Tuscaloosa Development

[TheCapstone]

YES! And it gets approved. Idk about more apartment complexes downtown, but I'm excited about the new 3-story building.

City Council approves of downtown development

A downtown Tuscaloosa mixed-use project gained unanimous approval by the City Council on Tuesday.

Rock Pointe Estates LLC plans to construct a three-story mixed-use project at the intersection of University Boulevard and Lurleen Wallace Boulevard South.

Set for opening in late 2015 or early 2016, the $3 million development is expected to have a three-story building with 12 loft apartments, retail shops, a coffee shop and a restaurant with a formal outdoor courtyard.

The council's blessing came despite concerns that its lone entrance on Lurleen Wallace Boulevard South could lead to accidents or traffic snarls on the Hugh Thomas Bridge.

John McConnell, the city's director of Planning and Development Services, and City Engineer David Griffin said data compiled by transportation and urban planning experts indicate the entrance and exit on the heavily-used Lurleen Wallace Boulevard South would be safe.

Also, keeping the entrance from University Boulevard would add to the safety of pedestrians expected to flood the area with the completion of two hotels, now under construction, and recent openings of nearby apartment buildings.

“Some of the urban design elements that contribute to traffic calming, like having buildings on street corners and having buildings of a certain height ... make it a lot less conducive to speeding,” McConnell said.

Council members remained skeptical despite ultimately giving their approval under the parameters of the Downtown Riverfront Overlay District, which was recommended by the city's Planning and Zoning Commission last month.

[TheCapstone]

City Council approves of grocery store despite of concerns over traffic and safety by residents

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by TheCapstone

YES! And it gets approved. Idk about more apartment complexes downtown, but I'm excited about the new 3-story building.

City Council approves of downtown development

I really like this development. The area between Lurleen is in dire need of some redevelopment. Jimmy Johns and Dunkin have helped but I really hate that the first thing you seen when crossing the bridge on the southbound lanes is a jumble of weathered buildings surrounded by sun-bleached pavement on transportation infrastructure designed for nothing but cars...

Originally Posted by TheCapstone

City Council approves of grocery store despite of concerns over traffic and safety by residents

Things could get kinda messy as far as traffic goes, but this part of town is in some need of new development and investment.

[TheCapstone]

Planners to hear pitch for redevelopment near Bryant-Denny Stadium.

[TheCapstone]

Northport City Council approves of 46 million dollar budget

The Northport City Council unanimously approved a 2015 budget Monday totalling $46 million.

Overall, the 2015 budget is very similar to 2014, with the city planning to spend $23.8 million in its general fund and $9.7 million in its water and sewer budget. In 2014, the city budgeted $24.4 million in its general fund and $8.6 million in the water and sewer fund. Unlike 2014, there is an additional $14 million in capital projects being paid for through a bond issue taken out earlier this year.

As part of the new budget, Northport city employees will get around a 3.1 percent raise in February, which includes a step raise of up to 1.5 percent and a cost of living increase of 1.6 percent, said City Administrator Scott Collins. The total financial impact to the city will be around $430,000.

"The budget is really similar to last year's budget," said Council President Jay Logan. "We tried to be financially responsible and are very proud to provide raises while paying down our debt. We are getting to a point where Northport has never been in 20 years, very financially solvent."

Other expenditures include a $750,000 rehabilitation of a water tank on Charley Shirley Road. The city also plans to give $100,000 a year for the next three years to Kentuck to serve as matching funds for the rehabilitation of its building downtown, plus $40,000 for operations, an increase from $25,000 last year.

[TheCapstone]

Anyone have any statistics on the growth of T-Town and the projections for the future? TIA

[TheCapstone]

City councils approves of a 640-home residential project

[TheCapstone]

2 local companies among 2015 launchpad competitors

Two early-stage companies from Tuscaloosa are among 11 such state companies selected for the 2015 Alabama Launchpad Start-Up Competition.

The competition, sponsored by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation, will award up to $250,000 to the winning companies to further their business development.

The Tuscaloosa companies are:

Conductive Chemistry, an affiliate of the University of Alabama that produces a new material with many of the electrical properties of platinum but is less than half the cost.

Brewery Buddy, a web-based brewery management platform designed to automate business to aid those brewing craft beers.

The launchpad competition is geared to promote, reward and increase the pipeline of high-growth, innovative ventures that have the potential to create and keep jobs in Alabama, the foundation said in a release.

The 11 companies were selected from among 20 startups by a panel of judges.

The teams will make their first pitch presentations on Jan. 23 at Evonik Industries, 750 Lakeshore Parkway, Birmingham.

The competition also includes seven startups from Birmingham, and one each from Huntsville and Mobile.

The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama is a non-profit that represents private sector efforts to aid economic development in Alabama. It is funded by 70 major companies and focuses on recruiting new businesses, retaining existing businesses and encouraging innovation within existing industries and through the commercialization of new technologies.

[TheCapstone]

Confirmed: Walmart Neighborhood Market coming to Tuscaloosa

A company spokesman has confirmed that Walmart Neighborhood Market is planned for the Skyland Boulevard and Hargrove Road East.

The store will be similar in size to a Publix or Winn-Dixie grocery store and will carry primarily food items, the spokesman said.

Prices, he said, will be about the same as those found in Walmart Supercenters.

Construction on the Walmart Neighborhood Market is expected to begin soon with the store’s opening planned for the fall.

Once in operation, the new store is expected to employ about 90 to 95 people, the spokesman said.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

They've been planning on realigning Hargrove at that intersection, haven't they? If they don't do it soon, that intersection is going to become even more of a clusterf*** than it already is.

[TheCapstone]

Northport to get $10M retail complex

A new $10 million retail development is planned for the site of the former Northport Kmart store on U.S. Highway 82, and the developers are seeking tax incentives from the city.

The former Kmart, which closed in September, will be torn down, and a new, 41,000 square-foot retail store will be built in its place, Northport City Administrator Scott Collins told the City Council Monday night. There is also the possibility of a second, smaller retail building being built on the site, but the existing strip of smaller stores located to the north of the former Kmart will not be affected.

But there is no announcement yet on what business will open at that location, Collins said.

[TheCapstone]

Plan would create three arts, entertainment positions in Tuscaloosa

In a reorganization proposal going before the Tuscaloosa City Council’s administrative committee today, the city’s arts and entertainment director job could be, in essence, split into multiple positions.

The plan proposes an A&E manager overseeing the city department, which includes the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, River Market and miscellaneous events and activities; an amphitheater supervisor, for boots-on-the-ground operation of the 7,500-seat city venue; and a secretary in A&E to handle payroll and similar duties.

[TheCapstone]

Tuscaloosa City Council OKs rezoning for downtown project

A 0.68-acre tract on University Boulevard across from the Federal Courthouse was rezoned Tuesday by the Tuscaloosa City Council.

The rezoning came at the request of downtown developer Phillip Weaver, owner of Weaver Rentals LLC, who has plans for a four-story, mixed-use development that will feature apartments above commercial spaces on the bottom floor.

Philip O'Leary, deputy director for the city's Department of Planning and Development Services, said finalized plans for Weaver's project have not yet been submitted to City Hall.

[TheCapstone]

Tuscaloosa City Council OKs townhouse project for downtown

Over the objections of one city resident, the Tuscaloosa City Council unanimously approved a residential development for downtown.

The project proposed by ACM JPM Properties LLC will convert an existing parking lot into seven townhouses at the northeast corner of Eighth Street and 22nd Avenue across from Alcove International Tavern.

Based on details provided to City Hall, each three- bedroom unit will be about 1,400 square feet and for sale at a projected price of $255,000. The development will have seven on-site parking spaces and four more on 22nd Avenue.

No timeline for construction or estimated cost of the investment by ACM JPM Properties LLC was given.

Philip O'Leary, deputy director for the city's Department of Planning and Development Services, said the city's administrative review committee, which examines potential developments within the Downtown Riverfront Overlay District, did not recommend this development for approval.

Bricks, cement board and batten siding, metal roof accents and asphalt shingles will be used on its exterior, but the committee based its opinion on the development's noncommercial use within a traditionally commercial district and a low number of windows, doors and other items that are used to satisfy requirements of transparency.

[TheCapstone]

So many damn apartments.

[TheCapstone]

Hargrove Road realignment

[TheCapstone]

Northport council OKs tax incentives for $10 million redevelopment of former Kmart site

[TheCapstone]

Shoppes at Legacy Park on track for fall 2015 opening

The developers of a proposed shopping center at the corner of McFarland Boulevard and 13th Street say they are on pace to break ground by late summer or early fall.

Keith Owens of Alumni Development & Construction LLC of Clanton said construction on the Shoppes at Legacy Park was delayed because of talks with the Alabama Department of Transportation.

ALDOT and the developers had been working out plans on how the 16.25-acre project would fit in with planned upgrades to McFarland Boulevard and 13th and 15th streets.

Now those plans have been finalized and the retail development is set to proceed.

“ALDOT has just been unbelievably easy to work with for us,” Owens said. “We’re just excited about getting this thing close to getting done.”

Barring any unforeseen delays, the retail center is expected to open by fall 2015, Owens said.

The Shoppes at Legacy Park will be built on the site of the former Cedar Crest neighborhood. It could reach a total investment of $60 million and create about 500 new jobs, at least

$37.2 million in annual sales taxes, up to $120,000 in yearly business license fees and generate property taxes of more than $160,000, which will increase each year for the next three decades.

Tuscaloosa city officials said they are ready to see it take shape.

“This development will enhance walkability, include new retail opportunities and improve the infra-

structure in the surrounding area,” said Brendan Moore, the city’s Economic Development director. “The community expressed their desire for high-quality developments during the comprehensive planning process, and this project will exceed the community’s expectations once completed.

[TheCapstone]

Tuscaloosa's downtown Intermodel facility to get first tenant: pizza and salad restaurant on 7th street.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by TheCapstone

Tuscaloosa's downtown Intermodel facility to get first tenant: pizza and salad restaurant on 7th street.

Bout damn time.