Montgomery development news - Page 78

Brown Duckz · #**1541** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-man435

^^You're welcome even though i'm not the one who started the clemson vs. auburn debate. I'm the one trying to get rid of it.

I don't give a shit about a Clemson & Auburn debate, I'm talking about you not posting in this thread. You came here to stir something up, you succeeded, and now you can reap the benefits of such a task. Montgomery is experiencing all kinds of development at an aggressive rate all around the city, and that's what matters to us. If the things you read in our thread don't mesh with your ideas of good development, or better yet.. "good enough" then we are deeply sorry.

g-man435 · #**1542** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:36 AM**

^^I don't care. All I did was come over to this thread and ask one simple question that had absolutely nothing to do with Clemson, Auburn, USC, etc.

g-man435 · #**1543** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown Duckz

I don't give a shit about a Clemson & Auburn debate, I'm talking about you not posting in this thread. You came here to stir something up, you succeeded, and now you can reap the benefits of such a task. Montgomery is experiencing all kinds of development at an aggressive rate all around the city, and that's what matters to us. If the things you read in our thread don't mesh with your ideas of good development, or better yet.. "good enough" then we are deeply sorry.

Oh, you thought I came here to stir something up? That wasn't the case at all. I haven't been keeping up with Montgomery lately like I have been with other cities and just wanted to get caught up on what's all going on with the city in terms of development.

Also, get Neilson off my back about the college debate that I don't want to be a part of.

Brown Duckz · #**1544** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-man435

^^I don't care. All I did was come over to this thread and ask one simple question that had absolutely nothing to do with Clemson, Auburn, USC, etc.

You didn't ask a question initially, you stuck your head in the door unwanted, waiting for your chance to stir the pot. Go on now.....

neilson · #**1545** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown Duckz

You didn't ask a question initially, you stuck your head in the door unwanted, waiting for your chance to stir the pot. Go on now.....

Well, he advertised it on his sig and I figured it'd be fine to step in. Besides, Montgomery is Auburn's closest in-state major city just like Greenville is to Clemson. Truthfully I think all the pieces are there for Montgomery to become just as great a city as Greenville. Just look at what's coming down the pipeline.

g-man435 · #**1546** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:41 AM**

To Brown duckz-So, you're saying I can't come into your thread and ask about what developments are going on in your city? Well, you can come into the Greenville thread and bash the city. I don't care. I'm not bashing yours.

neilson · #**1547** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-man435

Oh, you thought I came here to stir something up? That wasn't the case at all. I haven't been keeping up with Montgomery lately like I have been with other cities and just wanted to get caught up on what's all going on with the city in terms of development.

Also, get Neilson off my back about the college debate that I don't want to be a part of.

Well, you came in here to stir things up so I figured I'd give you a dose of your own medicine. Now perhaps you'll go ahead and check out SECtalk, or not. Either way, it would be fun to see how things would change if some of your Tigers came in there to post.

g-man435 · #**1548** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:43 AM**

^^I did NOT come in here to stir things up and I have no idea why you think that. Maybe my question should of been worded differently. I don't know.

neilson · #**1549** Posted **May 6, 2007, 3:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-man435

^^I did NOT come in here to stir things up and I have no idea why you think that. Maybe my question should of been worded differently. I don't know.

Eh, it's ok. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and we can't fault you for not being like us Alabamians. Sure SC is older then we are but for the sake of this thread, I call imitation.

floc34 · #**1550** Posted **May 6, 2007, 7:57 AM**

What's being constructed in front of the Alabama Department of Public Safety Annex Building in downtown?

floc34 · #**1551** Posted **May 6, 2007, 8:08 AM**

Are there any plans for renovating the old Normandale Shopping Mall, or Montgomery Mall?

EXbubba · #**1552** Posted **May 6, 2007, 4:37 PM**

Poor ole Mungumry don't have enuff muny to keep mo'n one shopping center open at a time, seems like. Normandale has been a white elephant for 20 years at least and the Mont Mall had all its patrons run off by gangstas and such. Montg Mall has been sold but who knows what will replace it.

Brown Duckz · #**1553** Posted **May 6, 2007, 5:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by floc34

What's being constructed in front of the Alabama Department of Public Safety Annex Building in downtown?

The RSA HQ.

Brown Duckz · #**1554** Posted **May 6, 2007, 5:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by floc34

Are there any plans for renovating the old Normandale Shopping Mall, or Montgomery Mall?

Couldn't tell you a thing about Normandale, but the Montgomery Mall will soon have new owners looking to reinvest. I think it should become a outlet mall that would attract people no matter what the location is. The city and mayor are there with arms wide open to create development in that part of the city.

Brown Duckz · #**1555** Posted **May 6, 2007, 5:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EXbubba

Poor ole Mungumry don't have enuff muny to keep mo'n one shopping center open at a time, seems like. Normandale has been a white elephant for 20 years at least and the Mont Mall had all its patrons run off by gangstas and such. Montg Mall has been sold but who knows what will replace it.

Actually there are two large malls that are at full capacity and doing excellent, the Shoppes at Eastchase and Eastdale Mall. Montgomery's money has nothing to do with how many shopping centers are making it big.

Brown Duckz · #**1556** Posted **May 6, 2007, 6:02 PM**

Expo showcases historic homes

By Kenneth Mullinax

While most parade of home events showcase new homes and state-of-the-art designs, today's expo allows visitors to step into another time.

Today only, visitors can capture a sense of our past and peek inside 15 historic homes that are both open to the public and for sale.

Celebrating its 22nd anniversary, Old House Expo was started by a group of home preservationists who wanted to spark an interest among local homebuyers in older structures available in the area, said Sandra Nickel, a founding member of the expo and a local Realtor.

The first year of the expo was done on a "shoestring" with little effort and while it only attracted 75-100 attendees, it was considered a major success.

Fast forward to 2007.

Now, expo organizers work with neighborhood associations and real estate brokers and turn it into a widely attended community event. Nickel expects today's attendance to range from 500 to 1,000 people who will visit homes from 1 to 5 p.m. in Montgomery and Wetumpka.

"This expo is a fabulous event that opens up people's eyes to see just how livable and grand an older home can be for a family," said Mary Ann Neeley, a local historian and old-home enthusiast.

The purpose of the show is to refute the idea that if a home isn't new, then it's no good, said Jennifer Steverson, a promoter of the expo.

"We want to showcase the lifestyle that is possible in an older home and let people know they (homes) can be updated with modern conveniences, yet still remain true to their original design," Steverson said.

Six different real estate firms list the homes that will be shown today. The neighborhoods include Montgomery's Old Cloverdale, the Garden District, Idlewild, Capitol Heights, South Hull Street and Cottage Hills districts.

There are also two residences being shown in Wetumpka.

The selection of homes showcased today is more stringent than the initial expo showing in 1985, Nickel said.

"We had to cast a net to find folks to buy a historic home just a few years ago, there just weren't that many being bought or sold," she said.

Now, Nickel said, they have to fight off people who want to have their older homes highlighted in the tour. Only homes that have maintained their architectural integrity and original historic character will be showcased.

All of the homes in the tour have original architectural features that are native to their construction period, such as hardwood floors, built-in cabinets, crown molding and arched doorways.

While today's homes maintain their historic look and feel, all of them have been appropriately updated with modern kitchens, baths, plumbing, wiring, heating and cooling, Steverson said.

Neeley said while all of the homes in the showcase are worth viewing, the Belser home in Capitol Heights, the Crenshaw-Mason mansion in Wetumpka and a Cape Cod home in Old Cloverdale merit special attention.

BELSER HOME, 103 N. LEWIS ST.,
CAPITOL HEIGHTS

The Belser home dates from 1908 and was one of the first houses built when Capitol Heights was developed. It was considered to be very modern in its day, Neeley said.

Its Craftsman-style architecture is in a pristine state and it has a ballroom for parties on the second floor.

CRENSHAW-MASON MANSION,
306 GOVERNMENT ST., WETUMPKA

Built one year after the Civil War ended, this home has its original heart-pine floors, wonderful woodwork and a secret wine cupboard. One of its most interesting assets is the view from the second-floor balcony of the nearby Coosa River.

CAPE COD, 1036 MAGNOLIA
CURVE, OLD CLOVERDALE

Built one year before Franklin Roosevelt was inaugurated president, this home has most of its original floor plan intact. Having recently undergone a spectacular renovation, it now includes a stately master suite.

The Old Cloverdale neighborhood offers the lions' share of homes on today's tour with five of the 15 homes open for inspection.

Today's tour exemplifies how older residences can offer owners their own slice of history, as well as preserving a community treasure, said Joe Putranka, mayor of the Old Cloverdale neighborhood association.

Putranka insists historic homes also can offer owners an aura of memories and a sense of continuity.

"Older homes are as diverse in nature and as full of character as a senior ladies' Sunday school class," Putranka said.

There is no cost for today's tour and it's open to the public.

neilson · #**1557** Posted **May 6, 2007, 7:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown Duckz

Actually there are two large malls that are at full capacity and doing excellent, the Shoppes at Eastchase and Eastdale Mall. Montgomery's money has nothing to do with how many shopping centers are making it big.

But to be fair, Montgomery Mall's watershed moment was the free Ludicrous concert and the after effects of it.

Yes Montgomery Mall would have faltered in the face of a renovated Eastdale Mall and Eastchase but to the point that it's at now? No, that's a case of white flight due to young blacks that don't exactly present the most friendly perception to their elders or others.

Ideally, there's no reason that the young black youth of Montgomery can't strive to be more like good, honest, hard-working folks like Sammy Stephens and less like the "artists" playing on Hot 105 or 97.9 Jamz. After all, they are the future of the city and how they grow up and are educated will determine what direction the city goes in the next 20 years.

neilson · #**1558** Posted **May 6, 2007, 7:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown Duckz

Couldn't tell you a thing about Normandale, but the Montgomery Mall will soon have new owners looking to reinvest. I think it should become a outlet mall that would attract people no matter what the location is. The city and mayor are there with arms wide open to create development in that part of the city.

Now that's what I want to hear. I'd also hope to see the former Super K-Mart site be redeveloped too, as well as more quality restaurants return to the area in front of the Wal-Mart shopping center.

Brown Duckz · #**1559** Posted **May 6, 2007, 7:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilson

Now that's what I want to hear. I'd also hope to see the former Super K-Mart site be redeveloped too, as well as more quality restaurants return to the area in front of the Wal-Mart shopping center.

All things you mention are a necessity when there is something bringing people to the area, but without, there is no need. Montgomery Mall must be revitalized into something that people want to visit. If it's a hit.... then everything around it will automatically become prime for private investment.

jklewis88 · #**1560** Posted **May 7, 2007, 12:01 AM**

It's been interesting reading the exchanges re: Montgomery vs. Greenville. As a former nine-year resident of Auburn, AL and as a parent of a graduate of Furman in Greenville I've spent quite a bit of time in both towns (M'gomery and G'ville). And, all I have to say is: Montomery, you sir, are no Greenville, SC.

G-Man rocks!!