[MobileAl1]

I was looking at some photos of the RSA Tower a decide to put together a monthly timeline of how the RSA Tower has grown since Sept. 1, 2004 courtsey of RSA's Construction Camera.

September 2004
http://www.rsa.state.al.us/mobilecam/MOB_WebCam_040901_183237.jpg

October 2004
http://www.rsa.state.al.us/mobilecam/MOB_WebCam_041001_184235.jpg

November 2004
http://www.rsa.state.al.us/mobilecam/MOB_WebCam_041101_165235.jpg

December 2004
http://www.rsa.state.al.us/mobilecam/MOB_WebCam_041201_124808.jpg

January 2005
http://www.rsa.state.al.us/mobilecam/MOB_WebCam_050101_094808.jpg

February 2005
http://www.rsa.state.al.us/mobilecam/MOB_WebCam_050201_094808.jpg

March 2005
http://www.rsa.state.al.us/mobilecam/MOB_WebCam_050301_094808.jpg

March 18, 2005
http://www.rsa.state.al.us/mobilecam/MOB_WebCam_050318_154808.jpg

[Atlguy33]

Man, is it really coming along!!

Fantastic!!!!

[ryan]

Awesome, looking good.

[MobileAl1]

You might can't see but they have started putting up the windows on the first five or so floors. I live about a mile away from the tower, walking distance, and I was wondering what kind of camera should I get that would take excellent pictures but isn't expensive. If I had a camera I could have pictures posted on here every day, at least every week of Downtown Mobile. Does anyone have any suggestions and estimates? I travel Downtown everyday, that is were I live.

[jcathens]

Nice, I drove by it back in February. Really looks like something coming down I-165 intodowntown.

[Jazzman]

What is the finished product supposed to look like? What's the final height?

[texasboy]

What is the finished product supposed to look like? What's the final height?


http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/610/28mobile-rsabattlehousetower01.jpg


the final height is suppose to be 600 something I believe.

[MobileAl1]

The finished product would look like this......
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/610/28mobile-rsabattlehousetower01.jpg
Standing at 745 feet tall

Everything together
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/610/3034i10_bridge-waterfront.jpg

[MardiGrasMobile]

Emporis has a better picture, also

That bridge is never gonna be built as that graphic would suggest, if it is built, they're gonna have to basically, route it to where the Cochrane bridge currently is, which means some of that industrial area, and likely some of Plateau, will have to be converted for it

The advantage of this is, Plateau will have to be cleaned up a bit, and that will help spur economic development in the part of Prichard which is east of Wilson Avenue

Because well, no one with interests in downtown, wants the bridge cutting at that angle, cause we're talking about a bridge with maximum spire heights of near what 550 if not more

Or, complete total obstruction, not the best view we want if we're trying to retake our old position among Gulf Coast Ports

Now, the RSA has a current maximum height of 745, which is down from 800

I'm guessing they'll keep it at 745, as that would keep it taller than Shell Square

...

[Jazzman]

I'm jealous.




I used to crack on Mobile. But that is a nice looking building.

[zigzag]

Looks like it gonna stick out like a sore thumb tho.

[MobileAl1]

I thought the same thing, but it should spark the development of other high rise the size of the Amsouth Bank Building or a little taller than that.

If the tower is filled by the time it opens I think there would be another building that would be proposed within the next 3 years of its opening. Because it will finally let realitors know their is a need for Class A Office space in Mobile.

I also think that the Amsouth Bank Building needs to close for renovations that should cost between $15-$30 million, this would include renovation of the external parts of the building.

[jcathens]

how much of the building is pre-leased?

[Chris Creech]

Are there any renderings of what the actual views will be like from the tower - I would think they'd be pretty amazing, what with the bridge and all the water. Are there public faclities (restaurants, observation areas) up in the top?

[MobileAl1]

I don't know how much of the building is already leased. They put up a leasing sign at the corner of Royal and Water Street in Downtown, which can be viewed by 40,000 viewers a day. RSA will lease 30 to 40 percent of the building that means only about 40 to 50 percent is left giving that the first five floors(10 to 20 percent) will be pat of the hotel.

[MardiGrasMobile]

From what I understand, about 35% of the space has been pre-released (or, thats what Bronners representatives told the Business editor of the Mobile Register)

Every company, which is part of the RSA fund, will be opening an office in the tower

I expect one floor to be a primarily JD floor (damn lawyers, though, after I get the MBA, I want a JD, cause while that means more loans, also means higher salary)

And if we can start getting lawyers to stop using all those downtown townhomes as law offices, then well, it would help spur the historic housing market

The problem now is, many of our historic residential structures have, in the progression of time, been rezoned as low density commercial as demand waned (cause you have to have a commercial zoning in order to run a licensed enterprise of any kind outside of a fruit stand)

Now, some lawyers, such as the one whos kid I went to school with, do live in the townhomes they run their offices out of, most of them don't do this however

So, all these beautiful homes go to waste

[initiald]

I have read in the Mobile Register that the Riverview hotel will recieve a new spire on top during renovations to help it blend with the new RSA tower. I think this will help the skyline bend together overall. Anybody have any idea of the new height of the Riverview?

[cascraperdude]

It's very pretty but it seems too tall for Mobile. Why are they making something that big?

[MardiGrasMobile]

By that same token, I guess Chicago shouldn't have a taller building than New York........

They are making that big for several reasons, the first reason being, not only is this RSA's flagship project, but this is also what Mayor Dow wanted (doesnt hurt that firms Dow is affiliating with, got contracts on the tower), the tower was originally supposed to be 543 feet tall, but after negotiations with the city, they bumped it up

The region from Lafayette to Panama City, which will be herein refered to as the Mardi Gras Corridor, has seen metropolitan growth rates between 15-35% since 1990 (the exception being New Orleans, which fell a long way in the 80s, to its credit though, its coming back, but more because the region is booming in general)

In the wake of Hurricane Ivan, land values in Orange Beach (yes, devastated Orange Beach) went up almost immediately by at least $100,000 on many properties

Also, Mobile is the only city between New Orleans and Tampa (if you follow the gulf) which can even make a half hearted claim of being a business city

Much of the real estate boom from Pensacola to Fort Walton

Big developers werent willing to build on the Alabama or extreme NW FL coast, because of the redneck riviera stigma, so it fell to area businessmen and developers, and the only place between New Orleans and Tampa that can feign a construction industry is Mobile

So, Mobile developers and Mobile contractors developed all these condos, they created the boom in Orange Beach, they are heavily involved in Biloxi

In otherwords, they made a shitload of money because they were willing to tap a market no one was interested in

The fact that a developer is interested in building a 50 million dollar condo complex on the Mobile River, over railroad tracks none the less, with the belief that they can turn a profit

The real estate market in this area in general is the best its ever been, and the downtown real estate market is at its best state since the 1960s

But to be rather blunt, the reason is this, Bronner was looking to do a urban renewal project somewhere, he is to retirement fund corporations what Trump is to real estate

He would automatically have an easier sell in Alabama, seeing as thats where the corporation is located

And of Alabamas big four, to be quite blunt, we were the only city that made it quite clear to Bronner that we would allow him to do whatever the hell he wanted in his project, short of demolishing the Semmes home

Anything Bronner wants, he gets, and thats not something that any of the other cities could have offered him, and thats why over the next decade, he'll be sinking over a quarter billon (thats just currently announced projects) into the Mobile area

Basically, he's our savior

[thoraudio]

I personally believe Bronner and his leadership of RSA is one of the best things ever to happen to AL.

I just hope whoever takes over after him doesn't screw it up...

[hauntedheadnc]

Mobile is very lucky to be getting such a classy building. Any city would be, actually. I think it would deserve its hype all on its own, even if it weren't being built in a place that doesn't immediately rise to mind when you think of quality modern architecture. In fact, I wonder if this building wouldn't be lost in the shuffle it was going up in Miami, or Atlanta, or Charlotte. I'm glad that it's receiving the attention it deserves -- and it's probably getting that attention partly for where it's being built.

Go Mobile! Asheville would sure be lucky to be getting such a nice building. Up here our historic architecture is to die for but our modern buildings mostly just plain stink.

[rolltide35401]

Thanks for the update! I love this tower except for the fact that Birmingham won't have Bama's tallest for much longer...

[MobileAl1]

^THATS THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT!

[bystander1]

And of Alabamas big four, to be quite blunt, we were the only city that made it quite clear to Bronner that we would allow him to do whatever the hell he wanted in his project, short of demolishing the Semmes home

Anything Bronner wants, he gets, and thats not something that any of the other cities could have offered him, and thats why over the next decade, he'll be sinking over a quarter billon (thats just currently announced projects) into the Mobile area

Basically, he's our savior


Mobile's not the only city where he does what he wants... he's got numerous projects going on in Montgomery and recently announced to a group at an economic developement meeting that he's planning another project in Montgomery this summer but he wouldn't give any more details to the press about it.

That doesn't sound like a lack of cooperation to me...

[DevinLee]

^THATS THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT!


HAR HAR HAR..DUH!
Don't turn this thread into a pissing match or it will be closed.

[Dark Star]

Thanks. I always liked that tower. Mobile should be proud!

[Musicisright]

Driving west on the Bayway today, the tower's skeleton caught me off guard. I had no idea it was already so big! The construction cam pictures don't even do it justice. It's pretty much already dominating the skyline.

Let's not get cocky here, MobileAl1...Having the tallest building doesn't make any city better than another. Plus, it won't be the tallest forever. We're definitely lucky to have such a nice tower being built.

[BamaGrad04]

Does anyone have a rendering with RSA and the riverside condo project? I have yet to see one with both included.

[thoraudio]

Mobile's not the only city where he does what he wants... he's got numerous projects going on in Montgomery and recently announced to a group at an economic developement meeting that he's planning another project in Montgomery this summer but he wouldn't give any more details to the press about it.

That doesn't sound like a lack of cooperation to me...

[scoobydoo voice]another project? errrrr??[/scoobydoo voice]

I'm expecting a green top on the capitol building anyday :laugh:

[initiald]

Does anyone have a rendering with RSA and the riverside condo project? I have yet to see one with both included.

From the gallery:

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/610/3034mlcondo2.jpg

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/610/3034mlcondo1.jpg

[Laseter]

I can't wait to see this tower once it's completed. It is going to be a great addition to Mobile.

[BamaGrad04]

Thanks for the picture! I was downtown Saturday night and noticed several once vacant warehouses on Dauphin St. now are undergoing conversion to lofts. This is an exciting time for Mobile!

[MobileAl1]

Downtown Mobile is officially Under Renonation. Every street you turn on is having work done on some building. It seems like the new additions to Downtown Mobile is a never ending story. I hope the La Rive Condos will spark development for other condo high rises in Downtown Mobile.

[Mobile04]

Does anyone have any recent pictures of the tower other than the webcam? It's hard to get an idea of how tall it is when you are looking down on it!

[MardiGrasMobile]

Driving west on the Bayway today, the tower's skeleton caught me off guard. I had no idea it was already so big! The construction cam pictures don't even do it justice. It's pretty much already dominating the skyline.

Let's not get cocky here, MobileAl1...Having the tallest building doesn't make any city better than another. Plus, it won't be the tallest forever. We're definitely lucky to have such a nice tower being built.

Its only the first though, and I dont expect it to remain Mobiles tallest for more than a few decades

It will be a great moment when Mayor Bedsole (or Mayor Peavy) cuts the ribbon on the office tower, and on the Maritime Museum, and the Mardi Gras Park, and the condos, and the office tower that Oliver will likely build, and the docks expansion, and of course, City Hall West, as we will finally extend the borders west to Snow Road, down to Bellingrath/Laurendine, and north to Spice Pond Road (this is not ambitious, not whatsoever)

Personally, I think that when Mayor Bedsole (or Peavy) convenes the council, their first official act should be to name Government Plaza after Joe Langan, and their second official act, should be to rename the section of Airport Boulevard between Government and Cody (or Snow, assuming the city limits are expanded) after Mike Dow

Mike Dow Avenue, you know, has a ring to it

[jcathens]

From what I understand, about 35% of the space has been pre-released (or, thats what Bronners representatives told the Business editor of the Mobile Register)

thanks for the info

[MobileAl1]

Here is one from the gallery. It should be a three or four floors taller than this one.

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/610/4202rsa_tower.jpg

[sahara727]

hey, i'm a newcomer to the forum, and being from mobile, i assumed an rsa discussion was as good a place to start as any. does a rendering of the crown to be added to the riverview plaza even exist yet? i'm dying to see how they are going to pull that one off. it's a very rectangular building where as the battle house tower seems to be a perfect square. someone needs to come to my aid, i'm starting to lose sleep over this one...
:carrot:... <-- this carrot is the coolest smiley face variant i've ever seen...just so y'all know

[Bama_75]

Welcome Sahara727!!

[BamaGrad04]

Welcome Sahara! No, I have not seent any renderings of the Riverview with the new crown. It's kind of hard to imagine a crown on top of a building of that shape, but I guess that's why I'm not an architect. :-)

[MardiGrasMobile]

Welcome Sahara, you know if we can keep this up

There will be more of us on here then there will be Atlanta people

[MobileAl1]

Welcome Sahara to SSP. They are asking someone to work on the design.

[nick1982]

Damn It! I have an RSA Tower progression thread in the works. It will be ready by Sunday!

[alon504]

It's too big and tall for Mobile...a tad obnoxious. I prefer skylines that are more in sync and well rounded. Nevertheless, it will be an added sight as I drive through Mobile on my many trips to Florida and Gulf Shores during the Summer months.

[Prahaboheme]

^why do you say that? I think its awesome and think Mobile deserves a tower like this just as much as any city. This could actually quite possibly be one of the best skyscrapers going up in the nation. I'll reserve an affirmative on that until I see how the crown shapes up, but I'm confident its going to be a landmark for the city.

[Bama_75]

I get the feeling, a lot of people do not want to see Mobile progress.

Thank you Prahaboheme for the fine reply.

[CrescentCitySteve]

It's not a bad looking building. It does seem out of place for Mobile, but hey, progress is progress. At only 35 stories though, it must have a lot of open space at the top and/or a very tall lobby. From the drawings it looks like the office space won't even touch the 700ft. mark...but of course that's just from looking at the drawings. Anyone have any specifics on that end?

[MardiGrasMobile]

I'm sure people thought One Shell Square seemed out of place for New Orleans, when, only a few years before, the tallest building in town had been the Hibernia

Of course people don't want Mobile to succeed, the Spanish stripped us of our right to be in Louisiana (along with Southeast MS), the Birminghamistas stole our state medical college from us in 1920, people have wished death upon the cruises, the tower, etc

Now, with New Orleans its easy, because we have one thing over them which they can never erase, and that of course is, who originated Mardi Gras in the United States

I mean, Mobile and New Orleans have been going at it ever since the 1830s when Mobile suddenly exploded in growth thanks to cotton

An irony, the man who might arguably be considered my most prominent old Mobile ancestor was in fact born in New Orleans, because at the time, his father was working as a tax collector for the French

Though, I don't think we need to go into city v city contests

[DevinLee]

Yeah, it seems that everyone is agianst Mobile when people such as yourself seem to bring up things from hundreds of years ago that have no relevance to the present time. People seem to bring up every little thing that has ever happened in Mobile's history to prove the point but I wonder if you realize that EVERY CITY has been brought down by other people/cities.

I am glad something this cool is being built in such a backward state but if Mobile is progressing as you say then let its growth be the news, not the history of how "it has been kept down by everyone."

[alon504]

Why on earth would I not want Mobile to succeed? That seems like immature comments...how old are you guys? All I did was make a statement about Mobile's skyline. I think it should be somewhat less tall, that's all. Mobile isn't that far from here...I like to see any city in my neck of the woods succeed. There are certain things I look for in a skyline and one of those is aesthetics and syncronicity...Mobile only has like 4 or 5 buildings and to have one sticking up like that real tall is a little awkward to me..that's all. It's not an uncommon belief. When Seattle built that mammoth 950 foot skyscraper out West, so many people were outraged that it stuck out so much, that they passed a law limiting the height of skyscrapers in the future so that would never occur again...

[nick1982]

Renaming Airport Boulevard to something as aggrandizing and egostistical as 'Mike Dow Avenue' is just asinine. That thoroughfare has an inherent prestige and value unparalled by any artery in South Alabama or possibly the central Gulf Coast. Renaming it would be akin to renaming Peachtree Street as Shirley Franklin Avenue or US 280 to something equally gaudy.

By the way, 'west Mobile' pertains to any location west of I-65, whether it is located in Mobile's city limits or not. "Panera Bread opened its second west Mobile location on Schillinger Road not too far from Starbucks."

[Muskavon]

I'm not into the Mobile vs. the world thing being from Pensacola and generally just glad to see progress along our coast. But I don't get the bother people have with buildings out of character springing up in downtown areas. No city gets perfectly even planned development unless you can find a communist system that works. The Empire State Building should never have been built using planned development logic. That is the all time #1 misplaced building for its time. It worked out ok for NYC and the rest of us.

The Westin in Atlanta was pretty off-scale with the rest of the cityscape when I was a kid. Nothing grows as perfect little planned blocks on some idealist's computer. Real life, real people and real economic decisions make things do what they do and I personally find that as wonderful as the skyscrapers that rise. The great thing is how they inspire more and better things to follow.

Of course, if you want mismanaged, do-gooder, keep it all out, lets make it impossible for our kids to stay here after graduation, non-progressive uniformity and scale...come to downtown Pensacola today or 50 years from now. It'll be the same absurd place. In 50 years, the RSA Tower will simply be the standard a number of other newer, better Mobile towers will successfully measure themselves against. Good for Mobile.

[pkp]

^
Pensacola does need some non-residential growth. That whole area is exploding, but it seems totally driven by the beach. I have some friends that are r/e investors in Destin. Property 5-6 miles off the beach has appreciated over 150% in the past year. So much for Ivan. Lots in crappy non-waterfront subdivisions in Freeport are selling for $50K. It's insane. You would think some of that would have to spill over into downtown Pensacola.

[pkp]

I'm sure people thought One Shell Square seemed out of place for New Orleans, when, only a few years before, the tallest building in town had been the Hibernia

Of course people don't want Mobile to succeed, the Spanish stripped us of our right to be in Louisiana (along with Southeast MS), the Birminghamistas stole our state medical college from us in 1920, people have wished death upon the cruises, the tower, etc

Now, with New Orleans its easy, because we have one thing over them which they can never erase, and that of course is, who originated Mardi Gras in the United States

I mean, Mobile and New Orleans have been going at it ever since the 1830s when Mobile suddenly exploded in growth thanks to cotton

An irony, the man who might arguably be considered my most prominent old Mobile ancestor was in fact born in New Orleans, because at the time, his father was working as a tax collector for the French

Though, I don't think we need to go into city v city contests

Yes, we started Mardi Gras and I quite frankly prefer ours. But come on, they are world famous for it - millions of people go - its a big deal. Ours is a tiny local thing (which I like) but most people would certainly think that NOLA's is better. New Orleans has created itself into one of the country's most loved cities. I will probably never leave Mobile, but I can't say with any honesty Mobile is a better city than New Orleans. NOLA is a great city, no doubt.

I have come to realize that people who really love Mobile (like myself) love it for what it was and what it could be - not what it is. We have a long way to go. I think we would be in much better shape if we were in another state, but that's certainly never going to change so there is not much reason to complain about it. If we would have been in Louisiana, things would probably be better, but lets be honest, due to NOLA's strategic location on the river, they would be by far the most prominant city.

[alon504]

No city gets the perfectly planned skyline, but, they can come close. And it doesn't take a communist state to make it occur. Actually, passing laws and oridinances, along with careful and specific planning by a city planning commission can make for beautiful development in any city, IMO. I don't believe or support roque projects whether they be too big, too small, or simply out of place. This project in Mobile is a bit out of place, but, it's not that big of a deal. And it's only my opinion. And I'm not a communist, either...

[Randy Sandford]

Of course people don't want Mobile to succeed, the Spanish stripped us of our right to be in Louisiana (along with Southeast MS), the Birminghamistas stole our state medical college from us in 1920, people have wished death upon the cruises, the tower, etc

The Birminghamistas stole the state medical college from you? Boy, talk about revisionist history. The Medical College of Alabama was moved from Mobile to your beloved University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1920. In 1944, Birmingham was selected as the new location of the Medical College of Alabama. Obviously, it made more sense to have the state medical college in a more central location rather than in the southwestern corner of the state. But now Mobile has the state's second public medical school (not many states our size have two public medical schools), so stop whining.

[DruidCity]

Here's the link:
http://www.uab.edu/uasom/research/html/uabhistory.htm

The Medical College of Alabama, was founded in Mobile in 1859 as a proprietary institution and remained in operation there until 1919. After 1907 the College was an academic department of The University of Alabama and under the control of the University's Board of Trustees. The College was closed in 1919 and moved to the Tuscaloosa campus, where it reopened in 1920 as a two-year basic sciences program only. When moved to Birmingham in 1945, the Medical College of Alabama opened as a new four-year medical program. The medical college was officially renamed the University of Alabama School of Medicine in September 1969 by act of the state legislature.

http://www.southalabama.edu/usahealthsystem/internalmedicine/centerhistory.html

[MobileAl1]

There is no city in Alabama that is what it should be. I will admit that the RSA Tower is a little out of place in Mobile but I am glad to see it being built in Mobile and I would be mad if it were being built in another place. This tower will be a starting point for skyscraper development in Mobile. It is ignorant for us to argue about the history of Mobile, Birmingham, and New Orleans because we do not have the political power to change anything.

Let's not forget the reason for the thread!

[MobileAl1]

Airport should not be named after Dow because his name wouldn't be honored.

[MardiGrasMobile]

Renaming Airport Boulevard to something as aggrandizing and egostistical as 'Mike Dow Avenue' is just asinine. That thoroughfare has an inherent prestige and value unparalled by any artery in South Alabama or possibly the central Gulf Coast. Renaming it would be akin to renaming Peachtree Street as Shirley Franklin Avenue or US 280 to something equally gaudy.

By the way, 'west Mobile' pertains to any location west of I-65, whether it is located in Mobile's city limits or not. "Panera Bread opened its second west Mobile location on Schillinger Road not too far from Starbucks."

You're wrong, and you're not going to convince me otherwise, so we just need to drop the issue

More importantly though, the Port Authority approved the 60-20 split which could clear the way for the docks expansion, despite the attempts of John Rogers


More From The Mobile Register | Subscribe To The Mobile Register
Board OKs split for docks funding
Resolution worded to ensure state money goes into construction projects
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Staff Report
The Alabama State Port Authority on Tuesday passed a resolution pledging to abide by a negotiated "60-20 split" that could pave the way for $80 million in state money to help build a new container terminal.

The board agreed to limit any request for money from the state's Capital Improvements Trust Fund to no more than $60 million before Nov. 1, 2006. That would mean the last $20 million in state money pledged to a $300 million-plus container port at Mobile's state docks would not be available until the fall of 2006 -- as part of the state's 2007 budget.

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The resolution was also worded to ensure that the state money went into construction projects, said docks Director Jimmy Lyons.

The long-promised docks funding is a remnant of Amendment 666 to the state constitution. The docks was mentioned as an intended recipient of economic development money, though the amendment specified no dollar amount.

State officials originally promised $100 million, delivering $20 million through bond proceeds in 2003, with the rest to come from additional bond sales. But Gov. Bob Riley earlier this year pushed the docks to seek the money via a direct appropriation.

The request has encountered resistance, particularly from Birmingham-area lawmakers who want $150 million in state money to support a domed stadium project in Jefferson County.

The proposed "60-20 split" of the $80 million is necessary under the General Fund budget proposal engineered by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery. Knight's plan depends on shifting some money out of the Capital Improvement Trust Fund to cover other 2006 spending.

The legislation has passed the House and is in the Senate General Fund committee. Sen. Roger Bedford, the Russellville Democrat who chairs the appropriating panel, held a brief public hearing on the matter last week but delayed further consideration in reaction to protests from Jefferson County lawmakers.

The Birmingham-area senators made the same complaints their House colleagues offered when they tried to block the bill in the lower chamber. They claim the state has not invested enough in the development of the state's most populous city and its surrounding communities.

Bedford, who has committed to the docks funding but not to a specific source for the money, said he plans to bring up the measure again at his committee's next meeting, which has yet to be scheduled. The Legislature is on break this week and is slated to reconvene March 29.

Lyons said he could not predict whether the port authority's action would guarantee smooth sailing for the docks appropriation.

"I hope so, but I don't want to ever get too confident about anything," said Lyons. "We're trying to cover every base we can, and we've got a huge cadre of supporters around the state who are rooting for us and making calls for us.

"I've not talked to a soul who is opposed to what we are doing."

South of the main docks complex, the Choctaw Point container terminal and rail yard should be able to handle nearly 14 times more container cargo than the docks' existing container port. The project, which could take five to six years to complete, recently received needed federal permits.

The state docks is seeking a private investor partner in the project.


http://www.al.com/business/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/business/1111592759195530.xml

[thoraudio]

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/forumfun/whocares2.jpg

[MardiGrasMobile]

The RSA is not out of place in Mobile

And thats all I have to say about that

http://www.worldstatesmen.org/US_Mayors2.html#Mobile

[DevinLee]

^^ How does Alabama get stuck with people like him. Honestly, there I have said it.
You constantly belittle people because they don't immediately pull their family history from 16 generations back out of their ass, You "have ultimate" say because one of you family members used to live in Mobile way back when it was formed, you continually make fun of other forumers and their respective cities and you only contribute to the forum in a negative way trying to start fights of toot your own horn. I will continue to listen to other forumers from the Mobile area but I do not consider you a Mobile forumer from now on.

[MardiGrasMobile]

Darlin' I only pick fights when people say anything which I believe is disrespectful of Mobile

If people did not say anything negative regarding Mobile, I would not be required to snap back

Everytime I've attacked somewhere else, its only because someone first made the comment which I decided as derogatory towards Mobile

So when someone says we don't deserve a building, I am gonna snap back, it's called defensive action

And, my position is reasonable, because the city limits line is not something that is invisible, and thats what I am defending, the basis that Cody Road does mean something

[DevinLee]

You do not have to attack people for their opinions, as you said, "this is America" if someone wants to say something negative about a city, they have the right. I understand you love Mobile the same as I love Birmingham, but to snap back at someone for saying a single building looks out of place is a bit overkill.

[MardiGrasMobile]

I understand that

Thats what I went back and edited the posts

But what you have to understand is, my family has been here as long as it has, so, when people make a comment which is derogatory, I tend to take offense, because almost all my family history is entirely tied to this city, so, when you attack Mobile, its like you're attacking a family member almost

[thoraudio]

for those that are wondering what MardiGras said, he listed his family history and said that gave him authority to designate the sections of Mobile as he saw fit, specfically west Mobile, and to question his authority you needed to provide a pedigree.

And I'm curious as to how the discussion of "west Mobile" was a derogatory attack?

[MardiGrasMobile]

Because in this area, people who move west of Cody Road move for a variety of reasons. First, the fact that Mobile is split 50/50 between white and black unsettles them.

Secondly, stark cultural differences exist, the largest single religious denomination among Mobile whites is Roman Catholicism, which comprises about 46% of the citys white population, whereas, when you cross Cody, the percentage of Catholics among the white population drops below 20% (if not below 10)

Also, in Mobile city, people avoid the public schools like the plague, and this cuts along race and class lines. There are quite a few private schools catering to primarily blacks, there of course, are the Catholic schools, which take a majority of the city's Catholic youth population, the Southern Baptists run several schools too, as do the Episcopals, but in general, most Baptists, poorer ones anyway, go to public schools, whereas Episcopals almost never do)

west of Cody, they have different districts, different schools.

For example, MobileAl1 made a point about white kids in West Mobile going to Baker. Well, Baker High School has no territory within the Mobile city limits, except for Hillsdale, which is a black neighborhood along Cody Roads east side, and they include that area as part of busing, basically so that they can't be challenged via Birdie Mae Davis because they are heavily white.

East of Cody Road, the two high schools are Murphy, which is located in Midtown, and which really is Mobile's high school, as people from every corner of the city go there. Several kids I grew up with on D.I.P chose to choose the Murphy transfer option rather than the Theodore one when high school came around. Then there is a Davidson, which has basically the same racial composition as Murphy, with the exception that it has a Hispanic and Asian American component, and this school is located at the corner of Azalea and Pleasant Valley, in an area which in 1950, it was fair to call it suburban, but today, its seen some decay, shes showin her age. Also, there used to be Shaw, but that since has closed and all those kids on the northside are now zoned for Blount as far as next year is concerned.

Also, people who live in the city of Mobile will not be caught dead shopping on Schillingers because the traffic is atrocious, even though its the first major street to the west of Cody, whereas, people who live west of Cody, this is their Main Street.

I personally did not choose to live out here, when we moved out to Heritage Woods, my grandparents sold the house on Vaughan, and I personally wanted to stay there, we had a swimming pool and banana trees, yes banana trees, but this was during the time when shit was really bad on D.I.P

I mean, of the 55 murders in a given year which occured in city limits, at least one a month occured in the 36605 zip code, and because we lived basically next to I-10, we were very close to where all the shit basically went down. A couple of years after we moved out, a car got machine gunned in a McDonalds parking lot

Not to mention at this point, alot of people in Shady Pines were starting to sell dope out of their trailers, Basically, despite the remote location off of Old Military, the fact was, Idlewood was too close to Birdsville for comfort, far as mama was concerned, so we ended up in a variety of places, before finally coming to Heritage Woods, which she basically picked, because all the houses looked as if they were trying to emulate Espejo Street (Creoles and Victorians), and also, all the streets have historically related names

One thing about this neighborhood, it is in the far southwestern corner of the city, I mean, its off of Hillcrest, but not even the Mobile Register refers as west Mobile, The seem hung up between South and Southwest and they use the terms interchangebly, when the Circle K right down the street was held up, they used south Mobile. Basically, the environmental center shields much land from development, as does the Halls Mill creek marshland, so really, its like D.I.P in that theres that feeling of remoteness. This whole neighborhood is about 35-40% black, and we have alot of Asian and Hispanic families moving in now.

You will not find this west of Cody, also, political districts are different, be they county commission, school board, state legislature, our state Senator is the senator for South Mobile County, Gary Tanner, a Democrat and a good family friend. Most of the people who live out west of Cody are the religious right types, they won't vote for any Democrat, whereas Tyson carried where we voted (he's the D.A, only Democrat to win the white vote in a substantial way, but he only won it in Mobile and the other incorporated cities) And of course, they don't get a say in city government as they dont live in the city, and they constantly fight annexation, even though they'd benefit from the advantages that being in Alabamas most populous city would provide (if we annexed to Schillinger, all things equal, in city population would be equal to what the estimates for Birmingham proper are)

Also, by in large, people west of Cody are not as involved in certain emblamatic Mobile cultural events, like say, Mardi Gras.

And the Mobile Register, makes the deliniation, basically, everything south of Ziegler, North of Cottage Hill and west of I-65 they refer to as West Mobile. north of Ziegler, they juggle between North and Northwest, depending on how they feel. and the Southwest conundrum only begins when you get in that small slice of territory west of Knollwood. And of course, Spring Hill and Forest Hill get there own designations via the paper.

whereas, ALL territory west of Cody within the zipcodes 36695 and 36608 are referred to as West Mobile County

The paper is willing to make some distinction because they understand that there is one, but the thing is, people west of Cody refer to themselves as west Mobile, even though they dont live in Mobile, and so people in the area take it as a common intereptation, so some people who live east of 65 (I should note, the majority of Mobile city residents live west of 65), when they group us together with the west of Cody people, I get offended, because they're basically saying we're not real Mobilians, when in fact, pretty much, we're the same as people are east of 65. The only drastic changes begin when you do go west of Cody and enter white flight country

Now, scenery wise, I wont argue, other than street signs and the non-city people throwing their trash in messy piles whereas we have garbage pickup, there arent many differences scenery wise, but culturally, socially, economically and politically, theres an absolute world of difference.

[DruidCity]

Speaking of the "small slice of territory west of Knollwood," my brother (who now lives in Tuscaloosa) has been renting out his old house about a block from Mobile Christian school & might be putting the house on the market in the next month or so, if the current renters decide not to renew. So, if any of you guys down there know of anyone looking for a modest brick house (3/2 for abt. $110k)...

[Musicisright]

Dude, he called you "darlin'."

Thoraudio, that's freaking hilarious!

Being a Murphy graduate, I have to agree with you MardiGras. Where did all you other Mobile forumers go to high school?

[MobileAl1]

I attend LeFlore

[Bama_75]

I moved here in June 1999. I graduated from Kinston High School, Kinston, Alabama. It's in the extreme southwest corner of Coffee County, Alabama

[BamaGrad04]

Graduated from Davidson in 2000

[MardiGrasMobile]

I went to McGill

[LSyd]

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/forumfun/whocares2.jpg

rofl...:hilarious

-

[SouthSky]

I attended St. Paul's in Spring Hill.

[Musicisright]

Sorry to bore you LSyd.

I'll be downtown at my Dad's tomorrow morning for Easter, and hopefully I'll get to take a few RSA pictures if it isn't storming.

[Mobile04]

I graduated from McGill-Toolen.

[Musicisright]

Will someone please tell my how to post pictures? I feel like an idiot.

[nick1982]

Ironically, I used to know how to post photos; but I've forgotten. I've tried using <img src=""></img>, but that didn't work and neither did inserting the url of the photo in the input box as offer in one of the board's options. :(

[ejohnson]

Raleigh- NC taught me....I do noyt know that much computer talk, but when i see a pic on the web and I want to post it to a thread yto be seen, I just right click and copy the short cut. then paste the "copyshort address to the thread field and and type "" in front of the address at the end...it should show up.

[pkp]

I went to UMS-Wright on a "leadership" scholarship. Having been though that experince, my kids will proably go to pubilc or Catholic school.

[hmorgan]

I wish they would build that suspension bridge for the Interstate. The tunnel's too narrow and the bridge would look awesome. I don't care what Mobilians say, it won't destroy old-town!

[SouthSky]

I went to UMS-Wright on a "leadership" scholarship. Having been though that experince, my kids will proably go to pubilc or Catholic school.

or St Paul's...maybe?

[pkp]

I went to UMS-Wright on a "leadership" scholarship. Having been though that experince, my kids will proably go to pubilc or Catholic school.

or St Paul's...maybe?

Pretty much the same as UMS - I would be sending them to Catholic school if they went to a religous related school. My time at UMS with the inbreds made temporarily retarded me.

[Musicisright]

The image I want to post is from my digital camera and it's being retarded. The board suggests that you do something with the URL of a picture to post it, but my pics don't have URLs. Or do they?

I went to St. Paul's for middle school and personally, I prefer public schools. It's not a bad school, and I'm not saying that all private schools are bad. It was just...cliquey.

[nick1982]

Eight Mile Elementary

Clark School of Math and Science

Blount High School (glad I survived)

[nick1982]

Musicisright:

You should upload your photos to an Internet server. I use Upload Your Pics and have had no problems as of yet.

http://www.uploadimages.net/upload.php

[Randy Sandford]

The image I want to post is from my digital camera and it's being retarded. The board suggests that you do something with the URL of a picture to post it, but my pics don't have URLs. Or do they?

If you're using a PC, right click on the image, select "Properties," then copy and paste the address (URL). I forget The image URL should end in .jpg or .gif (.bmp works too, but bitmap files are much larger in size and should be avoided if possible to reduce downloading time).

[Musicisright]

Thanks for the help, everybody!

I took this picture from my Dad's driveway on Easter. It's kind of crappy because of the distance. RSA's coming up! The building in the foreground on the very right is the old matress building that they're renovating into loft apartments.

Click on the thumbnail...
http://img4.imagevenue.com/loc240/th_7b8_RSA2.jpg (http://img4.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc240&image=7b8_RSA2.jpg)
If the only thing that shows up is an "X," right click and then click "show picture."

[MobileAl1]

Williamson is worst than Blount! Nick, where did you stay while going to Blount?

[nick1982]

I grew up in a middle class neighborhood within walking distance of Blount. Not all of Prichard is a rough, inner-city hellscape, but at the same time it is understandable that people would move to more desirable areas.

[MobileAl1]

Those days are over! The City of Prichard is trying to buy the homes in Alabama Villiage to make homes like they are doing in the Besemer area. Mayor Davis will have Prichard as elegant as it was in the forties, its just going to take a while because of the lack of funds. I think he will be mayor for as long, or longer, as Dow was for Mobile.

[nick1982]

This might be somewhat far fetched, but I've been toying with the idea of transforming Downtown Prichard into the retail and entertainment destination for north Mobile County. If you notice, this half of the county lacks a large bookstore or cinema. These venues along with determined local merchants would create an enticing urban shopping center. Landscaping and architecture would take cues from Prichard's early history as a transportation destination.

The area from Wilson Avenue eastward to the Mobile River would make an excellent regional manufacturing center. Massive auto assembly plants and industrial parks would provide the bulk of employment for Mobile County.

[MardiGrasMobile]

Ron Davis is the first competent Mayor that Prichard has had since Cooper

And there was a chance for Prichard to start picking up once they ran 165 thru but Norwood and Harden successfully blew that.

I like Davis though and I also like Towner.

The thing with Prichard though is, its 25 square miles, and most of the territory within the city of Prichard contains the least amount of people

of 28,000, 18k of them live in East Prichard, leaving the remaining 10,000 between Whistler, Eight Mile and Kushla

What most people also don't realize is, there are majority white areas in Prichard, for example, most of 45 which is north of Lott Road (where I first lived, a few homes down the road from the old Delchamps, about 800 yards south of the elementary school)

And I think the new Blount will be an improvement over the old one, if anything, they'll dominate 5A for the last 2 years, to combine territory from the old Vigor district, some MGM and Shaw for good measure, uh yeah, you've got state championships slated for every sport

And I think Blount may end up stealing Vigors baseball team

College Woods is also in the city of Prichard, and its a nice area, but once again, its just like D.I.P, if you want to live there, its a good idea to be able to shell out money for the Catholic school

If just because even the schools that arent on the troubled list are still under the jurisdiction of the school board, and teachers unions, and all the other people who don't give a damn about the childrens

They closed down Lourdes, so I'll probably have to send my kids (when they happen of course) to either St. Marys or St. Ignatius

(St Marys would be preferable, because they could go ahead and get some credit work in for McGill)

Prichard is about to undergo somewhat of a revival, it won't be where it was in the 1950s, as in order to do that, large swaths of it have to be demolished

And thats not a negativity thing

In 1960, 47,000 people live in Prichard, and 40,000 of those lived in 36610

the growth of certain neighborhoods in the High Point area helped mask the population flight for a while, but you know, the population in Prichard did what Mobiles did, moved west or moved out

Schillingers Road, as part of that whole inner loop thing, is being extended up to the 158 intersection on St Stephens near the old Outlaw place

There is going to be a property boom in that whole area of Kushla, as it stands now, you have to pay 200 grand or more in order to live on the Dogwood Trail

I think the city of Prichard could get back up to around 42,000, but the fact is, it has to take a serious evaluation of its situation

Some historic buildings need to be saved, but many of them don't, because Prichard was a company town and much of it was built in WWII.

Whistler is different, I think as a historic district, Whistler could be converted into a working mans garden district, I think the same could be done in Mobile on areas along Congress Street, Stone Street, Mount Olive Square, and some of the older parts of Toulminville, there are some nice antique homes on Seale Street

Wilson Avenue could be revived, but, in order for that to even begin, they have to get that tax free zone passed, in order to entice people who are not from Prichard (or Chickasaw) to come there and shop

the Namans still do business there, get some money out of them

Prichard is close to my heart for several reasons, I spent my first years there, my mother grew up there, and well, Cleveland Mason Prichard is what would be called, a distant cousin.

I do think though, in the future, Prichards municipal government, along with every other municipal government except Mobiles (which will be merged) will have to be dismantled, because Mobile County needs metropolitan government, because we don't want to become Jefferson (or Baldwin, if you havent noticed, you have cities in Baldwin fighting over strip malls for goddsake, thats what happens when you have two many small population government entities)

[nick1982]

The former Whistler train station could be renovated into a great city/transporation museum.

[Joey Hester]

Thanks for the update on the RSA Battlehouse Tower. Great pictures!!

As far as converting the old Whistler Train Station into a city/transportation museum, federal grant money will be available through the soon to be reauthorized transportation bill. Local governemnts can prepare and submit a grant application to ALDOT for these funds and train station renovations are eligible, if it has a transportation museum component. If you have heard of the ISTEA and TEA-21, then you will know what I am talking about. Historic train stations around the state and nation have been restored using these monies. This would be a great project that would compliment the historic district and other revitalization efforts. I can still remember Wilson Avenue being vibrant in the early 1970's. My guess is that is had recently underwent a streetscape reviatization effort as part of an urban renewla effort in the 1960's. Just a guess though.

A little history on my part (following in everyone else's footsteps)...

My grandparents were from Baldwin County, but moved to Mobile during WWII. My grandfather work at the docks wiring liberty ships before going inot the army. He later retired from Mobile Gas. My grandmother retired from Brookley Field. Anyhow, they lived in Alabama Village and Chickasaw in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. My mother grew up in Chickasaw and went to Vigor.

Myself, I was born in Mobile, but grew up in Baldwin County along the eastern shore and the gulf coast. Unlike the almost everyone else, I consider both Mobile and Baldwin County home. I despise the animosity between the two. I love downtown Mobile and its great historic neighborhoods. Like most forumers here, I am not a big fan of west Mobile. When I was a kid, my earliest memories of Mobile are of my mother and grandmother dragging us through Gayfers, Kress and several other stores around Bienville Square. They later abandoned this practice around the mid-1970's and we went to Bel-Air Mall and Springdale Mall. That's enough for now.

I would love to hear anymore information concerning the developer of the riverfront condos proposed office tower on Water Street. Where was it proposed? Are there any renderings? Also, has anyone seen renderings of the Riverview Plaza's makeover? I have been trying to envision it with a metal crown and spire, but a rendering sure would help!!! BTW, the construction of the Riverview is what sparked my interest in skyscrapers over 20 years ago!!! I even went to the grand opening in 1983!!!

One more thing, does anyone remember a proposed development from the mid-1980's called Waterside? It was suppose to have been a complex similar to the Riverview Complex built over the train tracks aorund where the convention center and riverside park are now. It was to contain hotel and office towers, if I recall correctly. I just remember seeing some articles on this years ago. It obviously did not come to pass, but it would be cool to see some renderings of what was proposed.

Thanks!!!

[MardiGrasMobile]

Also, there are other things in Whistler, such as St Bridgets, Whistler United Methodist, and the old Masons lodge which could all be renovated, as could the homes along Warren Street, Whistler Street, the northern part of Gould, and the sections of Main Street near McMillians BBQ, not to mention, Turner Road, much of it was built before 1915

The problem is though, all these structures need major work, the difference between some of those homes on Turner and those in Oakleigh is, Oakleigh has much better upkeep

But Prichard has to be able to provide better services before people start coming back in, a city Prichards size, with its particularly location and its well, societal issues, it needs a police force of about 115 officers

The fact is, I travel St Stephens alot to go back and forth from my cousins, and I saw an incident, where basically, you had one Prichard car and 5 Mobile cars (squad)

In fact, they could stand to pay all city employees more once they get the money

And also, all these renovation efforts, they cost money

The old train station needs to be renovated, but renovating that ain't enough, and if we do do that, we also need to try and at least replicate the old railroad tracks which have since been uprooted from the Rebel Road area

Also, if its possible, running Rebel Road thru including finding a way to bridge the creek would be positive, because there is alot of land up there, which, could be developed but for piss poor access

There is even the potential to develop waterfront neighborhoods in Plateau (though thats Mobile side of Plateau, if they did prop up, it would help Wilson Avenue and Craft Highway) but, in order to do that, the old papermill site needs to be cleaned up

And they need to take a good look at Craft/MLK Dr and make a determination what should say and what should go, old churches should stay, houses built after 1945, their demolition should at least be entertained, because Prichard has an abundent of housing, the problem is, dilapdidation, and also, much of it was built crappily, especially WWII and on

Prichard also needs to work on drainage (obviously) and I personally am convinced Prichard does not need to have its own water board for a while

You can't get two inches of rain in that area without sewage overflows, and this consitutes a problem

and if the system is that bad in Prichard, it ain't much better in Chickasaw

If Cooper was younger, I'd say appoint him to a reform commission, along with the Chickasaw councilmen who used to be on in Prichard and a few others

See what they need to trim and what they don't, for example, it might make much more sense to leave water and garbage pickup to people who can better do it, like Mobile

And as painful as it might be at first, they need to readjust their revenue system, and they need to be able to regulate more thoroughly what kind of businesses set up shop in their city, and they need to be able to crackdown on slum lords

Right now, Prichard as a municipal unit, is not given the powers by the state legislature which it needs to well, try and revive itself

Powers that places like Mobile and Birmingham have

Also, if you drive on Wilson Avenue near the line and the Harts, you'll see a lot with old cars abandoned on it, and you can still see the sign from it

It was a VW dealership, and it held out until the late 70s, the Mobile County Health Depts old office is also there

Now, where are most good car dealerships in Moco

They are either on the Skyline, the Beltline, and the Airport area.

UJ used to run its dealership in Trinity Gardens and they stayed their till 2001, you know, so, if you live in northern Mobile County, your car lot options are kind of well, squelched, but if you could get a few dealerships to open near UM up in Kushla, not only does car sales bring in big money (Daphne is run on car sales taxes and speeding tickets) to a smaller scale city, it also encourages more development to set up around it

They're even building gated communities within the city of Prichard (so thats not exactly a good thing, but the fact that these people are willing to locate here, instead of going to the Saraland side, shows there is some hope)

There are very attractive pieces of real estate in the city in and of themself, the challenge is, getting Prichtown to the point that by say 2025, (which was a year I chose for a special reason) they could be a legitamate housing market

the UM area poses the greatest oppurtunity, and if that area is developed into a high end area, both retail and residentially, then the money garnered from it, can be pumped into the rest of town to help spur development there

Right now, the key focus of Prichard should be to try and turn Eight Mile and Kushla into big markets, and maybe, improve their image enough that they could extend the city limits a little bit, because if they don't take that land then it will go to Mobile or Saraland

And with the money you got from there, you could focus on renovating Whistler and trying to recouperate the Prichard Mall

Greers could help out in this regards, cause since they moved their HQ to Main Street, theyve been able to expand rapidly across the Southeast, they could certainly give back

Also, if some higher end retailers could be convinced to open up in the 165 corridor, it could do wonders for the city, and might convince people to come back to Wilson

I dont know where PWSB gets its money, has to come somewhere from Prichard, but it needs to be abolished, they should turn that over to Mobile, which can actually run a water system, and use the money freed up to hire more cops and firemen so that well, if Prichard had a police force of 100 rather than 40, folks would be more ready to do business there

What did Prichard in is, it tried to assume all the trappings of larger cities in its glory days, so when the bottom fell thru, they had all this crap which they couldnt pay for

[MobileAl1]

Has anyone heard they are trying to build condos in Downtown Bayou La Batre?

[MobileAl1]

Former Governor Fob James son is the one trying to buy the properties on the riverside in the Bayou.