Montgomery development news - Page 132

thoraudio · #**2621** Posted **Feb 27, 2008, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

I'd like to attend as well. I have an appointment at 10:00 AM and am not sure how long it will run. If it wraps in time, I will be there...

last one there pays.....

thoraudio · #**2622** Posted **Feb 27, 2008, 7:32 PM**

Had a great meeting of The New Justice Team at lunch.

Hiijackd, OCA Rep, Bystander1, Bystander2, ??Bystander3??, and myself.

Let's make this a regular, albeit cheaper, occurance, ok?

bystander1 · #**2623** Posted **Feb 27, 2008, 9:59 PM**

^^ sounds good, thoraudio. preferably places in and around downtown or maybe Cloverdale.

I really enjoyed lunch today also...and learned about some interesting things to look forward to...

bystander1 · #**2624** Posted **Feb 27, 2008, 10:23 PM**

February 27, 2008

River development approved

The developer of a new riverfront housing project envisions residents using the Alabama River to access downtown Montgomery and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville.

River Ridge Harbor developer Pickett Reese said his proposed 50-lot development in west Montgomery County will be eight river miles away from the golf trail and about 15 river miles from the downtown area.

River Ridge Harbor will add to the estimated eight developments being built along the Alabama River, said Edward Lyon, resource manager for the Army Corps of Engineers.

"The Alabama River region is poised for an unprecedented explosion of growth over the next 10 years," Lyon wrote in a letter to the Montgomery County Commission. "Montgomery County will benefit in a huge way from the River Ridge Harbor project."

River Ridge Harbor was started about a year ago by Reese's father, Marlow Reese, who died of cancer in December.

The Montgomery County Commission approved the project Tuesday, but the approval comes with the following conditions:

That it be made clear that the homeowners association -- and not the county -- will be responsible for maintaining the roads within the development. The homeowners association also must maintain the rights-of-way and take care of drainage issues.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency must sign off on a "no rise" certification since parts of the development are in a flood zone. The homes in these areas will be elevated by pilings.

A construction access road must be built off Old Selma Road to prevent possible damage to Booth Road.

"This is a good project. We want to make sure we help you develop it in a way you want it developed," County Commission Chairman Todd Strange said to Reese after the vote Tuesday.

Reese said his development team is in the process of working through these provisions.

"We hope to begin as quick as we can," Reese said.

River Ridge Harbor is at a point where the Alabama River touches Autauga and Lowndes counties. It will be a gated community on Woodruff Lake, a 12,512-acre lake that was created by the Robert F. Henry lock and dam.

The development also has access to 371 miles of shoreline that connect to the Gulf of Mexico.

The development team plans to use "smart growth" methods in order minimize the impact on the land and to retain a rural feel.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com

Hopefully, closer developments will be announced soon... like those along the east bank.

thoraudio · #**2625** Posted **Feb 27, 2008, 11:07 PM**

I don't mind the development, but 'smartgrowth' doesn't belong in the same sentence with 'gated' and 'rural'....

OCA REP · #**2626** Posted **Feb 28, 2008, 1:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoraudio

Had a great meeting of The New Justice Team at lunch.

Hiijackd, OCA Rep, Bystander1, Bystander2, ??Bystander3??, and myself.

Let's make this a regular, albeit cheaper, occurance, ok?

It was good to meet those that attended. Cannot wait to get our color-coded New Justice Team rings. Looking forward to the next time we can get together...

bystander1 · #**2627** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 3:24 AM**

The new Judicial Building...

...Home of the New Justice Team.

hiijakd · #**2628** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 3:47 AM**

maybe we can replace the glass on the front with candy glass and that way we could bust through with a dramatic flair each time we save the world and not get cut to pieces.

thoraudio · #**2629** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 4:25 PM**

I thought we were supposed to be protecting Montgomery from the guy who wants to put a green roof over the whole place. Musta missed the memo.

Article in the Montgomery Independent about the Riverwalk area.

OCA REP · #**2630** Posted **Mar 1, 2008, 3:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoraudio

I thought we were supposed to be protecting Montgomery from the guy who wants to put a green roof over the whole place. Musta missed the memo.

What better way to protect our citizens than by having our "club" housed in one of the palaces devised by the evil one! Brilliant, indeed...

On a mostly totally unrelated note, there was discussion at lunch the other day concerning last Tuesday's ARB meeting and some of the items that came up there. I am pasting (below) an e-mail I received from Christy Anderson concerning changes to upcoming meetings and a "twist" to Demolition by Neglect:

Hey everyone,

As you know, ARB moved their meeting times to 5:30 beginning with this month. I spoke to Robert Daniel today, and after last night’s marathon meeting, he is going to add to his introduction that the board is invoking the 10 minute rule, allowing about 2 minutes each for folks to speak to an issue. Just wanted to give you a heads up in the event you have prepared statements on an issue. We hope that this will speed things along better.

At the end of the meeting, the ARB decided to pursue our Demolition by Neglect case through 11-53-b, which is the state statute that allows the City to do demolitions OR make repairs. For those of you who don’t know, the owner was brought before the Board last fall, given 60 days to submit a repair plan, reappeared before the board without a plan, asked for 30 days to address the issue, and has done nothing. The time frame has expired, and the Board decided it was more important to make these repairs than pursue it in court. We will make a formal request to Dory Brunson, Chief Building Official, to pursue repairs under 11-53-b specifically for the porch. The owner will have 45 days to make repairs. If no action is taken, the matter is taken to City Council for authorization to bid the repairs out. A lien will be placed on the property, and the owner will have 30 days to pay or make arrangements to pay (which I believe only applies if the repairs exceed $10,000) or the property reverts to the City. This was discussed at the meeting hosted by OCA a few weeks ago, and Martha Roby indicated if they (council members) can use their capital improvement funds for repairs as they do demolitions, she would be willing to do so. The Legal Dept. says yes, they can allocate those funds for repair. What I am going to be working on in the next couple of weeks is a letter for the Historic Preservation Commission to sign requesting that the City/Mayor’s office be supportive of efforts to pursue repairs in the historic districts in an effort to be more proactive AND that the ARB be given a budget to work with so they can also fund repairs (never hurts to ask, our historic boards have NO budget). Once that letter is drafted and signed, I will send all of you a copy and request that the neighborhoods support this effort, by also writing a letter to the mayor and your respective council person. Craig Drescher, who has been working on Winter Place, said we need to make 40 N. Capitol a successful effort and keep doing it. I wholeheartedly agree.

Also mentioned at the meeting was pursuing our CLG certification. The letter has made it to the Mayor, but I have not yet received a signed letter.

Also, representatives from Pella Windows will be making a presentation at the March 25 meeting. They will be bringing examples of their wood Architect series windows for the ARB to consider for a “preapproved” window list. This will be scheduled at the beginning of the meeting if anyone wishes to attend just to hear that.

Christy Anderson
Land Use Historic Preservation Coordinator
Planning and Development
City of Montgomery
27 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor
Montgomery, AL 36104
334.241.2041
334.241-2017 (fax)

hiijakd · #**2631** Posted **Mar 3, 2008, 12:55 AM**

i've heard mention of big announcement coming soon, anyone know what it is?

mgmrebel · #**2632** Posted **Mar 3, 2008, 9:17 AM**

The web site is up for those who care.

http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MGMDNHX

bystander1 · #**2633** Posted **Mar 3, 2008, 9:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiijakd

i've heard mention of big announcement coming soon, anyone know what it is?

I've been told that it's a "potentially" big announcement.
If word got out, it could blow the deal...whatever that deal is.

Fibb2000 · #**2634** Posted **Mar 3, 2008, 10:09 PM**

Does this "announcement" have anything to do with downtown or is this something to do with new industry? Anyone know?

hiijakd · #**2635** Posted **Mar 3, 2008, 10:11 PM**

consulted a friend that works for the city but there was no new info from there. City council went into a special meeting to discuss something the other day. i do know there is talk of rebuilding the state house, maybe on dexter
other than that i think there is going to be an announcement about 5 points soon.

thoraudio · #**2636** Posted **Mar 3, 2008, 10:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiijakd

consulted a friend that works for the city but there was no new info from there. City council went into a special meeting to discuss something the other day. i do know there is talk of rebuilding the state house, maybe on dexter
other than that i think there is going to be an announcement about 5 points soon.

At which point Mr. Chipman's asking price will probably double....... grrrr.

bayou15 · #**2637** Posted **Mar 4, 2008, 12:44 AM**

100,000 view!

bystander1 · #**2638** Posted **Mar 4, 2008, 5:44 AM**

Welcome to the Forum, Fibb2000!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fibb2000

Does this "announcement" have anything to do with downtown or is this something to do with new industry? Anyone know?

...your guess is as good as ours dude...

BTW, I notice some bulldozers and a long fence that is being erected around the Old Alabama Rails property on Court Street. Could they possibly be securing the area for future construction of the earlier proposed railroad museum and theme park, or securing it from possible vagrants?

Fibb2000 · #**2639** Posted **Mar 4, 2008, 6:02 AM**

Thanks Man!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to post! I've been reading this thing for maybe 2-3 years!

thoraudio · #**2640** Posted **Mar 4, 2008, 1:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bystander1

BTW, I notice some bulldozers and a long fence that is being erected around the Old Alabama Rails property on Court Street. Could they possibly be securing the area for future construction of the earlier proposed railroad museum and theme park, or securing it from possible vagrants?

Their website hasn't been updated in 4 years.... I don't think that pipe dream was ever going anywhere.