Montgomery development news

[bystander1]

We've been expecting this kind of news to come and here it is...

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1177492773283510.xml&coll=3


Hyundai, Honda eye expansions in Alabama

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 By GEORGE TALBOT Business Reporter


Hyundai Motor Corp. may add production of a third vehicle at its two-year-old assembly plant in Montgomery, the industry trade publication Automotive News reported Tuesday.

The South Korean automaker said a favorable currency exchange rate with the U.S. had strengthened the business case for building more cars in Alabama, the home of its sole North American plant. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama currently employs 2,800 in the production of Sonata sedans and Santa Fe sport utility vehicles.

"Right now it is cheaper to build in Korea than it is in the United States, but it won't always be that way," Dong-Jin Kim, Hyundai's chief executive officer, said in an interview with reporter Kathy Jackson in Seoul. "So we are considering a third product for Alabama."

Kim said it was too early to say which vehicle might be added. But he told the weekly magazine that "it should be a mid-sized vehicle." Analysts speculated that the likely addition would be either the Tucson, a compact SUV, or the Azera, a luxury sedan. The newly launched Veracruz, an upscale SUV, was also named as a possibility. All three vehicles are currently assembled in Korea.

The news came on the same day that Honda Motor Co. confirmed plans for a $65 million expansion of its 4,600-worker assembly plant in Lincoln. The Talladega County Commission this week approved $2 million in tax breaks tied to the expansion, which will add a 27,000-square-foot steel storage facility and 20 new jobs.

"The addition of a steel banking facility will offer improved efficiency in costs, quality and delivery for our Alabama manufacturing operations," Honda spokesman Mark Morrison said.

The expansions would be the latest in an Alabama industry that has blossomed in the 10 years since Mercedes-Benz opened the state's first auto assembly plant in Vance in 1997. Statewide, automakers and their suppliers account for more than 45,000 direct jobs, according to the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association. Jobs in the industry pay an average hourly wage of $32.95 -- more than double the state average.

Hyundai, the world's sixth-largest automaker, broke ground on its plant in Hope Hull, just south of Montgomery, in 2002, and began production three years later. The plant is operating near its full production capacity of about 300,000 vehicles a year, leading analysts to speculate that an expansion could be needed to handle the third vehicle.

The plant is on track to produce about 168,000 Sonatas and 120,000 Santa Fes this year.

Hyundai last month announced plans for a $270 million expansion that will add a second engine production line at the plant. The company said the expansion will create 500 jobs and is designed to build engines for Hyundai and its sister company, Kia, which is constructing an assembly plant just across the Alabama line in Georgia.


© 2007 Press-Register. All rights reserved.

[Brown Duckz]

Hyundai may get third vehicle




Montgomery’s Hyundai plant could produce a third vehicle line but not for its 2008 lineup, company officials said Thursday.

Plant officials refused to identify what the vehicle would be but did say a third line would take up to 24 months to get into production. An official announcement is expected in a matter of weeks.

A possible new vehicle is the South Korean automaker’s Genesis concept car, a high-end sports sedan.

“That’s too quick of a turnaround,” said spokesman Robert Burns. “It takes 18 to 24 months.”

The Montgomery plant, which opened in May 2005, now produces the Sonata, a mid-size sedan and the Santa Fe, a small sports utility vehicle.

Plant workers started out with the Sonata ; the Santa Fe was added a year later. Burns said the plant workers see the possibility of a third line as a vote of confidence from Hyundai.

“The team members are pleased we are being considered for a potential third vehicle,” he said.

Hyundai's corporate leadership said moving additional production to the Montgomery plant could be a cost-saving move.

"Right now it is cheaper to build in Korea than it is in the United States, but it won't always be that way," Hyundai CEO Dong-Jin Kim told the Automotive News. "So we are considering a third product for Alabama."

The Montgomery plant can make 300,000 vehicles yearly, and is on pace to make 288,000 units this year, according to the Automotive News. If the third vehicle pushes plant production past capacity, the plant will have to expand an analyst told the Automotive News.

Hyundai produces the Azera, a higher-end car, and the Sonata on the same line in Korea, and the company plans on entering the premium market with the Genesis.

According to the Hyundai Web site, the Genesis will have a V8 engine producing more than 300 horsepower and pushing the car past 60 mph in less than six seconds.

It will be Hyundai’s first rear-wheel drive car sold in the United States.

[Brown Duckz]

Montgomery Mall sale should close in May

By Cosby Woodruff


Glimcher Realty Trust, owner of Montgomery Mall, expects to close the sale within a month, but the Ohio-based company has yet to announce the new owner.

Glimcher, in its first-quarter earnings statement released Wednesday, updated the status of its five for-sale retail properties. The statement showed a revenue decline and suggested the for-sale malls lag far behind other properties in profit performance.

"The company has a contract to sell this property (Montgomery Mall) and expects to close the transaction in May 2007," the statement said.

Glimcher-owned malls in Tampa, Fla., Houston and Charlotte, N.C., are under contract as well.

The real estate firm plans a conference call today at 10 a.m. to discuss the earnings report, which showed Glimcher's revenues down 0.4 percent from the first quarter of 2006.

Net income available to common shareholders and earnings per share were down more than 72 percent over 2006 levels. The statement blamed this decline, in part, on a reduction in outparcel sales.

Lisa Indest, Glimcher's vice president of accounting and finance, said it is possible the company will discuss the mall's sale price during today's conference call, but she said Glimcher will not name the mall's buyer until the sale closes.

Glimcher's mall-occupancy rate was 89.2 percent for the first quarter, and that number jumps to 92.2 percent when the five for-sale malls are excluded. The company's sales-per-square-foot was $350 overall and $361 when excluding the for-sale malls.

When Glimcher put the properties for sale 11 months ago, the company said it hoped to gain up to $270 million for the five properties. Montgomery Mall, at 726,883 square feet, is the smallest of the five.

The other four malls all appear to have a stronger retail base than Montgomery, possibly making it the least expensive of the group.

Glimcher shares closed down 9 cents Wednesday at $27.46.

Here is a look at Glimcher's five for-sale properties, according to Glimcher Realty Trust:


Almeda Mall, Houston. The 797,353-square-foot mall is anchored by Macy's and is under contract to sell in July.


Eastland Mall, Charlotte. This 1,065,344-square-foot mall has Sears and Dillard's anchors. A sale is pending, contingent on a loan assumption.


Montgomery Mall. This 726,883-square-foot mall has Steve & Barry's University Sportswear as its anchor tenant. Glimcher expects to close this sale in May.


Northwest Mall, Houston. This 794,104-square-foot mall has Macy's as its top tenant. It remains on the market with no contract.


University Mall, Tampa. At 1,317,401 square-feet it is the largest of Glimcher's for-sale properties. It is anchored by Dillard's, Macy's and Sears. Glimcher said this mall will close in the next three months.

[Brown Duckz]

Chris' Hot Dogs marks 90th anniversary Tuesday


On Tuesday, Chris’ Famous Hot Dogs celebrates its 90th anniversary -- that's 90 years of hot dogs, famous secret sauce and more.

"I think we have something that’s unique and different,” said Theo Katechis, owner of Chris’ and the son of its namesake. “People just say the hot dogs are better here."

Chris’s Famous Hot Dogs is the oldest and first hot dog stand in Alabama, Katechis said. It has been family owned since 1917. In recognition of Chris’ 90th anniversary, Gov. Bob Riley has proclaimed Tuesday as Chris’ Famous Hot Dogs Day in Alabama.

Chris' is at 138 Dexter Ave. Call 265-6850.

-- Robyn Bradley Litchfield

[thoraudio]

There's a bunch of pics of Jubilee City Fest over at the advertiser, I culled a couple.

[Brown Duckz]

Secrets Surround Montgomery Mall Sale


Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright revels very little information about the sale of Montgomery Mall, "I know where they are housed." "I know it's a company that handles malls."

But will they keep it as a mall?

Bright is playing it close to the vest, "I don't know the specific names."

All leading to more questions than answers. He says there's a reason for that, "That's because these are sensitive, economic issues, business issues that if given to the public at this point in time could break the deal."

Even though no one knows exactly who is buying the mall, residents in this area are excited...hopeful that it could breathe new life into the community."

Folks like, Maxine Ervin, "I think it's a great thing. And the people in the neighborhood have been use to shopping here and I think this should continue."

Sable Simpson agrees, "I think it's great because, you know change is going to be good for that, for the mall because the mall has really went down from the way it used to be."

Georgia residents Nicole Smith and her mom, Cathy James, stop in when they bring Nicole's dad to the VA hospital. But they haven't been here in a while.

Nicole says, "This is close to the VA hospital and I like to come here and shop I'm real disappointed."

So what's next? No one will say what the future holds for this structure.

[Brown Duckz]

I think there a few out of towners that may be interested in this article.


West Montgomery experiences surge of retail development

By Donna G. Pierce


The West Montgomery area is coming out of its shell.

The region is growing from a sleepy little area with a small amount of retail and commercial business to an area that is slowly creating an image of revitalization and development.

The area on West Fairview Avenue from South Court Street to Interstate 65, is densely populated, but an underserved market, said Lee Willcoxon, owner of Willcoxon Properties in Montgomery.

He purchased the Faircourt Shopping Center in 1972, and it was a busy area for years until Eastdale Mall was built in the late 1970s and businesses such as Sears began moving out.

“There have been no reinvestments for 20 years, and we’re now seeing commercial property owners reinvesting in that area,” Willcoxon said. “There are new facades on buildings and new businesses moving in. Some of the businesses are new to the area but are very successful.”

The new growth begins at McDonald’s by I-65 and then moves on to Advanced Auto Parts, State Farmers Market, the Gas Depot, Cash Connection, Marty’s No. 23, O’Reilly Auto Parts and CVS Pharmacy.

Willcoxon opened the Gas Depot himself where Pierce’s Country Cooking is located.

Another realtor developing the Midtown area is Sandra Nickel of Sandra Nickel Realtors. She’s heavily involved in improving the three business corridors in the Mulberry area, Clovderdale Five Points and Cloverdale Village.

“I’ve been heading a brainstorming group to talk about what can be done about the old Sears building,” Nickel said. “We have some ideas such as using it as a retail incubator. We’d like to focus on retail businesses because the failure rate is high, and we think it would be neat to have a program to help people start on a shoestring budget to learn how to build their capital and learn proper business practices.”

Piggly Wiggly opened on West Fairview Avenue last year and is one of the eighth largest in Alabama catering to smaller markets. Rodney Riggs, manager, said the company located in a growing area.

“This was a very good opportunity for business because so many had pulled out of the area,” Riggs said. “It’s a growing area with a great housing revitalization that brings more people into the area to shop.”

Willcoxon believes another reason the area is booming is that there is more traffic in the area due to the revitalization of downtown Montgomery with projects such as the Riverwalk Stadium, the RSA Tower, and south of Fairview is the Hyundai plant and its 3,100 employees.

“A lot of people travel to and from work down South Court Street,” Willcoxon said. “There are definitely more people coming through the area. The new civil rights interpretation center is planned for this area and that will also bring more people from all over the country.”

Douglas Jones, vice president of small business development for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, expects development to continue.
“There are good opportunities there and the area is underserved in retail and commercial business,” Jones said.

[thoraudio]

Jackson is located on the fringe of downtown.

Jackson Hospital to expand, add surgical center

By Paul W. Sullivan


Jackson Hospital will begin construction this summer on a new surgery center and a state-of-the-art imaging center.

The hospital's decision to expand was driven by increased demand for surgeries as well as growth in the Montgomery area, said Peter Frohmader, director of marketing.

The hospital's current surgery unit is running at near full capacity, with about 1,200 surgeries performed each month, he said.

Jackson Surgery Center will add six operating rooms to the hospital's current 19 suites.

The 27,000-square-foot surgery complex mainly will be used for outpatient or same-day surgery, he said. Moving more of those operations to the new center will allow longer or more complicated surgeries to be performed in the main hospital complex.

Also, the new facility will increase the number of Jackson Hospital's endoscopic operating rooms from 11 to 15, and the center will add 24 recovery areas.

The hospital also will construct a new 13,000-square-foot imaging center.

Both centers will open in 2008, Frohmader said.

Jackson Imaging Center will offer cutting-edge equipment providing CT scans, ultrasounds and X-rays.

Frohmader said having both of the new centers separate from the main hospital will make appointments easier for patients and more private since the imaging center will have separate entrance and exit areas.

Frohmader declined to comment on either the final cost of the expansion or how many new jobs it might create, although he said new jobs definitely would accompany the hospital's growth.

Since 1946, Jackson Hospital has grown from three small frame houses to a modern health-care system encompassing 13 blocks. Behind the multiple-building complex, more than 350 physicians and 1,300 nurses and staff care for more than 150,000 patients annually.

Today, the hospital is a 344-bed regional care center with comprehensive medical and surgical health care services. Those services include a heart center, the McGough Oncology Unit, an orthopedic and joint center, a mother and baby center, comprehensive pediatric services and 24-hour emergency services.

[Chad Emerson]

...Montgomery's mandatory SmartCode for the downtown area passed City Council unanimously this morning.

If you own land in downtown, that land just grew in value at 10.31am today.

[Brown Duckz]

Chad can you give us some insight as to what this means for current construction or proposals Downtown compared to a East Montgomery sub-division being built under the code?

[Chad Emerson]

Projects that have already been permitted under the existing zoning code will continue as is since they are "grandfathered" in.

All new projects within the downtown planning area must conform to Article 5 of the SmartCode.

I plan on doing an Article 5 seminar at the law school later this summer.

[thoraudio]

Originally Posted by Chad Emerson

...Montgomery's mandatory SmartCode for the downtown area passed City Council unanimously this morning.

If you own land in downtown, that land just grew in value at 10.31am today.

hopefully it didn't grow for that guy that's sitting on all the property on 100 Dexter.

[neilson]

Montgomery Mall through the years, care of the Montgomery Advertiser:
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps...425&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=425001&Ref=PH

This clock located in Montgomery Mall is a replica of the Klein Brothers clock that now resides on Zelda Road. Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright is considering moving the original back downtown to be featured in a park.


Montgomery Mall shot from the early 1990's.


Shoppers meander through the Montgomery Mall parking lot November 24, 1989.


Shoppers meander through Montgomery Mall November 24, 1989.


The food court bustles with activity in Montgomery Mall November 30, 1989.


Randall Pringle, left, and Marcus Lewis look at t-shirts at Steve & Barry's University Sportswear at Montgomery Mall at the store's grand opening on Friday, May 5, 2005.


A crowd of people linger near the food court in Montgomery Mall after fans created a disturbance during a visit by rap star Ludacris, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004.


Local residents gather outside Parisian's at the Montgomery Mall Saturday, March 6, 2004, to show their support of the mall and protest the closure of stores.


Carol Wood sits with her grandson Peyton Duck on Thursday, February 19, 2004 at Montgomery Mall in Montgomery, Ala.


A group of mall-walking enthusiasts make their way briskly around the Montgomery Mall Thursday morning, Feb. 13, 2003.


Shoppers pass under skylights at Montgomery Mall.

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by thoraudio

hopefully it didn't grow for that guy that's sitting on all the property on 100 Dexter.

I was thinking the exact same thing...

Originally Posted by Chad Emerson

All new projects within the downtown planning area must conform to Article 5 of the SmartCode.

I plan on doing an Article 5 seminar at the law school later this summer.

Chad, how about a little info on what 'Article 5' will allow with development downtown...in layman's terms. Some of the Smartcode jargon can be sort of deep and confusing, and I can't wait 'till your summer seminar.

[thoraudio]

Proposal for a downtown bike trail. It sounds like a good idea, but I've always eyed that bed as a possibility of returning light rail between downtown and the eastside.

Old rails may switch into bicycle trails

By Kenneth Mullinax
[email protected]


Bike enthusiasts have the city's support for a new "rails-to-trails" route, but the project won't roll anywhere until the railroad company that owns the rails gives the city the green light to proceed.

For the past year, Montgomery Bicycle Club members have worked with city leaders on a project that would turn abandoned rail corridors into a downtown biking path.

Roger Burnett, the club's president, said the city supports the project because it would add another element to a revitalized downtown and city planners are behind it because it offers residents alternative modes of transportation.

Burnett said federal money is available to help fund the project, but the city has had trouble getting the property from the railroad company.

"Everyone is behind our project, but it's stalled and won't move ahead until Norfolk Southern Railroad Co. communicates with the city attorney, who is only asking the company to give it the deed to its abandoned and overgrown railroad tracks," Burnett said.

Phase I of the rail-to-trails plan would extend for two miles on Norfolk Southern's train bed. It would begin near the new riverfront complex, wind past Greenwood Cemetery and follow the old train tracks to Spruce Street near Interstate 85, said Lynda Wool, a long-range planner for the city.

The city would first need to clean out all the debris that has accumulated on the unused rail tracks and then pave the area with an asphalt-like surface. The path would be 10 feet wide in order to accommodate bikes, pedestrians and wheelchairs, Wool said.

She said the trail would help stimulate Montgomery's economy because small businesses likely would locate nearby because of increased pedestrian traffic.

"Because this track is below the level of the ground in most places, it will be a beautiful attraction for the use of both our residents and tourists alike and will undoubtedly rank among the most unique and aesthetically pleasing rails-to-trails venues in the nation," she said.

Wool estimates the cost of Phase I at about $1 million.

She said the city could recoup a large portion of the cost through the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, which sets aside $1.8 billion for bike and pedestrian facilities.

City attorney Walter Byars is in charge of working with the railroad company to acquire its abandoned tracks.

Byars said Alex Rocca, Norfolk Southern's real estate officer in Atlanta, hasn't returned the city's telephone calls.

"The Norfolk Southern man in Atlanta has clammed up on me," Byars said. "Maybe I have been too polite with these Georgia folks so far."

Efforts to reach Rocca were unsuccessful Tuesday.

The railroad's local representative, John Baker, said any lack of communication between the city and the railroad's Atlanta office is a misunderstanding.

"There is no reason why Norfolk Southern won't be cooperative with this project," Baker said.

"While there is no reason why our company wouldn't want to give the land to the city, there might be a reason why we can't give the title away."

He said that since his company abandoned the rail tracks in 1984, it might not be able to convey a clear title to the city.

Baker said he would work to put Byars and Rocca in contact soon.

"This bike path will help revitalize downtown into a place to drive to, rather than a place to drive past," Byars said.

"But unless Norfolk Southern acts, it will all just be a pipe dream."

[Brown Duckz]

Costco, a member purchasing warehouse chain, will open a store at the EastChase Market Place later this year.

Costco will break ground on its 150,000-square foot store on May 15 with a fall opening date.

Ths store will anchor the Market Center, the third phase of the EastChase development.

[Brown Duckz]

Businesses flourish near plant

By Paul W. Sullivan


While some land near Hyundai is not being developed, plenty of it is.

Hotel and grocery store managers near the Hyundai automotive plant say the facility and the thousands of workers it has brought to the area have definitely boosted their business, and that future expansions mean the total impact is still far from being realized.

The total economic impact has yet to be realized, though, as other businesses continue to spring up and a future expansion of the plant has been announced.

Bookings at the Best Western Hope Hull Inn increased after the Hyundai plant opened but then decreased with the arrival of two new hotels, said Rey Patel, manager of the Best Western, which opened in 2001.

The hotel is located at the U.S. 31 and Interstate 65 intersection, a little more than a mile from the auto plant.

Motel 6 was the first newcomer to welcome visitors. It started operating Dec. 14 of last year. Reservations clerk Deshunda Stuckey said guests have come from passing interstate traffic as well as Hyundai workers who stay long periods of time.

Hampton Inn and Suites manager Tarsha Hunter said the number of guests has been steady since the hotel opened on March 5.

"We see a lot of growth in east Montgomery, and the city is going to grow toward Hyundai too," Hampton owner John Tampa said.

Another hotel is on the way. Site work begins this summer on a new Holiday Inn and Suites that will be built at the intersection of Interstate 65 and U.S. 31. The hotel will create 15 to 20 new jobs and will open in the summer of 2008.

The five-story building will offer 112 rooms including 25 suites, an indoor swimming pool, lounge, restaurant, meeting space for 120 people, fitness center and a board room.

Holiday Inn and Suites' owner Awais T. Salimi said location was the driving factor in his decision to build at the exit. The closeness of the Hyundai plant, Montgomery Regional Airport, a city industrial park and the interstate were pivotal factors luring him to the site.

He also operates the Holiday Inn Express and Howard Johnson on Troy Highway.

Nearby retail storeowners have spotted Hyundai workers shopping but have mixed reactions about the extent of their impact on sales.

Gaines Slade Jr., part owner of Slade's Kountry Korner and a gas station, said the auto plant hasn't brought the expected boom to the area. He believes it is coming though.

"Hyundai employees don't stop a whole lot at the store," Slade said. "When they are done working, they are done and go home. The boom is not here yet -- it's in the building stage."

One man who does credit Hyundai with a spike in traffic is Levi Huffman, a manager at Cash Bargains Discount Center on Highway 331, less than a mile from the plant. He hopes the trend will continue.

"A lot of people didn't know we were here until Hyundai came," Huffman said. "Workers come in with the tag and uniform on and shop pretty regularly."

[Brown Duckz]

ASU holds groundbreaking for new buildings


Alabama State University is holding the groundbreaking for its life sciences and College of Education buildings Friday at 8 a.m.

Speakers for the presentation include ASU Board of Trustees Chairman Elton N. Dean Sr., ASU president, Dr. Joe A. Lee and Rep. John F. Knight.

The groundbreaking will take place on the corner of Hall St. and O'Connell St. followed by a ceremony at Hall St. and Hardaway St.

[Brown Duckz]

Business magazine ranks Alabama No. 1



MONTGOMERY, Ala. For the second year in a row, Site Selection magazine has picked Alabama's industrial recruitment agency as the best in the nation.

The business magazine announced the selection of the Alabama Development Office for the 2006 Competitiveness Award. ADO was also named the top state industrial recruitment agency for 2005.

To select the winner, the magazine weighs ten factors involving new plant activity in each state, with the figures adjusted for population so small states can compete evenly with large states.

Alabama's selection was based on 586 companies locating or expanding in Alabama in 2006. The industries, when completed, expect to create nearly 25-thousand jobs.

Following Alabama in the magazine's top ten states were: North Carolina, Indiana, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Iowa and Oklahoma.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[ExpatBaman]

Originally Posted by Chad Emerson

...Montgomery's mandatory SmartCode for the downtown area passed City Council unanimously this morning.

Great news for our capital city. This may be a dumb question -- did this include the proposed transect map?