[RSAHort]

Does anyone have any idea about what will become of this place now that it has closed and being sold to developers? I will miss the restaurant aka 'the pudding palace' as it was called here at work. Best fried chicken and turnip greens in town IMHO.

[bystander1]

It'd be a really nice place for a skyscraper...

[OCA REP]

The pedestrian bridge linking the intermodal facility and Montgomery's riverfront was installed yesterday according to this story in the Montgomery Advertiser:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20091113/NEWS01/911130311/Building-a-bridge-Structure-will-link-riverfront-to-intermodal-facility

Building a bridge: Structure will link riverfront to intermodal facility
By Jill Nolin • November 13, 2009

A pedestrian bridge, the last major piece of the intermodal project, is in place, and Montgomery officials say it could be open for traffic in three months.

A large crane helped install the 60,000-pound bridge Thursday afternoon, attracting more than a few curious spectators.

The installation of the 126-foot bridge required not only a crane, but considerable patience. Workers had to wait on three trains to pass before the train traffic could be stopped long enough for the bridge to be lifted and slowly, carefully eased into place.

Stopping train traffic, even briefly, is a significant problem on tracks that see about 70 trains on a typical day.

The pedestrian bridge, which goes over the train tracks, now connects the five-level observation tower on the riverfront with the intermodal facility on Molton Street. Once it's open to the public, it will be the third access point to the city's riverfront.

City Engineer Patrick Dunson said this will be the ideal way for people to enter the riverfront because they will be able to leave their car in the parking deck, walk across the bridge and then down the tower to the riverfront.

Right now, the primary way to get to the riverfront is through the tunnel at Commerce Street. During many events, the fence at the end of Coosa Street is also opened.

The entire project, including the construction of the parking deck and bus station, has cost $17 million. The construction of the tower, including the bridge, has cost $3.7 million.

The bridge and the observation tower will both be lighted in a way that will add a new effect to the riverfront landscape.

"It's going to be real pretty when it's done," said Terry Jordan, project coordinator for the city.

Waiting for a few trains to pass has not been the only test for the workers' patience. When the work first started in 2007, work was delayed when crews found massive rocks underground that were 20 to 40 feet in diameter. Officials believed at the time that the rocks were placed there in 19th century to keep the Alabama River from eroding the shoreline.

It took workers weeks and weeks to construct the foundation because pilings had to be driven deep into the ground -- some of them as much as 70 feet into the ground.

"It took me more than a month just to put the foundation in. Well over a month," Jordan said, adding that the actual construction of the observation tower started about 10 months ago.

There are several finishing touches that still must be done. Two of those chores will be pouring a five-inch concrete topping on the walkway of the bridge -- doing so before installation would have made the bridge unnecessarily heavy -- and a mesh will be put on the openings of the tower for safety reasons.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=1&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=2&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=3&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=4&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=5&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=6&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=7&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=8&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=9&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=10&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20091112&Category=COMMUNITIES010305&ArtNo=911120803&Ref=PH&Item=11&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

[Capital Heights]

There is a new Country & Western bar opening on Lower Dexter Avenue. It is called "Buddy's".

[bystander1]

There is a new Country & Western bar opening on Lower Dexter Avenue. It is called "Buddy's".

Is it going to be in the building on the corner of Dexter and Perry Street? There's been some renovation activity going on there for at least the last couple of months.

[Capital Heights]

Is it going to be in the building on the corner of Dexter and Perry Street? There's been some renovation activity going on there for at least the last couple of months.

Naw.....It is going in where Off The Wagon used to be. I wish I knew what is going in the buildings you are speaking of.

[hiijakd]

hey,
im moving into the fire house in cottage hills. rented out all my places. :banana:
gotta do lots of cosmetic stuff, but i'm excited

[tsully76]

Thats awesome to hear you rented out all of your places and now working and living in the firehouse i know you will do an awesome job. Look forward to seeing it when its finished my friend.

[bystander1]

Naw.....It is going in where Off The Wagon used to be.

Where Off the Wagon used to be?! What happened?

[bystander1]

hey,
im moving into the fire house in cottage hills. rented out all my places. :banana:
gotta do lots of cosmetic stuff, but i'm excited

That's great news! Congrats.

I passed by the fire house the other day and saw a lot of boxes inside and some policemen walking in and out of there. Were they using it for storage possibly?

[Capital Heights]

Hiijakd: It is good to hear from you. I thought you might have fallen off the face of the earth.

[Scoots71]

Montgomery City Council to ask Legislature to allow entertainment districts
BY JILL NOLIN • NOVEMBER 18, 2009

The Montgomery City Council is asking the Alabama Legis lature to allow it to create city areas, called "entertainment districts," where people can le gally walk around with open containers of alcoholic bever­ages.

Not originally on the agenda Tuesday night, the resolution asking the Montgomery legisla tive delegation to sponsor a bill allowing the city to create the districts was introduced and passed unanimously. Mayor Todd Strange proposed the reso lution.

The resolution says that the city is "actively working to be an established destination and gathering place for tourism and entertainment" and that the en tertainment districts would "en courage economic, cultural and social life" in Montgomery.

The entertainment districts, meant to spur economic devel opment opportunities, are being considered for areas such as downtown, Old Cloverdale and EastChase, according to Strange.

Strange said the city would likely start with one district, but he said an actual area has not been determined at this time.

The City Council would pin point districts and define the boundaries of a district, and those areas would be carefully selected, Strange said.

Strange likened the districts to the new Entertainment Ex press trolley routes. If the trolley routes are successful, they will be expanded to other parts of the city. For now, the trolleys serve Old Cloverdale and Maxwell Air Force Base.

Currently, if someone buys an alcoholic drink at one busi ness, they cannot leave that business and go somewhere else with that drink. If they do, they are violating an Alabama Alco holic Beverage Control Board rule.

The City Council is asking the Legislature to give Mont gomery the ability to make ex ceptions to that rule.

This issue was brought to the city's attention because of the pub crawls in downtown Mont gomery and because of issues at businesses located in or near The Alley.

Dreamland Bar-B-Que, for example, was allowed to serve alcoholic drinks inside but not outside because The Alley is public property. The city made an arrangement with the busi­ness where it leases a portion of The Alley, enabling Dreamland to serve drinks outside.

Instead of "piece-mealing" the situation in this way, Strange said he wants to address the issue comprehensively.

Hence, the entertainment district concept, which would mean creating one large enter tainment area for consumers, Strange said.

"It's all about generating rev enue," Strange said after the meeting Tuesday.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Uh oh, your metropolitan is showing.

Good work :cheers:

[Dyingyak]

Uh oh, your metropolitan is showing.

Good work :cheers:

Not if the Baptists have anything to do with it! ;)

[floc34]

This would be great for Montgomery, I was just there this past weekend for Faulkners Homecoming, and the downtown area looks great. It would be great also to see bars/shops along lower Dexter Ave similar to Mill Ave here in PHX.

[quattordici]

I don't know if this is new, or if I just haven't noticed it, but I like the lighting on the RSA tower in downtown. On my way to Panama City from Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night, I looked up and saw some very powerful lights projecting a HUGE column of light up into the sky. It was like looking at the pyramid in Las Vegas, or the twin tower lights in New York.

If it was just me, and this really didn't occur, RSA should definitely look into doing it. Seems like it'd be pretty bad ass to see that column of light 20 miles away on I 65 as you drive south. Sort of like a subliminal advertisement for downtown.

[OCA REP]

I don't know if this is new, or if I just haven't noticed it, but I like the lighting on the RSA tower in downtown. On my way to Panama City from Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night, I looked up and saw some very powerful lights projecting a HUGE column of light up into the sky. It was like looking at the pyramid in Las Vegas, or the twin tower lights in New York.

If it was just me, and this really didn't occur, RSA should definitely look into doing it. Seems like it'd be pretty bad ass to see that column of light 20 miles away on I 65 as you drive south. Sort of like a subliminal advertisement for downtown.

As nouveau_Mauvilla so eloquently put it... it was just our "metropolitan showing." :)

[Brown Duckz]

I don't know if this is new, or if I just haven't noticed it, but I like the lighting on the RSA tower in downtown. On my way to Panama City from Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night, I looked up and saw some very powerful lights projecting a HUGE column of light up into the sky. It was like looking at the pyramid in Las Vegas, or the twin tower lights in New York.

If it was just me, and this really didn't occur, RSA should definitely look into doing it. Seems like it'd be pretty bad ass to see that column of light 20 miles away on I 65 as you drive south. Sort of like a subliminal advertisement for downtown.
You may be talking about the lighting coming from MPAC which is on the convention-hotel property.

[quattordici]

You may be talking about the lighting coming from MPAC which is on the convention-hotel property.

Haha, no, I assure you. This outstanding beam of light was being emitted from the RSA tower. I drove all over downtown that night.

[RSAHort]

Its not new. There are alot of lights around the tower. Most of the larger ones are on the roof of the 2nd floor and behind the gold shields near the roof. There are different lighting schemes depending on the night of the week. Some nights all of them are on and that is probably what you saw.

[bystander1]

This would be great for Montgomery, I was just there this past weekend for Faulkners Homecoming, and the downtown area looks great. It would be great also to see bars/shops along lower Dexter Ave similar to Mill Ave here in PHX.

I think you will begin to see more happening along Dexter Ave soon...especially with $5 million in streetscaping coming up.

[bystander1]

I'm unloading my camera with some pics I took early one Sunday morning of the new RSA Judicial Building going up downtown, and some other miscellaneous pics. Enjoy!



From a distance, to the left.

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20002.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20003.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20005.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20007.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20006.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20013.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20014.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20015.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20016.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20018.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20022.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20023.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20024.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20031.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20032.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20033.jpg



The pedestrian bridge has been installed...

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20009.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20010.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20011.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20008.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20019.jpg

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20025.jpg

[floc34]

Thanks for sharing your pics, Montgomery is still one of my favorite cities to visit....

[Dyingyak]

I'm unloading my camera with some pics I took early one Sunday morning of the new RSA Judicial Building going up downtown, and some other miscellaneous pics. Enjoy!

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20014.jpg


I really hope this new building doesn't destroy the visual site lines of Dexter Ave.

[OldCloverdale]

old view:

http://blog.al.com/bn/2007/12/medium_rsabldga1223.jpg


future view:

http://blog.al.com/bn/2007/12/medium_rsabldgb1223.jpg


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a37/expatbaman/Montgomery/RSA_Dexter.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a37/expatbaman/Montgomery/RSA_Judicial_front.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a37/expatbaman/Montgomery/RSA_Judicial_North1.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a37/expatbaman/Montgomery/RSA_Judicial_East1.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a37/expatbaman/Montgomery/RSA_Judicial_West1.jpg

[quattordici]

I really don't think it'll be THAT big of a distraction. It seems that it is set back far enough from Dexter that it might even look like it's on another street.

[OCA REP]

I really hope this new building doesn't destroy the visual site lines of Dexter Ave.

It does not matter... it WILL have a negative impact on the view, but RSA was able to bypass the rules, etc. and get whatever they wanted to build approved. I did like the initial specs for the building, but just not right on Dexter Avenue that close to the Capitol.

[Dyingyak]

It does not matter... it WILL have a negative impact on the view, but RSA was able to bypass the rules, etc. and get whatever they wanted to build approved.

Sadly...any "state" agency can do whatever they want, where ever they want on state-owned property. Sad commentary in my opinion because the wants of any state agency are not always those of the community...obviously because the RSA doesn't have to follow the SmartCode in downtown Montgomery.

I did like the initial specs for the building, but just not right on Dexter Avenue that close to the Capitol.

Agreed...I think it's a good looking building, just don't like the presence along Dexter.

[ttownfeen]

Looks nice. What is this building for?

[quattordici]

Sadly...any "state" agency can do whatever they want, where ever they want on state-owned property. Sad commentary in my opinion because the wants of any state agency are not always those of the community...obviously because the RSA doesn't have to follow the SmartCode in downtown Montgomery.

RSA isn't a state agency. But, they do get treated as such.

[bystander1]

I really don't think it'll be THAT big of a distraction. It seems that it is set back far enough from Dexter that it might even look like it's on another street.

Yes, I agree. It will still be the same ol' view up Dexter Ave.

[Dyingyak]

RSA isn't a state agency. But, they do get treated as such.

Sure looks like it is to me...on the state's list of state agencies.

http://info.alabama.gov/directory.aspx?range=5&fs=

[quattordici]

Sure looks like it is to me...on the state's list of state agencies.

http://info.alabama.gov/directory.aspx?range=5&fs=

Hmmmm, guess I was wrong. I'd always heard that it was a private entity.

[thoraudio]

Hmmmm, guess I was wrong. I'd always heard that it was a private entity.

It's quasi-governmental. Just independent enough to keep the legislature's hands off the money.

[bystander1]

You forgot one word...


It's quasi-governmental. Just independent enough to keep the legislature's grubby hands off the money.

[Dyingyak]

It's quasi-governmental.

There are entirely to many of those entities this state!

[Dyingyak]

from today's Advertiser:

Historic clock returns to downtown Montgomery

A clock is changing time, helping downtown's past be­come part of its future.

City Officials hope the return of the old Klein & Son clock to its original location at the corner of South Court Street and Dexter Avenue will be a pivotal mo­ment in the redevelopment of the currently distressed lower Dexter Avenue area.

"This is the beginning of the revitalization effort of this street," Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said during a dedi­cation ceremony Tuesday morn­ing.

While the investment of en­ergy and money in the river­front is starting to pay off, the city has tried without success so far to jumpstart the revitaliza­tion of one of the most historic streets in the country.

City planners hope the ener­gy that is building on the river­front revitalization, which in­cludes the Alley, Riverwalk Stadium and the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center, will expand to take in Dexter Avenue. Strange said this would be a "natural extension" of the revi­talization on the riverfront.

Ken Reynolds, the city's re­tail development coordinator, said development interest con­cerning Dexter Avenue is begin­ning to brew. There are two businesses -- a restaurant and an Internet café -- that current­ly are negotiating the terms of lease agreements for locations on Dexter Avenue. He also noted that three buildings currently are being renovated.

Reynolds said he thought the clock would be a focal point for Dexter Avenue, much as the wa­ter tower has been for the Alley. But the water tower's relocation from atop a building in the Low­er Commerce Historic District to the sidewalk was controver­sial. The clock's return to its original location has earned nothing but praise.

While it remains to be seen if the clock will be a catalyst for re­vitalization on Dexter Avenue, for Montgomerians it is already rekindling memories of when it was a significant landmark in the city's bustling downtown.

There have been marriage proposals under the clock. There have been historic moments, many captured in photos with the 15-foot-tall clock in the background. There have been many people who showed up on time because of that four-face clock.

Now the clock is back for round two of memory-making. Its return may even bring back the tradition of meeting up with friends and family at the clock at Klein's.

"It is a great pleasure for our family to donate the clock (to the city)," Bill Heilpern said during the dedication ceremony. "It's back where it needed to be."

The clock was moved in 1986 when Heilpern moved the store from Eastdale Mall to Zelda Road. City crews moved the clock from Zelda Road to 1 Dext­er Ave. on Monday and were able to use the old wiring to pow­er the clock.

Heilpern donated the clock, which would cost about $100,000 to replicate today, because he is moving the store from the Zelda Road location to EastChase. He hopes to open that location this month.

Good job moving the clock to Court Square...to bad he didn't move his business back downtown as well.

[bystander1]

Good job moving the clock to Court Square...to bad he didn't move his business back downtown as well.

For real.

The internet cafe' will be a nice addition to Dexter, along with the new "Buddy's". Isn't that going to be the "western beer bar"?

[philopdx]

I'm unloading my camera with some pics I took early one Sunday morning of the new RSA Judicial Building going up downtown, and some other miscellaneous pics. Enjoy!

From a distance, to the left.

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20006.jpg

The pedestrian bridge has been installed...

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/Picturejdb%20009.jpg



Even though I was born and raised in the gump, I'm still positively stunned that there are leaves on the trees as of Dec 2nd, and many of those leaves are still green. Our leaves in the Pac-NW have been gone for weeks! And it was 12 degrees here two days ago. Yowza!

Although I consider myself to be by far the harshest critic of Montgomery on these boards, I am mightily impressed by the pedestrian bridge. It, along with the alley and the proposed changes to Madison (and Dexter?) Avenues, are finally something you guys got right.

Bronner's hideous white elephant, however, is another matter.

[quattordici]

Even though I was born and raised in the gump, I'm still positively stunned that there are leaves on the trees as of Dec 2nd, and many of those leaves are still green. Our leaves in the Pac-NW have been gone for weeks! And it was 12 degrees here two days ago. Yowza!

Although I consider myself to be by far the harshest critic of Montgomery on these boards, I am mightily impressed by the pedestrian bridge. It, along with the alley and the proposed changes to Madison (and Dexter?) Avenues are finally something you guys got right.

Bronner's hideous white elephant, however, is another matter.

The entire state has been slow to lose its leaves. The trees in my yard in North Alabama JUST got finished shedding. BUT, last night it got down to 19 degrees in Decatur.

Of course, some of the trees you see in those pictures might be pines, magnolias, or live oaks, which don't lose their leaves.

[philopdx]

The entire state has been slow to lose its leaves. The trees in my yard in North Alabama JUST got finished shedding. BUT, last night it got down to 19 degrees in Decatur.

Of course, some of the trees you see in those pictures might be pines, magnolias, or live oaks, which don't lose their leaves.

The differences in vegetation are striking, and more so for me since I've been gone. I do see a few live oaks in the pics above, but I was referring the the lime-green color of those.... whatever those other trees are. Maples? :haha:

Another thing I have not gotten used to is the price differential in Christmas trees. I remember a good 7 or 8 foot real tree in Montgomery would run $70, maybe $90 bucks. Out here, of course, we are surrounded by Spruces and Firs so extremely opulent Christmas trees are a pittance. My boss told me his 17-foot tree cost....$24. Gotta love Portland! :tup:

I am very sorry for turning this into a botanist's thread. Back to buildings!

[OldCloverdale]

The Montgomery City Council will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the council chamber.


Prayer by Councillor Cornelius "C.C." Calhoun or guest


Pledge of Allegiance


Approval of December 1, 2009 Work Session Minutes


Approval of December 1, 2009 Regular Council Meeting Minutes


Mayor's Message


Special Committee Reports


Public Communications on Agenda Items (To address the Council during this time, the Roster must be signed before meeting begins indicating agenda item number to be discussed.)


OLD BUSINESS


1. Application for a Lounge Retail Liquor - Class I License by Antoine Gillespie Green, d/b/a Da Shot House, 1700 Bell Street.


2. Application for a Lounge Retail Liquor - Class I License by Phylesia Diana Lambert, d/b/a Greenboy Arcade, 536 Mobile Street.


NEW BUSINESS


3. Application for a Lounge Retail Liquor - Class I License by Buddys Bar and Grill LLC, d/b/a Buddys, 62 Dexter Avenue.


4. Application for a Restaurant Retail Liquor License by Robert Baumhower, d/b/a Baumhower's Restaurant, 2465 Eastern Boulevard.


5. Application for a Restaurant Retail Liquor License by Hurricane Entertainment LLC, d/b/a Key Largo Bar and Grill, 1343 Dalraida Road.


6. Resolution reappointing George H. Cox to the Parks and Recreation Board by Councillor Smith.


7. Resolution reappointing Scott Miller to the Board of Trustees - Retirement Fund by Councillor Pruitt.


8. Resolution reappointing James E. Vice, Jr. to the Parks and Recreation Board by Councillor Pruitt.


9. Resolution declaring public nuisances, authorizing immediate abatement and assessing the cost of abatement of public nuisances on various lots pursuant to Ordinance No. 34-2009.


10. Council as a Committee.


11. Public Communications on Non-Agenda Items (To address the Council during this time, the City Clerk must have been contacted prior to Noon Monday)

[bystander1]

Great move. Baumhower's Wings will be moving across the street into the old Smokey Bones building. It's much larger.

I wonder if Buddy's will have live bands like 'Off The Wagon' had?

[OldCloverdale]

December 21, 2009


Montgomery officials waiting to assess trolley's impact (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20091221/NEWS01/912210317/1007/rss02)

By Jill Nolin

The city's new trolley routes, the Entertainment Express, have been well received by Maxwell Air Force Base, but interest has been lukewarm in Old Cloverdale.

City officials hope that will change once the weather warms and the Biscuits baseball season starts up again in the spring.

Mayor Todd Strange said he would want to wait a full six months before assessing the routes and considering any changes.

But the mayor did say he was pleased with the participation at Maxwell, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of the total ridership so far.

"That is as important as anything -- to get Maxwell downtown and to Cloverdale," Strange said.

The Entertainment Express, which started in early November, replaced the lunch trolley in downtown Montgomery. Whereas the lunch trolley had a relatively strong start-up ridership that died off, city officials hope ridership on the Entertainment Express might start slow but will pick up over time.

So far, the trolleys are picking up an average of 100 people each week, with the trolleys running from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

In November, 475 people rode the trolley. For the first two weekends in December, 186 people have boarded the trolleys, which connect Old Cloverdale and Maxwell to downtown.

Friday is typically the night with the highest ridership, according to Kelvin Miller, general manager for the Montgomery Area Transit System. This past weekend was the exception, with it being the first time that Friday was not the strongest night.

The breakdown: 33 people rode Thursday, Dec. 10, 12 on Friday, Dec. 11, and six Saturday, Dec. 12.

"Friday night is the most popular night. The large majority of ridership is coming from Maxwell, and it seems the folks at Maxwell are going out on Friday night more than they are on any other night," Miller said.

Miller said he was not surprised by Maxwell's interest because Maxwell has a high concentration of people and many of those people do not have their own vehicle or do not have access to a vehicle.

"What we're thinking is, come springtime, that we may get a lot more riders. Wintertime doesn't seem to spur people to go out and do things," Miller said.

Miller said the time could be adjusted at some point, but it is not clear right now how it might change. Some people complain that the trolleys start up too late in the evening; others complain that the trolleys stop running too early, Miller said. And whatever change is made must stay within budget.

Additional Facts
FIND OUT MORE
To find out when an Entertainment Express trolley will be at a pick-up point, call 262-7356.

[OldCloverdale]

December 20, 2009


East Boulevard business owners: City too focused on downtown (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20091220/BUSINESS/912200329/1007/news01/East-Boulevard-business-owners-City-too-focused-on-downtown)

By Cosby Woodruff

The thought of another downtown pub crawl makes Vince Saele's skin crawl.

Saele owns Rock Bottom American Pub on East Boul­evard, and he is perhaps the most vocal of a group of busi­ness owners who feel that their tax dollars are unfairly supporting competing estab­lishments. As the Alley itself is owned by the city of Mont­gomery, Saele worries too much attention is being fo­cused on the businesses there.

The businesses are inde­pendent, but Saele worries that the city partnership in the project is unfair.

City spokeswoman Carol Gunter insisted that is not the case.

"It is just what is going on downtown is new," she said. "Having a vibrant down­town helps the whole city. It helps bring money to the city by bringing conventions downtown."

Saele insists he is not anti-downtown or anti-Alley.

"I pay for my own promo­tions, so the businesses there should pay for their promo­tions," he said.

He is particularly upset by a shuttle that carries week­end revelers to and from Maxwell Air Force Base, downtown and the Clo­verdale entertainment dis­trict. He fears the shuttle will make other areas more attractive to one of his top sources of clients.

"The military is good to us," he said. "We get a lot of our customers from the mili­tary."

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said the shuttle, called the Entertainment Ex­press, is a service to the ma­jor area for revelers.

"We can't do a private shuttle to every entertain­ment venue in this city," he said.

Saele agreed that down­town needed revitalizing, but said it should have been a gradual process, not one primed by tax dollars. And as badly as downtown needed revitalization, he said the segment of the Boulevard be­tween Troy Highway and In­terstate 85 will soon be in the same shape if it is neglected.

His business, a daytime restaurant and nighttime party spot, filled a building left empty by a national chain eatery. Within a cou­ple of miles of his place, he sees several other restaurant buildings once filled by na­tional casual chains sitting empty. Retailers, from small shops to big-box stores, also are closing along the once-thriving shopping district.

Saele fears that without support from the city, that part of the Boulevard will come to resemble the stretch between Troy Highway and I-65. That is part of another revitalization effort at the city, and Saele worries that is more costly than support­ing existing businesses.

One of Saele's neighbors, Don Parker of Baumhower's Restaurant, shares his con­cerns to a point.

"It would be wonderful to have the support the Alley gets," he said. "The Alley brought a change to that part of town, but any support would be appreciated."

Strange praised the com­pany for expanding in the city and said that is what makes business work.

"Government can't do ev­erything," he said. "What we can do is provide the infra­structure to allow entrepre­neurs to grow their business­es."

Strange compared owning the Alley, which he called a pedestrian walkway, to the roads in front of businesses on the Boulevard.

Gunter pointed out the Al­ley's location near down­town convention facilities and lodging, but Saele in­sisted that the I-85/Boulevard interchange still has the largest concentra­tion of hotel rooms in Mont­gomery.

"Some of my best market­ing comes when a guest goes to the front desk and asks where to eat," he said.

One of his biggest worries is getting squeezed between two popular entertainment areas. Not only do Boulevard business owners have an eye on downtown, they also watch with growing frustra­tion as retailers pull up roots and move to the EastChase area.

Saele knows that enter­tainment establishments will follow the retail custom­ers, and he worries tourists will be directed to the down­town area. That means the Boulevard, already in early stages of decline, will find it­self spiraling out of control, he worries.

"I don't want it to become one giant eyesore," he said.

Gunter asked for patience from business owners in oth­er parts of Montgomery.

"We know it appears we are ignoring them, but that is not it at all," she said. "We are working on stuff all over Montgomery.

"The Boulevard is an area that Montgomery wants to see keep retailers in there."

[OldCloverdale]

December 20, 2009


Baumhower's chooses to stay close to home (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20091220/BUSINESS/912200330/1007/news01)

By Cosby Woodruff

Baumhower's was a favor­ite eating spot on the East Boulevard before a series of national casual restaurants opened, then closed.

When the restaurant real­ized it would not be able to work out an expiring lease at its current location, it be­gan scouting for new spots. It looked at the hot locations -- Prattville and EastChase -- before deciding on an abandoned restaurant build­ing almost directly across the Boulevard.

Baumhower's will close its original Montgomery lo­cation at the end of today's business and on Tuesday open in a former Smokey Bones location on the other side of the Boulevard. Com­pany owner Bob Baumhow­er decided that the restau­rant would stay on the Boulevard for a number of reasons, according to gener­al manager Don Parker.

That doesn't mean it is closing the door on the rest of the River Region. In fact, Baumhower's plans a down­town location, in the new RSA headquarters building, to open in the first quarter of 2010.

The Alabama-based chain came to Montgomery as Baumhower's Wings Sports Grille. It will change its name to Baumhower's Res­taurant to reflect an expand­ing menu, Parker said.

"That just reflects the changing of the brand," he said.

That location will focus on breakfast and lunch for workers in the downtown area. The Boulevard loca­tion will focus on lunch, din­ner and the early party crowd.

Parker pointed to the traf­fic passing in front of his building recently and said that it still has one of the best daily vehicle counts of any spot in the city. He also said the company just didn't want to be part of the mass exodus from the area.

"Bob decided he would like to stay on the Boule­vard," he said.

"We were afraid we would get lost in a move."

The building, which will seat about 270, is expected to open at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

[Capital Heights]

From Montgomery Advertiser:

Plasma plant presents powerful possibilities for Montgomery
By Jill Nolin • jnolin@gannett.com • December 26, 2009


HUNTSVILLE -- Montgomery envisions a green future, both because it may help the area become one of the most environmentally friendly in the country and because it could save millions of dollars in the process.
Montgomery is trying to do this by becoming the first city in the country to embrace what could literally be one of the nation's hottest technologies.
Using temperatures as high as 3,200 degrees Fahrenheit, a plasma gasification plant could potentially convert up to 175,000 tons of household waste into energy or reusable byproducts -- both of which can be sold for profit.
The temperatures used in the process are so high that proponents of the plant are saying it could recycle virtually all the city's garbage, as long as it was not hazardous waste.
The plant could also save Montgomery millions while weaning it off of a landfill. But while it could be good for the environment and for the city's budget, it could also mean a plump return for investors willing to fund the cutting edge technology.
If the plant was built here, it would make Montgomery the first city in the world to use graphite arc plasma to gasify household waste.
And, other than a slight release of sodium chloride, which is what makes up table salt, the tests conducted have not revealed any other potential threat to the environment.

[quattordici]

From Montgomery Advertiser:

Plasma plant presents powerful possibilities for Montgomery
By Jill Nolin • jnolin@gannett.com • December 26, 2009


HUNTSVILLE -- Montgomery envisions a green future, both because it may help the area become one of the most environmentally friendly in the country and because it could save millions of dollars in the process.
Montgomery is trying to do this by becoming the first city in the country to embrace what could literally be one of the nation's hottest technologies.
Using temperatures as high as 3,200 degrees Fahrenheit, a plasma gasification plant could potentially convert up to 175,000 tons of household waste into energy or reusable byproducts -- both of which can be sold for profit.
The temperatures used in the process are so high that proponents of the plant are saying it could recycle virtually all the city's garbage, as long as it was not hazardous waste.
The plant could also save Montgomery millions while weaning it off of a landfill. But while it could be good for the environment and for the city's budget, it could also mean a plump return for investors willing to fund the cutting edge technology.
If the plant was built here, it would make Montgomery the first city in the world to use graphite arc plasma to gasify household waste.
And, other than a slight release of sodium chloride, which is what makes up table salt, the tests conducted have not revealed any other potential threat to the environment.

Sounds like an awesome opportunity for the city and state. If this is successful, it would make Montgomery VERY appealing as a green industrial center, not to mention the benefits for BOTH Birmingham and Montgomery.

[OldCloverdale]

December 28, 2009

Recyclers undeterred: Some Montgomery residents continue practice despite overall drop in participation (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20091228/NEWS01/912280308/1007/rss02)

By Jill Nolin

It's a most unnatural deed for Donna Farrior, but if she must, she will throw away her plastic bottles -- for now.

The Montgomery resident has recycled in her home for so long that it has become a lifestyle for her. She recycles everything that the city's new recycling program will accept.

But Farrior is in the minority.

When Montgomery ended its curbside recycling program because of budget cuts this year, it also ended the recycling ef­forts of the majority of Montgomery households. Since the city stopped pickups it is estimated that the number of house­holds that recycle in the city has dropped from about 21,000 to about 3,000.

It hasn't dissuaded Farrior, who uses cloth bags when she buys groceries, drinks water from a glass instead of plastic bot­tles, and yes, still recycles.

"I still recycle. The hardest thing is just remembering which Saturday to get it up there (to the drop-off location)," said Far­rior, who lives off of Carter Hill Road in the midtown area. (Mount Scrap will take No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, but that would re­quire Farrior to make a special trip for just plastic bottles.)

For Farrior, recycling is engrained in her. So when the city ended its curbside recycling program, which started in 1989, she adjusted and continued to recycle. She collects the recyclable items in her garage and drops them off at Dannelly Elemen­tary School on Carter Hill Road on the first and third Saturdays.

Al Cantrell, who owns Al's Flowers in the Mulberry business district, was simi­larly undeterred -- although disappointed -- when the city nixed curbside recycling.

"I am a recycling freak. I recycle every­thing," he said. "I just feel like it's the right thing to do. I don't feel like we al­ways need to make a decision money-wise."

"(The trash) isn't going anywhere. I'm just real, real adamant about it. We need to be recycling for the future generations and for the world," Cantrell said.

Not all of Cantrell's friends are as de­voted. When recycling meant holding onto the recyclable items for a couple weeks, if not longer sometimes, and then driving to a drop-off location, some lost interest.

Farrior and Cantrell are among the avid recycling participants who have followed the city from the curbside program to the drop-off system that replaced it. But that move has lost many of the other partici­pants who would recycle when recycling was as convenient as putting items in a bag and putting it by the road.

Whereas about 30 percent of Mont­gomery's 70,000 households, or roughly about 21,000 households, participated in the curbside recycling program, only about 3,000 people are now bringing their recycl­able items at one of the city's drop-off points, according to Susan Carmichael, program director.

"The participation was there, especial­ly in the east," she said. "I think, on the whole, it was an excellent program. But in the big picture, the numbers just didn't make sense."

A major issue was the amount of the recyclable items that ended up being re­cycled -- or rather, the amount that didn't.

The city takes its recyclable items to McInnis Recycling Center on Norman Bridge Road, but the program could not handle the workload, and it was not feasi­ble to take the recycling to another center.

The result was that many of the orange bags in which residents put materials they believed were being recycled were instead being dumped at the city landfill.

It's clear that the city lost the majority of the recycling participants when the con­venience of curbside recycling was lost.

Montgomery has entered into a con­tract with a Huntsville company to use a cutting-edge technology that could even­tually recycle virtually all of the city's gar­bage, not just items such as paper, plastic or glass that have long been seen as re­cyclable. But even if it is as successful as the city and the company hope, that would be years down the road.

Carmichael said the Clean City Commis­sion, which oversees the recycling pro­gram, wants to do something now, and that the best way to accomplish this is to try to bring back some of that conven­ience.

"We just want to keep recycling alive," Carmichael said.

The goal is to get as many recycling containers as possible out in the nine City Council districts. With the city's original plan for drop-off recycling, a drop-off point is offered in each district on the first and third Saturday of each month.

The containers would give participants the opportunity to drop off their recycl­able items whenever they wanted to, not just on the designated Saturdays.

The containers are available, but the city needs locations for the containers. Carmichael said she is trying to work with churches, schools, businesses and neigh­borhoods to identify locations.

Some organizations have expressed ap­prehension about playing host to a con­tainer out of fear that the containers would become a dumping point for all gar­bage. Carmichael said the companies, J.B. Waste Connections and Mount Scrap, would monitor the containers to deter such activity.

Carmichael said a news conference will be held in January to announce the loca­tions of these containers. Anyone interest­ed in having a container on their property can call the Clean City Commission at 241-2925 to make the arrangements.

Eastern Hills Baptist Church at 3604 Pleasant Ridge Road, is one of the Mont­gomery churches that have agreed to have a container placed on its property. The container is already in place behind the church.

Dan Harrison, administrator at the church, said the church wanted to do what it could to help the recycling program.

"It's really sad because I've only lived here for about eight months and other cit­ies I've lived in have had (curbside recy­cling programs). For the capital city not to have one is pretty bad," Harrison said.

Additional Facts
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Christmas tree recycling: All old trees can be brought to the Saturday trash collection points Jan. 2. The recycled trees are mulched or used for fish hatcheries in local lakes. Trees put out by the road are not recycled.


Drop-off sites: Aluminum, paper and cardboard are accepted at the following drop-off sites on the first and third Saturday of each month:
Halcyon Elementary
Goodwyn Jr. High
Dannelly Elementary
Wares Ferry Elementary
Peter Crump Elementary
Bellingrath Jr. High
Southlawn Elementary




Drop-off containers are also available anytime at McInnis Recycling Center on 4341 Norman Bridge Road and Mount Scrap Material Co. at 824 N. Decatur St. McInnis will only take paper, aluminum and cardboard, and Mount Scrap will take those items plus Nos. 1 and 2 plastics.


The new drop-off containers will be announced in January. The Mount Scrap containers will take only newspaper and magazines. The J.B. Waste Connections containers, which are divided in halves, will take mixed paper and cardboard in one part and plastic and metals in the other.



Source: The city of Montgomery

[OldCloverdale]

December 27, 2009


Montgomery's changing skyline: Bronner sure RSA Judicial Office Building will be a success (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20091227/BUSINESS/912270332/Montgomery-s-changing-skyline-Bronner-sure-RSA-Judicial-Office-Building-will-be-a-success)

By Cosby Woodruff

The Retirement Systems of Alabama is changing Montgomery's skyline again with construction of a new office building above the old Alabama Supreme Court building.

Construction began about 18 months ago on a building that some historical preser­vationists tried to block but that RSA chief David Bron­ner was determined to see completed.

Bronner, who oversees the pension giant with build­ings that dominate Mont­gomery's skyline, brushed aside opposition to the proj­ect when it was announced a little more than two years ago. Even today he said the building he envisions is bet­ter than the alternative.

"You had two choices there," he said. "Either you could build something or you could just let it crumble."

Bronner said he remains convinced the building will eventually prove to be the right idea, but he also knows the timing was anything but perfect.

Even though RSA is not dependent on bank financ­ing to complete its projects, many tenants might find revenue tight when it is time to sign a deal. In general, commercial office space is not a booming business right now.

"It is a terrible time to have any new construction," he said.

That is another good rea­son for RSA's deep pockets. Private developers who have partially complete buildings must decide whether to put more money into the projects or walk away from money already invested.

Bronner said there was only one choice for his orga­nization.

"We are going to finish it," he said.

The building's impact on Montgomery's skyline, and whether it improves or dam­ages the view, depends on where the viewer is and his or her point of view.

Bronner insists the build­ing will fit in well with other buildings downtown and says from some angles it won't even be obvious there is a new structure. Historic preservationists railed against the building more for how it will fit into its sur­roundings than the fact it is being built above a historic structure.

"Any time you have a 12-story building, it is going to have some kind of effect," he said.

Renderings by RSA pub­lished in a brochure on the building show that parts of the original structure will be retained in the new build­ing.

RSA plans to maintain the courtroom for use by ten­ants, and a courtyard will make note of the building's past and some of the historic cases heard there.

There is no firm comple­tion date for the building. Bronner said he expects the exterior portions to be com­plete in the next year. RSA will finish the inside on a floor-by-floor basis as it finds tenants.

"You don't want to just put up a wall somewhere be­cause they might not want a wall there," he said.

Even in good economic times it is unusual to have a building completely rented when it opens. In the down economy, Bronner said it is even less likely to have a long list of tenants when it opens.

"It took us four years to fill up the (RSA) Tower," he said of Montgomery's tallest building.

When the RSA announced the building in late 2007, the estimated cost was $200 mil­lion. Bronner said he does not know what the final cost will be.

Joe Toole, a leasing execu­tive with RSA, said the building will have more than 340,000 square feet of space available for tenants. It will also have an attached parking deck to provide spaces for an estimated 1,000 people who will eventually work in the building. When complete, the building will be the eighth RSA office structure in Montgomery.

PHOTO GALLERY (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DS&Dato=20091226&Kategori=COMMUNITIES010305&Lopenr=912260802&Ref=PH)

[thoraudio]

Had a nearly surreal weekend in Montgomery Saturday night. Was able to ship the kids off to different grandparents, and the wife and I were able to hit SaZa's. Sat in a bustling, modern Italian restaurant, in downtown and watched a horse drawn carriage drive by outside.... weird and nice all at once.

Sat at the 'chef's counter', and had a pretty good dinner too. :tup:

They've got to finish up all that work on Commerce though, it's clogging things up.

[Jefficator]

Basically I hear from one side "This doesn't matter" and from the other side "OMG THE WORLD IS ENDING BECAUSE OF THIS BUILDING."

Do we have any artists renderings that look STRAIGHT up and down Dexter Avenue? Without trying to make the thing look so prominent in the picture?

Is there a third-party commentary at all?

[OldCloverdale]

Basically I hear from one side "This doesn't matter" and from the other side "OMG THE WORLD IS ENDING BECAUSE OF THIS BUILDING."

Do we have any artists renderings that look STRAIGHT up and down Dexter Avenue? Without trying to make the thing look so prominent in the picture?

Is there a third-party commentary at all?

old view:

http://blog.al.com/bn/2007/12/medium_rsabldga1223.jpg


future view:

http://blog.al.com/bn/2007/12/medium_rsabldgb1223.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a37/expatbaman/Montgomery/RSA_Dexter.jpg

[quattordici]

Of course, there are other renderings that have the building set further back from Dexter. When I was in MGM last, it almost seemed like the building was facing the opposite street. Of course it was dark, and we all know that renderings are all different.

That said, I have to say I LOVE how they have the glass wall in the front of the building, displaying the judicial building. I hope I'm not alone in that.

EDIT: Just looked at more actual pictures. Yep, it is that imposing...

[Dyingyak]

These are some 3d renderings that the Montgomery Advertiser had online and wrote about this past weekend.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DS&Dato=20091226&Kategori=COMMUNITIES010305&Lopenr=912260802&Ref=PH&Params=

Of course, there are other renderings that have the building set further back from Dexter. When I was in MGM last, it almost seemed like the building was facing the opposite street. Of course it was dark, and we all know that renderings are all different.

It does right now, but when they start to construct the glass shell around the remaining building it will have more of a presence along Dexter. You can see how they haven't start that yet on picture 12 from the MA website.

That said, I have to say I LOVE how they have the glass wall in the front of the building, displaying the judicial building. I hope I'm not alone in that.

I like it too...I think it's a very intriguing way to capture and maintain the historical aspects of the building while still allowing for needed expansion. Just hate that it's final version became so overwhelming.

[bystander1]

Had a nearly surreal weekend in Montgomery Saturday night. Was able to ship the kids off to different grandparents, and the wife and I were able to hit SaZa's. Sat in a bustling, modern Italian restaurant, in downtown and watched a horse drawn carriage drive by outside.... weird and nice all at once.

Sat at the 'chef's counter', and had a pretty good dinner too. :tup:

They've got to finish up all that work on Commerce though, it's clogging things up.

My sister-in-law and her husband stay at the Renaissance over the weekend and they liked the development going on around the Alley. I believe they ate at Wintzell's.

And yes, I wish they could hurry up and finish the work along Commerce too.
Ongoing work on the new lofts and the rooftop bar is what I heard is the hold-up.

[Jefficator]

Here's my problem with these pictures. They are all designed specifically to show the building as obtrusive. What about a view from Court Square looking straight down Dexter. How would that change?

[| BRAVO |]

That's because it is obtrusive!

[Dyingyak]

Here's my problem with these pictures. They are all designed specifically to show the building as obtrusive. What about a view from Court Square looking straight down Dexter. How would that change?

If you compare the photos OldCloverdale posted versus the images from the Montgomery Advertiser...the posted images seems fairly accurate. The only major difference is the rendering of the building.

Consider this...assuming the images that the Montgomery Advertiser published came from the architect or the RSA...is there a reason they don't include a human perspective from Court Square looking back down Dexter toward the Capitol? My guess is the reason that image is not included and that is because the building is that obtrusive. I'm sure whoever generated those renderings for the RSA also made the realistic perspective your talking about, but they are choosing not to show it.

[RSAHort]

The only pics I have seen are the ones that were published by the Montgomery Advertiser. Those images came from the perspectus put out by RSA or the Architect of which I have a copy. These images IMO are just designed to show the building, not Dexter Ave and I don't believe anyone is leaving out photos intentionally. I have never seen any images looking up Dexter from court square...well, except those by OldCloverdale. I think it will be a great building and can't wait until its finished.

[Dyingyak]

...These images IMO are just designed to show the building, not Dexter Ave and I don't believe anyone is leaving out photos intentionally...

Considering the amount of money going into the design and construction I'm sure dozens of different sketches and renderings were completed and any firm worth their salt would have something looking up Dexter. Especially considering it looks like those images were "photographs" generated from a 3d model, they could have some produced from several vantage points.

But this is all speculation based on my knowledge of how design firms work, plus I don't think it's a bad thing that if was created that they chose not to publish it, it's fairly common practice.

[bystander1]

Obtrusive or not, it's new and I love it. :D

[| BRAVO |]

I think it looks like a giant Transformer devouring a historical jewel.

But... Hey... it's not my city. It is my state capital though :P


Roooaaar!

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x264/hallman02/transformer.jpg

[thoraudio]

I, for one, approve the above modifications.

[OCA REP]

I think it looks like a giant Transformer devouring a historical jewel.

But... Hey... it's not my city. It is my state capital though :P


Roooaaar!

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x264/hallman02/transformer.jpg

Well done BRAVO! A lot of us feel the same way, but are also happy for the development in our downtown...

[bystander1]

Yes, lots of cities would love to have some new things built in their downtown.
But I guess I would've liked it to have been taller...

[Capital Heights]

Maybe in the new year we will constructively work on making things better rather than continue the incessant harping that seemed to dominate so much of the discussion in 2009.

[OCA REP]

From today's Montgomery Advertiser...

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100103/BUSINESS/1020312/Realtors-business-owners-dedicated-to-Catoma-Street-revitalization

Realtors, business owners dedicated to Catoma Street revitalization
By Cosby Woodruff • January 3, 2010

Jeffrey Paulk believes in downtown so much that he not only moved his business there, but also built a place for his wife's shop and will soon live there.

It is all part of a plan by a loose assortment of busi­nesses, property owners, de­velopers and Realtors to bring people and dollars to the Catoma Street neighbor­hood.

Paulk, who owns Paulk Construction, said it was im­portant for him to show a commitment to the area if he was going to try to sell others on his vision.

"I am going to work here, my wife will work here and we will live here," he said pointing to a small map of the area.

He is converting part of the building that houses his of­fice into a two-bedroom apartment. Just behind the apartment is a two-suite of­fice building he built recent­ly.

Half of that building houses the Veranda, Paulk's wife's hair and nail salon. The other half is leased to a law firm.

Across Catoma Street, Paulk and other property owners renovated a long-abandoned building, making it into a multi-suite rental property filled with profes­sional firms.

The lone remaining unit, at 316 Catoma St., is awaiting a tenant, possibly a restau­rant or bar.

The back half of Paulk's building is set aside for a branch bank that he hopes will soon fill the space.

Jerome Moore, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Com­mercial, is handling many of the transactions and said the area has the potential to ex­pand the vibrant part of downtown.

Moore represents several properties in the Alley. The two developments, separated by the block occupied by the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Conven­tion Center, are not compet­ing projects but can feed off each other, he said.

The Alley had a central plan and is built on that. Moore said that is fine for specific, geographically limited projects, but it won't work for the entire down­town.

He agreed everything must blend well for the area to have some sort of consis­tency, but insisted there is no master plan, design or even central developer for Catoma Street.

"You can't do a downtown that is master planned," he said.

Instead, the different part­ners and owners of the down­town property work well to­gether in a loose group.

"Nobody is going to do anything that hurts every­body," he said.

Moore said the city of Montgomery holds the key to the entire project with a piece of land bounded by Cat­oma Street, Bell Street and Molton Street. The site serves as overflow parking for the Renaissance, but is part of several scenarios for development of the neigh­borhood.

Moore said potential plans are for a pair of three-story buildings on the lots that will serve as retail, commercial and residential mixed use.

If that doesn't happen, it likely will become either greenspace or parking for whatever develops in the empty building at 316 Cato­ma St.

While the city is not a part­ner in this project as in the Alley, it still holds a strong hand in deciding what goes in. If it is not excited about any part of a proposal, it can simply withhold its key par­cel of land, Moore said.

Moore agreed the whole re­development is somewhat unorthodox. Not only is there no master plan or de­veloper, but also there is no major financial backer to pump unlimited money into the project.

A group of investors in the plans have plenty of risk, he said, and are willing to ac­cept it.

"We would rather have a company come in and not work out than have some­thing sit empty for a couple of years," he said.

He knows that may mean accepting new businesses as tenants. New businesses of­ten find it tough to get enough bank financing, which means they are at a greater risk of failure for lack of capitalization.

"We know there is some risk in this," Moore said.

Then he points to inves­tors like Paulk who basically put their whole life into mak­ing it work and said the risk is worth it.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100102&Category=COMMUNTIES010305&ArtNo=1020803&Ref=PH&Item=1&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100102&Category=COMMUNTIES010305&ArtNo=1020803&Ref=PH&Item=2&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100102&Category=COMMUNTIES010305&ArtNo=1020803&Ref=PH&Item=3&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100102&Category=COMMUNTIES010305&ArtNo=1020803&Ref=PH&Item=4&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100102&Category=COMMUNTIES010305&ArtNo=1020803&Ref=PH&Item=5&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100102&Category=COMMUNTIES010305&ArtNo=1020803&Ref=PH&Item=6&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100102&Category=COMMUNTIES010305&ArtNo=1020803&Ref=PH&Item=7&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

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[OCA REP]

Also from today's Montgomery Advertiser...

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100103/NEWS01/1030321/Smart+Code+living+appeal+rising

Smart Code living appeal rising
By Paul Sullivan • Special to the Advertiser • January 3, 2010

City planner Ken Groves knows the advantages of the Smart Code community lifestyle because he lives it daily.

In July, Groves moved into the Hampstead neighborhood off Taylor Road. Hampstead is the first community built according to Smart Code regulations in an undeveloped part of Montgomery.

Groves can walk to the YMCA to work out. He can stroll to dinner at the Number Sixteen restaurant, or pick vegetables from his plot in the Hampstead garden. He lives within easy walking distance of the village's center that includes a park, stores and other attractions. Groves is a fan of the arrangement.

"I dwell small and live large," he said.

The Smart Code was adopted for undeveloped areas of the city in 2007, and then for the city's core in 2008, said Faulkner University law professor Chad Emerson, who helped draft the ordinances.

The code's goal is to make new developments such as Hampstead more like the town centers of yesteryear. It's a desire to live without having to hop in the car to get something done.

"You can live there, work there, work out and shop," said Emerson of Hampstead.

Following the code is optional in undeveloped areas and mandatory in the downtown, said Emerson, who also serves on a national Smart Code advisory board.

For downtown, the aim is for projects to be more pedestrian-friendly, and for buildings or renovations to offer several possible uses. Plans could include retail or offices in the first floor of a structure and lofts above on the second floor. Emerson said Montgomery has gained national acclaim for adopting the Smart Codes.

When passed, Smart Codes replaced the existing ordinances adopted in 1964 that required single uses for buildings, Groves said.

Now a dentist can work in a downtown building and live above his office. "We can have dual compatible uses for buildings," Groves said.

The new Alabama Association of Realtors headquarters under construction in the Capitol complex is following the new regulations. Plans call for an abundance of glass on the ground floor, sidewalks and parking behind the building, Groves said.

The first-floor glass makes it easier for storefront shopping in the case of retail and also boosts opportunities for social interaction, Groves said.

More sidewalks, fewer one-way streets and parking on both sides of the street also are ways to cut down on how fast motorists drive, Groves said. Slower moving cars also should improve the safety for those on foot.

A study by the group Transportation for America said that more than 43,000 Americans -- including 3,906 children younger than 16 -- have lost their lives this decade while crossing or walking along a street in their community. The Washington-based group wants more focus on improving and updating the nation's road and highway system.

The coalition said the deaths typically are labeled accidents and are attributed to error by a driver or pedestrian. But most accidents happened along streets that were designed for speeding cars and not for walkers, people in wheelchairs or those riding a bicycle, the group argues.

For Montgomery's part, Groves believes the changes resulting from the Smart Codes will make the downtown area safer for pedestrians.

"We will have slower vehicular speeds with narrowing lane widths and two-way streets," he said. "It should pay off in the long run."

Life in Hampstead is already an improvement for Groves, who had lived for years in the Birmingham suburb of Vestavia. There, he said, he knew only a handful of people.

"Now I meet neighbors out walking the dog," he said. "I also see deer and turkeys in the natural area I live across from. I love it."

[OCA REP]

Following the code is optional in undeveloped areas and mandatory in the downtown, said Emerson, who also serves on a national Smart Code advisory board.

I smiled at this particular sentence in the article. It should be amended to read "Following the code is optional in undeveloped areas and mandatory in the downtown, unless you are the RSA." :)

Isn't the guy quoted in this article the same Chad that used to post on these forums? I believe he got his feelings hurt over some issue and then gathered his toys and took them home with him...

[bystander1]

Isn't the guy quoted in this article the same Chad that used to post on these forums? I believe he got his feelings hurt over some issue and then gathered his toys and took them home with him...


LOL. Yeah, that's him. What a goat.

[OldCloverdale]

January 4, 2010

Montgomery, Normandale malls languish despite new owners (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100104/NEWS01/1040310/Montgomery-Normandale-malls-languish-despite-new-owners)

By Cosby Woodruff

Two of Montgomery's older malls -- Montgomery Mall and Normandale Mall -- watched another Christmas shopping season come and go from the sidelines despite out-of-state developers' promises to revitalize the properties.

It has been more than 10 months since Kansas City developer Joseph G. Arnone, of Arnone and Associates, announced plans to revitalize Normandale. His schedule for construction at the property has been pushed back several times by what he calls difficulty in arranging financing.

More than six months ago Atlanta-based Blue Ridge Capital acquired most of Montgomery Mall and said it hoped to turn it into some sort of hybrid government, medical, education and retail center.

The company recently said it is still making final plans for the empty space and that it hopes to begin making tenant announcements early this year.

Until recently, the company didn't even list the property as being available for lease on its Web site, but company vice president Steve Patrick said it was never put on the back burner.

"We are still working with levels of market demand," he said when asked about the status at the mall. "That is all we are doing at this point."

The company's marketing brochure for the property focuses on its location and traffic count. In fact, it promises almost 40,000 vehicles daily passing the property along both the South Boulevard and East Boulevard.

It also points to the property's future as something other than a retail center.

"The site is being readapted for medical/educational/government focused uses," the brochure tells prospective tenants. "Local municipal governments and civic groups actively support efforts to transform the former retail site into a re-energized community destination.

"BRC is working with these groups to create a project which serves the needs of the citizens of greater Montgomery, especially those living in the south Montgomery area."

Blue Ridge Capital isn't the first company to make promises of revitalization for the Montgomery Mall.

Dothan-based Venture 1 Realty was the front-company in a 2007 sale of the mall from Glimcher Realty Trust. Venture 1, it was later revealed, handled the transaction for North Carolina-based Haywood Whichard.

Whichard has purchased under-used malls in other places. Some of those have been revitalized, often in partnerships with Blue Ridge Capital, while others have been allowed to deteriorate further, according to published reports.

Venture 1 made vague plans to revitalize the mall, but any remaining retail tenants left the property by the third quarter of 2008.

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said the city has offered its support for both projects but has received no specific requests for help.

He pointed to a weak economy as a likely reason the developments have not grown as quickly as expected, and added that Montgomery will not provide large amounts of direct funds to make things work.

"That is the role of private enterprise," he said.

At least the Montgomery Mall project is making some public progress. The Normandale development has been at pretty much a standstill from the public point of view.

For Thomas Smith, part owner of Hall and Smith Shoe Repair, that is pretty much the normal course of action.

The small store opened more than a decade ago at Normandale when the center was well into its decline.

Smith said he has heard promises of improvements, revitalization and other help at regular intervals since then. He has heard the promises so often that he no longer pays any attention.

He can't ignore the empty store fronts, leaking roof, unused parking spaces, graffiti and broken windows, but he can't do much about it either.

That doesn't keep him from hoping.

"It would mean a great deal if they did it," he said of the latest effort to remake the center.

"It would help our business to survive."

PHOTO GALLERY (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DS&Dato=20100103&Kategori=COMMUNTIES010302&Lopenr=1030803&Ref=PH)

[OldCloverdale]

January 5, 2010

THREE POINTS RENEWAL: Montgomery partners with firm to revitalize neighborhood (http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100105/NEWS01/1050318/THREE-POINTS-RENEWAL-Montgomery-partners-with-firm-to-revitalize-neighborhood)

By Jill Nolin

Milton Shepherd Jr. remembers when his neighborhood, which is on the outskirts of downtown Montgomery, was a thriving community with businesses and services. The 59-year-old wants that neighborhood back.

So does the city of Montgomery.

"We used to have a washateria and stores and bakers. We used to have all that in the neighborhood. That's what I would like to see happen in the future," said Shepherd, who is the coordinator for the Three Points Neighborhood Watch.

A small nook just south of Cottage Hill and to the east of Interstate 65, the Three Points neighborhood always has been generally lumped with "west Montgomery." Now the neighborhood is trying to brand itself as Three Points, and the city has a plan to help the neighborhood drastically change its image.

The plan calls for a three-phase project that will cost $25 million just in the first phase and will create a mixed-use, mixed-income development in what is now a distressed part of the downtown area.

The project also would preserve the more than one-mile segment of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail that connects Mount Zion AME Zion Church on Holt Street to the state Capitol.

But the city of Montgomery does not intend to do it alone. In fact, such a large-scale project only is possible because the city has partnered with more than 20 other entities, according to Community Development director Desmond Wilson.

"The (public) funds just don't go far enough. To do a project of this magnitude, you've got to bring other organizations into the mix and make it work" said Wilson, who grew up in the neighborhood.

That includes a public-private partnership with a group called the Five Star Consortium LLC. Mike Ingersoll, managing partner for Five Star, said the for-profit company plans to invest about $10 million into the first phase.

Like with Lanier Court, a housing development off West Fairview Avenue, and other projects along West Fairview Avenue, the city is making the initial investment in hopes of spurring interest from the private sector.

"Again, it's one of those things where the government is sort of priming the pump to redevelop the area. It's similar to a field of dreams where the private sector will hopefully come in and help with the redevelopment effort," Deputy Mayor Jeff Downes said.

The city likely would spend, at the most, up to $2 million of city funds throughout the life of the entire project, according to Wilson.

The rest of the funding will come from other sources, such as Community Development Block Grants from the federal government. Wilson said the city is concentrating a consider portion of its CDBG allocations in the Three Points area.

Five Star, since it is a private company, will be able to use new market tax credits offered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Ingersoll said the credits, which are for economic development projects in distressed areas, are available for 39 percent of the total project cost.

But before any physical changes will happen in Three Points, Five Star must first finish acquiring the properties in the area. About half of the properties, which are throughout the neighborhood but are concentrated along Mobile and Mildred streets, already have been acquired. One of those buildings housed the K&C Lounge, which was not allowed to renew its lease.

Then the transformation will begin. Wilson said there are not many commercial structures that are salvageable, so the buildings will either be deconstructed and rebuilt with the original materials or they will be demolished entirely.

Initial focus will be placed on the intersection of Mildred and Mobile streets, which Downes said would be the epicenter of the development. The goal is to bring businesses and services to this commercial area. Lofts also could be built.

A component of the project would offer assistance to homeowners in the area who are willing to restore the homes in the area.

What happens in the second and third phases depend on the success of the first phase. Five Star has signed a contract with the city of Montgomery saying it will redevelop the area in five years. If the project is not a success, the city will become the owner of the acquired properties.

Wilson compared the project to what is known as the Sweet Auburn Historical District in Atlanta. Like the Three Points neighborhood, Sweet Auburn is a historically important black neighborhood that started to die off when the interstate system cut the area off from the community.

Prior to Interstate 65, the neighborhood stretched over to West Jeff Davis Avenue. After that, it became an undefined area off by itself on the other side of the interstate.

Wilson said the city wants to mimic what was done right with Sweet Auburn and improve upon things it believes could have been done better. The intention is make the Three Points neighborhood's link of the Selma to Montgomery Trail an area where tourists will feel safe to visit.

There are about 400 households in the area, and right now the majority of those homes are rentals. It's important for the neighborhood's future for that to change, said Clare Watson, who is the coordinator for the Weed and Seed program in Montgomery.

Three Points is part of the Weed and Seed, which is a U.S. Department of Justice program that is strategy-based, as opposed to grant-based, and focuses on neighborhoods with violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity.

"You need people living there with a stake in the neighborhood. Enticing people to move back gives support to the people who have started the neighborhood watch," Watson said, referring to the people who started the neighborhood watch about five years ago.

"There are people who are trying to improve the neighborhood. They just need more support," Watson added.

Gary Sharp, project manager for the city, said the project will include affordable housing, but he said that does not mean the quality of the housing will be compromised. The goal is to create a diverse community.

Shepherd said he and other residents in the neighborhood are anxious to hear more about what that plan entails. The information void has left residents worried about what might come into the neighborhood, according to Shepherd. The Holt Street residents, he said, the homeowners just do not want more clubs or game rooms.

Wilson stressed that project is not intended to displace the residents. Rather, he said the goal is to create jobs through new businesses in the area.

Sharp said the federal government's definition of economic development success is creating one job per $25,000 invested for two years.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20100105&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=1050318&Ref=AR&MaxW=318&Border=0
Montgomery officials are looking to revitalize the Three Points neighborhood, which includes locations on Mildred and Mobile streets.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20100105&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=1050318&Ref=V2&MaxW=318&Border=0
This is an artist’s rendering of a completed Mobile Street/Five Star project.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20100105&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=1050318&Ref=V3&MaxW=318&Border=0
Buildings along Mobile Street in the Three Points neighborhood, including K&C Lounge, mostly sit unused.

[Dyingyak]

"Again, it's one of those things where the government is sort of priming the pump to redevelop the area. It's similar to a field of dreams where the private sector will hopefully come in and help with the redevelopment effort," Deputy Mayor Jeff Downes said.



It's a bit concerning they are thinking of it as a "Field of Dreams" scenario...I've been that play out all over the state and fail miserably. The Alley wasn't exactly a "Field of Dreams" when they had other already committed to investing when the city started to move forward. The purchasing of property by non-profits is a start, but I don't think that it means the city should go ahead and start sinking their money into improvements.

[OldCloverdale]

I want Dexter to "re-develop" first
(and would love to see a new state house down by the fountain)

[bystander1]

Five Star, since it is a private company, will be able to use new market tax credits offered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Ingersoll said the credits, which are for economic development projects in distressed areas, are available for 39 percent of the total project cost.

But before any physical changes will happen in Three Points, Five Star must first finish acquiring the properties in the area. About half of the properties, which are throughout the neighborhood but are concentrated along Mobile and Mildred streets, already have been acquired.


This may be a part of the development thoraudio was hearing hints about a while back. And Five Star was the company buying up land throughout the Mildred Street area.

This is great news for the Cottage Hill neighborhood downtown. Along with Centennial Hill, the Tulane development, and the Trenholm redevelopment, there is lots of momentum going on for reinventing downtown neighborhoods.

[Dyingyak]

I want Dexter to "re-develop" first
(and would love to see a new state house down by the fountain)

Agreed!!

[OCA REP]

Well timed article in today's Montgomery Advertiser. I say this because I noticed the sign announcing these lofts a week or so back and had planned to stop and take some photographs for our forum. Unfortunately, the cold weather and the warm environment of my truck always kept that from happening! ;-)

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100107/NEWS01/1070338/Developers-have-lofty-plans-for-old-Adams-Avenue-apartments

Developers have lofty plans for old Adams Avenue apartments
By Cosby Woodruff • January 7, 2010

Foshee Management Co. believes there is a demand for downtown living space, especially affordable down­town living space, and plans to help meet that demand by opening less-expensive loft apartments on Adams Ave­nue.

Foshee Management Co., which represents the major­ity of new loft apartments in downtown Montgomery, plans to open Adams Ave­nue Lofts later this year.

The apartments will rent for as little as $535, which is more than $100 less than any similar apartments that are now operated by the compa­ny.

Beau Daniel, Foshee's di­rector of operations, said a growing demand for down­town residences prompted the building's owners to start renovations.

The building, at 500 Adams Ave., was built dec­ades ago as an apartment complex. It served that pur­pose for years, but about 30 years ago it began losing ten­ants as downtown lost its ap­peal as a place to live.

Now, as people move back to town, the building is get­ting a second life.

Workers began tearing out fixtures Monday. Re­moving outmoded appli­ances and features in the building is expected to take most of this month. Then workers will begin replacing fixtures and appliances in February.

The entire project should be complete by the end of May, but Foshee is market­ing the property for a July 1 occupancy date.

The apartments will be a mix of original fixtures and new items. Original hard­wood floors and real wood interior doors will remain. Kitchens will be upgraded, and mechanical systems will be replaced.

The apartments will all be single bedroom with 540 to 625 square feet, but the whole complex will be differ­ent than other downtown rental units, Daniel said.

Workers will knock out a stairway and make a breeze­way entrance into an en­closed courtyard, where Fo­shee will offer a barbecue grill and tables.

"It will make it more of a community," Daniel said.

Daniel said the demand for such residences has grown to the point that he expects several more proper­ties to become apartments in coming years.

"I know other property owners are looking at it," he said.

Difficulty arranging fi­nancing for apartments is one of the things holding back development, but he predicted that will change soon.

Part of that is because of the speed with which down­town apartments fill once they reach the market.

Most developments are at least 75 percent rented by the time they open their doors, according to Daniel.

"I think these will be 100 percent pre-leased," he said.

[thoraudio]

I don't know if last night was the first night, or just the first time I noticed it, but did anybody else see that the pedestrian bridge and river tower were lit up? Looks pretty good (if subtle compared to the Casino style lighting at the Convention Center).

[Brown Duckz]

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[OCA REP]

Jill Nolin did a good story in today's Montgomery Advertiser concerning a home that had been an eyesore in our historic neighborhood. We (the Old Cloverdale Association) worked long and hard with Martha Roby, Historic Southview Inc., and several others in orchestrating what has been a favorable outcome so far.

John is a good guy and has worked on numerous properties in our area. We are looking forward to when these renovations are complete!

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100110/NEWS01/1100343/Developer-breathes-new-life-into-Folmar-Siegelman-home

Developer breathes new life into Folmar-Siegelman home
By Jill Nolin • January 10, 2010

A postman doesn't take a walk on his day off, and John Aspin­wall, who restores houses in the Old Cloverdale area as his job, wasn't about to live in an old house.

That has been Aspinwall's at­titude for the 20 years he has been working on older houses. But then he had the opportunity to buy a home in Old Cloverdale, which narrowly escaped demo­lition, for $10.

Now, he's putting his sweat and money into transforming a dilapidated Park Avenue struc­ture -- the former residence of both former Gov. Don Siegel­man and of the parents of long­time Montgomery Mayor Emo­ry Folmar -- into a home for himself and his wife.

Aspinwall, who currently lives at Lake Jordan, has lived in newer neighborhoods throughout his life, but his fu­ture home will offer things his previous homes could not: Big trees and a sense of character created by years of stories.

This home not only is packed with character, but also has a historic marker at the corner of property thanks to the fame of its past owners.

The home was built in 1935. Folmar's parents lived in the home from 1955 to 1979, when the house was sold to then-Ala­bama Secretary of State Siegel­man. Siegelman lived there un­til 1999, and there have been no known permanent occupants since.

During the past 10 years, the home has been essentially left abandoned. It appears that only light maintenance, such as mowing the lawn, was done on the yard and nothing was done to keep up the house. Unoccu­pied and unsupervised, the house was left vulnerable to vandals who stripped the home of its valuable materials.

Decay set in. Most destructive were the leaves that gathered on the roof and led to significant water damage in three areas of the house. On top of that, about half of the foundation had sunk at least 10 inches into the soft soil that is notorious in Old Clo­verdale.

The city had condemned the house, which is valued at $148,500, according to the Mont­gomery County revenue com­missioner's Web site. A contrac­tor whom the previous owner hired to demolish the house said it would cost about $166,000 to make the repairs needed just to bring the home up to city code. It would cost even more to re­store the home's beauty.

Maybe it would cost the aver­age person that much to restore the home, but Aspinwall is not the average person. Aspinwall has made a career out of restor­ing old homes and can do the majority of the labor himself, saving thousands of dollars.

The only areas where he can­not skimp are the kitchen cabi­nets and the appliances, be­cause those are the things he cannot do on his own.

"I'm excited about it. This is right up my alley," Aspinwall said of the challenge to restore the structure. "With a lot of Old Cloverdale houses, this is not unusual."

Plus, he said he has actually worked on homes in worse con­dition. Aspinwall, who says he has finished most of the "heavy work," said he could be finished restoring the home by the spring.

The love being put into repair­ing the house is already appar­ent. The property is an obvious construction zone and the home unoccupied, but a new wrought iron fence along Park Avenue was decorated with garland and red ribbon for the holidays.

Not all of the house has sur­vived. A small room used for a li­brary and reading room had to be torn out and will become a screened-in porch.

There will also be new addi­tions to the house. Aspinwall is putting in two solar panels and insulation into the open walls to keep energy costs down, and the kitchen is being expanded.

Some features, like the origi­nal wooden floor, have been pre­served, and the general layout of the home will be the same.

The owner petitioned the city to allow for the home to be de­molished, but the Architectural Review Board unanimously de­nied the application at a meet­ing in November 2008. The City Council upheld the board's deci­sion.

City Councilwoman Martha Roby said the positive outcome would not have been possible if not for the leadership in the neighborhood and the willing­ness of an individual to come forward and invest in the house.

It's a refreshing conclusion considering cases involving di­lapidated homes, which are usually too far gone, do not usually have a happy ending.

"To have someone come in and invest money to bring it back to what it once was not only benefits the property own­ers who are in close proximity, but it restores beauty to a prop­erty in a historic district," Roby said.

This is also the house that at­tracted media attention when Birmingham accountant J. Wray Pearce paid double the ap­praised value in 1999 about five months after Siegelman became governor, according to news re­ports at the time. Pearce bought the home from Siegelman for $250,000.

Selling the property to Aspin­wall essentially amounts to a do­nation.

Aspinwall said he is unaf­fected by that part of the house's past -- he even wonders if the circumstances were not some­what misunderstood -- and he said he mostly hears interesting snippets about the house's prior tenants.

Some people talk about the parties held at the home. Others share tidbits about the Folmars or the Siegelmans. One neigh­bor told Aspinwall about a time when the Siegelmans' beloved family dog died and they were so distraught that they asked the neighbor to bury the dog. The neighbor even showed Aspin­wall the gravesite.

Collectively, these tidbits comprise what Aspinwall calls character. And when he's fin­ished with the work, Aspinwall said he would like to invite Emory Folmar and Don Siegel­man, if he's available, over to see the house.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20100110&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=1100343&Ref=AR&Profile=1007&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

[bystander1]

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Hmm, looks like it's topping out at around 13 or 14 stories.

What floor of the RSA Tower did you take that pic from?

[OldCloverdale]

John Aspinwall is not a "good guy." He is a crook. I know from experience.

Furthermore, he does incredibly lousy work, and leaves behind fire hazards.

If you want a shoddy job, done by Guatemalans, Apsinwall's your man.

[bystander1]

John Aspinwall is not a "good guy." He is a crook. I know from experience.

Furthermore, he does incredibly lousy work, and leaves behind fire hazards.

If you want a shoddy job, done by Guatemalans, Apsinwall's your man.

At least he's not Emory Folmar. Although the Siegelman's had moved out in '98, as rich as Folmar is he could have had his "momma and daddy's" house restored if he wasn't so spiteful. He had no regard or respect for the neighborhood he loved so much while he was in office enough to step up to the plate.

[OCA REP]

John Aspinwall is not a "good guy." He is a crook. I know from experience.

Furthermore, he does incredibly lousy work, and leaves behind fire hazards.

If you want a shoddy job, done by Guatemalans, Apsinwall's your man.

Well, given how this is a development forum I am not going to get into a debate over a building contractor.

My final comment on this particular subject will be... I know a number of people he has done work for and they have not complained. You can obviously say what you want, but he enjoys a good reputation in the neighborhood.

Also, I am not 100% sure what employing Guatemalans has to do with work either?

[OCA REP]

Hmm, looks like it's topping out at around 13 or 14 stories.

What floor of the RSA Tower did you take that pic from?

Lord knows, we have not seen a truly FINAL rendering of this building, but wan't it initially projected to be 12 stories? I believe that was the height batted around when the opposition meetings were taking place...

[Jefficator]

How can you tell that it is topping out?

[Brown Duckz]

How can you tell that it is topping out?

Per the renderings.

[bystander1]

Lord knows, we have not seen a truly FINAL rendering of this building, but wan't it initially projected to be 12 stories? I believe that was the height batted around when the opposition meetings were taking place...

Yes, that was the word but they may have meant it for the Dexter Avenue side. It's obviously not the case from the Monroe Street side.

[OCA REP]

Yes, that was the word but they may have meant it for the Dexter Avenue side. It's obviously not the case from the Monroe Street side.

True. But, it sure is exciting to see this tower rise in downtown Montgomery!

[RSAHort]

Yes, that was the word but they may have meant it for the Dexter Avenue side. It's obviously not the case from the Monroe Street side.

Definately from the Dexter Avenue Side. That bottom floor on Monroe is just parking and looks like a loading dock entrance maybe. (I know they installed generators down there. The second floor on Monroe is also parking and the beginnings of the first level of the building.

[RSAHort]

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[bystander1]

True. But, it sure is exciting to see this tower rise in downtown Montgomery!

Yes, and for a "12-story" building it seems really impressive from a distance.

[OCA REP]

From today's Montgomery Advertiser:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100115/NEWS01/1150306/New+downtown+building+in+foreground+of+library+plans

I guess a library might be a good option for Court Square instead of a State House. But I have always heard the old Belk's Department store on Dexter mentioned whenever a new library downtown is discussed. Time will tell...

New downtown building in foreground of library plans
By Jill Nolin • January 15, 2010

The city of Montgomery will be asking the federal government to help it realize its dream of having a new downtown library, but Mayor Todd Strange has also tasked the library board with lending a hand in the effort to cobble the money together.

Strange said Thursday that the city has requested a $35 million federal appropriation for the project in the 2011 fiscal year. The first phase, which would include architectural planning and property acquisition, would cost between $1 million to $2 million, Strange said.

While Strange said the city might match funding, he said he didn't want money from the city's general fund to be the primary source for the project.

Still he said the city is not passively waiting for an outside funding source to be identified. Strange said the city is starting the process of posturing itself for the large-scale project.

Thomas McPherson, the new Montgomery City-County Public Library Board president, told the board on Thursday that the mayor wants the board to orchestrate a community fundraiser to lessen the burden on government. It is not clear right now how much the board would be expected to raise.

Strange, who took office in March, said building a new downtown library is one of his top five priorities for the next five years.

The current building, which opened in 1960, was designed for both the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the library. The museum moved out and to its current location in east Montgomery in 1998.

"This is one of those projects you have to start thinking about and dreaming about (now)," Strange said Thursday.

Strange said a state-of-the-art main library, which would likely be located near the Court Square area, would bring more people downtown. This would, in turn, spur even more downtown revitalization, he said.

Strange isn't the only one who has made a new downtown library one of his priorities. McPherson, who was given control of the board Thursday, also has it as one of his major goals.

"I enjoy conversations and I enjoy meetings, but I am a task-oriented individual. I trust our conversations and meetings will result in these accomplishments," McPherson said to the board shortly after becoming president.

McPherson replaced Gary Burton, who will now serve as secretary on the library board.

McPherson shared his top three goals for the new year, listing them in the order he believes that they need to occur:

For the board to clearly establish itself as a governing board, rather than an advisory board. A memorandum of understanding, shared with the city and county governments, was recently written to clarify the board's role as a governing board.

"We just became a governing board, but we're just a governing board on paper. It's going to take time for that to become a reality," McPherson said.

For the board to establish relationships with other individuals, organizations and institutions.

"We do not exist in a vacuum. We need to build the relationships and partnerships that we are going to need to provide the services the community needs and to raise the money needed to provide those services," McPherson said.

For the board to create a clear strategy for making a new downtown library a reality. This includes a public relations campaign that would improve and market the public library system's image in the community.

[bystander1]

I have a good feeling that the library will be the future of One Court Square. We need a new one baaaddd!

Of course, today's modern libraries aren't like we were used to when we were growing up; not a place of "geekdom" with that "closed in" feeling. With them being centers for technology and having more interactive activities for the average person, I think it will be a great catalyst to help spur development along lower Dexter Avenue. Plus it will help bridge lower Dexter with the Alley.

Check out some of these modern designs. (http://weburbanist.com/2008/12/10/clever-creative-modern-library-architecture-designs/)

[bystander1]

Check this out. This is a pic from the Montgomery Water Works. It shows the area of the riverwalk, the Alley, the new Renaissance Hotel, the baseball stadium, and the Capitol complex (downtown Bronnerville) rising above the river. A cool nighttime shot.

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/night/nightshot2.jpg

[kevinlpugh]

New Lofts Downtown on Adams....
Video from WSFA (http://www.wsfa.com/global/Category.asp?C=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=93080&topVideoCatNoB=97608&topVideoCatNoC=153813&topVideoCatNoD=92106&topVideoCatNoE=95084&clipId=4468945&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&topVideoCatNo=0&autoStart=true&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv)

[Jefficator]

The suggestion I have heard on good authority is that the Kress building is the front-runner for the new downtown library, as BB&T intends to use One Court Square more than the Montgomery East offices.

[bystander1]

The suggestion I have heard on good authority is that the Kress building is the front-runner for the new downtown library, as BB&T intends to use One Court Square more than the Montgomery East offices.

That would be a huge mistake. The Kress building would be the wrong size for a main library. Plus, I wouldn't trust BB&T to use much of any building in the city for anything worthwhile and would take virtually any offer from the city to get rid of One Court Square. If not that building for a library, then it would have to be some other building.

To sink $35M into a building as limited in so many ways as the Kress building is for the main library, it would call for an immediate investigation of everyone involved in the purchase of it for that purpose.

[thoraudio]

That would be a huge mistake. The Kress building would be the wrong size for a main library. Plus, I wouldn't trust BB&T to use much of any building in the city for anything worthwhile and would take virtually any offer from the city to get rid of One Court Square. If not that building for a library, then it would have to be some other building.

To sink $35M into a building as limited in so many ways as the Kress building is for the main library, it would call for an immediate investigation of everyone involved in the purchase of it for that purpose.

Have you been in the Kress building.... It's got to be bigger than the existing library. There's a full sized basement/lower floor + a full size third floor for storage/offices.

To me, the two drawbacks are parking and the guy who owns it who wants way too much money.