Montgomery development news

[OldCloverdale]

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

Has anyone here heard anything about a public announcement to be made next week regarding the move of the Governor’s residence from the current location on South Perry Street to the old Blount estate on Vaughn Road?

There has been talk for a couple of years about this. The upkeep for the Blount estate is substantial and it is in need of repairs and updating. The current mansion has only one restroom downstairs, very limited dining area and other drawbacks.

I don't think the Rileys are interested in making the move but it may be a possibility in the future.

What about the house next to the current mansion. Didn't the Friends of the Mansion buy it a few years ago?

[Brown Duckz]

The Rileys love the current Mansion and have put a lot into it! Especially Mrs. Riley!

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

What about the house next to the current mansion. Didn't the Friends of the Mansion buy it a few years ago?

I was wondering about that too. I pass it most mornings heading to work and there has been work going on there, but it has slowed over the past few months.

It seems like the original plan was to renovate the house next door and move the official residence over there and use the original mansion for state functions, etc.

[OldCloverdale]

The announcement may be coming very soon.

Garden District lovers better unite ... and fight ... now.

[thoraudio]

First and foremost, I like the mansion were it is, and prefer it to stay there.

However, this is not like a retail anchor or large employer leaving. The residence being moved would have slight to little impact..... and it may have more of an impact as a museum type place as opposed to a residence.

But, again, I'd rather it not move.

[OldCloverdale]

It will be a loss of prestige for the Garden District with the real attached risk of loss of property values.

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by hiijakd

i will have to be a naysayer on this one too. east side doesn't have much history beyond farmland until the last 15 years or so. Downtown and the Garden District go back and I believe that we need to keep the integrity of the area by keeping the Government located there. Plus I am tired of sprawl, thats what killed our city in the first place. I know people will disagree with me but we all can have our opinions. Quit going East, eventually we will end up in the swamp between here and Auburn.

February 1, 2008

Forestry officials urge region to get grip on sprawl

By Jill Nolin
[email protected]


The Alabama Forestry Commission is urging developers and elected officials in the River Region to get a grip on urban sprawl before it becomes a problem.

The commission has launched an awareness campaign in hopes of persuading Alabamians to help better manage growth so residents can benefit from both the growth and the area's natural resources.

"We're in an enviable position. This is the time to make a difference," Alabama Urban Forestry Coordinator Neil Letson said Wednesday.

Representatives from the commission met with the Montgomery Advertiser on Wednesday to discuss ways for developers, public officials and the public to work together to keep what's left of Alabama's ecosystem intact.

"Once it's gone and turned into a strip center or low-density housing, it's gone," Letson said.

The commission is offering to help developers in the planning process by sharing any insight they have as to the possible effects of a proposed construction project.

"We are here to offer our services in the planning process," said Bruce Springer, regional forester for the southeast.

"We have a very unique ecosystem in the state of Alabama, and we need to protect and make sure we manage it appropriately," Springer added.

Letson and Springer praised the developers in the area who are already using "smart growth" methods. They used The Waters development in Pike Road as an example of a project that incorporated natural land features -- such as large oak trees and lakes -- into the plan.

The result had an added benefit -- people like it. The Waters is considered a popular residential area in Montgomery County.

Projects that incorporate more natural elements will help limit the adverse effects of residential and retail developments, according to the commission.

The campaign is an effort to keep Alabama from becoming like Georgia and Florida. Both states leapt ahead with major growth and are now having to work backward to protect the environment, according to Letson.

"We just want to make sure the public is aware of the issue and what's going on," Springer said.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

[bystander1]

There will be some heavy shoes to fill as Gordon Martin leaves. He was an energetic person who helped to get riverfront development going and was just recently named chairman of the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce. He would have really made some things happen in that position.
IMO, this was a pretty big blow...

February 1, 2008

Alabama Power executive, Chamber chairman promoted
By Jenn Rowell
[email protected]


The chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce is taking a new position in Birmingham, but he doesn't plan to leave the Capital City behind.

Alabama Power Co. has promoted Gordon Martin to senior vice president and general counsel. He will work at the company's headquarters in Birmingham.

Martin, who had been serving as the vice president of the company's Southern Division in Montgomery, will start his new job Friday.

He said he plans to follow Montgomery's development and keep tabs on the progress of projects he's been involved with. His family will remain in the area through the end of the school year.

In the more than six years Martin has been in Montgomery, he's been active in the business community and other local organizations, including the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation, and he served on boards of Huntingdon College and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

"I will be maintaining all those relationships in some fashion," he said by phone Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to seeing Montgomery continue to be on the grow."

Officials with those organizations recognize the career opportunity for Martin, but they'll miss him.

"Gordon is such a tremendous asset to the community. I think we've had the luxury of enjoying him a bit longer than we were entitled to," said Eve Loeb, the development director at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. "I prefer to look at it as Montgomery has benefited entirely from his and (his family's) presence."

Loeb said Martin was "bright, approachable and diverse in the topics he could talk about." She said she and others marveled at his energy. She said that based on his accomplishments, it seemed there were more than just 24 hours in his day.

"I look forward to watching Gordon and seeing what he makes of his life," she said. "I really do look forward to that."

If Martin steps down from his current position as leader of the chamber, the rest of the executive committee will meet to select a replacement, said Anna Buckalew, senior vice president of the chamber.

"Gordon's shoes will be hard to fill but we are confident in the chamber's ability to find a new chairman," she said.

...

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

[Brown Duckz]

Guys, my parents will be staying in the new Hotel in two weeks or so, and I'm going to go down there to see them and tour the hotel a little. Any photoshoot ideas?

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

It will be a loss of prestige for the Garden District with the real attached risk of loss of property values.

Noticed this in the paper this morning:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/NEWS01/802040330/1007

Blount family to announce donation

The family of the late Winton M. "Red" Blount will announce a gift to the community at 2 p.m. today at the conservatory of the Wynfield estate, the home of Blount and his late wife, Caro­lyn.

A news release called the gift one of the largest contributions to the community in recent memory.

President of the Montgomery City Council Charles Jinright, who represents the city's Dis­trict 9, said the announcement would involve two presenta­tions.

"I expect there'll be a trans­fer of land," he said. "I can't tell you more. But the mayor has been working on this for a long time."

Jinright confirmed that he has been invited to the event and said he believes Gov. Bob Riley will be there as well.

-- Tom Ensey

[thoraudio]

from www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Blount family makes $50 million donation to city, state and Shakespeare Festival



The family of the late Wynton M. "Red" Blount announced a $50 million donation to the city of Montgomery, state of Alabama and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival today at a news conference.

The donation includes:

* Land and office space valued at $2 million to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival;

* All land and improvements at Blount Cultural Park which borders Vaughn Road to the city of Montgomery with an estimated value of $20 million;

* And approximately 103 acres of the estate known as Wynefield to the state of Alabama with an approximate $28 milion value.

Gov. Bob Riley said the Wynfield estate will serve as a value economic development tool for future governors to entertain and recruit industrial prospects.

-- posted by Andre Coe

[thoraudio]

from wsfa (link includes videos).

New Downtown Hotel Opens to Guests


Montgomery, Ala. (WSFA) -- It's one of the biggest economic development projects to hit downtown in years. The new Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa opened Monday at the city's new, expanded convention center. It all amounts to a more than $200 million dollar investment.

"You don't get the feel that you're in Montgomery," said Dawn Hathcock of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's such an incredible facility."

The 4-star hotel boasts 350 rooms, including a lavish presidential suite overlooking the Alabama River. Each room also includes the latest technology, including flat-screen televisions and cordless telephones that allow guests to accept calls from anywhere in the building.

Downstairs, there's a ballroom, restaurant and bar.

And upstairs, guests can indulge themselves in the spa, which includes a fitness center, treatment rooms, and a zero-entry roof-top swimming pool.

The additional meeting space in the convention center means Montgomery can now attract larger conventions.

"People will be coming to downtown Montgomery daily. They'll be sleeping in downtown and looking for ways to spend their money," said the city of Montgomery's Jeff Downes.

Downes also pointed to other downtown redevelopment projects like the riverwalk and amphitheater, the baseball stadium, and a new alleyway that promises to bring a touch of the New Orleans french quarter to Montgomery.

The convention center also include an 18-hundred seat theater. The Montgomery Performing Arts Centre will attract Broadway touring shows and other big-name entertainment acts.

"The performing arts center will open in March," Hathcock said. "They already have an impressive line up."

The new facility is designed to Montgomery on the map, when compared to other comparable convention cities like Jackson, Mississippi, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright got the ball rolling when he asked the Retirement Systems of Alabama to invest in a new convention center for downtown.

"We put together a public private partnership between the city and ourselves to redo the civic center," said RSA Chief David Bronner. "That was his primary interest. My primary interest was that you really need another hotel downtown if you want to change downtown."

In addition to the Renaissance, Hampton Inn and Suites has begun renovation work on a 86-room hotel nearby. And an Embassy Suites hotel remains open across the street. The three combine to provide downtown about 500 hotel rooms.

All three facilities give downtown Montgomery more than 500 hotel rooms.

Monday's opening was considered a 'soft' opening. A grand opening ceremony is set for February 21st. The convention center's grand opening will coincide with the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Awards and Concert on February 22nd.

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by thoraudio

from www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Wow.

The Blounts have really failed their father's vision for the park. It was to grow into a very walkable old European-style village with shops and eateries and other venues along the paths in the park. It would have been very unique and was to become world famous.

Instead, the Blount kids wouldn't even have the grass cut like it used to be all the while their father "Red" was alive. Still, it is a beautiful cultural park. Hopefully the greater potential of this park can still be realized with the right leadership.

I'm not too confident the city will further that ultimate vision for the park the right way, neither. Hopefully they will work with others who can help them do so, but if it's handled in any way like they handled the "alleyway" project I wouldn't hold my breath.

Although the city does build and maintains beautiful parks, this place can not be treated like just another city park.

[thoraudio]

anybody coming to the meet tomorrow?

[thoraudio]

hmmmmm.

from www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Blount family donates to city, state

By Andre Coe
[email protected]





The state of Alabama, the city of Montgomery and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival received gifts of buildings and land totaling $50 million in a ceremony Monday afternoon.

The family of late philanthropist Wynton M. "Red" Blount donated the 12,336 square-foot home, known as Wynfield, and about 100 acres that surround it worth about $28 million.

The home at 5801 Vaughn Road will serve as a valuable tool for future governors to entertain guests and recruit prospective businesses that will lead to further economic development, Gov. Bob Riley said.

It may one day serve as a new governor's mansion, Riley said as he spoke to guests in the home's conservatory.

"A home like this, grounds like this are very, very rare," Riley said. "I don't think there's anything to compare to it in the state of Alabama."

The east Montgomery property is adjacent to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which received more than 58 acres of land and office space valued at $2 million as part of the presentation.

The city will receive about 136 acres of land and improvements to Blount Cultural Park worth about $20 million, family members said.

Blount's original donation to start the ASF and build two theaters on land that was part of his estate was more than $22 million.

The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts also is located on the grounds.

City Councilman Charles Jinright said he has a special attachment to the property because the park opened to the public during his first year on the council. He represents District 9, where the land is located.

He said Monday's donation continues to show the dedication and love Blount felt for his community. Blount died in 2002.

Montgomery County Commission Chairman Todd Strange echoed the governor's statement that the new development gives the region a high-quality venue to recruit businesses similar to Hyundai.

"To have this as an option for economic development is just another asset," Strange said.

Red Blount, who served as postmaster general under President Nixon, was one of the leaders of the Alabama Republican Party. He also ran for the U.S. Senate as a Republican.

He made hundreds of millions in construction and manufacturing, but is best remembered for his charitable contributions.

Wynfield was completed in 1964. The property includes a barn, a private meditation chapel, offices and a conservatory capable of accommodating 300 people for indoor receptions or 100 for seated dinners. It has a full-service catering kitchen.

The home also has extensive landscaped grounds, rose and azalea gardens and a swimming pool.

Blount's son, Winton Blount III, said a governor's mansion "would be a good use for it."

Red Blount and his wife, Carolyn, are buried on the property.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

oh, and it's a very nice house...... but it's not that nice.

[thoraudio]

from www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Renaissance gets its first guests



A few workers in hardhats were finishing up last-minute tasks as the first guests checked into the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center on Monday.

Tony Walker stepped up to the front desk almost half an hour before the hotel's official 3 p.m. opening, and he wasn't even the first to check in. It didn't matter to Walker that he wasn't the first guest, but he did want to make sure he was there the first night.

Walker, who's from Montgomery, wanted to be part of the history of the hotel he said would revitalize downtown Montgomery.

"It is history," he said. "I just wanted to be here for the night."

That kind of attitude made hotel managers smile as the lobby filled with guests.

Walter Kennedy, the property's general manager, predicted up to 80 guests would check in for the hotel's first night. Many, he said, would be repeat Marriott guests checking out the new property.

Many of those first-night guests were central Alabama residents. While hotel officials predict many local residents will stay at the hotel in the future, Kennedy said other amenities will prove more attractive to local residents.

He said a full-service spa will bring in residents, as will the restaurant and bar.

"We hope that spa is a huge attraction," he said. "They have got some treatments that are new and unique to Montgomery."

Greg Reynolds, executive chef at House, the hotel's restaurant, said the same things about the menu -- which will have a Southern flair.

He said the restaurant will be used for business meals as well as by travelers staying at the hotel.

"We are trying to bring a different type of cuisine to Montgomery," he said.

Reynolds previously worked at a Marriott property in New Orleans and said his menu was a take on Southern cooking.

He pointed to a breakfast menu with grits and ham sprinkled throughout. Barbeque is popular on the lunch menu, and the dinner menu has beef, chicken, pork and seafood items. The dinner menu also features venison and duck.

About two hours before the restaurant's 5 p.m. opening, Reynolds said he was calm.

"I got over being nervous months ago," he said.

A series of dry runs for hotel employees and their guests helped get things ready for the first day, he added.

Walker said he was looking forward to a first seating at the restaurant.

"I am meeting friends for dinner," he said. "It should be great."

The Exchange, the hotel's main bar, got most of the last-minute attention Monday. Much of the bar's furniture, especially for its outdoors area, arrived at the last minute.

Workers still were hanging artwork less than an hour before the bar's 4 p.m. opening, and carts filled with beers and spirits sat in the middle of the floor, waiting to be put away.

Kennedy said he expected a fairly short breaking-in period for the hotel. Business travelers soon will replace the curious at the hotel, he said.

Bill Lang, hotel spokesperson, predicted the hotel would maintain a diverse clientele -- including a host of locals.

He compared it to the Ross Bridge property in Birmingham.

"People just want the whole resort experience," he said. "It is like going to a resort, only you are home in 10 minutes."

Lang predicted that spa gift certificates would be popular gifts for Valentine's Day.

Monday's opening allowed Kennedy to finally show off the 345-room property that cost about $200 million and took almost 21/2 years to build.

"This is what it is all about," he said. "Getting those doors open. This is fun."

The Retirement Systems of Alabama built the hotel, and the convention center is a city of Montgomery project. The RSA broke ground on the hotel Sept. 30, 2005.

The hotel has 12 floors, 600 parking spaces and is attached to both the Montgomery Performing Arts Center and the convention center.

[thoraudio]

Originally Posted by thoraudio

anybody coming to the meet tomorrow?

I'm guessing that's a no

[hiijakd]

the open house has been moved from today to Valentines day. I will be down there today from 11 to 1 if anyone wants to stop by and see.

[thoraudio]

Well, it was a small meet, but I got to spend some time with our resident real estate tycoon. The apts/condos look great, I'll have some pics up later.

Neatest though was the fact that the city is preparing to start planting a bunch of tree's downtown. They've removed large blocks from the sidewalks all around the plaza and up Court street to in front of Hijack's place. It'll be neat to see this spring.

[Capital Heights]

The city has awarded the contract to construct the parking deck on Coosa Street and they have advertised to recieve bids to construct the facade renovation at two buildings on the Court Square with metal awnings and iron posts.....I look forward to seeing this project completed.