Montgomery development news

[skycaptain]

It is unfortunate that we have to resort to mostly discussing big box shopping centers in the Montgomery and Huntsville Forums.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by skycaptain

It is unfortunate that we have to resort to mostly discussing big box shopping centers in the Montgomery and Huntsville Forums.

I don't really mind it in the Huntsville forums because it's mainly a mix of infill as well as the fact that Huntsville has been so underretailed relative to the MSA's population and socio-economics for so long that we don't mind growth of this type. We also get balanced growth at the local level too.

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by skycaptain

It is unfortunate that we have to resort to mostly discussing big box shopping centers in the Montgomery and Huntsville Forums.

When everyone wants to talk sprawl, no one does. And when no one wants to talk sprawl, everyone does.

If I were to talk sprawl development in Montgomery, this thread will go to 3000 posts in a few days...


...that is, if anyone were really serious about it.

[rbp]

Originally Posted by neilson

Where was Circuit City's original location in Montgomery and what became of said location?

They were located behind Eastdale Mall on the service road for the Bypass, at least 15 years ago when I got here. They moved about the time Circuit City remodeled all of their stores. I find it interesting that they probably would have been in a better position had they stayed where they were. The fact that the center at the bypass and Troy Highway had already lost two big box stores - though to corporate problems, not necessarily location - should have been a sign. The Circuit City location was originally Montgomery Ward's electronic store, but I don't believe it survived a year. The empty box that was the athletic shoe store had been something else as well, but I can't remember what that was.

As for their old building, Northview Christian Church had moved in there the first of this year, but I don't know if they still occupy the building.

[thoraudio]

Originally Posted by neilson

Where was Circuit City's original location in Montgomery and what became of said location?

I think it's currently a climate controlled storage center.

[EXbubba]

Whatever. I don't think that circuit city is long for this earth with their retail hiring practices. One can't go into a store and find anyone that knows anything - at least in larger metro areas. MGM Circuit City seems to be so dominant that they can just move with the poulation. NExt thing you know, they'll move to Pville to escape the never ending gunfire of the idiots in MGM. MGM and Bright must recognize they can't stop crime with more police in the crime areas - out of their cars- and more job possibilities. The city is self-hamstrung as a low tax base keeps them from being able to offer higher salaries to cop candidates and no one wants to pay taxes for anything, but expect city services like any other big town gets. Raise the property taxes, lower the sales taxes, or least take them off food and drugs, maybe clothes. That would go a long way to helping. By the way don't just put the cop cruisers in the far east side, put them where the crime is, in side the bypasses.

[EXbubba]

As for Hville, I don't want to hear any whining as you have the most educated work force in the state and undertax them seriously such that if Redstone left the whole place would dry up and blow away. Alabama is not much of big city place, but they could all use a dose of heavy policing and corrective tax action so that everyon pays for what they get - and the city and state should let them know that it won't be gotten without paying up front in taxes. The whole state is attracting folks who like the no tax atmosphere, but a surprised that they get no services either. Up in NOVA we get very few services because 90% of the property taxes go to new schools, but by golly at least we get what we pay for and the county is just as big as MGM with more to do, and no city larger than 30K. Course income levels are high, but most are house poor. MGM needs to work to attract more business, and not give away the farm to do it with tax abatement. Downtown needs to work on more nightlife and housing and get their smart code butts in gear and stop the easter sprawl.

[Brown Duckz]

You'd fit in at the al.com forums, promise--We don't discuss those issues here.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by Brown Duckz

You'd fit in at the al.com forums, promise--We don't discuss those issues here.

Let's not get into that discussion. And things over there are more humble since the election. Bottom line is that everyone wants a good place to live and for the city not to be spread out so much.

Everyone agrees that Aronov has a lot of blame in the state of development in Montgomery County. Too bad Aronov is so damn powerful that nobody dare hold their feet to the fire.

[mgmrebel]

http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=53649763184335934

[OldCloverdale]

bad news for Cramton Bowl (?)

ASU trustees consider plan of action for campus stadium


Alabama State University trustees are slated to vote today on whether to develop a plan of action to construct a football stadium on campus.

Trustees began their board meeting at 9 a.m. in the Joe L. Reed Acadome Board Room.

The stadium plan of action is one of several key issues trustees were scheduled to discuss, which include:

-- Approval of a resolution to house ASU's students at the Madison Hotel.

-- Approval to construct a $16 million student center in the current site location.

-- Approval to construct a temporary facility to house student activities near the football complex.

-- Approval of the library expansion design at a cost of $9.2 million.

[EXbubba]

Originally Posted by Brown Duckz

You'd fit in at the al.com forums, promise--We don't discuss those issues here.

What exactly are "those issues" ? I'm talking about attracting business to MGM with out giving away the farm (taxes) just for jobs. I don't see a whole lot of folks willing to invest their individual money in the area. Aronov has had a lock on real estate in MGM for 50 years and they are unknown outside of AL. The town is just chock full of big fish in a little pond and they want to keep it that way. MGM must be at least twenty years behind in development - an in some ways is better off for it, but jobs need to be created to keep retail from fleeing the city or going east. Pretty soon people in MGM won't have any place to shop unless the go to Pvill or Opelika-Aubarn.

[OldCloverdale]

Pretty soon people in MGM won't have any place to shop unless the go to Pvill or Opelika-Auburn.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I guess Cloverdale, Downtown, Midtown, EastChase, Vaughn Road, etc. will all close for business in the next few years. Dang, I'm going to have to get that 4 or 29 tag.

What a stupid effing post!

[Brown Duckz]

Originally Posted by EXbubba

Aronov has had a lock on real estate in MGM for 50 years and they are unknown outside of AL.

Might as well retract that whole post, hah


Founded in 1952 by Aaron Aronov, Aronov Realty is one of the oldest real estate development and management firms in the United States and is the largest privately held, full-service real estate company in the Southeast.


In addition to shopping centers the Aronov portfolio contains a variety of multi-family properties, including garden apartments, high-rise condominiums and vacation homes. It has developed and managed more than 12,000 multi-family units. And as part of its community development efforts, the company has successfully marketed 31,000 single-family home sites. Other developments and investments include motels, office buildings, and warehouse facilities. Now led by Jake and Owen Aronov, the company acquires, develops, and manages a wide variety of shopping centers - from enclosed malls with exciting collections of major stores and national, regional and local shops to community and specialty centers. The company prides itself in its responsive service to America's most successful retailers.

link: http://www.aronov.com/portfolio.cfm

[Brown Duckz]

Follow-up post: I'm still laughing at the statement "Montgomery will have to shop in Prattville/Opelika!

[OldCloverdale]

Originally Posted by EXbubba

Aronov has had a lock on real estate in MGM for 50 years and they are unknown outside of AL.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

You need to be honest too.

Let's start with Aronov's retail holdings.

http://aronov.com/retail_property_portfolio.cfm

5 Alabama Malls
1 in Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi

32 Strip Malls in Alabama(of those, 14 are in Montgomery and totaling 1.27 Million Sq Ft.).
2 Strip Malls in Florida
5 Strip Malls in Georgia
2 in Mississippi and 2 in Tennessee.

Bottom Line, Aronov does dominate in Montgomery and the River Region as a whole and whatever other presence they have in other states is negligible at best. If you'd like I can prove my point further by pointing out that Aronov's 12 office properties are all in Montgomery. Aronov's Industrial Properties? 5 in Montgomery and 1 in Prattville. Aronov Reality operates solely within Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, and Bullock Counties. Oh yeah, 1 Tallassee listing too.

Aronov Commercial Listings? http://www.aronovcommercial.com/listings.cfm

157 in Alabama, 3 in Florida, and 1 in Oklahoma. Of the Alabama listings, 145 are in Montgomery, 2 in Tuskegee, 2 in Selma, 1 in Auburn-Opelika, and 2 in Alex City. 1 in Valley too.

Aronov does have 3 resorts that are not located in the River Region. 1 located in Orange Beach, 1 in Gulf Shores, and 1 in Panama City Beach.

Aronov Apartments and Townhouses? Let's see, 5 properties in Montgomery, 1 in Dothan, and 1 in Baton Rouge.

Sorry bro, but I had to prove you wrong because you were so brazen in trying to prove your point. Aronov is 1st and foremost a Montgomery company that puts easily 90% of their resources into the development of the River Region. Another 5% around the state of Alabama, and the other 5% left in other states. That's just my rough estimation based on everything I posted here (and available for all to number crunch over at http://www.aronovcommercial.com/ where you can just mouse over the "Aronov Properties" words and then click on any of the drop-down links.

Game. Set. Match. Feels good to have the facts on my side.

[EXbubba]

Still mostly MGM and surrounding S Al and Fl panhandle ,but they do have some properties. When I looked at their home page listings there wasnt much out of AL and thats where concentrate their power as a family business and keep MGM locked up for their purposes. The point was I was in agreement about them owning the town and the other point was the MGMs major shopping areas seem to devour each other everytime another one is built an older one loses its stores as things move further east and people flee to Pville and the eastern burbs. MGM is really a hollow core until those same developers start putting money back into downtown. I bet it is still just as hot and empty at night and on weekends downtown as it was twenty years ago and the eastern bypass is choked with traffic trying to go shopping at EastChase or Eastdale. What else of significance is there? Income levels are half the national average and not enough Hyundais are happening. Hopefully this will gradually turn around, but if you look at your own posts your small group seems to continuously talk about east side development and the "landscaping" projects downtown (hotels excepted). The proof of the pudding will be to see if those conventions can be recaptured downtown and fill the hotels and generate new businesses in that perfect location. Sorry if I hurt you feelings.

[Brown Duckz]

Originally Posted by EXbubba

Sorry if I hurt you feelings.

You didn't hurt anyone's feelings, but you made yourself look bad with your unknowledgeable color commentary from Virginia.

As far as the Eastside goes.. we actually rarely talk about it on these forums, only list developments taking place/taking shape, because whether you want to believe it or not, it's the City of Montgomery as well! We shouldn't be looking down on a certain area booming simply because there are a dozen other areas that need revitalization. The other areas are moving in the right direction even if you can't see it clearly.... and Downtown development will continue to accelerate. The "foundation" is coming together Downtown, that will fuel this area for many years to come. So far, it's all nay-say from you, when you actually don't have a clue.

[OldCloverdale]

Thanks for the info. I Didn't know Aronov had so much property outside Montgomery. Wow.

Malls in:
Arkansas
Georgia and
Mississippi

Strip Malls in:
Florida
Georgia
Mississippi and
Tennessee

Industrial Property in:
Prattville

Aronov Reality operate in:
Autauga
Elmore and
Bullock

Commercial Listings in:
Florida
Oklahoma
Tuskegee
Selma
Auburn-Opelika
Alex City and
Valley

Resorts in Orange Beach
Gulf Shores and
Panama City Beach

Aronov Apartments in:
Dothan and
Baton Rouge

Thanks again; wow.