Montgomery development news - Page 144

montman · #**2861** Posted **Apr 20, 2008, 8:26 PM**

Saturday there was a great antique car show in Cloverdale Park. That night my wife and I went to Cloverjam. We ate at Sinclair's, walked "closed off" Fairview Avenue, listened to the bands and visited with old buddies from Cloverdale. We then went to the Biscuits' game. There were three proms going on downtown as well as the game and business at the Renaissance. Downtown was bustling. It was a great feeling to see so much life in Montgomery from Cloverdale to downtown. We could imagine the alley open, night spots going and people downtown every night. I use to think it was a pipe dream. Now, I think it is going to happen.

bystander1 · #**2862** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 12:43 AM**

I went downtown last night too, montman. There was a lot going on there... along with the police giving tickets too all the cars that were parked in those 'strange' spots.

Some family members of mine from out of town wanted to look inside the hotel and listen to the live band playing outside on the patio. After we did that we walked along the sidewalk past the "Alleyway" construction area to Riverfront stadium...where there happened to be a record crowd last night. They seemed more impressed with what was going on down there than I was. Now they want to come back and plan a night around the Biscuits game. I told them we'll do it, but they may have to wait about a year if they wanted to drink a beer in the "Alley" though.

For now, maybe we'll hit the Exchange before and the Brew Pub after the game.

hiijakd · #**2863** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 1:40 AM**

you probably could guess i was downtown too. the riverwalk crowd was huge. i have never seen the ticket window line so long all the way into the 2nd inning. the energy is up in downtown montgomery now we just all have to keep it there. i also went to the book fair at old alabama town. it was a neat event and there were lots of people there also. lets keep up the support around town success breeds success.

bystander, what strange spots were getting tickets? i have a bunch of secret ones that i use, especially during game nights and i want to make sure i don't get one.

ok everyone,
lunch...smoothies n things....tuesday 11:30

thoraudio · #**2864** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 2:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiijakd

ok everyone,
lunch...smoothies n things....tuesday 11:30

all right, if we have too.

bystander1 · #**2865** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 3:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiijakd

you probably could guess i was downtown too. the riverwalk crowd was huge. i have never seen the ticket window line so long all the way into the 2nd inning. the energy is up in downtown montgomery now we just all have to keep it there. i also went to the book fair at old alabama town. it was a neat event and there were lots of people there also. lets keep up the support around town success breeds success.

bystander, what strange spots were getting tickets? i have a bunch of secret ones that i use, especially during game nights and i want to make sure i don't get one.

ok everyone,
lunch...smoothies n things....tuesday 11:30

Looked like the area behind the future Hampton Inn across from the water works building, and north Court Street between Madison and Jefferson. I actually had to turn around in the middle of that skinny street because the cops had a motorcycle blocking access while they were writing tickets and placing them on cars.
It was kinda' funny...at least since I didn't get one.

OCA REP · #**2866** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 1:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by montman

Saturday there was a great antique car show in Cloverdale Park. That night my wife and I went to Cloverjam. We ate at Sinclair's, walked "closed off" Fairview Avenue, listened to the bands and visited with old buddies from Cloverdale. We then went to the Biscuits' game. There were three proms going on downtown as well as the game and business at the Renaissance. Downtown was bustling. It was a great feeling to see so much life in Montgomery from Cloverdale to downtown. We could imagine the alley open, night spots going and people downtown every night. I use to think it was a pipe dream. Now, I think it is going to happen.

I will add my stamp of approval to this Saturday in Montgomery. Our Old Cloverdale Association hosted a very successful tour of Homes on Saturday. We were lucky that two antique car clubs wanted to help out and parked their cars in Cloverdale Park and this helped add to the excitement; turnout was great and, of course, the excellent weather really helped.

Our home was on the tour and it was really nice to meet so many people from around Alabama that came into town to participate. We also rented a trolley that made continual loops around the neighborhood. That and the constant flood of foot traffic was good to see.

I worked the Old Cloverdale Association tent at CloverJam that evening and that was a blast too! Really good crowd on the closed down block of Fairview Avenue!

Was excited to hear about the record crowd at the Biscuit's game on Saturday night! We took in the game yesterday afternoon and the crowd looked pretty good. You could not ask for better weather! We had to find a new parking spot for this season. Our "normal" spot is gone; making room for a new parking deck, I believe, right behind the stadium.

With everything going on... it was definetly a good weekend in Montgomery. Both downtown and in one of our best historic districts!

OldCloverdale · #**2867** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 2:09 PM**

wife and I celebrated our 9th anniversary tonite, with a trip to The House. I have to admit it, that's the first time I've dropped a c-note on dinner for two...

==================================================

ever been to the Olive Room?

OCA REP · #**2868** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 2:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

wife and I celebrated our 9th anniversary tonite, with a trip to The House. I have to admit it, that's the first time I've dropped a c-note on dinner for two...

==================================================

ever been to the Olive Room?

LOL... or The Vintage Year. It really is much easier to do than some may believe. We just do not make a habit of it too often!

thoraudio · #**2869** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 2:59 PM**

heh.... the price for the ribeye is the same at The House or the Olive Room.... so it would've been a push

OldCloverdale · #**2870** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 4:21 PM**

How was the service?

I went to The Exchange for music, drinks, and dinner the other night-- the service was so bad that we had one drink and left ... after announcing that we wanted to eat (hint, hint: bring us a menu and our tab/your gratuity will be much higher)

I really, really want the place to be a huge success but I've been to The House/The Exchange three times and had poor service twice

thoraudio · #**2871** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 6:06 PM**

this was my third trip. two lunches, one dinner. I've had excellent service each time.

OldCloverdale · #**2872** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 7:09 PM**

Who can get word to the right people that Montgomery needs to make a run at hosting the SEC Baseball Tournament in one of the not-so-distant future years?

http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&change_well_id=2&url_article_id=10261

http://www.hooveral.org/Default.asp?ID=162

http://www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/events/details.cfm?ID=9195

Scoots71 · #**2873** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

Who can get word to the right people that Montgomery needs to make a run at hosting the SEC Baseball Tournament in one of the not-so-distant future years?

http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&change_well_id=2&url_article_id=10261

http://www.hooveral.org/Default.asp?ID=162

http://www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/events/details.cfm?ID=9195

Can't happen because Riverwalk Stadium is not big enough. Riverwalk can only hold 7500 when it is maxed out. Regions Park can get up to 16000 when they use every bit of space. SEC tourney gets over 10,000 for the later games too. Unfortunately that's why.

Scoots71 · #**2874** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 10:58 PM**

While on the subject of downtown...

New Developments On Montgomery's Alleyway Project

Updated: April 21, 2008 04:32 PM

For months property owners and city officials straddled the fence, debated whether it was worth big bucks to turn a long-forgotten alleyway into a jewel.

Both sides eventually came together. Starting one week from today construction crews will have 6 months to turn the alleyway floor into an avenue of charm and character and that's not all.

"It'll be concrete paving and there will be trees and benches with a manicured area. After that we expect several restaurants and specialty shops," said Jeff Downes, Executive Assistant to Mayor Bobby Bright.

The actual entrance to the alleyway will begin on Commerce Street right across the street from the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center and it'll wind its way back to Tallapoosa Street.

The changes are expected to be dramatic and that includes bringing down the old water tank and putting it on the Tallapoosa Street side of the alleyway.

"With that water tank we'll have multi-colored lights that will change with the season. For instance, green for St. Patrick's Day," said Downes.

Developer Jerry Kyser is so convinced this will be a success that he's already invested a lot of money renovating one building over-looking the alleyway and cleaning out another. Kyser is in negotiations with a well-known Alabama restaurant for his building fronting Tallapoosa Street.

"It'll be a recognizable name but I'm not at liberty to say who it is," Kyser said.

The city's part of the work is costing $1.1 million and all of it is being paid for by the so-called TIFF fund.

"This is money coming from the appreciation of property taxes in the downtown area, and we're pouring that back into the alleyway project," Downes said.

Jeff Downes and Jerry Kyser know full well there are folks who believe this is a waste of time and money, but both men point to Riverwalk Stadium and the new hotel as hard evidence that a downtown resurgence is coming into focus.

Reporter: Bryan Henry

montman · #**2875** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 11:00 PM**

There was a great story on WSFA's 5:00 news about the alley. They are going to move the water tower in May to the entrance nearest the stadium. As we had heard, it will serve as a symbol of the alleyway. Jerry Kyser said seven restaurants and seven specialty shops could be coming. He also said that a major Alabama restaurant was going to announce, but he could not say anything further at this point. My brother-in-law owns Lunde's. They have thought about moving to the alley. If construction begins on the statehouse, it will impact their business one way or the other. We will see what happens.