Montgomery development news [Archive] - Page 3

bystander1

01-14-2006, 03:48 AM

Eh - the new Hampton by the sprawl mall - which is God awful. I almost cried when we got something similar on the Eastern Shore (aren't lifestyle centers so 1990s?) I'm looking forward to the possibility of there being a Hampton dowtown. ....

Can you believe that they are planning to add another 300,000 and 500,000 sq. ft. shopping strips to EastChase? I wonder what their new master plan is supposed to be?

Seriously, though. MGM has great potential for a serious dowtown - nice architecture, grid streets, and not too many buildings look vacant (far fewer than Mobile at least). If there were a few more places for dinner, groceries, etc..., it would be quite livable - especially for government employees and bankers (my company has a huge workforce dowtown).

Hopefully, more of that potential should begin to come to reality because of some much needed parking projects that the city wants to start through part of a bond issue. Developers claim that even with all the current projects underway, the lack of more parking spaces downtown is the only thing that's holding back even bigger developments. Well, we'll see.

The city has included money for 2 more parking garages. More than likely one on Coosa St. across from the baseball stadium and, surprisingly, one in the lower Dexter Ave. area. Those will be in addition to 2 other parking garages the city is currently working on now: the new Intermodal Parking Deck and the Convention Center/Hotel parking deck.

January 13, 2006
Bond sale to finance set list of projects

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Mayor Bobby Bright has placed a new westside golf course, the buyout of a crumbling housing project, two parking garages and other downtown improvements on a list of priorities for the city to finance with the sale of $35 million in bonds.

And although City Council members want to add projects to the list, including the City Auditorium and continued improvements at Cramton Bowl, Bright said the bond sale "won't happen" if they try to add to it.

"The amount is set," Bright said. "If they try to cut, slash or add projects, I am not inclined to approve it."

Some council members are frustrated, feel they are backed into a corner and will only be able to "rubber stamp" the $35 million in bonds, which they are expected to vote on Tuesday.

Councilwoman Janet May wants to table Tuesday's vote.

"We can't do anything but vote for them," May said. "If we decide not to vote for them, we hurt the city's credibility or financial rating."

Montgomery and Huntsville have the highest financial rating of any cities in the state.

About $16.5 million is for the projects funded by a downtown improvement district including parking garages and streetscaping, $12 million to purchase the Riverside Heights housing area, and $6.5 million for Gateway Park golf course and park. The Tax Incremental Funding District was approved by the council and any increased revenue from property taxes in the selected area are redirected to infrastructure improvements in the district. [...]

bystander1

01-15-2006, 05:38 AM

Here's an article on Montgomery's rapidly growing tourism industry...

County cashes in on tourism

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

More info:
TOURISM NUMBERS
The following are some statistics on tourism and people visiting Montgomery:

Room nights in Montgomery in 2003: 1,206,677

Room nights in 2004: 1,284,150 (6.4 percent increase)

Total number of visitors in Montgomery County in 2004: 1.3 million, a 7 per cent increase over the previous year

Lodging taxes collected by the city of Montgom ery for fiscal year 2004: $4.425 million

Fiscal year 2005: $5.099 million, a 15 percent in crease
TAXING VISITORS

The lodging tax and fees charged in Alabama cities and counties:

Birmingham: 14 percent

Madison County: 12 per cent plus $1 fee on each room

Mobile: 12 percent

Montgomery: 12.5 per cent plus $1 fee on each room

Prattville: 12.5 percent

Wetumpka: 12 percent

Source: Alabama Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus

With more people stopping in Montgomery to see attractions and historic sites, local officials want to make the most of visitors here to see the state Capitol, the First White House of the Confederacy, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and other locations.

Montgomery is leading all other cities and regions in the state, with the exception of the Gulf Coast in some categories, in tourism growth.

With this in mind, Montgomery County commissioners voted this month to add a $1 per room per night fee to lodging stays in the county. The fee will be tacked onto hotel and motel bills beginning April 1.

"It would appear by the county doing this that the commission recognizes the strength and the potential that tourism holds as an economic development catalyst for our community," said Anna Buckalew, senior vice president for public affairs with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

Commission Chairman Todd Strange said there are about 5,800 rooms in Montgomery and he expects the fee will add more than $1.2 million to the county general fund. He said the revenue will be used for economic and tourism development.

"This is a tax that will come from people that are visiting us and not from taxing the local citizenry," he said.

Strange said they wanted Montgomery to remain competitive with other communities for major conventions.

Montgomery currently has a 12.5 percent lodging tax on every dollar. Four percent is collected by the state and the remaining 8.5 percent is collected by the city.

Buckalew said the tax on visitors to the county is not uncommon and is used in Boaz, Decatur, Huntsville, Guntersville and Madison County.

"With where we are today, we will still be very much competitive with every other city in the state," she said.

She said tourism is second only to Hyundai in the chamber's economic development strategy for economic growth and job creation.

Buckalew and Strange do not believe the increase will hurt tourism in the city, even though convention organizers do look at the rates when looking at a city to host an event.

"Compared to other cities, we are still very competitive and right in line with what our competition is offering," Buckalew said. "I do not see it as a detriment at all."

Buckalew noted the number of hotel rooms has increased in Montgomery, but the growth has been outpaced by the demand.

"Our occupancy is still climbing," she said. "That is a very healthy indicator. We have more capacity and more rooms and the demand is growing to match that. In Montgomery, we have a greater volume of hotel rooms yet occupancy continues to climb."

Montgomery's occupancy rate was up 3.4 percent in 2004.

Buckalew said this is a healthy number and the city is outpacing its fellow cities' tourism indicators from 2000 to 2004 including travel-related employment and earnings, and is second to the beaches in growth of travel related expenditures and number of visitors. The 2004 occupancy rate for Montgomery, which is 64 percent, was second only to the Gulf Coast.

The state average is 61 percent, according to the Alabama Department of Tourism and Travel.

"We are consistently outperforming other metro cities other than the beaches in key indicators," Buckalew said. "Tourism is growing. With the new convention center opening in 2007, the sky is the limit."

Tourism is increasing while the convention center remains closed. The convention center is expected to reopen in the fall of 2007 along with a four-star hotel.

"All the indicators point to a strong tourism market and we feel it will be an even stronger market in the future," Buckalew said.

thoraudio

01-19-2006, 12:52 PM

Saw this today in the posted building permits.

Doster Construction will construct a 27-story hotel with parking deck and common area to connect to the existing Montgomery Civic Center. There also will be renovation to the existing civic center building. The building and renovation in this project will cost $65.8 million

Got all excited then figured it was a typo :notacrook:

oh well.

bystander1

01-19-2006, 10:55 PM

:previous: I saw that too this morning and thought: Huh, they've changed the height again?! Nooo. It must be a typo......but, boy, if only...

OK, let's see, 16, 22, 21, 10, officially 12, and now 27. Just build it already!

oh well, it's nice to dream. :rolleyes:

thoraudio

01-20-2006, 02:35 AM

I'm trying to figure out why they just got the license now... you're supposed to have it in hand before you break ground, and they've been working out there for several months now...

I though maybe they were putting something up in the Colonial parking lot, but I checked to see that, yes, Doster is the group doing the hotel/civic center.

BTW, it's nice to see a steel crane up over the skyline with the Judicial (I think) building going up on Clayton street behind the Federal courthouse.

bystander1

01-20-2006, 03:21 AM

I think someone applied for the building permit a few weeks after the official ground breaking a few months back for a 12 story hotel on Commerce Street; I remember seeing it in the paper. So this request is kind of puzzling to me too.

It is nice to see the crane on Clayton Street. I don't know what they're building there; I was kinda' hoping you would know. But it's good to see that part of downtown getting some development too.

There's going to be quite a few cranes going up downtown in the next few weeks: (1) the intermodal center, (2) observation tower, (3) Coosa Street deck, (4) lower Dexter Ave. deck, (5) Convention hotel and deck; likely more than one crane, (6) RSA Headquarters and deck; likely more than one crane, (7) County courthouse/jail expansion and deck; likely more than one crane.

Colonial Bank could have had one downtown also but they decided to put their crane in the Technacenter off of I-85. :eviltongue:

bystander1

01-20-2006, 04:12 AM

Well, after the usual council drama, the bond for downtown and other city projects was approved.

The Smart code zoning laws that many developers in the city were waiting for was also approved.
Thoraudio, maybe your developer friend can come up with something really big to build in order to take advantage of Smart code zoning. You did say he was looking to do a big project. :yes:

Council approves bond projects

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

More info:
IN OTHER BUSINESS
The council approved smart code to allow more options for developers and landowners. Mayor Bobby Bright said the code allows for pedestrian-friendly mixed use that resembles traditional neighborhoods from decades ago. The city will have both the current zoning that people and developers are accustomed to along with the smart code.

The council did not vote on proposed ordinances to crack down on overcrowding in nightclubs and other retail establishments. Although the vote on the ordinance has been delayed for weeks, council members expect to vote on the ordinance at their Feb. 7 meeting.
Council members are also likely to continue to debate whether to revoke a business license after two or three capacity violations in a year.

The council voted to demolish more than 20 additional dilapidated structures in the city. The council's upholding the demolitions brings the number approved to be razed in the last two months to almost 100.

Montgomery City Council members approved about $40 million in bonds Tuesday to fund Gateway Park, the buyout of Riverside Heights and downtown development projects, including two parking decks.

"These are all three major projects we have been talking about and working on for years, and we're finally making it happen," Mayor Bobby Bright said.

Although the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of approving the bonds, several council members said they were concerned that Bright didn't consult with them before he presented the package.

"Why is it you did not sit down with the council and have substantial discussion?" Councilwoman Janet May asked.

May was the only council member who voted against all three of the bond issues. Councilman Willie Cook voted against one. May said she believed Bright went to the bond market without consulting the council about their priorities.

Councilman Jim Spear said the majority of the money is going to finance projects the council previously approved.

Gateway Park is a community park under construction along Interstate 65 in west Montgomery. The park will include a nine-hole golf course, a lodge, a walking trail, sports fields, tennis courts and other attractions. The city has spent about $7 million on the project to date, and the bonds will bring the total price tag to $13.5 million.

Bright said the $6.5 million is not enough to finish the park.

"We had a commitment to Montgomery to finish what we started," Councilman James Nuckles said of the park.

May and Councilman Glen Pruitt said they were uncertain where the $6.5 million originated. Pruitt, May and Cook all discussed potential projects including Cramton Bowl, the need for more fire stations and the City Auditorium.

Bright admitted the city needs three fire stations.

Bright said there are a lot of needs and potential projects, but it's his job to control the spending and total bond amount. He said he didn't want to see the bond amount grow to as much as $70 million.

The downtown projects are funded by a Tax Incremental Financing District the council approved previously. Any growth in taxes in the district will be reinvested to pay for the infrastructure improvements. The priorities include the two parking garages, streetscaping and a New Orleans-style alleyway along Commerce Street.

Bright said they are already working on the projects. He said this would allow the city to close as soon as possible on the purchase of Riverside Heights, a housing project now owned by the Montgomery Housing Authority. A portion of the antiquated housing on the property will be traded to Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base to use for housing.

Bright said there was some dissension over the bonds. He said some council members were upset projects in their district were not included.

"There is not enough money for every need," he said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

thoraudio

01-20-2006, 06:10 PM

drove by the construction at Clayton to see if there was a name posted but there wasn't. I seem to remember it being a judicial building of sorts but I can't find the article.

Also while I was there, I drove through Cottage Hill... such potential there... a couple of artsy shops and coffee houses in the 5 points area, turn that huge old housing project into dorms for Troy U or artists lofts, restore the Winter mansion and some of the others....

but how do you transform a whole neighborhood? :shrug:

bystander1

01-20-2006, 09:36 PM

but how do you transform a whole neighborhood? :shrug:

...one building...at a time... :P

Yeah, I know, that was corny...but true.

It would be nice if TU bought Hilltop Apts. and turned them into dorms. They have plans to expand in that section of downtown, so, who knows what they may do in the future.

bystander1

01-24-2006, 04:55 AM

Much, much needed request...

Montgomery Mayor Wants I-65 Improvements
Jan 21, 2006

One of the biggest road problems in Montgomery, according to Mayor Bobby Bright, is a problem the city has no control over. He's talking about Interstate 65.

If you've driven down Montgomery's portion of I-65, you know that there are plenty of bumps along the way. Mayor Bright says he'd like to see the interstate repaired and widened.

"It's like a washboard," the mayor told WSFA 12 News. "You're lucky if you get down it without throwing your car out of line. There are bumps that I'll hit and I'll feel like they've taken my front wheels out of out from under me!"

But the mayor says the city can't make the necessary repairs. He says that's the responsibility of the Department of Transportation. He says he's asking the governor and state and national lawmakers to make improvements to I-65 a priority.

http://wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4393728

nick1982

01-24-2006, 07:53 AM

I guess I'm the only one who enjoys the rythmic "click-clack" as one speeds down I-65.

bystander1

01-25-2006, 04:12 AM

:previous: yeah, that's not too bad, but this part of I-65 is more like: "BOO-ka-ti-BOO-ka-ti-BOOM!!"

thoraudio

01-26-2006, 02:56 PM

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20060126&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=601260333&Ref=AR&Profile=1001&MaxW=300

Historic Dexter Avenue ripe for revival

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Dexter Avenue is stuck in the past.

A witness to much of Montgomery's history, the street -- the last leg of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery Voting Rights March -- hasn't moved toward the future.

City officials, developers and business owners hope one day to see specialty shops, restaurants and bars along the thoroughfare, which offers a stunning vista of the state Capitol. They're finding their efforts hampered by landowners asking princely sums for boarded-up buildings.

The high prices, though, are at least a sign of progress.

"Dexter Avenue has been neglected for so long," Mayor Bobby Bright said. "It's now sticking out like a sore thumb. I am proud of that. Now, we can hopefully start putting pressure on the owners."

Bright said the time is especially right for the avenue's rebirth because other downtown redevelopment projects -- most notably Riverwalk Stadium and the Montgomery Civic Center -- are under way or completed.

"We are relying on the landowners to get on board with us," Bright said. "They are slow to do that as the city improves around them."

The mayor has talked with city attorneys about an ordinance that would require property owners in a historic area such as Dexter Avenue to maintain their property.

"Sometime in the future, we are going to find a way to upgrade these businesses," Bright said. "By buying and holding onto it, they are hurting our city."

Craig Howell has worked for 15 years on Dexter Avenue and sees Bright's point.

"It's a shame to see all this empty, rundown space," said Howell, who helps his uncle at City Pawn in the first block of Dexter.

The pawn shop, a Subway restaurant and City Drug share the street with boarded-up buildings that once housed major retailers such as Kress, Sears Roebuck, JJ Newberry's and J.C. Penney.

"People spoke with pride of the stores that we had in downtown Montgomery," historian and author Richard Bailey recalls. "People from outlying areas came to Montgomery on weekends. Downtown was the place to be and the place to go in those days."

Bailey hits on something city officials, business owners and development experts think is key to revitalizing Dexter.

"We have got to make downtown a 24-hour destination -- a place where you work, play and live," said Anita Archie of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation. "We have residential started downtown. Once you get the residential piece going, retail will follow."

Dexter, though, suffers two problems plaguing all of downtown: too little parking and the perception of too much crime.

The shortage of parking spaces should soon ease. Plans are in the works for several parking garages, including one just south of Dexter Avenue.

As for crime, Howell and his uncle, Barry Ehrlich, said a bigger police presence on Dexter would ease shoppers' safety concerns and help attract others would-be consumers.

Howell envisions Dexter Avenue as an entertainment district. Bright could see that happening, too.

Bright hopes a developer will come to Dexter Avenue and make a significant investment. He said one or two strong moves could trigger a domino effect.

Archie said the riverfront foundation wants to see development on Dexter, including retail stores, office space and restaurants. She said foundation officials must do a better job of working with current business owners and marketing downtown for visitors and businesses.

In early April, a national organization will visit downtown to discuss the possibility of creating an artists community along Dexter.

bystander1

01-26-2006, 10:38 PM

I did a thread on the history of Dexter Ave. about 2 years ago in the city photos forum. A lot of viewers there couldn't believe the amount of history-changing events of national and world importance that happened on that short, 6-block avenue. I still have those photos and may recreate that thread soon.

Locally, ''Off the Wagon'' is one of the hottest clubs for rock and alternative rock on Dexter Avenue and is a great example of things to come for an area that is certainly due for a revival.

thoraudio

01-27-2006, 01:02 AM

I have noticed that in just the last month or so, several for sale signs on vacant buildings down there have gone up. Maybe people are trying to cash in on their speculation of several years ago....

Once the transfer station is built that will open the area up some.... but we need a developer with a unified view.

bystander1

01-27-2006, 03:14 AM

I have noticed the same thing...not only on Dexter Avenue, but in other areas downtown. BTW, someone from the Brown Chambless Architectural firm told me that work on the "New Orleans style alleyway" is now about to begin, finally.

Hey, maybe your good friend Josh could be that developer that would make our great vision for Dexter Avenue a reality... :rock:

thoraudio

01-27-2006, 01:18 PM

unfortunately, right now, he is fixated on doing something on the water.

After the Commerce Building fell through, my plan #2 was new construction in the semi-vacant lot on Jefferson across from the Icehouse Apt.s and the Brewpub.

7-8 stories of condos, parking and retail on the bottom.

With a restaurant or a starbucks on the bottom, you start to get that critical mass neccessary for other development.

But we'll see.

bystander1

01-27-2006, 11:00 PM

Cool! A 7 or 8 story condo across from the Brew Pub would be great for that block, after all, the folks at Brown Chambless and urban design students at Auburn said that area will more than likely be marketed for condos/apts. and retail very soon. And it would be a good spot for Starbucks. It would do good business even in the warm summer nights...being right across from the ballpark.

But you know, something on the water would be awesome! Encourage him to think big! :yes:

thoraudio

01-30-2006, 02:39 AM

Union Station brings together range of businesses

By David Irvin
Montgomery Advertiser

You don't have to spend much time in Montgomery before noticing a big red building down by the train tracks.

Once visited by presidents and music stars, the gaunt Union Station has stared across downtown Montgomery for more than a century. When airplanes took over as the way to get around, the train station eventually went vacant and fell into disrepair around mid-century.

Even a year and a half ago, the building -- which is listed as a national historic landmark -- only had four tenants, said Willie D. Peak Jr., who manages the property for the city.

Today, the building has 22 tenants, many occupying multiple units, and more than 25 potential tenants waiting in line. Lawyers, accountants, bridal shops, ad agencies, a tour agency and a ministerial alliance -- organizations of all types have set up in the train depot.

But perhaps the biggest recent development is a brand new salon and day spa called Paragón, which offers a variety of services -- from $20 haircuts to $600 extensions. The salon is holding its grand opening Monday.

"Basically (the owner) chose it because of the riverfront renovations," said Debra Anderson, the manager of Paragón.

The salon is split between a third-floor and fourth-floor loft. Customers on the top level can look out across the river as they have their hair primped, sculpted or extended.

The space is open inside the depot, with tall ceilings and an unconventional floor plan that allows for great intermixing between the clients of one business and the principals of another.

For instance, a couple of accountants have offices virtually inside Paragón, just feet away from a lounge area in what used to be the attic of the depot.

Just down the hall, another brand new tenant was working hard Monday. The Ad Associates, a firm that brings together three firms in the Montgomery marketing business, has just moved into a fourth-floor suite.

"Even though they redid it, they kept the same feel and the integrity of the architectural design of a building of this era," Gina Dickinson, a senior partner in the firm, said in her new office she moved into this month.

She said the downtown area is fast becoming the hot place for businesses, with the revitalization of the old Montgomery area around Coosa and Bibb streets, and the economic injection that came along with Riverwalk Stadium just a few blocks away.

But that hip flare of the train station has only so much to do with it.

Another thing going for the building is the rate the city of Montgomery charges for the space. Management and lessees agreed, the rates available in the shed are very competitive -- about $13 to $15 per square foot.

One office, about 14 by 14 feet, goes for $229 a month on a one-year lease.

Built in 1898, the train depot is one of the "larger and more elaborate" stations still standing in the South, according to the Alabama Historical Commission. Costing $200,000 to build, the station served as the major point of entry and exit from Montgomery for decades.

The advent of air travel ended that, but throughout the years President Theodore Roosevelt and many celebrities crossed into Montgomery there. As late as 1960, President Lyndon Johnson made a whistle stop during a presidential campaign.

In the early 1970s, the state put a big push on to get the station recognized as a historically significant site. In 1973, it was added to the United States historic list and in 1977 it became Alabama's 18th National Historic Landmark.

One of the oldest tenants, Lek's Railroad Thai restaurant has been in the station since the 1990s.

their pic.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20060129&Category=BUSINESS&ArtNo=601290328&Ref=AR&Profile=1003&MaxW=300

My pic

http://thoraudio.net/montgomery/DSCF0011.jpg

bystander1

01-30-2006, 05:00 AM

This shows that more professional and more upscale-type businesses are really buying into the riverfront development plan and considering it the place to be in the region. It will continue with the opening of the luxury hotel across the street among others things. It's good to see Union Station coming back this way. :yes:

bystander1

01-31-2006, 04:05 AM

Yeah, everyone wants to be in or close to downtown again...

January 30, 2006

New buyers sold on old neighborhoods

By Julie Arrington
Montgomery Advertiser

Holly and Jim Wrye wanted character and history when they were house shopping three years ago. They found it on Cloverdale Road.

The Cloverdale area, with its tree-lined streets and quaint homes, is what real estate agents see as the hot spot in Montgomery for singles and families. Its resurgence mirrors a trend across the country of old neighborhoods getting new life.

"It's what they call a 'back-to-the-city' movement, and Montgomery minus four or five years has started getting on the bandwagon," said Sandra Nickel, whose real estate office is in the middle of Cloverdale.

Nickel attributes the area's newfound popularity somewhat to a growing disenchantment with subdivisions.

"I think part of it has to do with the fact that people are tired of the concept of commuting, and I don't think they're particularly enamored anymore of shopping centers," she said. "They're looking for a walkable experience, and that's what areas like Cloverdale/Idlewild and the Garden District offer."

Buyers also are getting more house for less money in the older neighborhoods, Nickel said, and some simply are moving back to where they grew up.

"They just don't want any part of the suburbs," she said. "They want to come home."

The Wryes considered other areas of town, but settled on Cloverdale Road because of what it looks like -- lots of trees -- and who lives there -- families with young children.

Holly Wrye stays home with Jack, 2, and 6-month-old Max, while Jim Wrye heads off to the Alabama Education Association, just a short drive away.

"We did look out east, but when it came down to it, all the houses that we ended up liking were on this side of town, so it was kind of a done deal for my husband and I," explained Holly Wrye.

The Wryes bought a house in move-in condition.

"He wanted a fixer-upper; it had already been fixed, God bless the couple before us," said Holly Wrye of her husband, who is AEA's public relations director. "So he just had minor things to do. He got to dabble in it, but I got to live in it."

Bars and restaurants, a coffee shop and the Capri Theatre, which shows mostly art-house and independent films, bring a mix of people to Cloverdale. They come for a night out, and they come to make their home.

"I like to say young, old, gay, straight, rich, poor, black, white, a ring through the nose to the most arch-conservative, they're all here together," Nickel said. "It's the melting pot of the city."

Like the Wryes, Amy and David Berry looked at houses all over Montgomery but kept going back to the Cloverdale/Idlewild neighborhood, where David grew up.

"I thought it had so much more charm over here, and a lot of our friends are moving back to the neighborhood, too," Amy Berry said. "There was a lot more character I thought, and I like that real eclectic, 'cottagey'-type style, and I like all the mature trees that we have."

Berry also loves being close to the bars and restaurants. She goes to Café Louisa for a cup of coffee and a granola bar every day after dropping her 2-year-old daughter off at school.

"I also love just walking up to Sinclair's (restaurant)," she said.

Connie Colvin has lived in Cloverdale/Idlewild since 1974 and is delighted to see the neighborhood making a comeback.

"For about 10 years we had a lot of older people and most of them are gone," she said. "They've either passed away, or they're in assisted living."

Besides families like the Berrys, singles are snapping up homes in Cloverdale/Idlewild. Colvin has four new neighbors, all single women in their mid-30s to mid-40s. Each bought a home, and one completely redid hers.

"It's really nice to see that the young people are coming in," she said.

----------------------------------

Thoraudio, your condo plans may become a reality sooner than you think. :cool:

neilson

01-31-2006, 04:24 AM

I still want to see a resurgence of South Blvd; and something to be done about the Montgomery Mall Property and the old Super K-Mart Property down there.

Anyone know of any exciting or positive redevelopment projects in the works for that end of town?

thoraudio

01-31-2006, 01:10 PM

Besides families like the Berrys, singles are snapping up homes in Cloverdale/Idlewild. Colvin has four new neighbors, all single women in their mid-30s to mid-40s. Each bought a home, and one completely redid hers.

[quaqmire]giggety giggety giGGEty[/quagmire]

thoraudio

02-01-2006, 09:24 PM

digging around and found this website (http://www.smuteye.com/igi/projects/frankleu.htm).

Talks about the demolition of the Frank Leu building, and also includes some pics from the old (97) Riverwalk projects.

bystander1

02-02-2006, 04:17 AM

Thanks for the link. I think a renovated Frank Leu building as condos would have been great for downtown revitalization waaayy back in '97. I remember going to the building's implosion. It was kinda' cool, but kinda' sad, too. Back then the city wanted space for a hotel, but to this day it's just a parking lot. :yuck:

thoraudio

02-10-2006, 12:47 PM

Commerce building finalized. I'd have preferred my condo idea ;) but this will be nice too.

Commerce Building sold

By David Irvin
Montgomery Advertiser

An Indiana-based company has paid $1.7 million for the Commerce Building in downtown Montgomery and plans to convert it into a limited service hotel, its local representative said.

P&T Hospitality LLC, which operates more than 40 hotels nationwide, closed the deal Jan. 31 and set April as the start date for a yearlong renovation of the 10-story building, according to Hank Escaravage of Statewide Realty. The hotel, which will not have a restaurant, more than likely will operate under the Hilton brand.

Work on the Montgomery Civic Center and a full-service hotel across the street from the building, at 100 Commerce St., should be wrapped up by September 2007.

The six tenants in the building, which was a hotel until the 1970s, have the option of leaving without penalty or waiting until their leases expire. The First Tuskegee Bank, which occupies the first floor, will leave at the end of July, bank officials said.

"We are looking for another location inside downtown," said James W. Wright, chairman, president and CEO of First Tuskegee Bank. "We are close, but not close enough to announce."

The bank also has a branch at 2774 East Blvd. in Montgomery.

P&T's John Tampa said he chose the building because of its proximity to new development downtown.

He said he appreciates the support of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation and the city.

When completed, the hotel will have 86 rooms and its first floor will be the lobby. Because of the lack of parking near the building, P&T plans to use valets until it finds a permanent solution.

bystander1

02-10-2006, 11:05 PM

unofficial word on the street (what does that mean?) is that 100 Commerce St. will be reborn as a Hampton Inn/Suites.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20051216&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=512160324&Ref=V2&Profile=1001&MaxW=300

Wow, Thoraudio! You were right again...of course. Except now they're saying it will be a Hilton brand hotel. Man, it's nice to have the inside scoop on developments like you do. :righton:

Did you work with the current buyers in any way? If so, how?

I liked your condo proposal too, but I guess with so much development in that area and tourism growing at such a rapid rate downtown, maybe they felt that a hotel will make an even faster impact and return on their investment.

That will give your condo proposal (and other developers' proposals) even higher priority as each developer will want to get its project off the ground quickly so they can be first to fill the leases.

bystander1

02-11-2006, 03:50 AM

It looks like the mayor is going to move out of the sprawl and into downtown...where he works. He bought the building where I was born :) . Plus it's in an area downtown that is seeing new growth.

I just saw this story on the news tonight and also on the Advertiser's website:

February 10, 2006

Bright investing in downtown

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright is investing more than the city’s money in downtown development.

Last month, Bright purchased a building near the federal courthouse and has future plans for a downtown loft and office.

As mayor, Bright’s top priority has been the redevelopment of downtown and millions of city dollars have gone into a variety of projects including Riverwalk Stadium, the amphitheater, the civic center renovations, the intermodal bus facility and other improvements along the riverfront.

Bright personally spent $235,000 for the building and said he plans to spend several hundred thousand dollars to renovate the ailing property.

“Somebody’s got to bite the bullet,” he said. “Somebody has got to set the example.”

Bright said he has dreamed of living downtown since before he was elected and felt the “itch” after touring other downtown lofts. He was attracted by the building’s location, which is close to the Catoma Street post office, the federal courthouse and the construction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The small two-story building, located at the corner of Church and Catoma streets, has a brick facade and an accompanying parking lot. He said the building was once a medical facility where his administrative assistant, Katie Cord, and Council President Charles Jinright were born.

Bright has been very critical of downtown property owners who have purchased property as an investment and allowed the buildings to remain boarded up and deteriorate. He said he will not allow his property to rot and will take action to remove the boards, repair the roof and make other necessary improvements.

Bright said the purchase is a personal investment is not connected to any city project.

Once the building is renovated, Bright said he plans to sell his house in Wynlakes and move into downtown.

Bright said he does not have exact plans for the future of the building or a timeline to renovate the structure. He said he will renovate it as money permits, but plans to finish the work before he completes his time as mayor.

“I would like to do it soon,” he said. “I am really searching for a way to pull the boards off of the windows and revitalize it.”

Consultants for downtown revitalization have also reiterated the need for more residences downtown and this will help fill that need, the mayor said.

Bright sold another piece of his downtown property to the county last year for the expansion of the detention facility. He said he used the $149,000 from the sale towards his new property. Bright said he did not want to sell the property on Hull Street, which he owned since the early 1990s.

Bright owned several properties when he was elected, but moved out of the real estate business while he was in office. He said he was trying to avoid any appearance of impropriety, but consultants told him he should set an example by purchasing and renovating deteriorating downtown property.

neilson

02-12-2006, 06:53 PM

Once-vibrant mall faces uncertain future

By David Irvin
Montgomery Advertiser

Montgomery Mall is jammed with shoppers Nov. 26, 1988.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20060212&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=602120326&Ref=AR&Profile=1001&MaxW=300

A calendar in the management office of Montgomery Mall reads "If money could talk, mine would say 'goodbye.' "

It's meant to be a statement on the excesses of shopping, but these days it's also a sad commentary on the nearly 40-year-old shopping center itself.

Store after store sits vacant, and the reason why depends on who you ask. Almost everyone, though, offers one of two reasons, often both: crime and race.

The owner, Ohio-based Glimcher Realty Trust, is even so tired of battling the perceptions that it's willing to sell at the right price.

Some experts assert that the mall, which opened in 1968, is nearing the end of its life. Others believe its best years lie ahead.

Either way, the on-the-ground reality is difficult to ignore.

Department store Parisian is leaving by March, the third anchor to pull out in three years. It follows Dillard's and JC Penney. Gone also are the likes of Victoria's Secret, Lane Bryant, Piccadilly Cafeteria and Eddie Bauer.

Mall officials would not release the most recent fill rates, but the 2004 report shows 70 percent store occupancy.

Numbers don't lie

Shoppers, even retailers use the number of blacks living near Southern Boulevard and McGehee Road to explain the mall's demise.

Chad Emerson, who is a law professor and an expert in urban planning, doesn't buy the social-economic excuse.

"If you draw a five-mile circle around the mall," said Emerson, who teaches at Faulkner University, "you ... also bring in some extremely high economic demographics."

Census data backs Emerson up. The wealthiest parts of the city in terms of per capita income are directly north and west of the mall.

As for crime, the Montgomery Police Department has not changed the way it patrols the mall but acknowledges fewer shoppers mean every shopper is safer. Capt. Huey Thornton maintains crime is not a big problem at the mall because "there is a lot less businesses in the mall than there used to be."

Still, old notions are hard to change, and Michael Bird knows because he's trying to change them.

After the Parisian closing was announced, Bird fired off a letter to the editor about the misperception that high crime only exists on the south and west sides of the city. The east side, he wrote, has just as many "drug and thug problems."

Bird said he believes the mall is in decline for many reasons, one of them being negativity in the media. He cited the coverage of two major events, a shooting in late 2003 and a rowdy reception for hip-hop star Ludacris a year later.

"If people run away from the problem ... then you set up a terrible dichotomy. You have the 'haves' and the 'have nots' at war with each other," said Bird, who predicts Eastdale Mall will have similar problems if Montgomery Mall fails.

In good company

Emerson advocates a theory of development known as "smart growth," in which housing and commercial properties stand together. If that theory is true, the traditional, enclosed mall has simply run its course.

The case could be made that Montgomery's first mall, Normandale Shopping Center at 572 E. Patton Ave., shows what Emerson is talking about.

Built in 1952, it originally had an anchor department store -- Loveman's -- and many fine specialty shops on either wing. Today, its major tenant is Calhoun Foods. Some of the other businesses are a Compass Bank branch, Dollar General, It's Fashion, Maxway, Pizza Hut and H&R Block.

"What has happened in Montgomery Mall will happen in Eastdale Mall in X number of years. Then it will go on to the next mall," Emerson said. "None of these malls are built in a mixed-use, sustainable way."

To drive home his point, Emerson cites Deadmalls.com. The privately run Web site acts as a memorial to hundreds of traditional malls nationwide that are dying or already dead.

The International Council of Shopping Centers, however, doesn't buy that a mall has a "life cycle." A mall's success has to do with "what people have done to make sure malls stay vital," said council spokeswoman Patrice Duker.

Steve Floyd's property company turned Cloverleaf Mall in Hattiesburg, Miss., inside-out. It went from four outside-accessible stores to a dozen. Today, the retail occupancy rate stands at 98 percent.

Montgomery Mall has even transformed itself once.

Built in 1968, Montgomery Mall was challenged by the newer Eastdale Mall in the late 1970s. Only a few years later, Montgomery Mall expanded so Parisian as well as several other stores could move in.

The updating bought the shopping center some time. Then, in late 2003, the Shoppes at EastChase pulled away Montgomery Mall's most critical anchor, Dillard's.

Reincarnation

City leaders blame the mall's problems on Glimcher's management.

"With the right management and the right ownership, that mall can work," said City Councilman Glen Pruitt, who represents the district where Montgomery Mall is located.

Emerson, though, thinks putting office, retail and commercial space together would breathe new life into Montgomery Mall as well as the surrounding areas.

Glimcher officials like the mixed-use approach but insist they need to land a big retailer to anchor the project.

"We are probably taking more of a 'clean sheet of paper' look at it," said chief operating officer Marshall Loeb, who also insists the mall is not being actively marketed for sale.

Loeb recognizes the mall hasn't done well, blaming local competition for seizing most of the momentum in the market.

Pruitt remains skeptical about the mixed-use development idea.

"I've been hearing this now for almost (the) two years I've been on the council," he said. "I'm ready for someone to show me something."

The mixed-use approach worked for the 1960s-era Winter Park Mall in Winter Park, Fla., which declined severely in the 1980s after losing many of its major tenants. The developers transformed the property into an outdoors open-air market, incorporating loft apartments, restaurants and retail space.

Today, it is filled.

bystander1

02-19-2006, 05:00 AM

February 18, 2006

Smarter living ahead for Montgomery

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Henry and Kate Barnett were not looking for a new home when they toured The Waters development last year. But after finding large oaks lining narrow streets, big porches, acres of public space, lakes and pleasant neighbors, they were sold.

The Barnetts have lived in the east Montgomery County development for a month. They are enamored with their new lifestyle. Smaller lots with less yard work. A beautiful walkable neighborhood.

"We can enjoy the beauty and not worry about the responsibility," Kate Barnett said of their small lot and the acres of public green space.

Soon, close to their home, contractors will build a variety of structures: lofts with space to live and work, retail plots, bungalows, condominiums, townhouses, and houses on larger lots.

The mixed use is legal in Pike Road, where The Waters is located, and is now allowed in the city of Montgomery after the City Council passed smart code last month.

Smart code experts believe people are drawn to the well-planned developments because of the attention to beauty, green space, interaction with neighbors and the focus on people being able to walk to most of their daily needs.

Developments such as The Waters are rare in the region, but the council action opened the door in Montgomery. Before, small businesses could not be located next to houses, and bakers and attorneys could not live above their business. Lofts were not legal.

Smart code applies traditional town design people appreciate in Old Cloverdale. Families can walk to a movie, to coffee, dinner or to the bookstore if they choose.

Several projects are already under way in Montgomery. Multiple downtown lofts are completed and occupied, and Anna Lowder and Harvi Sahota of City Loft Corp. are working on more.

They are also working on transforming the former A&P Grocery and adjacent property in Old Cloverdale into a commercial, retail and residential space with cottages, cafes and shops.

Lowder and Sahota are also the project managers for Hampstead, which will be Montgomery's first true smart code development and a venture of The Colonial Company. In smart code, the developer plans the project before dirt is turned. They decide where public buildings will be located, where each type of building should be situated, the width of sidewalks and the type of street lights.

Smart code developments including Hampstead (http://townofhampstead.com/Pages/vision.html)and The Waters (http://www.thewatersal.com/index.html)focus on town centers. People in each community will be able to walk to their basic needs within five minutes.

People are moving back into neighborhoods like Cloverdale, Idlewild and the Garden District to avoid long commutes and the gridlock, said Chad Emerson, professor at Faulkner University's Jones School of Law.

Emerson said smart code was initiated in the 1990s, adding that developments from The Waters to Seaside, Fla., are very popular.

Lowder and Sahota applauded the city for its passage of smart code and said it was a key decision.

"It turned Montgomery into one of the more progressive cities," Lowder said.

Emerson said everyone from young singles to retirees are embracing the idea that people can live above and nearby where you can buy groceries or go to the dentist.

Emerson said current zoning was born out of concerns in the first half of the 1900s from people living close to processing plants and other industry that might be detrimental to their health and quality of life.

thoraudio

02-19-2006, 06:43 PM

I remember an article about downtown living from the Advertiser in the mid-early 90's that talked about the antiquated codes concerning 'loft' styles apts in older buildings, and how the Folmar administration actively enforced the codes and would not re-address them.

He did lots of good stuff, but thank goodness for a change.

thoraudio

02-19-2006, 06:44 PM

Several projects are already under way in Montgomery. Multiple downtown lofts are completed and occupied, and Anna Lowder and Harvi Sahota of City Loft Corp. are working on more.

Others are as well. ;)

bystander1

02-20-2006, 01:30 AM

Others are as well. ;)

OK, thoraudio! Come on... Clues, Clues! Hints, Hints! Gimme gimmeeee! :hyper:

neilson

02-20-2006, 03:28 AM

DO any of these plans involve South Blvd? I'm all for downtown, but South Blvd. needs the redevelopment the most.

bystander1

02-24-2006, 03:50 AM

Here are a few items of interest that were approved at the city's planning commission meeting:

1. Transportation Plan PRESENTED BY: City of Montgomery

REPRESENTING: Same

SUBJECT: Request approval of an amendment to the City of Montgomery Comprehensive Plan, Major Thoroughfare Plan and the Access Management Plan to include a new road connecting Ray Thorington Road and Taylor Road.

REMARKS: This is an amendment to the City of Montgomery Comprehensive Plan, Major Thoroughfare Plan and the Access Management Plan to include a new road connecting Ray Thorington Road and Taylor Road to the south of Vaughn Road. The road is proposed to be functionally classified as an urban collector route. The road will be a four (4) lane road with a center median. For planning purposes the road will be called the Ray Thorington Road/Taylor Road Connector.

COUNCIL DISTRICT: 8

This road will help to begin the development of Hampstead. The "proposed arterial connection" will run across the northern edge of the development, as seen in this pic.

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/others/Masterplan.jpg

5. Z-08-2006 PRESENTED BY: Byron Berry

REPRESENTING: Same

SUBJECT: Request to rezone one (1) parcel of land located on the northwest corner of North Perry Street and Randolph Street from an M-1 (Light Industrial) Zoning District to a B-1-a (Central Business) Zoning District.

REMARKS: This request pertains to one (1) parcel of land. This property is surrounded by M-1 (Light Industrial) zoning. The intended use for this property if rezoned is for luxury loft condominiums on the third and fourth floors; the first floor will be converted to retail space and parking and the second floor will be used as storage or possible condominiums. The Land Use Plan recommends industrial use.

COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3

More property being snapped up and developed around the ballpark for condos.

Thoraudio, is this part of a deal you're helping to put together, as you mention in an earlier post?

6. DP-010-2006 PRESENTED BY: Gonzalez-Strength & Associates

REPRESENTING: Wal-Mart

SUBJECT: Request recommendations for development plan approval for a new building to be located on the south side of Chantilly Parkway, approximately 1,200 ft. west of Ryan Road, in a B-2 (Commercial) Zoning District.

REMARKS: This request is for recommendations to construct a 203,819 sq. ft. building with 2,739 sq. ft. of canopies. There are 1,020 paved parking spaces indicated on the site plan. There is one (1) full access and two (2) right-in/right-out access drives to Chantilly Parkway. There are also several “stub-outs” to adjoining properties. All applicable requirements will be met.

Planning Controls Comments: The proposed pylon sign will be required to be setback a minimum of 10 ft.

COUNCIL DISTRICT: Police Jurisdiction

Well, another sprawlmart. Is this any surprise? You just knew it would be a Walmart 3 years ago when McClinton & Co. first put its "another McClinton development" sign on the property. They've built all of the metro's supercenters.

I guess they figured ..."Hey, let's build 1 or 12 more"...

thoraudio

02-24-2006, 01:39 PM

no, that's not the one we're working on. Unfortunately my 'partner' is the one with the connections and real estate experience, and he's in no hurry :(

bystander1

02-27-2006, 04:38 AM

no, that's not the one we're working on. Unfortunately my 'partner' is the one with the connections and real estate experience, and he's in no hurry :(

Maybe that means he's thinking of something really nice. :fingerscrossed:

Thoraudio, maybe you can help us with some info about some of this:

The Old Alabama Railyards property is being cleared of all the brush and overgrowth, and now the old trainshed and support buildings there are fully visible. It's quite a sight to see clearly whats been hidden away for so many years. I wish someone could restore those buildings, but they look like they're too far gone to be saved.

Does anyone know what they are clearing the property for?

Also, what are they doing to Court Square next to the Regions tower?

thoraudio

02-27-2006, 05:22 PM

the potential condo mentioned.

http://thoraudio.net/montgomery/condo1.JPG

Homey isn't it :koko:

Actually, there are some windows on the other side facing the ball park, and it looks like the current covering is 'new' stucco... maybe there's something nice underneath. ***edit*** I've been informed that the stucco covers a beautiful concrete slab exterior ;)

For my 'partner' he's definately of the bird-in-the-hand variety. He's got a successfull business, and concentrates on that. But he's still interested, and he's my only real 'in'.

If our current proposal gets beyond the blackboard stage, it will be a big deal, not just 3-4 condo units in a small converted building. But there's alot of time, and alot of hurdles to cross....

thoraudio

02-27-2006, 05:25 PM

Bystander, no idea on the projects you've mentioned, but I'd guess now that the city owns the railyards that they're just cleaning it up and maintaining it. And I'd bet they're landscaping the little park next to the Regions tower...

although Roy Moore's group bought that building right next to it... maybe they're erecting a pedestal or altar for him. :rolleyes:

<- conservative Christian who doesn't like that grandstander....

DruidCity

02-27-2006, 07:41 PM

bystander1, that's a nice-looking diagram.

thoraudio, does your real-estate associate (or whatever term would be appropriate) do projects just in the Montgomery area ?

thoraudio

02-27-2006, 09:02 PM

he's an appraiser... or more accurately, he owns an appraisal firm.

Last year, after learning about all the condo conversions going on in Bham, and finding that the Commerce Building was for sale, I decided I wanted to try to get involved in someway. Now since I have no money or real estate experience, I couldn't just walk into a bank and say, "I need $8,000,000 to fix up this old building over here", so I had to rely on my 'connections'.

So I called one of my high school buddies (all the $$ my parents spent to send me to a private school finally paying off ;) ) who I knew was an appraiser. My questions to him were going to be, how do you do an appraisal with nothing to compare it to (the Commerce conversion would work at $200/ft but not at $150), and do you know anybody who'd be interested in pursuing something like this?

Well, it turns out he was interested. We pursued the Commerce building, I drew up proposals, got pro forma and renter info, did the leg work, while he pointed me in the right directions. Unfortunately, by the time he got serious, the building was under contract. The buyers strung it out to the end of the contract period (we were asked to prepare a new offer), but finally got it last month.

So now we're looking for something new. I did leg work again, tracked down properties, got prices, contacts etc... We settled on a project idea, but he's tied up with his current business stuff for a couple of months, and I've hit the end of my expertise (which was none to begin with).

Which kills me. Mtgy is a small market. I don't think it could support more than 100-150 condo's/apts downtown right now. But there is very little out there. My thoughts are that somebody is going to hit it big with the first large offering, and then the market will glut in a big ole hurry.

keep your fingers crossed.

DruidCity

02-27-2006, 09:22 PM

I don't think it could support more than 100-150 condo's/apts downtown right now. But there is very little out there. My thoughts are that somebody is going to hit it big with the first large offering, and then the market will glut in a big ole hurry.

I don't know Montgomery all that well, but I'm guessing there's more of a pent-up demand than that. If it's like the rest of the state, there's a solid pile of would-be downtown buyers who simply haven't had anything to buy.

bystander1

02-27-2006, 11:04 PM

Man, I can't wait to see how they can turn that hideous building into luxury lofts. :stunned:

Thoraudio, I saw your proposal for the Commerce Building. It was really nice and I wish it had gone through. You’ve learned a lot about real estate on your own and with your friend’s help. :cool:

bystander1

02-28-2006, 03:41 AM

I don't know Montgomery all that well, but I'm guessing there's more of a pent-up demand than that. If it's like the rest of the state, there's a solid pile of would-be downtown buyers who simply haven't had anything to buy.

I'd have to agree with you, DruidCity. The way the small number of lofts that have been built so far are being snapped up as soon as they are completed (or before they're completed), seems to be a good sign of demand for downtown lofts. The fact that the strange-looking stucco building was purchased in order to turn it into 3 or 4 luxury condos looks like even more proof of that. Like you said, many are waiting for something to buy and are waiting for the bigger proposals; the attractive midrises and highrises in or near the Riverfront District. A study was done a fews years ago about the number of lofts downtown could support, but I can't remember how many. Maybe I can find the article somewhere, but I'm pretty sure it was more than 150.
That's good news for Thoraudio and his real estate partner's condo proposal. ;)

bystander1

02-28-2006, 04:28 AM

Bystander, no idea on the projects you've mentioned, but I'd guess now that the city owns the railyards that they're just cleaning it up and maintaining it. And I'd bet they're landscaping the little park next to the Regions tower...

I found out what the city is doing to Court Square.

They are going to return it to its original form...a roundabout! Just as it was before urban renewal in 1970's.

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/dexter/olddexter.jpg

Here's how Court Square looks today since the street around the fountian was bricked-in to make it a pedestrian walkway and park:

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/dexter/courtnew2.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/dexter/courtsq.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/dexter/courtnew3.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/dexter/courtnew4.jpg

Much of the pedestrian park in the background will return to its original street form...

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/dexter/wintmarkc.jpg

Traffic will no longer cut through Court Square like this...

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/dexter/winter.jpg

I think that would be pretty cool to have a roundabout downtown again! :coolugh:

thoraudio

02-28-2006, 01:06 PM

thoraudio

03-02-2006, 12:50 PM

Alot of people aren't aware of it, even in the Mtgy area, but Montgomery has an excellent theatre and company in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, as well as an excellent Museum on the same site, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Both were originally funded by Winton Blount and have an endowment from his estate. Either me or Bystander needs to do a thread on it sometime...

Anyway, the MMFA is opening a new wing this week.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20060302&Category=LIFESTYLE&ArtNo=603020308&Ref=AR&Profile=1004&MaxW=300

Special activities, exhibits on tap at Montgomery museum

By Robyn Bradley Litchfield
Montgomery Advertiser

Years in the making, one of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts' greatest projects -- its new 23,000-square-foot, $6 million addition with new gallery and educational spaces -- is complete, and folks at the museum can't wait to show it off.

Be part of the ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. today, or stop by this weekend to view two new exhibitions, take part in hands-on activities, meet the artists with works on display and more. But that's not all. At the end of next week, the museum will use the space for its biennial Art Auction, set for March 9 and 11.

On Tuesday, museum director Mark M. Johnson could barely contain his excitement as he stood in one of the facility's original galleries and pushed back the massive oak door leading into the new glass-roofed atrium and the enormous glass installation along the eastern façade of the new grand gallery.

"What do you think?" Johnson said as he moved to the side to reveal Seattle-based artist Cappy Thompson's glass installation, "Stars Falling on Alabama: We Are Enraptured by the Celestial Fireworks of the Muses," the new grand gallery's colorful centerpiece.

"The opening of this new Education Wing is the largest addition yet to the museum and will greatly enhance the museum's ability to serve its public," he said. "Plans like this become a reality with help from our wonderful volunteers, the community and the donors."

Laurie Jean Weil, chairwoman of the museum's capital campaign, which raised more than $9 million (including a $2 million investment from the city of Montgomery) to make the addition happen, is thrilled that this day has arrived.

"Yesterday, when I walked in and saw the carpet down, the Cappy Thompson window installed and the new quilt collection going up on the walls, I was just stunned," she said Wednesday. "I'm so excited for the people of Montgomery, the students and visitors of all ages who will come from around the country to see our exhibitions and participate in our programs."

The addition brings the museum's total space to 73,000 square feet, which includes the 70-by-72-foot Margaret Berry Lowder Gallery. It has doubled the ARTWORKS hands-on children's gallery, increased studio and educational spaces and will give the museum more room to display more works from its permanent collections.

Johnson said, "We're now a large medium-size museum, or a small large museum. With our very fine collection, exhibitions and programs, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is an ideal size, big enough to play with the big boys."

But it's still small enough to be flexible and intimate, he said. It continues to grow with the community, drawing more than 160,000 visitors annually.

Johnson expects Thompson's three series of painted glass windows to bring in even more people in the coming months.

Through May 14, the museum will also showcase an exhibition of 15 of Thompson's painted glass vessels in the atrium. And the artist will be here this weekend to participate in the festivities and discuss her work with visitors.

These vessels, by the way, were painted from the inside. Working on a light table, she follows the lines of a carefully drafted cartoon.

Johnson said, "She works in glass, but I don't consider her a glass artist. She's a painter who works on glass." And, he added, her work is not traditional stained glass, but its finished look has the same effect with her three-layer technique.

"This commission has been most thrilling. It's so exciting to be part of making a permanent piece for an art museum," said Thompson, whose theme for this particular piece is the 1833 meteor showers in Alabama that inspired the song "Stars Fell on Alabama."

"I have been working with muses in my art for awhile, and the museum is the temple of the muses, so I sort of redesigned the stars falling as celestial fireworks," she said.

In her work, muses bring inspiration to an artist (a self-portrait of Thompson) while a crowd huddles under a quilt (inspired by the museum's recent acquisition of quilts), musicians play and other spectators catch the display from afar. Even the designs in the quilt have ties to the museum, its collections and its facilities.

As for the quilts, Johnson said the museum recently acquired the collection of 38 African-American quilts through a partial purchase and donation by collector Kempf Hogan of Birmingham, Mich.

Several of them are featured in the exhibition "Just How I Picture It in My Mind: Contemporary African American Quilts from the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts," which runs through May 14.

Quilted from 1950 to 2001, they were made by such Alabama and Mississippi women as Nora Ezell, Yvonne Wells, Mozell Benson, Mary Maxtion and Mary Lucas. Some of the quilters will be on hand this weekend.

Margaret Lynne Ausfeld, the museum's curator of collections and exhibitions, said this collection is important for a number of reasons.

"A lot of people are familiar with the whole tradition of quilt making in Alabama because of the focus on Gee's Bend quilts. This a family-centered tradition. These women have learned how to create this textile art from family members. And it is an important means of artistic expression," she said.

Johnson said the collection rounds out the museum's folk art collection.

"The quilts really complement what we already have," he said. "These 18 (on the gallery walls now) are just the beginning. This is just the first round."

bystander1

03-02-2006, 08:51 PM

:previous: I am planning to do a photo thread on Blount Cultural Park this year once the museum addition is completed, and the grass and flowers start growing again... since it will look even better.

One down...

bystander1

03-04-2006, 03:42 AM

Well, another sprawlmart. Is this any surprise? You just knew it would be a Walmart 3 years ago when McClinton & Co. first put its "another McClinton development" sign on the property. They've built all of the metro's supercenters.

I guess they figured ..."Hey, let's build 1 or 12 more"..

It looks like they actually are going to try to build twelve. :stunned:
The fourth Walmart has been approved and now...

Could Fifth Wal-Mart Supercenter be Coming to Montgomery County?

WAKA CBS 8
March 3, 2006

Montgomery County could soon be home to a fifth Wal-Mart Supercenter -- possibly on Montgomery's west side. "If we can generate retail growth in an area of our city that needs it, then, yeah, I would welcome a fifth Wal-Mart," Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright told CBS 8 News Friday.

Although no deal has been reached, Bright and Wal-Mart officials have been talking. Some residents welcome the idea. "I think we need that because most of the time, the people on this side of town have to travel all the way across town just to go to Wal-Mart," Montgomery resident Deon Addison said.

City leaders are looking at various ways to breathe new life into the west side. The new Gateway Park and golf course off Interstate 65 is scheduled to open early next month. Workers are also making upgrades to Riverside Heights apartments.

You can count on CBS 8 News to keep you updated on any Wal-Mart plans. Montgomery's third Wal-Mart is under construction on Ann Street while the fourth location, just outside the city limits on Chantilly Parkway, was recently announced.

http://www.waka.com/

bystander1

03-04-2006, 04:14 AM

More sprawlmart news info. The city wants to bring a planned eastside Walmart into the city limits plus renew the old plans for one on the westside. And it sounds like these won't just be replacement stores...

March 3, 2006

Bright: Wal-Mart won't close any Montgomery locations

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Mayor Bobby Bright said there are positive discussions with Wal-Mart officials to annex the location on Chantilly Parkway and to locate a store in a portion of the city where retail is needed, such as west Montgomery.

“They have committed to work with me,” Bright said. “Unofficially, they have committed to be part of the city of Montgomery and work with me in other challenging areas of our city that need retail.”

During the discussions, Bright said Wal-Mart has agreed not to close any of their current locations. Currently, two Wal-Marts are open in the city, one on East Boulevard and another on Atlanta Highway. A third is under construction on Ann Street and expected to open this fall.

Last week, the Montgomery planning commission approved a site on Chantilly Parkway just outside of the city limits in the police jurisdiction.

Bright has been outspoken about not wanting another big box retail store such as Wal-Mart in the city. He believed the location on Chantilly Parkway might lead to the shutdown of the store on the boulevard, which is already plagued with the closing of several chain stores in and around the Montgomery Mall.

The mayor also has concerns about the big box chains closing a store and leaving the building sitting in noticeable, prominent locations.

“Wal-Mart said they are committed not to do it again,” Bright said.

But Bright said he cannot control private dollars if developers want to sale land to Wal-Mart or other companies.

“They could buy Montgomery and put a Wal-Mart wherever they want,” he said.

Bright said he has expressed his concerns with the Wal-Mart officials and said they have been good corporate citizens in Montgomery.

He said they agreed to look at opening a Wal-Mart in west Montgomery.

[...] (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060303/NEWS/60303003)

thoraudio

03-06-2006, 02:19 AM

A Wallyworld on the Southern Bypass at I-85 would actually be a good thing I think....

One thing I was thinking about the other day is that because of Montgomery's relative isolation, we're still the shopping destination for a huge chunk of rural area. not counting Prattville or Wetumpka, you've got to go at least an hour in any direction to get to even a small size town... Clanton to the North, Selma to the west, Auburn to the east and Greenville to the south, Troy to the Southeast.

So a major shopping center on each artery ain't really a bad idea...

bystander1

03-06-2006, 05:10 AM

:previous: It will either go there, Southern Bypass at I-65, or somewhere along US 31 between US 80 and Hyundai Blvd...which is where they were going to build one about 6 years ago.

neilson

03-06-2006, 05:46 AM

Look; if Wal-Mart can be the one to help redeem the Westside; I'm all for it.

And if it gives Hope Hull ppl a closer option for shopping; even more power!

I just want South Blvd. to be brought back to retail life.

bystander1

03-08-2006, 05:10 AM

hmmm, mixed feelings on that one...

the roundabout idea is nice, but it won't go anywhere (unless they re-open Commerce). And if/when/maybe there is ever a revival in the 100 block, the pedestrian area would be a great dining/entertainment area...

although maybe it will give them incentive to blow up the monstrosity that is One Court Square.... hmmm.

Well, part of you wish may come true...no word yet on destroying One Court Square. :)

The mayor said in a news interview Friday that Court Street, which you refered to as Commerce, will be reopened to one-way traffic. The report also said that the city was in the process of finalizing its plans to return the Lightning Route electric trolley system downtown---starting with Dexter Ave. :cool:

If so, whenever it's back running, I'm sure these places will be possible stops along the route:

*Riverwalk Stadium
*Union Station
*new hotel/convention center
*Intermodal Center
*Capital Complex

Thoraudio, what do you think would be some other possible stops along a new Lighting Route?

thoraudio

03-08-2006, 06:17 PM

My initial thoughts on the Lightning Route.

http://www.thoraudio.net/montgomery/lightingroute.JPG

This route would hit all the major 'hot'spots. Capitol, restaurants on Jefferson, Brewpub, Stadium, 'Grocer's Alley (which actually still has visible spur line tracks), 1 block from Riverwalk, Civic Center, half a block from intermodal, Troy U, restaurants on Montgomery, and the historic ride up Dexter.

Problems?

Are we talking circle route or 1 train going end to end on a single line. A single line would probably go up and down Commerce and Dexter.

I don't know the turning radius of the proposed units (if a circle route)... I'd assume they could do 90 degrees on the proposed streets, but I don't know.

It's going the wrong way down Jefferson. Jefferson is a developing street... but it's got potential. Madison is where the route used to run (all the way up into Capitol Heights), and the tracks may actually still be there, but running a line down Madison could be a serious traffic issue, and it wouldn't actually go by anything of interest except the RSA Tower.

It also wouldn't address 'commuter' issues. A line or a spur to the Crampton bowl parking lot would get a ton of use during the week.

bystander1

03-08-2006, 09:34 PM

Nice ideas! I see what you mean about Jefferson St. The one way direction may pose a problem.

Since Jefferson is one way heading west, maybe it can run up to Hull St. and turn back east along Columbus St. and thereby run beside the stadium parking lots and right in front of the stadium itself on Tallapoosa St.

I think a line to the Crampton Bowl parking lot would be a definite thing if the plan goes forward.

thoraudio

03-09-2006, 03:08 AM

found this old picture showing the trolley on Dexter, circa 1906

http://www.hellomontgomery.com/montgomery/images/Dexter-Avenue-1906.jpg

bystander1

03-09-2006, 03:34 AM

Wow...that's too cool, dude! :coolugh:

...especially with the capitol building in the background.

thoraudio

03-09-2006, 07:23 PM

bah.... Montgomery is too big for it's own britches....

Went on a 'scouting' trip for lunch today for the NCAA tournament for next thursday. My buddies and I usually hit Baumhauer's but their TV's are getting old so we figured we'd check out Buffalo Wild Wings in the Festival plaza....

20 + minute drive from work (I work on Coliseum blvd.)... drive into the Festival Plaza and the place is darn near empty... Atlanta Bread Company closed and up for rent.... Several of the new shops with 'for lease' signs...

BWW is a nice place, food was decent, but it's huge, and there were maybe 10 people in there for lunch...

Festival Plaza is only a couple of years old, and in our 'growth' area, and it's already losing out?

These places are going out of business because there is no density to bring stuff together.

/rant

bystander1

03-10-2006, 04:03 AM

Much of it is due to an old fact: sprawl breeds sprawl.
The competition with developers to attract businesses to their strip malls is very cut-throat here. Each one promises their project will be in the next "high growth area" of the city, then they throw up a 'shiny' new shopping center with less than half of the leases signed--hoping that other businesses will quickly fill it up.

Well, the other developers do the same thing. So you have plenty of new strip malls with empty storefronts. In fact some projects are scaled back or derailed altogether because of developer competition to attract certain stores to their new developments.

Although Aronov won the battle to build four new Publix stores and placed them in four new or redeveloped shopping centers, its Cornerstone development was scaled back from its initial size partly because it lost in competition with ALFA/Jim Wilson to sign Kohl's.

Brown Springs Station was derailed after failing to sign a home improvement store (Home Depot and Lowes will be connected to shopping centers on Chantilly Parkway).

McClinton's East Blvd Center, which was to be connected to Sam's Club, was derailed after a losing battle with ALFA/Jim Wilson for a major anchor (possibly Kohl's?).
I do know that Target initially wanted a store along East Blvd. but couldn't find an undeveloped tract of land large enough...except for the land next to Sam's Club. ALFA/Jim Wilson placed it at Eastchase.

But even with all the new development in midtown, more sprawl is coming:

*500,000 sq/ft strip center in Eastchase
*300,000 sq/ft addition to "The Shoppes" at Eastchase
*a shopping center anchored by Lowes on Chantilly Pwy.
*a shopping center anchored by Home Depot on Chantilly Pwy.
*Chantilly Station, anchored by Walmart

So until more businesses stop buying into the 'shiny and new' mentallity, they're going to help create more empty storefronts by saying "we follow the money". You can't really blame them...they are in business for profit afterall. But fact of the matter is much of that money is coming back to the core, as downtown and midtown are proving.

neilson

03-10-2006, 04:12 AM

Much of it is due to an old fact: sprawl breeds sprawl.
The competition with developers to attract businesses to their strip malls is very cut-throat here. Each one promises their project will be in the next "high growth area" of the city, then they throw up a 'shiny' new shopping center with less than half of the leases signed--hoping that other businesses will quickly fill it up.

Well, the other developers do the same thing. So you have plenty of new strip malls with empty storefronts. In fact some projects are scaled back or derailed altogether because of developer competition to attract certain stores to their new developments.

Although Aronov won the battle to build four new Publix stores and placed them in four new or redeveloped shopping centers, its Cornerstone development was scaled back from its initial size partly because it lost in competition with ALFA/Jim Wilson to sign Khol's.

Brown Springs Station was derailed after failing to sign a home improvement store (Home Depot and Lowes will be connected to shopping centers on Chantilly Parkway).

McClinton's East Blvd Center, which was to be connected to Sam's Club, was derailed after a losing battle with ALFA/Jim Wilson for a major anchor (possibly Khol's?).
I do know that Target initially wanted a store along East Blvd. but couldn't find an undeveloped tract of land large enough...except for the land next to Sam's Club. ALFA/Jim Wilson placed it at Eastchase.

But even with all the new development in midtown, more sprawl is coming:

*500,000 sq/ft strip center in Eastchase
*300,000 sq/ft addition to "The Shoppes" at Eastchase
*a shopping center anchored by Lowes on Chantilly Pwy.
*a shopping center anchored by Home Depot on Chantilly Pwy.
*Chantilly Station, anchored by Walmart

So until more businesses stop buying into the 'shiny and new' mentallity, they're going to help create more empty storefronts by saying "we follow the money". You can't really blame them...they are in business for profit afterall. But fact of the matter is much of that money is coming back to the core, as downtown and midtown are proving.
This is EXACTLY why I'm all for a tax-incentive, pro-redevelopment of the Commerical Land on South Blvd. and Montgomery Mall.

We have the Land and Buildings down there; let's utilize it!

thoraudio

03-12-2006, 09:22 PM

article from today's advertiser

Residents needed to grow downtown

By Julie Arrington
Montgomery Advertiser

While the economic revitalization of downtown has been a popular concept of late, Anita Archie of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation is looking for ways to draw in residents.

Archie is upbeat about the possibility of boosting the arts in downtown Montgomery with galleries and studios, along with living spaces such as apartments and condominiums.

"The foundation strongly believes that to make downtown Montgomery a 24-hour destination, then we've got to get the residential piece going in downtown," she said.

In a meeting Tuesday with the Cottage Hill Historic Foundation, Archie said developers have told her she'll have to have people living downtown before she can expect retail growth.

She has invited ArtSpace, a nonprofit real estate development firm from Minnesota, to visit Montgomery in April to discuss changing the face of downtown.

During the Cottage Hill meeting, Earl Freeman said while living in Memphis, he noticed that retail growth developed in downtown first.

"I lived downtown in Memphis before people started moving downtown," he said. "Anybody knows that in downtown Memphis today you can't move down there because it's so expensive. ... If you wait until people are (living) downtown, you might be waiting for something that gives you no reason to stay downtown."

Louisville, Ky., a city of about 256,000 people, built the 21C Historic Hotel and Museum to boost its downtown rebirth. It is set to open Wednesday.

Wendy Holmes, vice-president of resource development at ArtSpace, was quoted recently in the Wall Street Journal as saying that the hotel could be very successful as a tourist attraction, but cities that attract permanent residents downtown are more successful for the long term.

Teri Deaver, director of consulting and new projects at ArtSpace, said early support from the community and its leaders is key to a downtown project.

"We're looking at things like potential sites for a project," she said. "We're looking at what the artist market is like. Maybe arts organizations and finding out what they need and what their interest is in this kind of project."

Deaver said ArtSpace has worked in communities of all sizes. She said one of the organization's earliest projects in Duluth, Minn., has been a huge success.

"It was an artist/live/work project and there was also a partnership with the city there, and they run a community center out of there and a number of social service organizations," she said.

Deaver said she views artistic communities as catalysts for economic growth.

bystander1

03-13-2006, 06:30 AM

Without the availability of large, empty buildings to convert into lofts, most of the lofts offered downtown will have to be through new construction.

That gives your project proposal a little more "fire" to get off the ground, thoraudio. :cool:

Also, most of the new residences will come from the development of the East Bank, as Gail Alsobrook (former head of Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation) told me in late 2003, was at least four or five years away.

I saw on the news Saturday the mayor saying that plans for more lofts were going to be annouced soon and that the land across the river from the East Bank and Union Station was going to be converted into what he called a major gateway park; which would be the best use since it's mostly in a flood plain.

Earlier, the city and state were talking about turning the land into a state park but I don't know if that is still part of the plan or not.

thoraudio

03-13-2006, 01:01 PM

I'm going to try to get to see the Kress building this week. I'll take my camera of course :D

Problem is, it's so deep, and short, with buildings on either side, that I can't see it working as residential.

The only possible use I could see for it (besides a department type store) would be for a Dave and Buster's type establishment....

and even that'd be iff. :sly:

bystander1

03-15-2006, 12:47 AM

:previous: Ken Upchurch Construction has recieved a building permit for a $500,000 renovation to a building on Dexter Ave. Do you know which building it is?

Can't wait to see the Kress building pics. I'll bet it's a mess in there though. :yuck:

thoraudio

03-15-2006, 02:13 AM

probably the old Montgomery Seed and Supply building. It sold recently, and will need rehabing/refurbing if it's to be used for offices. Beautiful building though.

On another note, good and bad news...

Bad, my 'partner' is convinced we need to go ultra luxury to make the $$ work... I'm concerned about the market.

Good... we may be meeting with somebody from the city next week.

crosses fingers.

bystander1

03-15-2006, 05:18 AM

The bad news may not be so bad. Maybe he knows something we don't.

And oh yeah, :fingerscrossed:

<Dave>

03-15-2006, 05:24 AM

bystander1

03-23-2006, 05:11 AM

I found this on the planning commission website:

11. Z-10-2006 PRESENTED BY: Kim Henderson

REPRESENTING: Dale Walker

SUBJECT: Request to rezone one (1) parcel of land located on the southwest corner of Bell Street and North Goldthwaite Street from an M-1 (Light Industrial) Zoning District to a B-1-b (Central Business) Zoning District.

REMARKS: This request pertains to one (1) parcel of land. The adjacent property has M-1 (Light Industrial) zoning to the north, east and west. There is B-1-b (Commercial) zoning to the south. The intended use for this property if rezoned is for mixed residential and commercial use. The development will include property to be rezoned and a 150 ft. x 150 ft. parcel to the south for approximately 108 condominiums with approximately 80,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. The Land Use Plan recommends central business use.

COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3

108 condominiums and 80,000 sq ft of commercial space?! This would be in the Cottage Hill area. What do you know, or what can you find out about this project, thoraudio?

thoraudio

03-23-2006, 12:56 PM

and all I was going to post was the about the new jail....

hadn't heard anything, I'm checking on it.

I don't know how this will affect our plans.... but good for Mtgy anyway. :)

The area marked 'rezoning' is where they're talking about.

http://www.thoraudio.net/montgomery/cottagehill.JPG

thoraudio

03-23-2006, 12:57 PM

Not really the kind of expansion you want, but infill is infill....From the Wsfa.com

Construction on New Montgomery County Jail To Begin Soon

A typical cell block inside the Montgomery County Detention Facility was designed to hold 16 inmates. Right now, 50 are squeezed inside one. "50 inmates sharing 2 showers and two toilets," says Jail director Colonel Gina Savage.

Savage says overcrowding creates concerns over security. "It becomes a certain security issue for officers who go inside these cells to check on security issues or fights," adds Savage.

The jail was built to hold 305 inmates. In 2004, overcrowding forced the county to take drastic measures. Savage says, "We had inmates all over the floors. We came in and double bunked and that bumped us up to 560 inmates."

The new jail will add 696 beds. Combined with the current facility, the county can house 1,001 inmates. "Basically what we are doing is doubling our space and doubling our staff," adds Savage.

It will take up an entire city block on the east side of the current facility. A bridge will connect the two buildings. "The most up to date electronics, fire alarms, security. Anything that is available we'll put in there," says Savage.

Colonel Savage, who has worked with the Montgomery county detention facility for 20 years, says a new jail is long overdue. She says, "I've seen it all from the old jail in the old courthouse, to this facility when it was brand new. I'm excited to play a part in this new addition."

They will also renovate the current jail. That along with the new facility will cost 58 million dollars. The County Commission says it will get the money for the project by floating a bond issue. Groundbreaking will be sometime in May. Construction will take about two years before the jail opens.

thoraudio

03-23-2006, 01:07 PM

BTW, Dale Walker is one of the guys developing The Waters...

bystander1

03-23-2006, 10:25 PM

Hmm, 108 condominiums with 80,000 sq. ft. of commercial space on a 150 ft. x 150 ft. parcel...sounds like a highrise to me, right?

If so, it should be a pretty nice project, since Dave Walker has proved that he doesn't mind spending the money for big developments.

Still, I do feel like some big missteps were made with The Waters development though.

thoraudio

03-24-2006, 12:25 AM

the 150 x 150 is the 'sale pending' area facing Clay.

It sounds like the development will take up 3/4 of the whole block, leaving just those law offices....

but 80,000 sq ft of retail sounds like a lot..... too much... I'm wondering if it might be 8,000 sq ft of retail... much more reasonable.

The front half lot is 500 x 150, + the 150x150 addition.

bystander1

03-24-2006, 01:30 AM

If it really is 80,000 sq. ft. of retail, it may include some type of grocery store. Maybe it includes a couple of floors of retail. I don't know, but hopefully we'll get more info on it soon, just too many unknowns right now.

I hope this project doesn't effect your proposal, thoraudio. Since there are going to be many more proposals being announced this year, the sooner you all can get yours out, the better it will be for filling the leases quickly.

My wife and I are thinking about moving in the next couple of years, and besides looking at traditional neighborhoods we've actually now thought about considering downtown if they actually continue to do all that they say they will do there, and if there were a nice mix of housing available there for the not-so-filty rich. It could be very interesting and fun living there if they are able to follow through fully on the downtown/riverfront development proposal.

thoraudio

03-24-2006, 01:51 AM

the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced the 80,000 is a typo.

the whole lot (500 x 150 + 150 x 150) is only 97,500 square feet edge to edge, not including setbacks or parking.

it is causing concern with my group... but we're still proceeding (at a snails pace it seems sometimes :( )

thoraudio

03-24-2006, 12:43 PM

Money to be spent on Dexter.

City to use $5 million for Dexter Avenue

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Montgomery is getting a roughly $5 million hand-me-down from Alabama to dress up historic Dexter Avenue, possibly with a brand-new park in front of state buildings.

The money, a federal grant awarded to the state in the early 2000s, had been earmarked for landscaping the Capitol but was never used because Confederate heritage groups wanted to keep the grounds as they are.

Former Gov. Don Siegelman halted the project after the objections. The Riley administration decided the city should use the money to improve Dexter from the Capitol to Court Square.

"I am thankful the state gave it to us," Mayor Bobby Bright said.

Much of the work -- landscaping, streetscaping and paving -- will be on the blocks closest to the Capitol, said city engineer Chris Conway.

"We are converting it in to more green space and making it more pedestrian friendly," Conway said. "All of that is in the planning stages and has not really begun."

The city will use up to $700,000 to hire a consultant to create a master plan for the project.

Bright said the plan will take several months to develop. Conway said construction won't get under way for at least a year.

The city is already working on Dexter improvements that are being paid for with municipal dollars. Crews have removed the concrete, planted trees and placed benches in a park across from Court Square, which will be returned to a roundabout in coming months.

Bright hopes the improvements will help lure developers to invest more private dollars on the street.

bystander1

03-25-2006, 01:28 AM

Speaking of Dexter Ave, what did you find out about the Kress building last week, thoraudio?

thoraudio

03-26-2006, 02:00 PM

Didn't get to go to the Kress, maybe soon.

New Kids Museum downtown.

Museum catering to kids in works

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

An $8 million children's museum focused on science and technology will be added to the roster of downtown attractions in coming years.

The city of Montgomery and the Junior League of Montgomery are the first major investors in a plan to build the Children's Museum of Alabama in a former warehouse on Commerce Street.

Martha Demere, president of the board of directors for the Children's Museum of Alabama, said the idea came to her after visiting museums with her children in other cities. She was chair of a committee at the Junior League while it was looking for a signature project.

Demere said she believes the children's museum will complement other attractions in the city, be intended for a different age of children and help be part of revitalizing downtown.

"It is important from our point of view to create synergy and collaboration and sort of round out the picture of all thing things offered here for children," she said.

The Junior League paid Lord Cultural Studies $50,000 to perform a feasibility study, which concluded the museum could be a successful piece of downtown revitalization.

"We think we'll create a lot of pedestrian traffic, which will be nice for the downtown area," Demere said.

She said the Junior League looked for downtown property for about a year and is happy with the Commerce Street property. The building is directly across the street from the construction of the convention center expansion and a four-star hotel.

Demere said the opening date depends on the fundraising campaign, which needs to raise about $6 million more dollars.

"As soon as we raise our money, that will just make it quicker to be able to open the doors," she said.

Demere hopes the museum will be able to open in two to three years -- not long after the convention center and hotel's projected opening in September 2007.

The museum will be hands-on and geared toward children ages 1 to 10. Demere said most of the attractions in the city are intended for children 8 and older. The proposed Children's Museum will allow for more than two hours of activity for children.

The top three floors will be finished and turned into office space that will be rented out. The bottom three floors will be dedicated to the museum.

Demere said children's museums are the fastest-growing cultural attractions and draw repeat visitors. She said the museum would include permanent exhibits and space for traveling exhibitions.

The museum project has received about $800,000 from the city and about $200,000 from the Junior League.

Mayor Bobby Bright said the city is working with the Junior League to bring the museum downtown on the project. He said the city purchased the building and will lease it to the Junior League to renovate and operate.

It will be in this building.

http://thoraudio.net/montgomery/march22.JPG

I'll get a better pic next week

bystander1

03-26-2006, 04:08 PM

Just after we've done a thread on Cottage Hill, yesterday's Advertiser said there would be a story about the history of the Cottage Hill and Highland Gardens neighborhoods. But as usual, the paper lies again about articles it promises will be in the next days' paper. And the article on page 1C is nothing like they promised to talk about.
They do it so much that you can't take them too seriously though. :irked:

bystander1

03-27-2006, 03:47 AM

Perhaps thoraudio or someone else may know a little more info about this item. This sounds like another 'new urban type' development by the way it's being presented in this petition to the planning commission:

3. Z-13-2006 PRESENTED BY: Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood

REPRESENTING: Tri-W Development and Ratliff Properties

SUBJECT: Request to rezone two (2) parcels of land containing 1,444.226 acres. Parcel 1 is located on the northeast side of Ray Thorington Road, approximately 500 ft. west of Foxhall Road, from an AGR-1 (Residential Agriculture) Zoning District to an O-1 (Office) Zoning District; and Parcel 2 is located on the southwest side of Ray Thorington Road, approximately 3,500 ft. west of Foxhall Road from an AGR-1 (Residential Agriculture) Zoning District to PUD (Planned Unit Development) Zoning District.

REMARKS: This request pertains to two (2) parcels of land. Parcel 1 (14.226 acres) located on the northeast side of Ray Thorington Road is proposed to be rezoned to an O-1 (Office) Zoning District. Parcel 2 (1,430 acres) located on the southwest side of Ray Thorington Road is proposed to be rezoned to a PUD (Planned Unit Development) Zoning District. The adjacent property has R-85 (Single-Family Residential) and AGR-1 (Residential Agriculture) zoning to the north; AGR-1 (Residential Agriculture) and FH (Flood Hazard) zoning to the south; and AGR-1 (Residential Agriculture) zoning to the east and west. The intended use for this property if rezoned is as follows:

I. ACRES

Item: Single Family Residential Acres: 920.6

Multi-Family Residential
R-65-m
Acres: 48.8

Office
O-1
Acres: 11.8

Town Center
B-2
Acres: 15.2

Retail
B-2
Acres: 14.8

TND
Acres: 124.5

Institutional
Acres: 25.5

Ponds
Acres: 107.0

Wetlands, Misc.
Acres: 160.8

TOTAL ACRES
1,429.0

II. SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL

TOTAL LOTS
2,806

III. MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-65-m)

TOTAL UNITS
586

IV. ASSISTED & INDEPENDENT LIVING (INSTITUTIONAL)

TOTAL UNITS
105

The Land Use Plan recommends agricultural use.

COUNCIL DISTRICT: 8

DEPARTMENT COMMENTS

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT: No comment received.
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING: No objections.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: No objections.
WATER AND SEWER: No objections.
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: No comment received.
COUNTY ENGINEERING: No comment received.
ALDOT: Please submit traffic study for future connection to Taylor Road.

***************
The fact that ALDOT wants a traffic study for future connection of this development to Taylor Road gives me the impression that this is a separate project.

Rezoning the land off of Talor Road for Hampstead has already been approved and is centered on connection to Taylor Road directly; it doesn't touch Ray Thorington Road. But this new development is centered on connection to Ray Thorington Road...both sides of it.

Hampstead is said to be built on just over 400 acres with about 1700 dwellings. This new project is said to be built on just over 1,444 acres with about 3500 dwellings.

Although Ray Thorington and Taylor Roads are in the same area of the city, is this a different development or simply an expanded Hampstead? :shrug:

thoraudio

03-27-2006, 12:56 PM

Article about the city possibly buying properties on Dexter Ave. The Farrior Company lists almost all the properties that are available down there, and apparantly they belong mostly to 1 guy. And he wants wayyyyyyy too much.

Asking price for the Kress building is $1.3 for 32,000 sq. ft... and little to no use as offices or residential...

City may take over property

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Mayor Bobby Bright wants to remove the blight from Dexter Avenue and said he is willing to use city money and even eminent domain to take control of several buildings if the owners continue to hold onto their property and allow it to deteriorate.

"If we do not strike a deal with landowners, our downtown heart could be in limbo for years to come," he said.

Bright said there must be a "happy medium" between the rights of property owners and growth of the community.

"Eminent domain has been used in the past to deal with unreasonable people," he said.

As downtown revitalization continues around Dexter Avenue, the street remains stagnant with little investment from private developers. Several current owners purchased the buildings as an investment and are holding onto them as downtown property values rise, Bright said.

"It hurts the overall growth of downtown," the mayor added.

Bright said property owners are trying to sell the buildings for several times the market rate.

"It is a burden on our growth," he said. "It deters developers from coming into our downtown areas."

Last year, the Legislature created a law that prevents local governments from seizing property for retail, economic or housing purposes. It does not address neglected property.

Bright said some of the buildings are not up to city standards and likely could be declared blighted and subsequently condemned.

The mayor said he would never take property someone lived in, but is willing to use eminent domain on deteriorating business property in vital locations.

"No one lives there. They are boarded up," he said.

The real estate agents listed for those properties could not be reached late last week.

Councilman Willie Cook, who sponsored a resolution last year against seizing private property for private enterprise and development, said he hopes the mayor has no intention of doing that. He said council members have voiced their opposition to it.

Cook said the city has shown no interest in using any statutory authority to renovate and invigorate vacant and decaying structures in the western and southern portions of the city.

"The city of Montgomery is doing so much already to revitalize the downtown area," he said. "I think some attention must be paid to other areas of the city that need to be revitalized also."

Bright would prefer to purchase buildings along Dexter Avenue and lease them at a reduced amount. He said the city would maintain control of those buildings so city leaders would have control over their future.

"Then we can monitor how they are maintained in the future," he said.

Bright said the city is exploring the purchase of buildings along Dexter Avenue, but noted the property owners are asking high prices and then expect the purchaser to spend even more to repair the dilapidated buildings.

"Improving an old building is expensive," he said.

For the price of the renovation, Bright said businesses could construct a new building elsewhere.

bystander1

03-27-2006, 10:22 PM

I say take the buildings and take names! :whip:

thoraudio

03-28-2006, 04:20 PM

supposed to go see the Kress building and maybe a couple more tomorrow afternoon.... Taking the camera of course :)

thoraudio

04-01-2006, 01:34 PM

Riverfront

City to unveil riverfront

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

The heart of Montgomery's riverfront transformation will be ready for visitors early this summer.

After years of planning and construction, Mayor Bobby Bright and other officials are delighted to know people soon will be able to see the progress.

The phase that will open first will include the amphitheater, a pavilion and 540 feet of riverfront access, including a portion that extends several feet over the Alabama River. People can fish from the riverfront, picnic on the grass or just enjoy a view of the river.

"It's going to be one of the nicer riverwalks around," said Terry Jordan, the city's project coordinator for the riverwalk construction.

The amphitheater will be ready for an April 22 country music concert, the Riverwalk Jazz and Blues Fest on April 28 and 29 and for Jubilee CityFest in late May.

Jordan said the riverfront will "be dressed up and looking nice" for the events.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20060401&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=604010317&Ref=AR&Profile=1007&MaxW=300

DruidCity

04-01-2006, 01:46 PM

Montgomerians, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the amphitheater ?

We're considering one up here, but there's some doubt in the community whether it would draw well enough to justify using such a prime piece of riverfront property for it ?

How many concerts/events does Montgomery's amphitheater expect to attract per year ? How much did it cost to build ? Thanks !

bystander1

04-01-2006, 02:19 PM

This will really be the first year that the amphitheater has had true event coordination for its usage. It has been there for a couple of years now but the events put on there have been few and far between.

It has had a few "Battle of the Bands" shows where local artists compete for spots in the Jubilee Cityfest music festival. It was a great venue for Cityfest one year. It has also been used for ballets, orchestras, and a play. During the summer months the city sponsored "family movie night" on Fridays where they showed OLD movies on the big screen for free while families could have pinics on the lawn.

So far this year, there are about three concerts scheduled this spring when it reopens after some major construction. The new marketing efforts seem to be going pretty good from what I've heard, but I don't know much more about that.

I don't know exactly how much it cost because it was included with the total cost of the riverfront project ($M's).

thoraudio

04-05-2006, 01:43 PM

Yadayadayada... I know, Wal-Mart = Satan (or the preferred anti-deity of your choice).

Some local communities have given tons of incentives for a Wal-mart to open, but Montgomery hasn't... yet. And you know what? I have 0 problem with them doing it for west Montgomery.

West side may get Wal-Mart

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Mayor Bobby Bright said he expects west Montgomery to land one of the new stores that Wal-Mart will open in neighborhoods with high crime and low employment.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Tuesday a new initiative to build 50 more stores in the next two years in struggling neighborhoods, on sites that are environmentally contaminated or in vacant malls or buildings.

"This further verifies the fact they intend to back up what they were telling me, that they intend to hunt a place in west Montgomery to locate a new store," Bright said.

He said Montgomery is not confirmed as one of the 50 sites, but he would be disappointed if the city was not included.

Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott said the stores will generate 15,000 to 25,000 new jobs and could generate more than $100 million in state and local tax revenue.

Bright talked with Wal-Mart officials nearly a month ago about his concerns with a new store planned along Chantilly Parkway and asked them to build a store in west Montgomery, where retail is scarce.

Bright said he has several locations in mind and is willing to discuss them with Wal-Mart officials.

"They committed to be much better corporate residents than they had been in the past," Bright said. "We will see in next couple of months if they intend to follow up here in Montgomery and I certainly hope they do. This is a positive indicator they plan to do what they said they would do."

The city did not offer incentives to the other Wal-Marts, but Bright said he is willing to offer incentives to Wal-Mart or any other business willing to locate in older, established neighborhoods in need of retail.

"We have some good people in some older neighborhoods that really need access to retail," the mayor said.

Scott said the initiative is expected to create jobs and help smaller business establishments in the struggling communities.

Ten of the new stores will include "Wal-Mart Jobs and Opportunity Zones" intended to help local businesses including those operated by women and minorities. They will offer grants though local chambers of commerce, free advertising and seminars on how to conduct business near Wal-Mart.

The first of the 10 sites opened in Chicago on Tuesday. The other locations have not been announced.

Wal-Mart has plans to open between 335 and 370 new U.S. stores this year and opened 341 last year. Corporate officials have said they believe there is room for more than 1,500 additional stores throughout the nation in coming years to add to the 3,200 currently in operation.

The initiative is one of several by the corporation to combat opposition and attacks from unions and organized critics.

"If they don't want to continue to be accused of a lot of things, this is a prime opportunity to prove a lot of us skeptics wrong," Bright said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.