Mobile Development Thread - Page 26

Scottybo · #**501** Posted **Aug 15, 2007, 3:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elb401

I hope they don't start on all these projects at the same time. It would be like driving through pensacola with all their construction!! They are some great ideas.

THink Pensacola is bad? Try Jacksonville. Just drove through there this past weekend and there's construction everywhere.

10101000 · #**502** Posted **Aug 15, 2007, 8:49 PM**

Try a commute in Baton Rouge since we have an influx of people. I only live 18 miles from work, and it takes me 45- one hour to get there. It is very rough. I would take Pensacola any day. Mobile is better as far as road infrastructure, for now anyway. It is good to do something now for the future though.

SouthSky · #**503** Posted **Aug 15, 2007, 11:49 PM**

^ Agreed. Baton Rouge has got to have the worst traffic for a city its size in the nation. I avoid all peak times like the plague. Baton Rouge also has been planning a loop around the entire metro.

pkp · #**504** Posted **Aug 16, 2007, 1:36 AM**

The only thing I am excited about in the plan are the additional bike and pedestrian plans - althought they barely discuss it.

Scottybo · #**505** Posted **Aug 16, 2007, 2:26 AM**

Annexation Map Wonder which sections will pass.

SouthSky · #**506** Posted **Aug 16, 2007, 2:56 AM**

I have a good feeling that all of them will pass.

bayourat 15 · #**507** Posted **Aug 16, 2007, 2:59 AM**

Hopefully the whole area! The city will only gain 5,000 people, but u have to start some where.

I just think some of the voters will vote no and not look at the big picture.

Question....Ok wouldnt the areas homeowners insurance go down with better fire and police protection? And as the mayor stated garbage pickup alone would cover the increase of property tax!

I think the mayor 's plan sounds good. go for tax revenue first. Then go for the people.

This might start a chain reaction. Just think if the city could annex farther south though Dawes and Tillmans Corner to The Bay

Id say we would top 300k

....And ...o...yeah...GEAUX TIGERS...OCTOBER 20TH....Pay BACK !

elb401 · #**508** Posted **Aug 16, 2007, 1:24 PM**

I think the first goal is to kill a possible city of West Mobile and to grab the tax revenue area. which will happen if section A chooses to annex. the second is to slowly expand south, west, and I believe jones even said north just west of prichard. He should do this in a slow fashon so the opposition doesn't get organized sooner. Tillmans corner will be the hardest. I dont think that will happen without some serious bribing with tax cuts and civil projects which maybe worth it.

Verve · #**509** Posted **Aug 16, 2007, 3:17 PM**

Does anyone know what's the status of things in the Orange Grove development just north of Beauregard? It seems that they completed a few buildings and nothing has happened for about a year. I remember some controversy arose about the flood zone in that area but don't remember exactly what came of that.

I had a chance to view some of the completed units and they were doing a great job. If they can get this development back on track, it would be an asset for that part of town. Right now, with so many vacant buildings, it may be worse than before they started renovations.

Scottybo · #**510** Posted **Aug 16, 2007, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elb401

I think the first goal is to kill a possible city of West Mobile and to grab the tax revenue area. which will happen if section A chooses to annex. the second is to slowly expand south, west, and I believe jones even said north just west of prichard. He should do this in a slow fashon so the opposition doesn't get organized sooner. Tillmans corner will be the hardest. I dont think that will happen without some serious bribing with tax cuts and civil projects which maybe worth it.

Just west of Prichard? So ... Kushla and Semmes?

BlessedMobile · #**511** Posted **Aug 17, 2007, 4:16 AM**

I believe it is very, very likely that Area A will vote to enter Mobile. As for the others, they will see the hand writing on the wall and will eventually, if not now, join the city. Mayor Jones is actively soliciting a favorable vote by his offers regarding property tax. I do know that last time the annexation matter came up that apartment building owners in Area A told tenants that voting to annex would cause their rent to go up; that alone was enough to swing the vote against. Mobile Terrace is full of renters who are more concerned about the cost of garbage pickup than the property tax levied on the owner. Even the owners concede that being in the city will improve the neighborhoods and increase values. My developer friends tell me that the annexation of Area A is a done deal unless something unforeseen should happen. My high school art teacher would be proud of the guy who drew the lines for this vote...very creative!!

elb401 · #**512** Posted **Aug 21, 2007, 4:02 PM**

Its seems like there is no organized opposition to this annexation movement. Lets hope that this is some really good news!

nimsjus · #**513** Posted **Aug 21, 2007, 6:30 PM**

When is the vote? Im out of town so I don't always catch these things. It seems like the revenue area is a lock because of the way they rigged the voting blocks. Not so sure about others. I wish they had tested the waters and allowed a vote in the areas near Cottage Hill and Schillingers and down Sollie Road. I doubt it would have passed, but it would have been a good guage of interest. Getting the Schillinger block also allows you to then annex the airport because you then have the contiguous boundary needed to annex that without a vote. All of that will bring in new revenue, a small ammount of people, and allow the city to better manage development in that area(which the county planning commission didnt really do too tightly).

SouthSky · #**514** Posted **Aug 21, 2007, 7:38 PM**

Mid September is the time of the vote (17th I believe). I agree about the airport, for I think the city can better manage its own airport.

BlessedMobile · #**515** Posted **Aug 22, 2007, 3:55 AM**

I heard today that Larry Wettermark, city attorney, told a group that the city had been working on this annexation proposal for six months. The design of the areas is intended to greatly improve the odds of success. Also, something that I had not thought of...taking in the airport would extent the PJ out into the more heavily populated areas of the county and cause a big increase in fire and police needs. It is now likely that the city would wait on the airport annexation until it is prepared to take on all the added people. Wettermark did say that other areas are being addressed for annexation. I personally think that all four areas would be wise to vote "yes".

pkp · #**516** Posted **Aug 24, 2007, 1:12 PM**

A couple things no one has talked about too much. As anounced, the old Gayfers building, which is at least 1/2 a city block was purchased. Even though they have mentioned there will be some parking, I am sure it will be off Dauphin Street and not very noticeable. This building centers on Dauphin Street facing Bienville Square. It is one of the most scenic locations in the city, and one of the most overlooked. The Senior Bowl is moving its headquarrters into the old ABC Store/Al's Hot dogs on the corner (both floors). Now with the Gayfers Building purhcased (and I assume eventually the other small vacant buildings nextt door to it), this block will take off.

There is a contract to purchase the Kress Building as well, as mentioned in Sunday's paper. This building has facades on Dauphin, Royal, Conti, and St. Emanuel Streets. This is a very significant building. It's renovation will totally change four entire streets. Dauphin is pretty good on that block, but Royal, St. Emanuel, and Conti seriously need help. Now that the Olensky Brothers are finally fixing their office supply store up, the Hampton is coming, and now this, Royal Street might finally look really good between Government and Dauphin.

These are projects that do more to make downtown Mobile a better place. As much as I like really, really tall buildings, I would much rather see similar projects happen.

What we really need to see is a good mix of office, reasonably priced residential (with ownership and rental options) and finished out retail space. I think these projects will fit the bill.

It's all about getting a block done at a time.

SouthSky · #**517** Posted **Aug 24, 2007, 6:07 PM**

Some more GOOD news...

I've learned that Mobile will be getting a new Carnival ship in Q4 2008... I've heard the name is the "Triumph" but that is tentative. The Holiday will purportedly sail up to the day of the arrival of the new ship, which is great so there will be no interruptions in cruises out of Mobile. The Triumph is currently based out of Miami and should shift to Mobile next year (if this comes to fruition).

Here are the ship's specs:
http://carnival.com/Ship_Detail.aspx?shipCode=TI

bayourat 15 · #**518** Posted **Aug 24, 2007, 10:17 PM**

wow! where did u get this info?

SouthSky · #**519** Posted **Aug 24, 2007, 10:50 PM**

A reputable source... it should be announced soon, but the ship is to be determined (I've heard Triumph but it might be too big for Mobile's turning basin).

bayourat 15 · #**520** Posted **Aug 24, 2007, 11:13 PM**

Sounds kind of crazy that a port like Mobile can t handle any thing over 1,000ft. The new ship u talk about is almost 900. Damn, i would turn it backwards when i got up to Brookley Field and put that big b*itch in reverse!

Hey Sky, U think they would have to expand the cruise terminal and the parking garage?

If anyone looks at the waterfront in downtown, my question of the day is; How is a park, a maritime museum , a padestrian bridge , a condo complex and larger cruise terminal geauxing to fit on that tiny strip of land