My, Hasn't It Grown! RSA Battlehouse Tower Update - Page 25

pkp · #**481** Posted **May 15, 2006, 3:45 PM**

^
The building burned and the just put in the beams to stabilize. I would imagine it will eventually be renovated.

DonTallPaul · #**482** Posted **May 15, 2006, 4:09 PM**

I was in Mobile on Friday. RSA tower is looking good! Definitely a nice addition to the skyline. Which Mobile actually has a more impressive skyline than I think many would expect.

Musicisright · #**483** Posted **May 15, 2006, 6:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkp

^
The building burned and the just put in the beams to stabilize. I would imagine it will eventually be renovated.

When did that happen? I know Monsoon's burned down a while back, but I don't think it's that low on Dauphin.

Alxx611 · #**484** Posted **May 15, 2006, 8:18 PM**

this happened maybe two years ago. I remember it was on the front page of the newspaper. The building began blazing sometime in the middle of the night, don't remember the cause though. They had a picture of it burning too on the front cover, but like I said, it was a few years ago.

alon504 · #**485** Posted **May 15, 2006, 11:31 PM**

I'll ask again..when does it open and what company(s) will be located in the building?

sahara727 · #**486** Posted **May 16, 2006, 3:57 AM**

alon504, are you talking about the battle house tower or the burned-out building in the picture above? the tower was originally scheduled to be open in 2006, but hurricane delays have pushed the estimated date to the beginning of 2007. as far as i can tell, the tenant list has been somewhat hushed. i don't know that any of them have been released. however, when questioned about certain floors, bronner hinted at who would occupy them i.e. a local law firm, etc. if you're talking about the burned-out building, then i'm afraid i have no idea. i'm sorry your question was neglected--i'm sure it wasn't intentional.

austin356 · #**487** Posted **May 16, 2006, 4:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alon504

I'll ask again..when does it open and what company(s) will be located in the building?

The developer has consistantly said that he will not release the tenant names preemptively. It is a very close kept secret, and the public of Mobile hasnt been told anything, and I doubt anyone on this forum has any "inside information". This tower is "self financed" so any prearranged lease aggrements were not necessary. We may not know who will be in the tower, until they actually start to move in. We do know that EADS will have their N.A. corporate operations in the tower.

Shawn35816 · #**488** Posted **May 16, 2006, 11:15 PM**

The officials in Birmingham needs to watch how the people of Mobile do it. There is so much working together to get things done down there. Kudos to Mobile for being such a shining star in the state these days.

pkp · #**489** Posted **May 17, 2006, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin356

The developer has consistantly said that he will not release the tenant names preemptively. It is a very close kept secret, and the public of Mobile hasnt been told anything, and I doubt anyone on this forum has any "inside information". This tower is "self financed" so any prearranged lease aggrements were not necessary. We may not know who will be in the tower, until they actually start to move in. We do know that EADS will have their N.A. corporate operations in the tower.

I am afraid that probably 25% + of the space will be firms omving from other buildings. The investement firm, Smith Barney, is a good example. They will be taking about 1/2 of a floor. Until Katrina, they had occupied the bottom 2 floors 2 Water Street, directly across Daupin from the RSA tower. They have temporairly moved to the beltline. In this situation, however, the rest of the buidling is being taken over by the Defender's network wihich provides legal services to those that can't afford it. This is a true exapansion. They already have the top floors and are just taking over the rest of the building. I only hope that if a firm moves, someone will come in to take the vacated space quickly.

pkp · #**490** Posted **May 17, 2006, 7:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn35816

The officials in Birmingham needs to watch how the people of Mobile do it. There is so much working together to get things done down there. Kudos to Mobile for being such a shining star in the state these days.

Mobile is in a boom right now, which makes it easier for the political set to get along. The city council, county commisioners, and mayor are working together pretty well.

I still think that much of Baldwin and west Mobile would like to see the city core fail. For unincorporated West Mobile, I think many of thes residents actually believe that the taxes they pay there are funding evertyhing within the I-65 loop, and the county politicians I think might feel the same way. Of course, the oppositie is true as they get nearly full city services with a tax rate that is split between the county and city.

I think Baldwin growth is made of two type of people: people that have relocated from other parts of the county that are either retired, work from their, homes, or work in the service industry somewhere in Baldwin County. These people probably don't really wish harm on Mobile, but either want things to stay exactly the same in Baldwin as they are now, or see the area basically take over on the business and retail side.

The other folks are people that have moved from Mobile across the bay. I would say a great number of these people hate Mobile. This is either for racial reasons or the unfounded feeling that Baldwin has better schools and much lower crime rates (neither of which is backed up by any numbers). I think these people would like to see Mobile fail.

The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce is very invloved with "regional growth", as it should be. The City of Mobile also actively tries to recruit business to the region as a whole. However, the smaller local city government and chambers, for the most part, are very much into only caring about what happens in their city. I have been involved in the past with what is now called Envison Coastal Alabama which is all of the cities and chambers in southwest Alabama joining together for positive growth, transportation, etc.. throughout the region. When everthe mention of having ferries run back and forth beween Mobile, Daphne, Fairhope, etc.. came up, you could just see the look of shock on the faces of Eastern Shore leaders, like "you mean, black people can just get on a boat and be here in 15 minutes". Of course, I'm being dramatic, but it seems like that there is some type of fear that we will some how contaminate the Eastern Shore. This area is in someways more divided than most. Afterall, there is a large body of water separating the two counties.

OK - time to stop my rant:

austin356 · #**491** Posted **May 17, 2006, 7:21 PM**

I have lived in Midtown, West Mobile, and Daphne, and none of the people I interacted with had any dislike for the city of Mobile. Everyone had respect and love for Mobile, even though it was percieved to not be livable for their situation at the time.

This "regional resentment" percieved by many in Mobile, about the city of Mobile, is extremely overblown. Only a handful of people dislike or wish harm to Mobile. Very few people dont like black people. Its all a perception that is mostly caused through the lack of interaction between the 3 regional groups.

A strong Downtown can help bridge that gap. I know from personal experience, many in West Mobile and the Eastern Shore would like to spend a saturday downtown to shop, eat, etc. Right now there is no reason for people in the Eastern shore or WM to go to the city of Mobile, this is problem and its not the problem of ES or WM, its the problem of the city. Only the city can fix this gap between groups of people.

elb401 · #**492** Posted **May 17, 2006, 8:03 PM**

I agree with austin about the "hate Mobile issue". I think the "Mobile is a horrible place" saying is about to be dead. I have many friends in west Mobile (and rabbit creek area) that want to annex into the city of Mobile and I have friends on the eastern shore that have no problem with Mobile and see it as the Metropolitian center. the 80s and 90s are gone and as the city greatly improves the attitudes of the people living in the suburbs are changing. I do understand the frustration with the people that live on the eastern shore and west mobile that know nothing about their Metro core. Its their loss. nothing is going to replace Mobile in this region.

DruidCity · #**493** Posted **May 17, 2006, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

I think Baldwin growth is made of two type of people: people that have relocated from other parts of the county that are either retired, work from their homes, or work in the service industry somewhere in Baldwin County.

My cousin, who has been living east of Birmingham for a good many years, decided last week to move to Baldwin County (Fairhope area) for a job that is service-industry related. He has never lived anywhere south of Tuscaloosa.

Most of us who own vacation properties in Baldwin have nothing at all against Mobile proper, either.

elb401 · #**494** Posted **May 17, 2006, 8:34 PM**

Yea, I think in the 80s and 90s the growth in Baldwin was pushed by Mobilians but now its a different story. Some of the fastest growing areas in Baldwin county are in the southern part of the county. I talked with my economics teacher at south al about the growth of Baldwin county. He thinks the large move from Mobile is over. in fact, he expects an over flow of retirees into Mobile County looking for cheaper water front communities. Think about what might happen to Bayou La Batre if that guys (forgot his name) vision comes true. I still think Mobile has something to do with the growth but not to the extent that is was 10 years ago. today the Eastern Shore is benefiting from the economic expasion in Mobile. Thats not something that people should be scared of.....it just means the metro is growing. lately baldwin county has been helping with economic recruitment in the city of mobile. B-county is a good place and it will be tied to Mobile forever. Mobile county and Baldwin county are the only two counties that are coastal. everything that we do effects the other. We should be working together to bring our region forward and to push for more home rule for our area!

austin356 · #**495** Posted **May 17, 2006, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elb401

I agree with austin about the "hate Mobile issue". I think the "Mobile is a horrible place" saying is about to be dead. I have many friends in west Mobile (and rabbit creek area) that want to annex into the city of Mobile and I have friends on the eastern shore that have no problem with Mobile and see it as the Metropolitian center. the 80s and 90s are gone and as the city greatly improves the attitudes of the people living in the suburbs are changing. I do understand the frustration with the people that live on the eastern shore and west mobile that know nothing about their Metro core. Its their loss. nothing is going to replace Mobile in this region.

Yes, I for one didnt live in the metro before 95, so anything before then I will not say didnt happen, cause I cant speak for West Mobilians from 80s-early 90s.

And yes, I would concur with everything else you said. I owned a house in the ES last year, and most everyone there had never never lived in Mobile metro before. People were coming from everywhere from Cali., Ohio, Maine, etc. Its a much different suburban county than a traditional "feed of the city county". It has its own economy, which is pretty much independent from Mobiles in the traditonal suburban sense. Its people are not just "refugees" from the city, but many are "carpetbaggers" (no animosity intended, I love them coming down).

austin356 · #**496** Posted **May 17, 2006, 8:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DruidCity

My cousin, who has been living east of Birmingham for a good many years, decided last week to move to Baldwin County (Fairhope area) for a job that is service-industry related. He has never lived anywhere south of Tuscaloosa.

Most of us who own vacation properties in Baldwin have nothing at all against Mobile proper, either.

Fairhope (pre mid 90s) is such a great town. Lots of character for a southern small city. But their sprawl is among the nastiest, and many dont like it, yet promote it at the same time (at city coucil meetings through their zoning laws). Thats what I have always disliked about Fairhope, people complaining about sprawl and "ugly buildings" yet when given zoning options to choose those same people will choose sprawl, usually not knowing the outcome of their decisions.

elb401 · #**497** Posted **May 18, 2006, 1:18 AM**

austin you are right about Baldwin being a very different type of suburb county. its so large....the Northern part is rural, eastern shore is pretty much what represents the suburban area, the southern part of the county is independent from the rest of the metro's economy because of the tourist. But in Mobile county much is focused on the city of Mobile. I expect the eastern shore to continue to have close ties to Mobile and the southern and eastern parts of the county to have close ties to Pensacola. Its like Baldwin county should be slit in two. Oh I agree with what you said about fairhope....my girlfriend and I went on a date there two weeks ago.....the downtown area is nice. but about living in fairhope I dont know. We both want that urban feel. We saw were some condos were being built. They were nice but I dont think they fit into the character of the city to well.

MobileAl1 · #**498** Posted **May 18, 2006, 2:42 AM**

So the BIG Question of the DAY..........What do you estimate Mobile's population will be this year and 2010?

BamaGrad04 · #**499** Posted **May 18, 2006, 2:17 PM**

City limits only?

pkp · #**500** Posted **May 18, 2006, 4:57 PM**

[QUOTE=austin356]Everyone had respect and love for Mobile, even though it was percieved to not be livable for their situation at the time.
[QUOTE]

I'm sorry, but I can't buy this. If you ask most people why they would prefer to live in West Mobile or Baldwin County, I would imagine these are three answers you would get:

1) Less crime

2) Better schools

3) Bigger yards, etc...

Number 1 and 2, I'm sorry to say have nothing to do with there really being less crime or better schools. You cannot tell me that a major issue many of these folks look at are the racial makeup of the schools. A "better" school is a "whiter" school. When the test grades come out, Baldwin has recently scored lower than Mobile schools in many areas, yet people still go there "for the schools". My wife is a teacher at an elementary school that is predominatley black. When people ask her about her school, one of main questions she gets asked is, "what's the percentage?" I'm not saying these issues are unique to Mobile, because they most certainly are not. But, years ago, Mobile used to be a decent model for racial harmony (of course I'm talking 60-70 years ago). But to say that someone lives in West Mobile or Baldwin county for lower crime and better schools - I can't beleive that.

Race is not the only issue. Let's face it, most Southern cities are being built so that people can totally avoid ever being exposed to poverty. So, when people live in their little enclaves in West Mobile or Baldwin, and never have to drive through Prichard or Mobile Terrace, etc..., they don't have to acknowledge the fact that there are people living in the pretty bad conditions while they live in relative "luxury"

The bottom line - "crime" and "education" is directly related to (in many - not all) of their minds as race and economic status.

As far as the bigger yard thing, well, most of the houses being built in West Mobile now are put in the middle of a field and piled on top of one another, so I'm not sure I buy that either.