Montgomery development news

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

nah he said the same thing up here in a similar meeting, just substituted different road projects. The key phrase in this is justifying a toll road.
This is just to get ALDOT off the hook because as they are now they are
unable to operate at all. Good luck!

I agree. This is another cop-out for Riley and ALDOT not to totally pay for what was designated a crucial freeway twenty years ago.

In other words, if this will be a toll road, then every new highway in this state should be built as a toll road. Why one without the others?

[midwestrabbi]

I was looking at maps planning a trip and I noticed something, why do most cities ( Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Kansas City, St louis, Jacksonville Fl just to name a few ) have complete Interstate Beltways around their cities, and yet there is NO city in Alabama with the same ? If the money was spent in these other cities was from the Federal Gvt what did the State of Alabama do with the portion that was given to them ? Some of you may remember that Birmingham was the last major city in the whole country to see the original plans completed, in other words the Interstate system through Bham was completed more than two decades later than was planned. WHY ?

[neilson]

Originally Posted by midwestrabbi

I was looking at maps planning a trip and I noticed something, why do most cities ( Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Kansas City, St louis, Jacksonville Fl just to name a few ) have complete Interstate Beltways around their cities, and yet there is NO city in Alabama with the same ? If the money was spent in these other cities was from the Federal Gvt what did the State of Alabama do with the portion that was given to them ? Some of you may remember that Birmingham was the last major city in the whole country to see the original plans completed, in other words the Interstate system through Bham was completed more than two decades later than was planned. WHY ?

Because Jefferson County always voted "the wrong way" in Democrat Gubernatorial Primaries from 1962 though 1986.

[Scoots71]

Originally Posted by midwestrabbi

I was looking at maps planning a trip and I noticed something, why do most cities ( Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Kansas City, St louis, Jacksonville Fl just to name a few ) have complete Interstate Beltways around their cities, and yet there is NO city in Alabama with the same ? If the money was spent in these other cities was from the Federal Gvt what did the State of Alabama do with the portion that was given to them ? Some of you may remember that Birmingham was the last major city in the whole country to see the original plans completed, in other words the Interstate system through Bham was completed more than two decades later than was planned. WHY ?

Well I guess you could actually call 459 half a beltway around B'ham.

[g-man435]

Originally Posted by midwestrabbi

I was looking at maps planning a trip and I noticed something, why do most cities ( Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Kansas City, St louis, Jacksonville Fl just to name a few ) have complete Interstate Beltways around their cities, and yet there is NO city in Alabama with the same ? If the money was spent in these other cities was from the Federal Gvt what did the State of Alabama do with the portion that was given to them ? Some of you may remember that Birmingham was the last major city in the whole country to see the original plans completed, in other words the Interstate system through Bham was completed more than two decades later than was planned. WHY ?

All of the cities you just mentioned are bigger than any city in Alabama except for maybe Birmingham. That's why. It's a question of when it will happen, not if. We're having the same problems with our DOT here in South Carolina too. Nobody in the state legislature wants to raise the gas tax, so the roads here are starting to crumble and get some major potholes. I think they should toll every interstate in the country. That's what they did with I-185 in Greenville.

[midwestrabbi]

I pulled metro Maps of about 25 cities of half a million up and every one of them had a InterState - Limited access Bypass around their city. If Atlanta can build a Bypass around the Bypass why cannot Birmingham finish the one they need? Again another excuse.

[skycaptain]

Nashvile does not have a completed beltline, nor does Charlotte, yet they seem to be doing ok growth wise. I fail to see the cause-and-effect implied in the references to those other cities.

In Atlanta, it was visionary leadership and Hartsfield International that caused that city to explode, not the beltline. And look at Huntsville, which only recently became connected to the interstate system. So, let's please try to resist the temptation to oversimply these growth-related issues to campaign for our own pet projects.

[midwestrabbi]

I could care less if Montgomery ever builds the so called loop, ( really half loop ). The point I was making is, if these other states can build some of the most progressive highways, what is Alabama getting for its tax dollar ( federal or local ). Last summer I traveled on the new I-22 ( U.S. 78 ) a great new stretch of road, until we got into Bham. We bottlenecked into a two lane 10 mile road, that took me 45 minutes to drive as it was rush hour. Another example of Aladot , building and designing for the present.

[Brown Duckz]

I still think the I-85 west extension should be a federally funded interstate. I could live with the southern portion of Montgomery's outerloop being toll as long as they get the plan in line for the northern loop to be federally funded.

Like all others, where is the money that should be allotted for these highways? If the state has "needed" them for 20 years, why hasen't DC got the memo?

[Brown Duckz]

Originally Posted by midwestrabbi

Last summer I traveled on the new I-22 ( U.S. 78 ) a great new stretch of road, until we got into Bham. We bottlenecked into a two lane 10 mile road, that took me 45 minutes to drive as it was rush hour. Another example of Aladot , building and designing for the present.

You are aware they are almost done connecting Corridor X [I-22] to I-65 north of the interchange?

[midwestrabbi]

One of the greatest WASTE in Alabama, is State Government. And as one past governor of Alabama said Aladot, is, the most TOP Heavy agency . Remember when a private company built a toll bridge over the Alabama River at a fourth of the cost that the state of Alabama could have built the same bridge for. It is past time for governments to realize who pays the bills.

[OldCloverdale]

Survey: Lawmakers moving?

By Phillip Rawls
The Associated Press

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080127/NEWS01/801270312

Support is building in the Alabama Legislature for abandoning the State House and constructing a more voter-friendly place for lawmakers to meet.

An Associated Press survey of the House and Senate found more legislators prefer moving to a new building than remodeling the State House or leaving it as it is.

The chairman of the legislative committee studying the State House and its future isn't surprised by the survey results.

"That's what I have been hearing, especially since the last few sessions when the fire marshal has run people out of committee rooms because they are so crowded," Rep. Richard Laird, D-Roanoke, said.

The Legislature remodeled the old highway department building behind the Capitol into the State House in 1986 and moved across the street. The State House afforded more office space and more committee meeting rooms than the historic, but cramped Capitol.

At the time, the accommodations were considered so plush that Gov. Fob James called the building the "Taj Mahal."

But in the 22 years since the move from the Capitol, there has been an explosion in the number of lobbyists at the Legislature and in the public turnout to see committee meetings and legislative sessions. There also has been a dramatic growth in school groups and adult organizations touring the State House when the Legislature is in session.

When controversial bills are being debated, visitors sometimes have to wait in line for a seat to come open in the House and Senate galleries. Buckets sometimes block hallways because the roof regularly sprouts leaks.

Last year, the Legislature voted to create a committee to study what should be done. Laird's committee has an architectural firm reviewing the options and the possible costs. The study is supposed to be completed in the legislative session starting Feb. 5.

In an Associated Press survey of the Senate, 55 percent favored a new building, 4 percent wanted the State House remodeled, 10 percent wanted nothing done, and 31 percent were undecided.

In the House, 32 percent supported a new building, 21 percent favored remodeling the State House, 9 percent said do nothing, and 38 percent were undecided.

The survey was answered by 83 percent of the senators and 72 percent of the representatives.

Senate budget committee Chairman Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, advocates a new building because his committee meets in the largest room available to the Senate and it's often standing-room only.

"It's embarrassing for people from Red Bay to drive down for a public hearing and there is no place to sit. Some people only come to Montgomery once or twice in a lifetime, and what impression of state government do they leave with?" Bedford asked.

State Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, advocates doing nothing. He said now is not the time for the Legislature to spend millions on itself when lawmakers are faced with cutting funding in the state budgets due to the economic slowdown.

Gov. Bob Riley said he has not been involved with the Legislature's study, but he questioned the timing.

"Right now with the budgets the way they are, somebody would be hard-pressed to say that's a priority," the governor said in an interview.

Laird understands those concerns.

"The financial situation of the state is a factor," he said. "But I've been there 30 years and there is never a right time."

Marc Reynolds, deputy chief executive of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, said some legislators have approached the state pension system about financing the construction of a building for the Legislature. But he said there is no consensus among the advocates for a new building about where to put it or how much space is needed.

The Legislature will have a tough time selling the idea of a new building to the public unless there is a consensus among legislators and support from the governor, he said.

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

Survey: Lawmakers moving?

By Phillip Rawls
The Associated Press

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080127/NEWS01/801270312

Support is building in the Alabama Legislature for abandoning the State House and constructing a more voter-friendly place for lawmakers to meet.

An Associated Press survey of the House and Senate found more legislators prefer moving to a new building than remodeling the State House or leaving it as it is.

The chairman of the legislative committee studying the State House and its future isn't surprised by the survey results.

"That's what I have been hearing, especially since the last few sessions when the fire marshal has run people out of committee rooms because they are so crowded," Rep. Richard Laird, D-Roanoke, said.

The Legislature remodeled the old highway department building behind the Capitol into the State House in 1986 and moved across the street. The State House afforded more office space and more committee meeting rooms than the historic, but cramped Capitol.

At the time, the accommodations were considered so plush that Gov. Fob James called the building the "Taj Mahal."

But in the 22 years since the move from the Capitol, there has been an explosion in the number of lobbyists at the Legislature and in the public turnout to see committee meetings and legislative sessions. There also has been a dramatic growth in school groups and adult organizations touring the State House when the Legislature is in session.

When controversial bills are being debated, visitors sometimes have to wait in line for a seat to come open in the House and Senate galleries. Buckets sometimes block hallways because the roof regularly sprouts leaks.

Last year, the Legislature voted to create a committee to study what should be done. Laird's committee has an architectural firm reviewing the options and the possible costs. The study is supposed to be completed in the legislative session starting Feb. 5.

In an Associated Press survey of the Senate, 55 percent favored a new building, 4 percent wanted the State House remodeled, 10 percent wanted nothing done, and 31 percent were undecided.

In the House, 32 percent supported a new building, 21 percent favored remodeling the State House, 9 percent said do nothing, and 38 percent were undecided.

The survey was answered by 83 percent of the senators and 72 percent of the representatives.

Senate budget committee Chairman Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, advocates a new building because his committee meets in the largest room available to the Senate and it's often standing-room only.

"It's embarrassing for people from Red Bay to drive down for a public hearing and there is no place to sit. Some people only come to Montgomery once or twice in a lifetime, and what impression of state government do they leave with?" Bedford asked.

State Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, advocates doing nothing. He said now is not the time for the Legislature to spend millions on itself when lawmakers are faced with cutting funding in the state budgets due to the economic slowdown.

Gov. Bob Riley said he has not been involved with the Legislature's study, but he questioned the timing.

"Right now with the budgets the way they are, somebody would be hard-pressed to say that's a priority," the governor said in an interview.

Laird understands those concerns.

"The financial situation of the state is a factor," he said. "But I've been there 30 years and there is never a right time."

Marc Reynolds, deputy chief executive of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, said some legislators have approached the state pension system about financing the construction of a building for the Legislature. But he said there is no consensus among the advocates for a new building about where to put it or how much space is needed.

The Legislature will have a tough time selling the idea of a new building to the public unless there is a consensus among legislators and support from the governor, he said.

Hmmm. Getting the RSA involved in another building project in downtown MGM. An interesting thought given the controversy their current project is causing!

[hiijakd]

if they would just work with people and the plan of the downtown area then there would be no problem. unfortunately they have been stonewalling any offer for talks or compromises.

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by hiijakd

if they would just work with people and the plan of the downtown area then there would be no problem. unfortunately they have been stonewalling any offer for talks or compromises.

Oh, I understand. I just thought it was funny that the RSA (and their $$$) had surfaced again so quickly. You would think they (the RSA) would get their head out of the sand and see that compromise would be good for everyone!

[hiijakd]

we can all wish can't we. unfortunately it APPEARS that they are too prideful to do so.

[Brown Duckz]

Will RSA be financing this project, or will the State?

[OldCloverdale]

has everyone here seen this?

http://downtownmontgomery.wordpress.com/

[thoraudio]

looks like a good presentation.

[kevinlpugh]

Circuit City opens Friday at EastChase



Circuit City is set to open Friday at the Market Center in the EastChase development, said Kay Yarbrough, spokeswoman for Jim Wilson and Associates.

The store originally was scheduled to open late February. Yarbrough said Bed, Bath and Beyond should open the first week of April, and Old Navy, the first week of May.

The new businesses in the Market Center -- adjacent to Costco -- will help fill about 80 percent of the EastChase development in east Montgomery. The entire development likely will be completed in three more years. Currently, about 75 percent to 80 percent of the land has been developed.