Montgomery development news [Archive]

thoraudio

08-01-2005, 02:47 PM

I'm sure this thread will only be updated every 6 months or so, but still.... :D

Adding pair of parking decks high priority for downtown

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

More than 800 parking spaces and a New Orleans-style alley with restaurants and shopping will be added to downtown Montgomery through the investment of tax dollars.

"There are private developers very interested in moving forward if the parking situation is resolved," said Gordon Martin, chairman of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation.

Last year, both the city and the county approved the creation of a tax incremental financing district for the downtown and riverfront area.

The district caps ad valorem taxes at a certain level and uses any revenue growth for infrastructure and development in the district. Martin said it is not a tax increase. The TIF does not impact taxes directed to education.

The first priority is two parking decks, one across Coosa Street from Riverwalk Stadium, and another just off of lower Dexter Avenue.

There is a project review committee, which includes Martin and several other city, county and chamber officials. The City Council has final review of the projects funded by the district.

Martin will present the priorities and recommendations to the council during its meeting Tuesday.

Local officials believe the parking decks will support future development and encourage private investment.

"The public investment is necessary to spur private development," Martin said.

Mayor Bobby Bright said he supports parking as a priority with the funding. The parking decks are needed for future growth, he said.

" I think parking is key," Bright said.

Parking has been a common complaint from business owners and employees downtown.

Martin said some preliminary work has been done for the Coosa Street deck and it could be ready for use in 18 to 24 months.

The two decks are among several planned for downtown. Those include one with the intermodal bus transfer facility and with the convention center and hotel project.

Martin said they estimate the district will create $9 million to $10 million in revenue.

The projects total at least $12 million, but Martin said the decks will generate revenue that can be reinvested.

The Coosa deck will cost $5.8 million and include 398 parking spaces.

Some retail spaces in downtown are ready for development, but are waiting for more parking, Martin said.

"When we solve the parking problem, I think we'll see a significant amount of development," he said.

The entrance for the lower Dexter parking deck will be on Washington Avenue and the deck will not be seen from Dexter Avenue.

There will be 421 parking spaces in the deck, which has an estimated price of $6.2 million.

The New Orleans style "Grocer's Alley" will be built using a current alley and path that will be torn through a building in front of Commerce Street. The alley, which will connect the hotel and civic center to the baseball stadium, will feature restaurants and shopping. The proposed cost of the alley is $1.1 million and will include contributions from private developers.

The alley was a priority because visitors, when surveyed by the chamber, said Montgomery needed more shopping and dining, Martin said.

He expects the alley to be ready by the opening of the civic center and hotel in the spring or summer of 2007, if not earlier.

thoraudio

08-01-2005, 02:48 PM

Dusty memories fill auditorium

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

The auditorium in Montgomery's City Hall, once one of the city's main gathering points for major events, has for the past three decades only been used as storage space. Costly renovations for the facility are a subject of debate on the City Council.

Charles Carr remembers being in the city auditorium for a variety of events, including his commencement, concerts, boxing matches and the touching funeral of country superstar Hank Williams.

Carr, who was driving the 1952 Cadillac that Williams died in the back seat of in 1953, was on the second row for the biggest funeral in the city's history.

"It's unbelievable what has happened to it and what they have let happen to it," Carr said of the auditorium. "It was such a fine structure."

The stage where Hank Williams performed on several occasions is covered with shelves that are home to hundreds of boxes of documents and paperwork.

There are offices for the city's finance and housing codes departments where the seats were once located on the auditorium floor. Desks, broken chairs, an old water fountain and other items are strewn throughout the large auditorium, which was built in 1937.

"It's been a mystery to me why the city has not done something and allowed it to get into the state it is in today," Carr said.

Carr and many others want to see the historic auditorium renovated.

City officials disagree on whether the auditorium should be renovated. They believe renovations could cost as much as $4 million.

Councilwoman Janet May favors the renovation. She said the offices need to be moved out of the auditorium and city officials need to work with local and state historical societies to go through the thousands of documents.

May wants the front doors of City Hall unlocked and access to the once beautiful auditorium restored.

She said the current movement of several city offices, including the fire department to a building Madison Avenue, will allow those in the auditorium to be relocated.

"We can get everybody out of the auditorium and start to clean it out," May said.

She said they must also work to preserve whatever needs to be kept. May said cleaning out the paperwork will consume the most time.

"It is basically paperwork generated by bureaucracy," she said.

County music legend Hank Williams' funeral in Montgomery was held in the auditorium in January 1953. About 2,700 people packed into the auditorium and about 20,000 spilled into the streets.

After the room is cleaned out, she said they have three options for paying for a renovation. Among those options are borrowing, finding grant money and generating additional tax revenue.

"We have got many options," May said. "As the council, we're going to choose the most economical and most expedient route we can take to get this done."

May said the first step is to move the people out and dismantle the office space.

Mayor Bobby Bright said there is not money in the budget this year to renovate the auditorium.

"There are too many other needs in city government," he said.

Boxes are piled up on the stage of Montgomery's old auditorium in City Hall. Built in 1937, the city is considering reviving the facility. Costs for the renovations, which could take millions, have been a road block to the work.

Bright said there is not revenue coming in to help fund the renovation.

Carr said the auditorium should be included in the push to refurbish downtown.

Williams's funeral was held in the auditorium in January 1953. About 2,700 people packed into the auditorium and about 20,000 spilled into the streets outside and listened to the service on the public announcement system.

Country stars who attended the service included Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff, June Carter, Bill Monroe and Red Foley, who sang "Peace in the Valley."

Carr drove several family members away from the funeral in a limousine. He said people there were people lining the streets for several blocks.

The crowd was said to be the largest since Jefferson Davis' 1861 inauguration as president of the Confederacy.

bystander1

08-02-2005, 05:23 AM

Those parking decks are going to do a lot for downtown. Many developers are simply waiting for more parking in order to move forward with their plans.

Did you know that part of the reason Colonial scrapped their downtown high-rise is because they wanted the city to build them 2 parking decks within six months?

But the city couldn't give Colonial a gaurantee that they could do it in time because the city was already working on building 2 other parking decks downtown: the Intermodal Deck, and the convention center/hotel parking deck.

And now add to those the Coosa Street deck and the lower Dexter Avenue deck and there will be plenty of parking deck-building going on for a while. I think the city should have just said yes anyway but Colonial has enough money to build their own decks...why try to make the city build their decks?

I think it was just a lame excuse anyway.

ExpatBaman

08-02-2005, 05:49 AM

I hope all the new parking decks are designed to be pedestrian-friendly and have retail or office space at ground level. Otherwise, they are just more ugly eyesores for downtown. Montgomery is plagued with too many ugly decks already.

bystander1

08-02-2005, 06:10 AM

^ These decks are all supposed to be designed with retail on the bottom floors. I've only seen plans for one since the others are still in the design stage, and that's the Intermodal deck. It will be very pedestrian-friendly.

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/downtown/intermodal2.JPG

rabbi2007

08-03-2005, 01:11 AM

One thing I personally believe is missing from our Civic Center ( Embarrassment to this city ) turn Convention Center, among all the new things coming to our downtown, a Arena. Our Coliseum ( Garrett built in 1954 holds between 8000 and 14,000 depending on how you structure the seating ) is too old ( falling apart ) and not large enough for venues of this day. Most cities our size have an arena in their Convention complex , Columbus Ga, Tallahassee Fl, Huntsville, Mobile just to name a few. It would be nice for our city to have one ( arena ) that could seat between 15,000 and 20,000. I have never understood why the city leaders in the early 1970's settled with what we built, and look how many conventions we lost because we could not seat more than 4,000. One place that this arena would fit perfect in is the block behind the present configuration. Montgomery is usually" a day late and a dollar short"on most progress and I know this will never happen in my life time, but 10 years ago who would have ever thought we would have a new baseball stadium ?

thoraudio

08-03-2005, 03:08 AM

baby steps.... More has been done civicly in the past 5 than in the previous 20.

bystander1

08-03-2005, 05:49 AM

THat's been my biggest gripe for years...why not have an arena? I have a feeling that one's coming really soon, though. Where, I don't know but the area you suggested, rabbi2007, is where most think it should be.

Don't get me started on why the city settled for what they called a civic center back in the 70's... :pissed:

thoraudio

08-03-2005, 02:21 PM

Hopefully, this year, we'll start seeing real economic results from the Hyundai plant... and pray that the tech group gets resurrected from BRAC.....

pkp

08-03-2005, 05:18 PM

pkp

08-03-2005, 05:20 PM

On the rendering, is that tower actually in the water? That's awesome!

rabbi2007

08-03-2005, 05:49 PM

At least the cities I named have a Arena in their downtown. Alabama State University which is about 2 miles from downtown Montgomery has an Arena which seats about 8,000, but that is now the answer for our downtown.

rabbi2007

08-03-2005, 05:50 PM

thoraudio

08-03-2005, 06:10 PM

On the rendering, is that tower actually in the water? That's awesome!

Yes, it's an observation tower that's in the Alabama River. The catwalk/bridge goes over the train tracks.

The construction trailers have been onsite for a month or 2, but no sign of beginning construction yet.

thoraudio

08-03-2005, 06:19 PM

And you gotta love the JOE L. REED ACAdome!!

http://www.coasttocoasttickets.com/images/venues_JoeL.ReedAcadome.jpg

:)

Montgomery several small (2000-8000) venues, but no good 'big ones'.

Civic Center, Coliseum (not counting 'floor seats'), Ampitheater, Riverwalk stadium, Crampton bowl, Paterson field, Acadome, Carmichal (DEA :) ) center, ASF, museum ampitheater, Davis Theater, Civic Auditorium if its redone + a couple of 1000+ seat churches :laugh:

as a kid, I even remember going to see Doug Henning (cheesy hippy/magician) at the Lee auditorium.... :hilarious

*edit* I think ASF is only like 750.... but still...

rabbi2007

08-03-2005, 09:32 PM

You Forgot the Historical ( LOL ) Crampton Bowl. It can hold 24,000 for a tight fit. The West side is as old as dirt, the east side was built in the early 60's. I am glad about one thing we no longer have the Bore Bowl (Blue Gray Classic ) here. This is one fire that needed to be put out years ago. Crampton Bowl could be a nice place, but like most things around here neglect and band aids have taken there toll.

thoraudio

08-03-2005, 10:00 PM

it's on there.... right after Riverwalk :)

I liked having the Blue-Gray game... :(

rabbi2007

08-03-2005, 10:05 PM

Montgomery had a nice theatre that was tore down by Troy to build the Rosa Parks Museum, the old Empire Theatre. In my opinion it was nicer than the Paramount ( changed name to Davis because the old lady loved seeing her name in lights). It held several hundred more than the Paramount ( Davis ). Troy has done much to that area of downtown so I am not knocking them for letting that one get away. I just wonder why the movers and shakers of this city have little vision. Take Riverwalk Stadium as an example, it seats 7,000 and for the past two years we have had many sellouts, why was its built to only hold this amount or why was it not built in the beginning to hold about 10,000 the standard sive for AA baseball ? Our old baseball stadium ( Paterson Field )holds 7,000. I know for years our past Mayor did all he could to discourage developement downtown. When he was on the city council he voted not to build any convention center. During his reign as KGB leader of Montgomery we had no concerts ( he ordered one raid to many and concert promoters would not even consider this city ). HELP Montgomery needs developers with Vision, plus we now have a great Mayor.

thoraudio

08-04-2005, 09:30 PM

Still depressed that Milo's is gone, but this will help some.

I have great news for Montgomery-area Whataburger fans -- and there are a lot of you out there because many of you have e-mailed me!

All the Way Management will open the Capital City's first Whataburger on the Atlanta Highway, the spot that originally was Milo's.

Albert Lopez and Pablo Huerta of All the Way Management, a Texas-based group of private investors, met me for coffee last week after finalizing the deal.

"We're still looking at some time in the fall," said Lopez, who grew up eating at Whataburger. These days, his favorite is the No. 5, which comes with bacon, cheese and a toasted bun.

But that's just one of 36,864 ways to order your Whataburger, he said. And they're available 24 hours a day. In addition to burgers, you can get such items as salads, grilled chicken, chicken strips and onion rings.

You also can have breakfast from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. daily. During those hours, customers can order breakfast items, such goodies as taquitos, pancakes and breakfast on a bun.

Huerta said another great thing is that Whataburger will hire Montgomery-area folks. The only people they are bringing with them are the people who will train the local team for six to eight weeks before opening.

The city's first Whataburger will be at 6521 Atlanta Highway.

neilson

08-04-2005, 11:18 PM

rabbi2007

08-05-2005, 12:01 AM

Emory was a wanna Be. He would have had a 12 foot wall aound this place and called it Fort Montgomery. He had NO desire to help anyplace west of the Southern Blvd, especially the last 8 years he was Mayor. Remember when he would show up at Crampton Bowl and walk the sidelines with a pistol on his side, a clown he was. I think in his first life he wanted to be a General in the Army or a Cop. Montgomery is a much better place with his type gone. Mayor Bright has been a Mayor to all of this city, the West, North, South and East. Think what this city has lost while we put up with him for the 20 plus years, we became famous for being the most boring city in the South to live. He fought constantly to keep professional baseball out now look we have not only professional baseball and Indoor Football, and there is even talk about Hockey when the Convention Center is finished, plus other venues that either have come here or are planning to move here. Our Airport is another example of neglect, visit or go the their website, this airport for the First time will be first class. Mayor Bright is what we needed, nothing more and nothing less. And for the first time we have a Mayor with compassion, with Emory it was " his was or the highway".

bystander1

08-05-2005, 12:02 AM

thoraudio

08-05-2005, 02:19 PM

Lowe's, Home Depot Preparing to Battle with New East Montgomery Locations

Home improvement giants Lowe's and Home Depot battle for customers on East Boulevard and soon they'll be doing the same with new locations in East Montgomery.

CBS 8 News has learned that land on Chantilly Parkway has been rezoned so that Lowe's can being construction on its second Montgomery store. It will be within shouting distance of the new Home Depot that is currently under construction just a short distance away.

Chantilly Parkway has seen several businesses spring up in the past year as business development continues marching east up Interstate 85.

thoraudio

08-05-2005, 09:41 PM

Another article on the downtown parking issue. I ate at Felder's today and had to park in front of the Federal Courthouse.... hamburger was good though :)

Parking shortage slows downtown lunch business

By Juliana Wu
Montgomery Advertiser

Restaurants and their patrons in downtown Montgomery are feeling the effects of limited parking during lunch hours.

Restaurants say business has decreased since the Rosa Parks Library and Museum expansion eliminated a public parking lot on the corner of Montgomery and Lee streets.

"If (customers) can't park close enough to come to the restaurant, they're not going to come in," said Nobles restaurant co-owner Steve McGraw.

McGraw said he had to lay off all of his lunch employees and close business during the day due the decline in customers.

"I busted out crying," said Shannon Waddle, when she found out she could no longer serve lunch during the week at Nobles. Waddle still waits tables at Nobles during its Sunday brunch, but now she serves lunch across the street at Felder's Café Riverwalk.

They too said that they have felt the negative impact from the lack of parking. "We were doing probably 135 people a day. Now we're down to about 85 to 90," said owner Jack McKissack. "The Mayor is doing all this renovation downtown but there are no parking spaces."

The city is in the process of constructing two parking decks on Coosa Street and Dexter Street. Combined, they will provide over 800 parking spaces. Chairman of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation Gordon Martin estimates that the parking decks will be completed in 18 to 24 months.

For downtown restaurants, that doesn't seem to be soon enough. Owner of Cool Beans café Shari Rossman said she and her employees use the two-hour meter parking spaces. "I don't like having to park out here just because one of my customers could park there. But where should I park?" Rossman said.

Rossman said she and her employees receive parking tickets every day because they can't move their cars every two hours in an eight to 10 hour workday. At $4 a ticket that adds up to $20 parking fee every week for a five-day week.

Montgomery has made efforts to provide short-term solutions to the parking problem, said Michael Briddell, executive assistant to the mayor. The city used to offer parking spaces at the Riverwalk Stadium parking lot and a free shuttle that transported people downtown. But Briddell said that the city discontinued the service because few people used it.

"Old habits die hard," Briddell said. "We've been blessed/cursed with a dormant downtown for many years. People just got acclimated to parking right there where they needed to go."

Some lunch patrons admit they are walking farther, but they are also eating downtown less often. Larry Forston walked about five blocks from the Alabama Judicial Building to Felder's Café Riverwalk Wednesday for lunch.

"When it's 100 degrees, I won't walk," Forston said.

On those days he said he doesn't buy lunch, "or I just drive to a fast food place that has parking," he said.

Jerry Stinson parked two blocks away from Felder's Café Riverwalk. "I don't mind walking," he said, "but if you're late and you have to park two blocks away that would be a problem."

rabbi2007

08-06-2005, 03:49 AM

What are they waiting on ?? Why have we not seen any pics on our new Convention center and Hotel ?? What are they hiding ? Why has construction not started in the old Parking lot??? I know that basically the RSA has taken control over the civic center and they will own the Hotel. I also heard that the hotel went from being 16 floors to 21 floors and as of late it will now be 12 floors with more than 300 rooms. My question is what are they waiting on??? Does anyone know???

thoraudio

08-09-2005, 01:48 PM

Trying for Kia....

Officials plan on push for Kia plant

By Deborah Willoughby and Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Long-simmering rumors about expansion at Montgomery's Hyundai plant came to a full boil Monday with a report that Mississippi is trying to land a Kia manufacturing plant.

The Korea Times reported Monday that Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group said it may build another automobile manufacturing plant in the United States and that Mississippi is emerging as a key contender for the site.

The Korea Times story said research for locating the plant is under way.

Hyundai, which has a controlling stake in Kia, opened a $1 billion manufacturing plant in Montgomery in May. Rumors of expansion on the 1,744-acre site have abounded for months.

Mike Chung, a market analyst with the automotive Web site Edmunds.com, said that although Kia has its own leadership structure, Hyundai deeply is involved in its decision-making.

Chung's take on the news that Mississippi is in the running for a Kia plant is that it would be much more logical for Kia to build its cars in Alabama, a point Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright echoes.

Bright said he wants Kia officials to know that Montgomery is willing to offer an incentive package to attract another automotive plant to the city.

"I don't want them to look and decide on Mississippi without giving us here in Montgomery an opportunity to discuss it," Bright said. "I'll do everything I can to make it happen. We need those good jobs here in Alabama."

Montgomery's edge is that Hyundai already is here, Chung said.

"A lot of it is a logistics issue. It's a matter of building vehicles across platforms," Chung said. "By sharing components, you get economies of scale and much more efficiency. I would see it as an extension of the current plant. I don't see them spending the capital to create a completely new plant."

Chung said the automotive parts suppliers that are working with Hyundai are another draw for Kia.

"Alabama should have a foothold in Hyundai and Kia in the years to come," he said.

Chung said Hyundai and Kia already have joint ventures in this country, including a proving ground in California and a research and development center in the Detroit area.

Several vehicles produced by Hyundai and Kia are built on the same platform.

"They are literally the same vehicle in terms of structure and mechanics," Chung said.

Few details emerged about what cities and states are doing to court Kia.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is on a trade mission to Asia, and a visit to Korean automakers was a logical part of the trip, officials said.

Scott Hamilton, director of communications for the Mississippi Development Authority, said, "The governor and MDA officials are meeting with a number of companies that have investments in Mississippi or which we believe have the prospect of making investments here. At this stage, we don't expect any immediate results, but we certainly are actively looking for all sorts of economic development opportunities."

In Alabama, most economic development officials did not offer any information about efforts to bring in a Kia plant.

"We don't discuss projects," said Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and Gov. Bob Riley's office said much the same thing, explaining that they don't want to tip their hands to to competitors for any potential development.

"We never comment on projects in the works. Any project we're aware of, we go after hard," said Ellen McNair, vice president for corporate development with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

Although Bright does not know anything specific, he said there is movement to talk to Kia officials.

"I am instructing our industrial recruitment folks to stay in contact with Kia officials and let them know we would be serious about discussing them coming to Montgomery, Alabama," he said.

Bright said the city is willing to offer a similar package to the deal with Hyundai. The total incentive for Hyundai, which included contributions from local and state government and private entities, totaled more than $250 million.

hmorgan

08-09-2005, 04:08 PM

Mike Chung, a market analyst with the automotive Web site Edmunds.com, said that although Kia has its own leadership structure, Hyundai deeply is involved in its decision-making.

Chung's take on the news that Mississippi is in the running for a Kia plant is that it would be much more logical for Kia to build its cars in Alabama, a point Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright echoes.

I like this guy. :)

If we were able to sneak this away, or even if it was built near the state line, Alabama would wreak amazing benefits. I hope it happens.

HSVTiger

08-09-2005, 04:14 PM

a supersite between Meridian and the state line that both states are pushing. Also Project Pinetree(Audi?) may come down to
a site near the Limestone/Madison county line between Athens and Huntsville on I 65 or a site in Chattanooga.

bystander1

08-14-2005, 05:31 AM

^ That would be cool to land the Audi plant there. Isn't it true that Audi was interested in an Opelika site about 7 or eight years ago? I believe it was the same site that almost landed the Nissan plant and later almost landed the Hyundai plant.

Speaking of landing, I hope to get more info on this surprising $4M addition to the development of the $40M+ upgrade/renovation of Dannelly Field...

Montgomery Airport Intermodal Center - $4 million

Senator Shelby said, “This project is extremely important to the Montgomery Airport as the airport continues to expand. This facility will serve as a hub for park and ride patrons, bus, air and private transportation.”

Maybe this will help make the light-rail link between the airport and the Union Station Intermodal Center downtown a reality in the near future.

thoraudio

08-15-2005, 02:07 PM

very interesting....

thoraudio

08-17-2005, 02:31 PM

LET's GET IT ON!

he debate has been brewing but now it may have escalated to an all-out war between Montgomery and Pike Road.

The two cities have gone round and round over where to draw the line and which neighborhoods belong to which city. Now, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright wants to end it all. He's calling a special election to annex all of Pike Road.

It came like a lightning bolt after all other city business was done.

Council Member Glen Pruitt introduced the resolution to the council.

"What we're doing is asking for a special election to make that happen so the citizens out there have a right to say yes or no if they want to come into the city of Montgomery," he said.

After a nearly unanimous vote, the politicking was on.

Mayor Bobby Bright says he's heard from lots of people in Pike Road.

"What they wanna do, based on what we hear, is they want to be part of the city of Montgomery," he said.

It should be a contentious fight. People in Pike Road started working towards a local government when the state legislature passed the first annexing bill. From there, attorneys on both sides filed lawsuits. At stake: some of the highest value property in Montgomery County.

"They're in our growth corridor, our most valuable growth corridor for the City of Montgomery," Bright said.

He admits the city wants that property for its tax value, but he also contends its about government efficiency.

"Birmingham is landlocked by 27 or 28 different municipal jurisdictions. I don't want Montgomery to be like that in 10 or 15 years. We need to have one administrative jurisdiction to handle all those city services," Bright said.

The city now has ten days to ask Probate Judge Reese McKinney to arrange for the election. Mayor Bright says city lawyers will start work on that process tomorrow morning.

State law says the vote should happen within three to six weeks.

Yikes.

For those outta the loop (which would probably be [total forum population] - 3), the 'city' of Pike Road is basically a T-junction and a post office. They incorporated a few years ago, basically just to stay out of Montgomery. But they don't offer services or a school system, and the residents number less than 1000 (I think).

This should be interesting :laugh:

DallasTexan

08-17-2005, 02:48 PM

Annexation is always very fun! ;)

thoraudio

08-22-2005, 02:02 PM

good and bad.

Montgomery's Riverwalk Amphitheatre Closed for Up to Two Years

Riverwalk Amphitheatre, one of the centerpieces of Montgomery's riverfront redevelopment efforts, will be closed due to nearby construction. Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright told CBS 8 News Friday that for the next 18 to 24 months the amphitheatre will be closed.

Mayor Bright says limited events could possibly still be held. In that case, fencing would be put up around the construction zone to protect visitors. The facility is near several construction projects including the Civic Center remodeling and expansion that is underway.

Good because it means that Riverwalk development is getting fully underway, bad because the place has only been around for a couple of years, and now they're shutting it down for the next 2...

thoraudio

08-22-2005, 02:03 PM

Downtown lofts now open

Ten years ago, it may have been unheard of in Montgomery to renovate commercial structures built in the late 1800's and turn them into luxury apartments. Today, it's just one of many changes happening downtown.

The old gun shop built in 1904 now houses seven luxury lofts. Extensive renovation give the spaces all the amenities of a new apartment, but provides a charm you'll be pressed to find anywhere else.

Beau Daniel, Director of Operation for Foshee Builders Inc., says, "We couldn't have put anything in here that would have added more character than the original brick." Contractors even preserved the original freezer doors of ice house next door, but nostalgia isn't the only reason builders are renovating.

Daniel adds, "There are so many things the mayor has done to make downtown the place to be."

Virtually everything in downtown Montgomery is within walking distance. Biscuits baseball and restaurants like the Brew Pub are right across the street. With more public and private developments in the works, moving here is starting to make a lot of sense to people including our mayor.

Montgomery Mayor, Bobby Bright, says, "I've already inquired about purchasing one of them. If I could, I would come over here at lunch and lay back and sleep and wouldn't have to be on the road burning that expensive gas going back and forth to home." Still not sold on the idea? Peter Epton and his fiancee, Nina, just moved into a loft last month and for them the location and space is ideal.

Epton says, "The lyncher for us was the bathroom because in Japan, where we were living, we had a shower room, a large space where we can move around and we like the freedom of the shower head."

Lofts range in price from $1,000 to $2,500 a month, but builders and residents alike say what you get in return is worth it.

Commercial spaces are also available on the first floors of the renovated structures. The building WSFA 12 News reporter, Theo Travers, toured with Mayor Bright will be ready for tenants as early as next week.

Nice... maybe this will lead to more downtown living...

DruidCity

08-22-2005, 10:11 PM

Interesting that the plans for Harrah's in Wetumpka are now up to $300 million :
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/business/12410627.htm

bystander1

08-23-2005, 05:07 AM

I saw an "exclusive rendering" of the casino on WAKA news that had a hotel that looked like it would be at least 15-18 stories.

I rode by the site about a week ago, and it looks like they are on the third level of the first of two parking decks for the casino.

They are planning to upgrade their other gaming facility in Montgomery and the bingo hall in Atmore into similar casinos after the current project is complete.

thoraudio

08-23-2005, 02:13 PM

I enjoy table games (21 and poker), but don't see the draw in these electronic bingo games at all...... just me I reckon.

thoraudio

09-02-2005, 02:03 PM

It means so little compared to the big story 300 miles south west of here, but they started tearing up the parking lot to begin construction on the Civic Center hotel today :)

bystander1

09-03-2005, 05:23 AM

Yeah. Construction begins and there is still no idea how it will look
or its height. Hopefully we'll see something soon...

bystander1

09-16-2005, 05:01 AM

Here's some news (that we already knew a while back) from the Birmingham Business Journal:

Colonial BancGroup to build new corporate HQ in Montgomery

Colonial BancGroup Inc. officially confirmed Wednesday night what many Montgomery area residents have known for months: The bank holding company will build a new corporate headquarters on a 25-acre site in the capital city.

The 218,000-square-foot headquarters will consist of a six-story operations building and a three-story executive building joined by a rotunda lobby. The new headquarters will be home to more than 550 employees.

Goodwyn Mills and Cawood Inc., a Montgomery-based architectural and engineering firm that also has a Birmingham office, designed the building. Birmingham's Brasfield & Gorrie LLC is the general contractor.

Colonial BancGroup (NYSE: CNB) has assets of about $21 billion and 309 banking offices in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Nevada and Texas.

They chose sprawl over a 16-story HQ downtown.

neilson

09-16-2005, 05:27 AM

Montgomery Mayor Tells Residents They Should Carry Guns

POSTED: 5:06 pm CDT September 15, 2005
UPDATED: 5:38 pm CDT September 15, 2005

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- While unaware he was being recorded at a civic meeting, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright offered a crime solution that has stunned the city of Montgomery and the nation.

"What we need to do... Is there any media? Chief, can I say this? I've said it one time…Get a gun and teach our folks how to use them and shoot' em," Bright said. "Now, I'm telling you, that's what we need to do."

Bright was speaking on the issues of having an understaffed police force, clogged courts and a vast majority of crime in Montgomery committed by the same relatively small number of people over and over again.

"That's the only thing that we can really tell our folks to do at this point in time," Bright said. "If there's anything else that you know that the chief and I can do to keep this crime down, keep these guys from stealing... let me know."

The Montgomery Police Department was asked what their response was to the mayor's statements.

"The mayor made some good points. If a person chooses to own a handgun, then we think it is important they know how to use that handgun and they know when the law allows them to use it," said Lt. Huey Thornton of the Montgomery Police Department.

So far, Bright has not commented on his statements.

Copyright 2005 by NBC13.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Have a comment about this story? E-mail us at morenews@nbc13.com.

ExpatBaman

09-16-2005, 08:48 AM

thoraudio

09-16-2005, 02:36 PM

my understanding is yes... and the guy who just bought it a couple of years ago ain't happy...

Joey Hester

09-16-2005, 05:58 PM

This sucks!!!! I am very unhappy about this decision. I was looking forward to a new 16 story or taller building downtown. I guess the employees talked them into building closer to where most of them live in East Montgomery, so that they did not have to commute to downtown. This is terrible.

I definitely will not bank with Colonial now!!

Alos, I going to assume that the City was not able or unwilling to work with Colonial to keep them downtown.

BTW, when are renderings of the hotel and convention center going to be made available to the public. This is very unusual. You would think that they would be so proud of this development that they would be touting it big time!!! If anyone has any renderings, can you please post them.

thoraudio

09-16-2005, 07:08 PM

No renderings have been posted yet.

I did notice today when I was downtown eating at Felder's (great burger btw), that they are starting to 'finish' the outside of the civic center add-on. It looked like stucco (faux) with sharp angled features (three horizontal lines towards the top). I guess they will have to redux the whole civic center, because it doesn't match in any way shape or form with the 70's brown glazed look of the rest of the building.

bystander1

09-17-2005, 05:43 AM

This sucks!!!! I am very unhappy about this decision. I was looking forward to a new 16 story or taller building downtown. I guess the employees talked them into building closer to where most of them live in East Montgomery, so that they did not have to commute to downtown. This is terrible.

I definitely will not bank with Colonial now!!

Alos, I going to assume that the City was not able or unwilling to work with Colonial to keep them downtown.

It was said that the owner of one of the buildings Colonial was leasing was going to raise the lease amount dramaticly at renewal time. So while Colonial would begin building it's new 16-story HQ down the street, it wanted the city to build two parking decks for them within six months. The city said they would try but their hands were full with other projects at the same time and couldn't guarantee them the six-month deadline.

Colonial used that as an excuse to go out east. :koko:

DallasTexan

09-17-2005, 06:22 AM

Hopefully Colonial will get bought out now for their treason :D

DallasTexan

09-17-2005, 06:23 AM

double post.

DallasTexan

09-17-2005, 06:23 AM

triple post?

DallasTexan

09-17-2005, 02:21 PM

Holy crap - I never posted that three times. Eugh.

bystander1

09-17-2005, 03:02 PM

Ohh, I thought you had just gone crazy... (crazier)

bystander1

09-18-2005, 03:21 PM

Here's a rendering of their new HQ from the Montgomery Advertiser. It's so 80's of them to build a sprawling corporate "campus" when so much emphasis is being put on smart growth within the city's core.

Forgive the quality of the pic but it's the best I could get...

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/east/colonial%20pic.jpg

Colonial abandons downtown plans

By David Irvin
Montgomery Advertiser

The decision to relocate the Colonial BancGroup corporate headquarters from downtown to the east side of Montgomery was officially announced by bank officials this week.

About 550 employees of the bank are expected to move out of downtown when the new facility is finished late in the fourth quarter of next year, said spokeswoman Merrie Betbeze Tolbert. More than 180 Colonial employees from the technology group, call center and print shop will remain downtown at the 1 Court Square location.

The announcement comes 11 months after Mayor Bobby Bright said the bank was considering building a new corporate headquarters downtown.

"Anytime you have a structure of that magnitude that they were going to build, it would have had a significant impact" on downtown revitalization, Bright said Friday.

At the time, the mayor entered negotiations with bank management to locate a proposed 15-story headquarters building downtown, offering to improve infrastructure in the district so they would build there.

"We did talk about some incentives for keeping them here, but it's obvious the incentives we could afford to offer were not significant enough," Bright said.

According to officials with the bank, the downtown building project was considered seriously as an option, but the decision to move east was made in consideration of possible future growth.

The new 25-acre corporate campus will have a six-story operations building and a three-story executive building joined by a rotunda lobby, according to a news release from the company.

The construction represents a $50 million investment in the community, and officials describe the new building as a combination of traditional and modern design, with an exterior blend of pre-cast granite and metal.

"After weighing the options available to us in locations throughout the Southeast, we elected to keep our home in Montgomery," said Eric Hamilton, president and CEO of corporate lending for Alabama and Georgia, in a news release. "Keeping our headquarters here is a positive reflection on the quality of the community."

Until this week the bank had not officially announced its plans to relocate, but ground was broken at the site earlier in the summer. At a July planning commission meeting, the bank -- represented by the design firm Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood -- requested new zoning on the land purchased at Atlanta Highway and Technacenter Drive.

Efforts are already underway to find another tenant for the building Colonial will vacate at 1 Commerce St., Tolbert said.

Colonial BancGroup is a $20.9 billion bank holding company that operates 309 banking offices in five states, the press release said.

thoraudio

09-19-2005, 03:12 AM

*yawn*

Thanks Bobby! :no:

bystander1

09-22-2005, 04:49 AM

BTW, when are renderings of the hotel and convention center going to be made available to the public. This is very unusual. You would think that they would be so proud of this development that they would be touting it big time!!! If anyone has any renderings, can you please post them.

According to an e-mail sent to me from the mayor's assistant, the public will see the first renderings of the new hotel and renovated convention center by September 30th!

Who knows, maybe they're for real this time... :laugh:

pkp

09-22-2005, 04:03 PM

My company keeps their Montogmery head office dowtown - hell Regions has more space dowtown than Colonial, I beleive. What a shitty move on their part...

Joey Hester

09-22-2005, 11:38 PM

Thanks Bystander1!!! I am not going to hold my breath though. However, if they are released by September 30th, please post for all to see!!!! Thanks again.

bystander1

09-23-2005, 05:56 AM

Here are some interesting bits of info about the hotel/convention center from an interview with Mayor Bright in the August edition of the Central Alabama Business Journal:

CABJ: The Montgomery Civic Center is being expanded into a convention center and a hotel is being added. What's the latest on those projects?

Bright: We partnered with ARH, a subsidiary of RSA (Retirement Systems of Alabama). We contracted with them and relied on them to give us all the details. They were projecting the total project would be between $80 million-$85 million. They came back with a bigger budget and it's now going to be about $130 million.

CABJ: The city's share of the project is $29 million. Has that changed?

Bright: No. I have a contract that my cap is $29 million and we have that money available.

CABJ: Why has the overall cost grown from $85 million to $130 million?

Bright: It's going to be a five-star hotel and one of the nicest hotels in this state. It's going to have 350 rooms. It will have a number of meeting rooms and we're expanding the civic center by about 30,000 square feet for exhibitions. But we are also adding another 20,000 square feet for meetings.

CABJ: A performing arts center is also being constructed.

Bright: This is another item that caused the cost to go up. We have a contract with ARH and RSA to build a performing arts theater and they had initially thought it would be a temporary-type of facility that you could break it down and use it for an exhibit hall. They determined not to do that and make it a permanent, fixed performing arts theater.

CABJ: How many people will it seat?

Bright: Between 1,800-2,000 people. There's also the parking deck that is part of the $29 million the city is spending. The parking deck will have room for 650-700 cars.

thoraudio

09-23-2005, 02:14 PM

now... if they'll just post a rendering and get started on the hotel part

DruidCity

09-23-2005, 02:24 PM

Wow, $130 million ? I'm envious... :eek:

bystander1

09-28-2005, 06:07 AM

RSA plans to build a 10-story office tower with a penthouse on top along with a 685 space parking deck across from their current HQ building downtown.

Could this be Bronner's new digs? :hmmm:

thoraudio

09-28-2005, 02:32 PM

pkp

09-28-2005, 09:40 PM

I'm in Montgomery right now, BTW. East Montgomery continues to explode, unfortunatley - wish all of that could be downtown.

bystander1

09-29-2005, 12:42 AM

RSA plans to build a 10-story office tower with a penthouse on top along with a 685 space parking deck across from their current HQ building downtown.

Could this be Bronner's new digs? :hmmm:

In the vacant lot at Union and Adams, or in the Missing Person's parking lot at Washington and Ripley?

It will be on the vacant lot at Union and Adams.

I'm in Montgomery right now, BTW. East Montgomery continues to explode, unfortunatley - wish all of that could be downtown.

You are so right, pkp. But I think Downtown will begin to get their share of development 'big-time' real soon now.

ExpatBaman

09-29-2005, 01:32 AM

RSA plans to build a 10-story office tower with a penthouse on top along with a 685 space parking deck across from their current HQ building downtown.

Very nice, more infill is a good thing.

ExpatBaman

09-29-2005, 01:34 AM

Question for Montgomery forumers: Does anyone have renderings of the proposed improvements for Old Cloverdale that were in the paper a few months ago?

thoraudio

09-29-2005, 04:35 AM

It will be on the vacant lot at Union and Adams.

Drove down there this afternoon and saw they already had the construction fence up. I'd much rather this go nearer the core.... but I'll take what I can get :)

bystander1

09-29-2005, 05:44 AM

Question for Montgomery forumers: Does anyone have renderings of the proposed improvements for Old Cloverdale that were in the paper a few months ago?

I remember those renderings but I don't have pics of them. :(

I do have an article about it though. :)

Joint effort planned to make over Cloverdale

By Tiffany Ray
Montgomery Advertiser

Capital City residents and merchants are joining forces with architects and designers to make Old Cloverdale a better place to be.
Next month, the American Institute of Architects' Montgomery chapter, along with Historic Southview, a new coalition of neighborhood and business associations, will play host at a three-day event intended to create a common vision of the future of the historic neighborhood.
Called a "charette," the event will focus on Cloverdale's Fairview Avenue commercial corridor and surrounding residential areas. Organizers of the project will draw together the concerns, comments and suggestions of local homeowners and other stakeholders. Then, during a two-day work session in April, teams of architects, designers and other experts will work free of charge to mold those ideas into possible realities.
An informational public meeting about the event is planned for Tuesday. The charette, which will include two subsequent public meetings, will take place April 22-24.
Don Brown, a partner in Montgomery-based Brown Chambless Architects, said public meetings held at the start and the end of the April charette will give "before and after" views of the neighborhood. The first will focus on the neighborhood's current issues. In the followup, designers will show off their work, giving participants a glimpse of how the community could look in the future.

The Fairview Avenue corridor is the first in a series of neighborhoods the AIA and Historic Southview plan to target, Brown said. Others include a west-side location, the Mulberry Street district and the neighborhood surrounding the intersection of Cloverdale and Norman Bridge roads.
Plans generated by the charette will dovetail with the city's efforts to create a new comprehensive plan for the city, Brown said.
John Acken, a Montgomery attorney who serves as president of Historic Southview, said Old Cloverdale was an ideal starting place because the neighborhood already is well-defined. With a strong business association in place, it also offers built-in momentum, he said.
Chris Vaughan, owner of Christine's Feathered Nest, a home accessories shop at 1048 Fairview Ave., said the charette will address all kinds of issues, from parking, land use and maintenance to green space, sidewalks and lighting.

Ella's, Tomatinos, Cafe Louisa and Fronduti's are part of the Cloverdale shopping area.
The intent, she said, is to "create a charming atmosphere without taking away any of the uniqueness that is Old Cloverdale."
Vaughan said the Old Cloverdale Business Coalition, for which she serves as president, formed a couple of years ago to address ways of promoting and improving the area. Joining a larger group will help "get some steam behind our purpose," she said.
Brown said the charette is important not only for Old Cloverdale residents but also for all of Montgomery. The neighborhood draws visitors from throughout the city to its restaurants and shops, he said. And the charette is a project that can be emulated in other Capital City communities, he added.
Acken said charettes have been done in other parts of the nation, but they are new to Montgomery.
Tom Kaufmann, a designer for the Alabama Main Street Program of the Alabama Historical Commission, which is involved in the Cloverdale charette, said a similar event held in Greenville in 2003 yielded a number of benefits, including the preservation of historic houses that had been slated for demolition.
It also generated community interest in the future of Greenville's downtown, he said, and "interest is always the precursor to investment."

ExpatBaman

09-30-2005, 03:20 PM

Thanks for the article, bystander. Any word on when the plans are to be finished and work to begin?

I'm glad to see that other areas are slated for similar improvements, and really glad to see that the city is going to develop a comprehensive plan.

neilson

09-30-2005, 07:10 PM

Downtown is all good and well; but when is the downturn on the Southern and Eastern Bypasses(south of I-85), gonna be revitalized?

Crime must be delt with harshly in Montgomery, Broken Windows Policy style.

Education; we must demand the best for children, Black or White, Rich or Poor; and quit giving those "Christian Acadamies" a reason to exist.

bystander1

09-30-2005, 09:53 PM

The official ground-breaking ceremony was held today for the convention center hotel!

I saw a rendering on WAKA News, and although at first I hated the 16-22-21-10 stories tall merry-go-round for the hotel, it looks as though they've settled for width over height instead-- going with 12 stories.
It looks nice from the little glimpse I saw on TV, but I will really be able to tell when I see the rendering again in the paper tomorrow as they've promised (not the most reliable paper in the world...).

I'll post them then!

It's really interesting how this grew from an $85M, to $130M, to $157M project...

City reveals plans for convention center

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Local and state officials revealed plans this morning for the $157 million hotel, convention center, performing arts theater and parking deck that will anchor downtown development.

Today was the official groundbreaking and the hotel is expected to open for business in September 2007.

The hotel has 347 rooms, will be 12 stories tall and be located along Commerce Street in downtown Montgomery.

The project will be the latest in series intended to rejuvenate and bolster downtown Montgomery and strengthen the city’s core, Mayor Bobby Bright said.

The hotel is expected to be a Renaissance, one of the upscale Marriott brands.

The civic center will have more than 70,000 square feet of meeting space and there will be a 14,000 square foot ballroom on the main level.

The performing arts center will hold 1,800 people for traveling Broadway shows and other entertainment.

The bottom floor of the hotel will feature an upscale restaurant along Commerce Street.

The six-level parking deck will hold more than 600 spaces.

The top deck of the hotel will feature an 8,000 square-foot European-style spa, fitness center and pool.

The hotel and convention center will join the riverfront amphitheater, the baseball stadium and other development along the riverfront.

The project is a partnership between the city and Retirement Systems of Alabama. The city is contributing about $30 million plus the land and the shell of the former civic center. RSA will fund the remaining portion of the project.

DallasTexan

09-30-2005, 09:56 PM

WOW!

RSA building ANOTHER Marriott. How SURPIRSING! How much tacky carpet can Alabama handle?

:puke:

bystander1

09-30-2005, 10:06 PM

:frog: I knew you'd be interested...hater
:haha:

thoraudio

10-01-2005, 07:26 PM

Smallest rendering evar.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20051001&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=510010341&Ref=AR&Profile=1001&MaxW=300

The article... nothing really different from Bystander's...

New hotel next step in revitalized vision for downtown

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

MAKING ROOM
Details of the luxury hotel and convention center expansion project include:

Total anticipated cost of $157 million

Expected to open in September 2007

Civic center will have more than 70,000 square feet of meeting space

14,000-square-foot ballroom on the main level of the hotel

Performing arts center will hold 1,800 people for traveling Broadway shows and other entertainment

Bottom floor of the hotel will feature an upscale restaurant along Commerce Street

Six-level parking deck will hold more than 600 spaces

Top deck of the hotel will feature an 8,000-square-foot European-style spa, fitness center and pool

Interior décor will be inspired by the artwork of native Montgomerian Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald

Structure is influenced by The Plaza Hotel in New York

Source: PCH Hotels and Resorts

The anchor has been dropped.

Montgomery and state officials revealed plans and broke ground Friday on the $157 million hotel, convention center, performing arts theater and parking deck expected to anchor the next phase of downtown development and revitalization.

"The groundbreaking will be another critical piece in the resurrection of our downtown," Mayor Bobby Bright said.

The hotel is expected to open for business in September 2007, with 347 rooms in a 12-story building on Commerce Street.

"The need is here, and it's a great location," Bright said.

The project will be the latest in a series of developments intended to rejuvenate and bolster downtown Montgomery and strengthen the city's core, Bright said.

"Any city that is successful, they have a very vibrant core," he said. "Our downtown and riverfront are the core of our city."

Bright said Friday was an historic day for the city. He said the hotel is another sign the city is growing and the gains equate to more jobs, more revenue for the city and more outside investment in Montgomery.

The project is a partnership between the city and Retirement Systems of Alabama. The city is contributing about $30 million, the land and the shell of the former civic center. RSA will fund the remaining portion.

Bright and David Bronner, chief executive officer of RSA, say they share a vision for a strong downtown Montgomery.

"We have worked very hard to change the image of Montgomery," Bronner said.

After being elected six years ago, Bright shared his vision for revitalizing downtown and the riverfront. During the last six years, much of the vision has been initiated and some has come to fruition. Riverwalk stadium, construction along the riverwalk, the amphitheater and loft apartments all signify the investment and movement downtown.

Those, along with Hyundai, demonstrate movement in Montgomery, said Gordon Martin, vice chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation.

"Today, we are gathered at the center of that vision as it becomes a reality," Martin said.

Bright symbolically poured the first concrete. The mayor and Bronner etched their names in the structure.

The city has a management agreement with PCH Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of RSA, and will share expenditures and revenues from all of the structures, except the hotel, Bright said.

The hotel is expected to be a Renaissance, one of the upscale Marriott brands. Bright said they have begun to market the facility for future events.

The project has come a long way since its inception. The initial price tag was $50 million to $80 million, but continued to climb. The city's investment never did, remaining near $30 million.

"That has never been asked to be raised," Bright said.

He said there have been dramatic changes in Montgomery in the last five years and the hotel and convention center will contribute to great changes in coming years.

"It is really going to change," he said.

thoraudio

10-08-2005, 11:01 PM

The article on the building that Bystander mentioned.

RSA will add new building

By David Irvin
Montgomery Advertiser

Downtown Montgomery will have another big green roof in the next couple of years, officials at the Retirement Systems of Alabama said Friday.

Site work on a new eight-story office building for the RSA will begin in the next couple of weeks, officials say.

The 280,000-square-foot structure is estimated to cost $80 million to construct, officials said, and construction is expected to last until late 2007.

"It will be in keeping with the other RSA buildings," said Ron Blount, project director for RSA. "It will be first-class office space."

A development plan presented at a recent planning commission meeting shows the building will be located in the block of Adams Avenue, Ripley Street, Union Street and Highland Avenue.

The primary purpose of the new building is to expand office space in the downtown area, thereby making it easier to recruit white-collar jobs to the city, said RSA CEO David Bronner.

"It's full. It's been full. We really have no more space in town," Bronner said.

He said recruiting white-collar jobs is a difficult task without adequate office space.

"Only after you build it will they come. You have to sort of anticipate, take a chance, and then fill it up," said Bronner. "Sometimes you fill it up quick. Sometimes it takes a few years."

The plans also include a 685-space, six-
level parking deck that will be 252,896 square feet. Three levels will be underground, and three will be above, Blount said.

Eight stories of the office building will be above ground, officials said, and there will be one basement level.

Initially, the RSA will attempt to lease the space to tenants, officials said, and eventually RSA will move many of its offices there.

For Mayor Bobby Bright, this project represents another boon to the development of downtown.

"I'm delighted. It's another project in the ongoing revitalization, stabilization and growth of our downtown," said Bright. "I welcome it. It's going to be another building added to our skyline."

The approved plan is titled "The RSA Headquarters, an Executive Office Building for the Retirement Systems of Alabama."

Conceptual drawings of the building were not available this week.

bystander1

10-09-2005, 12:40 AM

I just wish he would have at least kept this little building the same height as he had originally requested from the planning commission, as you can see below:

7. DP-063-2005 PRESENTED BY: PH & J Architects

REPRESENTING: Retirement Systems of Alabama

SUBJECT: Request recommendation(s) for development plan approval for a new office building and parking deck to be located at the corner of South Union Street, Adams Avenue, and South Ripley Street, in an O-1 (Office) Zoning District (proposed B-1-a (Central Business) Zoning District).

REMARKS: This request is for recommendation(s) to construct 10 story building that would include a basement and a penthouse, along with a 685 space multi-level parking deck. There will be entrances from South Union Street, Adams Avenue and South Ripley Street. The building will be 280,643 sq. ft. and the parking deck will be 252,896 sq. ft. All applicable requirements will be met under the B-1-a zoning requirements. A landscape plan is on file.

Planning Controls Comment(s): No objections.

COUNCIL DISTRICT:

All requests are subject to Zoning Ordinance and/or Subdivision Regulations, applicable departmental approvals and Planning Commission recommendations

I figured this would be RSA's new HQ, but $80M for an 8-story building, you would think it could have been at least 20+ stories, even with the higher price of building upwards these days. But you know Bronner invests more into interior design than outside design to keep the buildings top-of-the-line 'class A ' for a long, long time.

I am glad that something is being built on that side of Downtown also. I thought this would be his new home when I saw the penthouse request, but I didn't see any info in the article about it on the top floor.

DruidCity

10-09-2005, 02:26 AM

Wow, from all the investment lately, Bronner must really like Montgomery & its current leadership.

"We have worked very hard to change the image of Montgomery," Bronner said.

That is great for Montgomery, but it would be nice if Bronner would work similarly hard to change the image of Birmingham, the state's largest city, and of the rest of us.

Even so, that concern doesn't overshadow the great news for Montgomery.

thoraudio

10-11-2005, 09:48 PM

Hurray for renderings....

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

Not totally thrilled with it, but better than nothing, and hopefully the real thing will look great.

It's going here. I was hoping the tallest portion would be directly across from the Commerce building, to get a little bit of a canyon effect, but it's going further north (to the right).

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

and the new RSA building will go here. It should be as tall or taller than the Headquarters and the Plaza.

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

DruidCity

10-11-2005, 10:11 PM

Nice renderings !

bystander1

10-12-2005, 02:01 AM

Nice pics, thoraudio. I agree, I'm just so glad that they're finally starting to do something that I'm not complaining too much about the height issue anymore.

BTW...

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

...the Alabama Dept. of Archives, which is just below the arrow in this pic, had a grand opening for the new addition Saturday. It's called the West Wing and looks great inside (stunning, from what I've heard). It may be good to check it out one day.

thoraudio

10-12-2005, 02:29 PM

Article on ongoing renovations at the Airport.

The most recently completed phase of the Montgomery Regional Airport is a combination of tall glass doors, flat-screen TVs, Greco-Roman columns and pop art stylings of Auburn and Tuscaloosa doorways.

It's a bright, shining addition to an airport that is growing, according to several of the speakers at Tuesday's grand opening -- so bright, that Montgomery Airport Authority chair Chester Mallory donned a pair of sunglasses during his remarks.

"My outlook for the Montgomery Regional Airport Authority growth and development is so bright ... that I have to wear shades," Mallory joked.

The additions and the completion of some of the construction have made a difference for Phoenix resident Pat Johnson, who has been through the airport about 20 times over the years. On Tuesday she was on her way back to her home in Phoenix.

"Some of the security areas are much shorter, and much nicer than that long, scary corridor they had when they were remodeling for a long time," said Johnson. "It's extremely important (to be comfortable) while traveling."

Besides putting the casual flier more at ease, the additions increase the business value of Montgomery, said Mayor Bobby Bright.

"People doing business in the city of Montgomery, they land here," Bright said, "and they usually come to Montgomery by way of our air service. This is going to be another shining example of our growth."

The newly renovated portion of the airport will be dedicated to Alice Reynolds and her son, Jimmy Reynolds, officials said. By Thanksgiving 2006, airport officials said a another phase of construction would be complete, and a fourth stage already is in early planning, they said.

"We could have been here a long time ago," said City Council President Charles Jinright. "Now we are here, and then when you open up the other side, I look forward to seeing that."

The airline industry is so chaotic right now, the new additions probably won't immediately attract new airlines or flights to the airport, said Phil Perry, executive director of the Montgomery Regional Airport Authority.

Many area residents still travel to Birmingham to catch flights to the west. That's probably not going to change anytime soon, Perry said.

"The chances of us getting Southwest are slim and none -- only because Southwest requires a number of things. Number one, they want a million people within (the service) area, and we are well short of that," Perry said. "And they want you to be at least 100 miles from any other Southwest city."

He went on to say that with recent mergers among the airlines that service the Montgomery, there is at least the potential to open up some western routes.

A direct flight to Houston that began earlier this year has an 85 percent load factor, which Perry thinks is very good. But because the industry is having financial trouble right now, airlines aren't really looking to expand routes.

"We did not undertake this in an effort to make it easier for us to recruit new airlines, or to get additional service out of existing airlines," Perry said. "We really did it because the city said they needed the ability to do their economic development ... where the feeling is you are walking into a new modern facility, as opposed to what we had."

For Johnson, a more westward route would be nice, but not essential to keep her flying from Montgomery. To get to Phoenix on Delta Airlines, she first takes a regional hop to Atlanta and then shoots west. But the zigzag approach to air travel beats the alternative of driving to Birmingham from her mother's house in Midway.

"It would just be out of the question. It's like three hours away," she said. "It's not worth it."

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20051012&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=510120335&Ref=AR&Profile=1007&MaxW=300 http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20051012&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=510120335&Ref=V3&Profile=1007&MaxW=300 http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20051012&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=510120335&Ref=V5&Profile=1007&MaxW=300

thoraudio

10-12-2005, 02:32 PM

Proposed water park. Mixed feelings about this one. That side of town definately needs development, but I'm afraid this will fail and just be a rotting shell in less than 5 years....

Proposed water park could lift west Montgomery

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Negotiations to bring a water park to the city could create a stream of opportunities for west Montgomery.

Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, Councilman C.C. Calhoun and other city officials met Tuesday with private developers about building a water park on city land in Gateway Park. The project would be established through a partnership between the city and a Pennsylvania-based developer.

"Both Councilor Calhoun and the mayor are interested in hearing what the developer has to say because the project could be a huge attraction for west Montgomery and lead to increased economic development in that area. But there are a lot of questions that still have to be answered," said Michael Briddell, executive assistant to Bright.

Gateway Park is a city-owned park under construction just east of Interstate 65 and north of South Boulevard.

Briddell said there is a possibility the city could talk to other developers about building a water park on the site. Calhoun said the council might hear presentations from others about the park at future meetings. He said the council would need to vote on the issue.

Calhoun said his primary interest is bringing more family entertainment to the city, especially in the high visibility area along the interstate.

"The city of Montgomery has very little for family entertainment other than baseball," he said. "When you look at it, families really travel to water parks."

The park would include a lazy river, water slides and other amenities typical of water parks, Calhoun said. It would be open about six months of the year and could draw 150,000 to 200,000 patrons, officials said.

Gateway Park is under construction and will include a nine-hole golf course, a driving range, sporting fields and courts, a clubhouse and a community lodge. There already is a 23-acre lake at the site.

Calhoun said the park would be great for family reunions and other events in the area, with golf and family recreation at the same site.

He also is optimistic a water park would draw other development, including hotels, into the area and help clean up that portion of the city. He said they have been working on the water park for about three months.

Calhoun said negotiations on the park are getting closer, but there is no reason to celebrate until an agreement is reached in writing.

Since the proposed project would be a partnership with the city, Briddell said it has to meet quite a few standards.

bystander1

10-12-2005, 11:32 PM

^^Like many other businesses, with proper management, it will do well no matter where it's located in town (ala Visionland in Bessemer).

I believe this will help revitalize that area and will look great along I-65.

Speaking of I-65, it needs to be "revitalized" itself. It's like riding down a flight of stairs. It's a shame that the widening and resurfacing project has been delayed for the last 3 years... :grrr:

thoraudio

10-13-2005, 03:52 AM

Raise your hand if you remember Montgomery's last water park

:wave:

bystander1

10-13-2005, 04:31 AM

:wave: I do. Back in the 70's. Didn't live far from it...

neilson

10-13-2005, 04:46 AM

well, where was it;

thoraudio

10-13-2005, 02:11 PM

well, where was it;

On the bypass, close to Atlanta Crossing. There's probably a used car lot there now.

'Water Park' may be too generous a term for the 2 (IIRC) slides. :cool:

Ahhh, the 70's.... a trip to the TG&Y and Pasquale's Pizza....

:laugh:

Bystander, my family moved to Dalraida in 74 (I was 2), my parents still live in the same house :nuts:

DruidCity

10-13-2005, 02:36 PM

TG&Y and Pasquale's ? Man, now you're speaking my language. :haha:

Are there still any Pasquale's locations anywhere ?

thoraudio

10-13-2005, 03:40 PM

Hmmm, this is a development thread.... Imma start a new one.

thoraudio

10-14-2005, 02:26 PM

mmmm, sprawl. Montgomery covers a huge land area, so while these are in the 'city' they are miles and miles from the core.

Rapid-fire retail openings cash in on eastside boom

By Deborah Willoughby
Montgomery Advertiser

If traffic ever slowed long enough for you to stand in the middle of the intersection of Taylor and Vaughn roads, you could look out over enough retail outlets to satisfy a small city.

Hungry? There's Flip's, Backyard Burgers, Steak-Out, Applebee's, Sommer's Place, Taco Bell, Buffalo Wild Wings, Marble Slab Creamery, Atlanta Bread Co., Mellow Mushroom, McDonald's, Sinclair's Restaurant and a Pizza Hut takeout store. Not to mention the deli counters at Publix and Winn Dixie or the Subway at the Chevron station.

Want more options? Wait until Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse, Quiznos and Doc Green's open at Cornerstone.

If you drip ketchup on your suit jacket, you can drop it at the cleaners or shop for a replacement. The four corners of Taylor and Vaughn are home to banks, hair and nail salons, jewelry stores, a chiropractor, pharmacies, a movie theater and a paint-your-own pottery place.

As stores continue to open at Cornerstone, the shopping centers and neighboring businesses at Taylor and Vaughn offer an array of goods and services for the booming east side of town.

"Everything is moving to this side of Montgomery," said Mike Henby. "It's a boom, that's for sure. Everywhere you look, there's something popping up."

Henby, who lives in Millbrook, sells wine for MBC United. Retail growth across Montgomery creates more potential customers. "It's great for me," he said.

Amanda Reed, who works at Spirits at Sturbridge, said, "Look at the parking lot. Look at the traffic. Business is just cropping up left and right. It has a lot to do with the people who live in the neighborhood, and there are a lot of exclusive shops in this part of town. Plus this is the newest part of town, and we've already seen the older part of Montgomery."

Traffic is heavy along Vaughn and Taylor roads. As the city's maintenance department prepared to begin resurfacing work on Vaughn Road from East Boulevard to Taylor, a traffic engineer estimated that 40,000 people use Vaughn Road every day.

Some merchants said the road work comes at a bad time, just before Christmas shopping begins, but several said shoppers will find them just fine, coming in on Taylor Road from Interstate 85 or the Troy Highway.

The road work won't deter people who live in the area. Housing is cropping up along Taylor and Vaughn, creating a steady increase in the customer base for east side businesses.

John Bemis, senior vice president of the shopping center group for Aronov Realty Management Inc., the developer of Cornerstone, said more retailers in east Montgomery mean a better quality of life for the people who live there.

"The growth in east Montgomery has, for the past five years, been the most substantial growth corridor in the River Region," Bemis said. "Given the amount of rooftops that are under construction and are planned for development, that growth will continue for the foreseeable future. Retail follows rooftops."

Construction is continuing at Cornerstone, and several stores already are open.

"We're very excited about the performance of Stein Mart and Publix following their grand openings last month, and we have several specialty tenants which will be opening over the next 60 days," Bemis said.

What else is coming to Cornerstone? Starbucks, Hibbett Sports and Marquirette's Jewelry.

"Doc Green's is new to Montgomery. It's a very exciting salad and fresh food concept that the people in Montgomery are going to love," Bemis said.

Brenda Reid, public relations manager for Publix, said the Cornerstone grocery store, the company's third in Montgomery, has been well-received.

"It is our largest store in Montgomery to date," Reid said. "We're delighted to be there at the beginning of a growth phase for Montgomery. With all of the retail as well as the housing development that is going on around there, we feel we are positioned to become an anchored part of that community."

More established businesses are doing well, too, as anyone who has stood in line to see a popular movie at the Rave on a Friday night can attest.

"Festival Plaza has had tremendous success since its opening in December of 2000 with the national debut of Rave Motion Pictures. Rave generates a dominant market share in the theater business," said David McClinton, senior vice president of McClinton & Co. Inc., the developer of Festival Plaza. "We are now under way with another expansion that will add approximately 75,000 square feet of office space and retail shops. We look for the growth in east Montgomery to continue and are excited to have a top-notch location in such a great area of the city."

Across the street at Sturbridge Village, Mary Marshall was enjoying her new role as owner of Lasting Impressions, a gift boutique that features home accents. Marshall is happy to see the retail growth at Taylor and Vaughn. To her, more businesses mean more shoppers.

"This is a great area to be," she said. "I don't consider more retail growth to be a threat. I consider it a great draw to the area that will benefit my business. I'm from Atlanta, so I am familiar with the excitement that comes with growth. It means new offerings and new choices."

The fast-growing housing developments in the area provide many shoppers for retailers in east Montgomery. But some of stores attract shoppers from around the region, looking for products and services they can't find elsewhere.

On Monday, Ann Bowie, drove to Cornerstone from her home near White Hall in Lowndes County.

"I love Publix," Bowie said. "I come to Montgomery just to shop.

thoraudio

10-14-2005, 02:31 PM

Intermodal.... still delayed....

Bus riders still waiting for transfer facility

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Work was expected to be complete by now on the city's intermodal bus transfer facility, but construction has not started and riders continue to wait in the elements along Dexter Avenue.

"I was hoping we would be done now, but we haven't started," Mayor Bobby Bright said.

While the city has worked through a variety of issues, riders such as Kathy McNally have continued to wait in all kinds of weather.

McNally, who said she is a staunch supporter of the bus system, has experienced seizures waiting for buses. She rides five or six days a week.

"Getting that building built is going to help me," McNally said.

Bright is hopeful physical work will begin at the downtown site in the next 40 days, although he has been hopeful several times in the past.

"If we can get through these legal issues, we can move forward," he said.

Legal issues, high bids and coordinating the project with the federal government have delayed construction, Bright said.

The expected cost of the first phase is $4.5 million, but the bids twice have come back more than $2 million over that budget.

"That's a big difference," Bright said. "Something has got to be trimmed."

He said alternative materials can be used in the project to reduce costs and he wants to reduce some administrative and management fees.

"We are value engineering the project so we get the project back in budget and get it started," Bright said.

He said they are in discussions with the project manager attempting to find ways to lower the cost.

Bright said the project was discussed before he was mayor. The city started entering into contracts and agreements on the project two years ago. He said some contractors are trying to work their way out of those agreements.

"The cost of construction and materials have significantly increased," Bright said.

The costs are expected to continue to increase in the wake of Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita.

thoraudio

11-02-2005, 03:26 PM

It is a large undeveloped piece of property.... but it's also in a bad/industrial area.... we'll see.

Land bought by city has historic site

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

The city of Montgomery purchased 42 acres of downtown property Tuesday for possible use as a future municipal complex with a jail, municipal court and police headquarters. The property includes the historic Western Railways of Alabama yards, an area that has structures dating to 1906.

"It is the largest nondeveloped piece of property close to downtown and the riverfront that exists all in one piece," said Mayor Bobby Bright.

Bright said the city has outgrown the current municipal court, jail and police station, but he had no time frame for moving forward with developing the site and that it is not a priority.

The city agreed to purchase the property from the CSX Corporation for $420,000. They closed on the property Tuesday.

"Whether or not we use it for a municipal complex, it is a good deal at this time, being the largest piece of undeveloped property," Bright said.

Bright said his predecessor, Emory Folmar, tried to negotiate the purchase of the land and paid a down payment of $25,000. He said the city has been trying for years, but it has been difficult negotiating with a corporation the size of CSX.

Along with buying the property, Bright said the city would clear some of the abandoned railroad strips.

Bright said the city will continue to look at other properties and the CSX property might not ultimately be the home of the new municipal complex.

He said the city is willing to talk to Old Alabama Rails and other organizations interested in developing the site as a museum or historic site. With the size of the property, Bright said there is enough space for a museum and municipal site.

Old Alabama Rails was founded to save the site and restore it for use as a museum. Six major railroad companies used the yard to build, repair and maintain engines and cars, and at one time hundreds of people were employed at the rail yard.

Mark Waldo, president of Old Alabama Rails, said he did not have a comment about the purchase, but said the city had not consulted with them in more than a year.

"We had hoped we could develop that," he said. "The city never consulted us at all about acknowledging we wanted to turn it into a railroad museum."

If organizations, corporations or philanthropists are interested in preserving the site, Bright said he is interested in hearing their proposals.

"I would love to have another historic attraction for the city," he said.

Without millions in aid, he does not believe the historic buildings are salvageable.

"They're in such deteriorated shape it is almost cost prohibitive to revitalize them," Bright said

BTW, here's the website of the guys whose pipe dream it was to turn it into a museum/entertainment development-Old Alabama Rails (http://www.oldalabamarails.org/concept5.html) .

thoraudio

11-02-2005, 03:34 PM

renovations at the Davis theater downtown almost complete.

Davis Theatre lights up town

By Deitrich Curry
Montgomery Advertiser

The new Davis Theatre marquee is part of ongoing renovations being completed.
-- Karen S. Doerr

Colorful lights surrounding a marquee in downtown Montgomery are evidence that the renovations to Troy University Montgomery's Davis Theatre are almost completed. The marquee went up Saturday and the first letters surrounded by the bright lights honored civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks.

"I'm hoping it gets people excited about coming to the theater again," said Kristen Koehler, director of the theater.

The improvements to the outside of the theater are the third phase of renovations that begin in 1983 when Troy University purchased and reopened the theater as a live performance theater after it closed as the Paramount Theatre in 1976.

"It looks a lot different," Koehler said.

The first phase comprised interior renovations that began when the theater reopened. Those renovations included chandeliers being restored, new carpeting and new air conditioners, Koehler said.

The second phase was more technical renovations that included redoing the sound and lighting system, replacing all theater seats and enlarging the backstage," she said.

The final phase began at the end of the summer of 2004 and has included a vertical "Davis" blade, a new outside ticket booth and brass doors.

Koehler said that renovations should be completed by the end of December.

"Hopefully, it will attract more people to downtown," she said.

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DS&Date=20051102&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=511020339&Ref=AR&Profile=1007&MaxW=300

bystander1

11-03-2005, 12:00 AM

It is a large undeveloped piece of property.... but it's also in a bad/industrial area.... we'll see.

BTW, here's the website of the guys whose pipe dream it was to turn it into a museum/entertainment development-Old Alabama Rails (http://www.oldalabamarails.org/concept5.html) .

A couple of years ago, I thought these guys had a pretty good concept and couldn't understand why the city didn't jump on it. Then I realized that the city was not against the plan, just the planners. City officials knew that they were full of crap from the beginning and hoped that someone serious would take on the railroad/museum project.

The planners claim that the city hasn't contacted them in a year about the site. But they haven't updated their own website in over a year and yet they are upset with the city because they wouldn't give the planners one million dollars to secure the property for them.
I can imagine what would have happened if the city would have given it to them...

Hopefully someone else will take on the Railroad/Museum project.

bystander1

11-04-2005, 06:20 AM

Here's a small rendering of what will become RSA's new HQ along with a rendering of the new convention center hotel from the RSA's Advisor.

http://www.knology.net/~unlmtd/rf/RSAHQ.JPG

DruidCity

11-04-2005, 02:09 PM

$237 million between now and late 2007 ? Wow :eek:

Great for y'all !

thoraudio

11-04-2005, 02:24 PM

Montgomery is the county seat as well as the capitol. County govt. growing a little.

County buys more downtown

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser

Montgomery County continues to purchase property throughout the historic downtown area to meet future space needs.

"I don't think the property is going to be any cheaper in the future," Commissioner Reed Ingram said. "Land is valuable down in that area and we would like to keep everything centrally located around the buildings we have now so we will not be scattered all throughout Montgomery County."

Ingram said it is wise to purchase the land as it becomes available.

"We are just taking advantage of the opportunities that have come up," he said.

Commissioners are expected to approve another purchase Monday. The property is located at 250 and 260 Washington Ave. and, if passed, the county will own the entire corner.

The county purchased the old Montgomery Advertiser building, 200 Washington Ave., for more than $1 million in 2003 for additional office space. The purchase included the former Associated Press building at 116 S. McDonough St.

Commissioners have been looking for more than a short-term fix to the county's space needs. They have approved the purchase of more than $2 million in downtown property this year for office space and expansion of the detention facility.

Ingram said they will likely use the latest properties for a future administration building.

"Land is so hard to come by in the general area," he said. "With our hub area of downtown, we're just trying to finish out pieces we own on those blocks so we can start on our administration building."

Ingram said the county likely will renovate the old Advertiser building.

A study by PH&J Architects shows the county needs 137,000 additional square feet, or about 32 percent more space.

The architects said most county departments are in need of space, including the sheriff's office, probate judge, district attorney, revenue commissioner, records and community corrections.

County Administrator Donnie Mims said the long-term plan for the likely acquisitions is to use the land for the courthouse building expansion, but it can be used for various county offices in the immediate future.

Mims said some of the acquired property would be needed for parking after the detention center is completed in two years.

Commissioners are looking at a long-term master plan before moving forward with millions in expansion and renovations. They approved about $50 million earlier this year to expand the detention center and are waiting for options to increase office space and county departments. Those options and the price tag will help the commissioners determine their route and the final cost, which will be funded by bonds or a funding authority.