corridor in that area.

[BlessedMobile]

I saw it today, Saturday, and it looked to be about 25-35% complete. It has a long way to be 150' plus. I'm just guessing that it is about 30' or so off the roof now. They probably have done little work over the holidays and with the wet weather.

[Randy Sandford]

Create another one and call it Mobile Development News 2008 so it won't be limited to downtown. Or rename this one Mobile Development News.

I have removed "2007" from this thread's title as nimsjus requested by PM. Alxx611 started a new thread, "Mobile,AL Development Thread," which is intended for downtown and the rest of the metro area. There really doesn't need to be two threads covering development in Mobile (or any city for that matter). My suggestion would be to keep this thread going and drop "Downtown" from the title because if we close this one and direct discussion to the new thread, then it will be difficult for people to find this thread to read past messages. I'll let you guys decide what you'd like me to do.

[SouthSky]

I have removed "2007" from this thread's title as nimsjus requested by PM. Alxx611 started a new thread, "Mobile,AL Development Thread," which is intended for downtown and the rest of the metro area. There really doesn't need to be two threads covering development in Mobile (or any city for that matter). My suggestion would be to keep this thread going and drop "Downtown" from the title because if we close this one and direct discussion to the new thread, then it will be difficult for people to find this thread to read past messages. I'll let you guys decide what you'd like me to do.

I think just dropping "downtown" would work quite well. Thanks in advance, Randy.

[CottonCity251]

I have removed "2007" from this thread's title as nimsjus requested by PM. Alxx611 started a new thread, "Mobile,AL Development Thread," which is intended for downtown and the rest of the metro area. There really doesn't need to be two threads covering development in Mobile (or any city for that matter). My suggestion would be to keep this thread going and drop "Downtown" from the title because if we close this one and direct discussion to the new thread, then it will be difficult for people to find this thread to read past messages. I'll let you guys decide what you'd like me to do.

Just what I had in mind, thanks Randy!

[CottonCity251]

Today from the PR....

RSA gets another HQ

Sunday, January 06, 2008
By KATHY JUMPER
Real Estate Editor

Signal International plans to move its corporate office from Pascagoula to the 35-story RSA Battle House Tower in downtown Mobile, the second tenant to relocate its headquarters there.

The marine and fabrication company has leased a 6,000-square-foot office in the tower and will move there within six to nine months, according to Joe Toole, leasing agent for the Retirement Systems of Alabama.

Business deal

Signal's move is a result of a business deal between the company and RSA, according to David Bronner, who heads the state's $28 billion, Montgomery-based pension fund. The $200 million office tower and adjacent 238-room Battle House Hotel projects were funded by RSA, and both opened last May. The hotel carries the four-star Marriott Renaissance Hotel brand.

RSA helped finance the buyout of some of Signal's investors, and is now a partner in the 4-year-old company, Bronner said.

"You have to look at your opportunities," he said. "And both of the head guys live in the Mobile area, so it's to their benefit."

Bronner was also instrumental in bringing the publicly traded International Shipholding Corp. headquarters here from New Orleans. The shipping firm moved into two floors of the RSA tower last April. The company was looking for a home for one of its shipping operations after Hurricane Katrina, and Alabama and local governments lured the company with an incentives package worth at least $23 million, according to state officials. RSA bought out the shipping firm's office lease in New Orleans.

"When you can get a corporate headquarters in your city, you basically get all those people who do business with the corporate office having to come to the area," Bronner said. "It's good for the restaurants and the hotels, and exposes the city to all of these different businessmen."

So far, 76 percent of the tower's 460,000 square feet of office space has been leased, according to Toole. The tower's lease rates range from $18 to $19 per square foot to the low $20s, he said. "As the building fills, the rates are going up. It's market-driven."

Current rates downtown average $15 to $16 per square foot for newer or updated Class A office space, according to leasing agents.

About 20 percent of the tower's tenants have moved in, with the majority expecting to finish their interior build-outs or finishes this year, he said.

"There will be a lot of construction going on this year," on the interior office space, Toole said. "That's a good impact for the city and you won't see all the construction workers leaving downtown."

The state's tallest building is a convenient location for Signal International, according to Richard Marler, the company president and CEO, who lives in Fairhope. "The building will present a good image for us," he said. "And on a personal note, it will shorten my commute."

Signal currently does business with a number of Mobile firms to buy raw materials and insurance, and often uses local aircraft charter services for traveling to its Texas shipyards, Marler said.

His company employs more than 2,500 workers in its six shipyards, two in Pascagoula and four in the Port Arthur and Orange, Texas, areas. The company's sales are in the $500 million range, Marler said.

Pleased with progress

Bronner said he was pleased with the leasing activity at the 745-foot office tower, considering it has been open just eight months.

The room bookings for the Battle House Hotel, which adjoins the office tower, are not substantial yet, he said. There are 126 hotel rooms on the first seven floors of the tower, and he expects those rooms to start booking up once the office tenants move in.

"We're not getting the level of traffic we could get," he said. "Once the tower is built out and you have businesses in there, they will have clients who will stay on the property, especially the law firms who have clients coming in from out of town."

So far, the tenants that have leased space in the office tower include Regions Bank; U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile; CitiGroup/Smith Barney; the architectural firm Goodwyn Mills & Cawood; and the law firms Adams & Reese, Hand Arendall and McDowell Knight Roedder & Sledge.

[Bama_75]

I am glad to see some names of tenants.

[nimsjus]

I have removed "2007" from this thread's title as nimsjus requested by PM. Alxx611 started a new thread, "Mobile,AL Development Thread," which is intended for downtown and the rest of the metro area. There really doesn't need to be two threads covering development in Mobile (or any city for that matter). My suggestion would be to keep this thread going and drop "Downtown" from the title because if we close this one and direct discussion to the new thread, then it will be difficult for people to find this thread to read past messages. I'll let you guys decide what you'd like me to do.

That sounds great

[elb401]

I like that idea too!

Oh the RSA is 76% full! only about 20% have finished their interiors and have moved in. that explains all the empty looking floors! they are leased just not finished!

[Randy Sandford]

I changed the title of this thread to "Mobile Development Thread" and merged the other thread with this one. :tup:

[SouthSky]

I changed the title of this thread to "Mobile Development Thread" and merged the other thread with this one. :tup:

Thanks a bunch, Randy.

[BamaGrad04]

Oh the RSA is 76% full! only about 20% have finished their interiors and have moved in. that explains all the empty looking floors! they are leased just not finished!


Yeah, this should finally quell talk from those who see the tower as only 20% leased, rather thank simply occupied. Good news all around. Let's just hope we can continue to attract new companies to the tower, and not just those who move from other buildings.

[pkp]

Just wanted to drop a quick note to say I am glad to see more and more Mobile folks on here getting excited about the city. I haven't really been on here much in the last few months. After having moved to downtown (well, Oakleigh) towards the end of '06, I have simply been having too much fun to spend much time on the internet at all. Anyway, for those with any interest in moving to the city's core, now is a great time. There are many more available housing options now than even a year ago - everything from studio lofts to mansions - all within a short walk or bike ride to Bienville Square. We still need a little more retail support, but with the transformation going on here now, it will come soon - get in while you can still afford it!

[nimsjus]

Two downtown deals in the real estate column...
Riley Boykin Smith and his wife, Tammy , purchased a 4,500-square-foot house on Crossway Road near the Country Club of Mobile in Spring Hill for $1.6 million, according to court records. Smith is a former commissioner of the Alabama Depart ment of Conservation and Natural Resources .
Construction is under way on the Battle House Hotel spa and fitness center to be built on top of the RSA parking deck off Water Street, which adjoins the 238-room hotel via a walkway. White- Spunner Construction is the contractor, and the project is estimated at $4.2 million, according to court records. Retirement Systems of Ala bama funded the renovations of the historic hotel and built the adjacent 35-story RSA Battle House Tower .
Also a good article on the CVS in Springhill that will destroy their progress and everything Dover Kohl setup for them...
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1200219304205490.xml&coll=3
Cant the city stop one drugstore from being built? I don't think it will hurt anything to say no to a business one time in order to protect what the Village has worked really hard for and spent alot of money on.

[pboo74]

what has happened to the proposed maritime musuem?

[CottonCity251]

what has happened to the proposed maritime musuem?

The city is still rising the money for the development. Last June they launched the campaign to begin funding, hopefully this June they will start the groundbreaking.

[pboo74]

Thanks CottonCity 251,Have you heard of any other developments coming for downtown?

[CottonCity251]

Nah, I don't have nothing concrete. I can say its more developments going on downtown than what I thought and what is mentioned in Downtown Mobile Alliance's Major Investment Report.

[nimsjus]

Thanks CottonCity 251,Have you heard of any other developments coming for downtown?
An article from todays PR about the city owing money on the Owens housing project stuff mentions that taking money from certain city accounts would prevent some downtown retail/hotels that are in the works.

"A $3 million loan from the CDBG program, which would be paid back by a cut in community services.

Councilman William Carroll suggested that the city kill a proposed $1 million resource center in the Josephine Allen Homes community, which would give the CDBG fund more money to work with.

Stokes said that if the council chooses to take out a loan from the CDBG program, it would hinder the city's ability to reach incentive deals being negotiated for hotel and retail developments in downtown Mobile."

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/1200392163205050.xml&coll=3&thispage=2

[BlessedMobile]

Mike Dow promised Mobile Housing money when he should have gotten it approved by the Council. It must have been election time back then. I do know that the project does not have the type of housing that was in there before; it is more of a home and duplex deal. HUD won't let anyone do the "ghetto in the works" type developments anymore. We'll pay the money because we should not because we want too.

[MobileMoving]

Stokes said that if the council chooses to take out a loan from the CDBG program, it would hinder the city's ability to reach incentive deals being negotiated for hotel and retail developments in downtown Mobile."


It would not only hinder retail development, but it would knock out the opportunities for other affordable housing developments to receive city funding/CDBG grants... (something in which there is still a need in Mobile). By the way, $8.7 million dollars is a LARGE gap to be seeking the at this stage in the development. Sounds like some improper planning on someone's part.

[nimsjus]

Mobile Airport Authority is going to start work on an office park at Brookley. They hope to fill it with suppliers for MAE and eventually EADS, if they land the tanker project. The offices would face Broad which can only add to the momentum these areas should receive from the Bring Back Broad and Arlington Park projects. If this got big enough it might just sway leaders into including the light rail component that was mentioned previously with bring back broad.
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/120047856081490.xml&coll=3

[LHG]

Question:
If the Civic Center site were to be redeveloped, how would you envision it? What components would it include (residential/office/entertainment). Give examples. I want to see how creative ya'll are...

[nimsjus]

I would like something that involved indoor and outdoor shopping(something like Green Hills Mall in Nashville (www.mallatgreenhills.com) or Brookwood Mall in Bham (http://colonialprop.com/property-info/shopping-info.php?cid=1245). Both have indoor shopping plus street scapes with trendy shops and restaraunts. Niether are gigantic malls either which would possibly leave room for a residential/hotel component. Green Hills Mall also has some residential units above some of the shops in the street scape portion of the mall. Alot of Mobiles historic southern counterparts have neighborhoods of rowhouses. I think it would be cool if part of the space could be used for some rowhouses as seen at the following links in Charleston (http://www.unc.edu/~jdailey/images/rainbow%20row.jpg) and Savannah (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/253/518500414_695e725ddb.jpg). Even though it would be new construction, it could be made to blend nicely with the historic Church St East nearby. Whatever retail/residential would be done should try to blend seamlessly with the surrounding historic neighborhoods. I wouldn't include much, if any, office space because there is not a huge demand in downtown for office space at the moment. An outdoor market like the ones in New Orleans, Charleston, etc would be neat also, but I am not sure Mobile has the tourism to pull that off. Locals don't go to those places, so it would take a substantial number of tourist to make it reasonable for anyone to setup shop down there to sell stuff.

[BlessedMobile]

Question:
If the Civic Center site were to be redeveloped, how would you envision it? What components would it include (residential/office/entertainment). Give examples. I want to see how creative ya'll are...

The city would be glad to rid itself of the Civic Center so I would go after a developer who would put in a residential development of upper end apartments and do a few outparcel land deals for a drug store with some groceries...something like a Walgreen's. It should be big enough that you could have 300-400 units. Best to be behind a big wall too..the apartments that is. This would mean taking in the CC and all the parking area too. Something expensive to build like a high rise would require that the developer recoup his money by sales and not rentals. Apartments are, of course, way cheaper to build than a high rise. I really think it is one of the last large tracts of land suitable for a nice strip center with grocery, drug, personal services, restaurants but I don't think we have the people numbers to interest a tenant like that. We still need many more people to make the numbers work. I personally prefer 4 skyscrapers to the order of 20-40 stories but I am being greedy for the skyline.

[bayou15]

HEY Blessed Mobile, You sound like me now with the vision of 4-40story skyscrapers. I just cant say enough how bad the civic center area looks at nite compaired to the rest of the skyline:hell:

[bayou15]

1) Today's press is a must read

2)For years now the Radisson Admiral Sims keeps on talking about plans to build a second tower. The current structure has 117rooms and is 10stories.

I went to pay a traffic ticket(70 in a 55) Friday and walked by this area. This is a very small piece of land and the only way to put 200rooms there is to expand upward. Im thinking in the 20story range. But im sure some of the big wigs in the goverment plaza will have a say about this, blocking there view.

Im geauxing to call the hotel and maybe get a inside on this project.Wow this will be a great addition to the growing skyline.

3) Last week the housing project was brought up. This land is very vitial to Mobile's Future. To expand the growth of downtown Mobile must look in this direction. There is plenty of area in the county to build low income housing.

If im a visitor rolling down I-165 the area would look like a eyesore.

Don t laugh but if it was me..... a sports complex ,With a Football Stadium, a much needed arena, and retail. would enhance this area bigtime.

Just a thought.......later.........



Like Coach Miles would say, "Have a Great Day"

[CottonCity251]

Here is an article from Sunday's PR on the planned town of SaltAire along the western shore of Mobile Bay in Mobile County...

SaltAire to begin building homes

Sunday, January 20, 2008

By KATHY JUMPER
Real Estate Editor

The first 15 lots have sold, the roads are in, and new homes will start going up in the lake district at the town of SaltAire, a 500-acre planned community off Alabama 193 on the western shore of Mobile Bay.

Nine of the homes will be featured in the Parade of Homes next fall, including the showcase home to be built by David Rowe.

"This (project) opens us to a whole other group of clients who might not come to Mobile for a vacation home," Rowe said. "And we'll be a third of the price for similar homes in Destin."

Rowe is one of the nine builders selected by the developers to construct Southern, coastal-style homes in the community.

The prices of the first homes will average in the upper $300,000s to the upper $600,000s, said Jim Wilkie, general manager of the project. "We will have a good mix, including 1,900-square-foot houses to larger homes."

The developer partners include Logan Gewin, broker Rick Collins, Wilkie and former St. Joe Co. developer George Jones.

The town will have six districts, each with a water or woodland setting. The land is on the north and south sides of Salt Aire Road with 2,589 front feet on Mobile Bay. Plans call for 500 single-family homes, a town center, a marina with multi-family residences, a fitness center, jogging and walking trails on the water, two fish-stocked lakes, parks, shops, restaurants and a nature center on Fowl River with a launch for canoes, kayaks and electric pontoon boats.

Construction will begin soon on a welcome center off U.S. 193 and Salt Aire Road. The developers plan to release more lots for sale in March, according to Jones. "It's market driven," he said.

The sales concept is different from the typical preselling of lots, according to the developers.

Builders buy the lots and Roberts Brothers sells the houses that will be built on them. A home buyer can pick a specific lot and a house plan and one of the nine builders will build it, according to Johnny Roberts, president of Roberts Brothers.

"We've had more than 900 inquiries," Roberts said. "We think the timing is right."

The lots in SaltAire are larger than those found in a traditional neighborhood, according to Darrell Russell, a principal at Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, who is based in Rosemary Beach, Fla.

"The property is gorgeous," he said. "It's not typical to have property next to the water with such high elevations and hardwoods."

LRK has put together a catalog of home plans by Southern architectural firms such as Allison Ramsey Architects and Historical Concepts. The SaltAire builders can use these designs or adjust them, as long as they meet the development's architectural guidelines.

The builder group also includes Hamilton Homes & Construction, Kenney-Moise, Lewis Homes, M.D. Price Builder, Martina Construction, Mark Swanson Builders, Rick Twilley Homes and Jim Williams Construction.

Rowe's showcase house will be built on a corner lot with an upclose view of the bass-stocked Bear Lake and an adjacent park. The showcase house lot is 85 feet wide by 130 feet deep.

"Each lot has a different house plan for it," Rowe said. "We took several plans and combined them into one -- ours has a wrap-around porch, and to take advantage of the lake view we have a second-story porch."

While homes on the lakes will have water views, they will not sit directly on the water, according to Jones. There will be a walking trail or common area between the lots and the water to allow all owners access to the water and boat docks.

"We also plan to encourage residents to park their cars and use NEV's, neighborhood electric vehicles, to get around the town," Jones said. "You can hop in an NEV and within 3 seconds you see water."

SaltAire is expected to take seven to 10 years to build out, Wilkie said. Waterfront sales in Mobile and Baldwin counties have slowed down, and for that reason, "we've kept our goals modest," he said. "If we take our time and get this done right, the market will come back."

[nimsjus]

If the city council does not back the Village of Spring Hill on this tonight, the Village just wasted 300k and 3 months of Dover Kohls time, among other things. Do we really need another CVS so badly that they can't pass a 6 month moratorium on development at 3 intersections so that Village can get their codes and regulations setup to make this project work? Why can't everyone see the long term positives of not letting CVS build at this intersection for 6 months?

Realtors oppose Spring Hill halt
Board of directors is against moratorium, but dissenting agents expected at Mobile City Council meeting tonight Tuesday, January 22, 2008By KATHY JUMPERReal Estate Editor
The board of directors for the Mobile Area Association of Realtors has sent a letter to the Mobile City Council opposing a moratorium on new construction in three areas of Spring Hill -- a move expected to draw a crowd of dissenting agents to today's council meeting.
Agents from several real estate companies, including LLB&B Real Estate and Roberts Brothers, plan to present the council with petitions favoring the moratorium.
The Village of Spring Hill seeks the six-month halt on projects to allow time for city agencies to consider its revitalization plan. The nonprofit group hopes to turn the Spring Hill business district into a walkable area with shops close to the sidewalk and with parking on the street or at the rear.
The areas in question are: Old Shell Road at McGregor Avenue; Old Shell at Bit n' Spur Road; and McGregor between Museum Drive and Spring Hill Avenue.
The council two weeks ago postponed consideration of a moratorium, and Councilwoman Gina Gregory said Monday she was not sure if it would be taken up today.
"We're still polling council members," she said.
The moratorium would halt efforts to build a 13,000-square-foot CVS Pharmacy at the southwest corner of Old Shell and McGregor. The Village group and CVS developers are trying to resolve a major issue: the proximity of the store to the street, according to Village President Linda St. John.
"We're being advised by our urban planners that it is very crucial to the whole integrity of our plan," she said, adding that her group wants to work with developers.
Gregory said that she has talked with CVS developers -- The Mitchell Company -- and learned CVS won't budge from its plans to build away from the street and place parking in front of the store.
St. John said members of the Village group planned to attend today's meeting to support the moratorium and respond to the Realtors association letter, which was sent to the council Friday.
The association's 12-member board is not opposed to the Village group or its plans, according to Sandy Purvis of Roberts Brothers in Saraland, president of the Realtor group.
"The board is in support of private property rights," she said. "We voted on information presented to us by several of the board members."
Johnny Roberts, president of Roberts Brothers, who favors the moratorium, said he felt that the board should have invited a Village group representative to answer questions.
Some of his agents have asked him to sign their petition, he said, but he declined. "I feel like I can be a significant help between the two groups," he said. "We need to bring people together, not pick sides."
Board treasurer Melissa Morrissette of LLB&B Real Estate said that she was ill and missed the meeting during which the letter was approved. "If it had been known there was to be a vote, I'm sure other people would have wanted to be present," she said. "I think it's very controversial."
Morrissette noted that "a lot of work and money" have gone into the master plan.
The plan will be presented to the City Council and city staff members on Jan. 29 by town planners Dover, Kohl & Partners of Coral Gables, Fla., according to St. John. The plan will also be submitted to the zoning agencies for approval, which could take as long as four months, she said.
Lee Metzger, a Realtor board member, said, "We don't think moratoriums are a good way to accomplish" the Village group's goals. "We look forward to seeing what they propose.... But there have not been any specifics provided."
The board voted unanimously to oppose the moratorium, Metzger said.
A moratorium would delay the start of a residential project that Roberts has planned at Old Shell and Bit n' Spur. "It's costing me some money," he said. "But I feel like it's important enough to put my development on the back burner until we make sure this plan is addressed."

[MobileMoving]

Council approves limited Spring Hill moratorium
Posted by Dan Murtaugh, Staff Reporter January 22, 2008 1:46 PM

The Mobile City Council today approved a shorter-than-requested commercial building moratorium in certain areas of the Spring Hill community.

Several Spring Hill residents lobbied the council for a six-month halt on commercial buildings at the intersections of Old Shell Road and McGregor Avenue, Old Shell and Bit and Spur Road, and McGregor and Museum Drive.

Residents said they needed the time to present a new zoning plan they had developed for those intersections to the Planning Commission and City Council.

The moratorium garnered opposition from developers, especially The Mitchell Company Inc., which was planning to build a CVS pharmacy on the corner of Old Shell and McGregor.

The council delayed action on the moratorium earlier this month to let the Mitchell Company and Spring Hill residents try to reach an agreement on the pharmacy, which would have violated the new proposed zoning.

The sides could not come to an accord, though, so council members voted unanimously this morning to implement a five-month commercial building moratorium at the intersections.

"We claim to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people," Councilman Clinton Johnson said. "It's time to prove that by letting the people be heard."

[nimsjus]

Council approves limited Spring Hill moratorium
Posted by Dan Murtaugh, Staff Reporter January 22, 2008 1:46 PM

The Mobile City Council today approved a shorter-than-requested commercial building moratorium in certain areas of the Spring Hill community.

Several Spring Hill residents lobbied the council for a six-month halt on commercial buildings at the intersections of Old Shell Road and McGregor Avenue, Old Shell and Bit and Spur Road, and McGregor and Museum Drive.

Residents said they needed the time to present a new zoning plan they had developed for those intersections to the Planning Commission and City Council.

The moratorium garnered opposition from developers, especially The Mitchell Company Inc., which was planning to build a CVS pharmacy on the corner of Old Shell and McGregor.

The council delayed action on the moratorium earlier this month to let the Mitchell Company and Spring Hill residents try to reach an agreement on the pharmacy, which would have violated the new proposed zoning.

The sides could not come to an accord, though, so council members voted unanimously this morning to implement a five-month commercial building moratorium at the intersections.

"We claim to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people," Councilman Clinton Johnson said. "It's time to prove that by letting the people be heard."
Good news... and better than nothing. I am glad that the coucil saw the importance of this. I hope the council, planning commission, and the Village folks can get together and get all of this setup to move forward in the next five months.

[CottonCity251]

So glad that happened!

[Bama_75]

I went downtown walking Monday. I couldn't believe how much renovation is going on. Nearly every building I walked by was being worked on or has already been redone.

[Exodus]

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