Mobile Development Thread

[SouthSky]

"The group would then invest in some much-needed building improvements, he said." - I don't know, maybe it will be exterior improvements. Probably not... Bronner should try and buy it again.

[Muskavon]

Yeah, I may be overreacting on the "spruce up" comment...but that to me means "throw some paint on some walls and run a few new high speed cables around". Hardly sounds like a re-cladding idea. The best thing to do is grow downtown office-space demand so we can put two more 30-floor buildings just east of it and then we'll just call the AmSouth building "nice density".

[Del]

I agree with Muskavon. They'll spend the smallest amount possible to turn a profit.

[SouthSky]

Update on the Container Terminal:

Still set to open in September... only Phase I will be complete at this point.

http://www.al.com/business/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/business/1211707007253550.xml&coll=3

[NitekKetin]

I took these Sunday with my phone.

[SouthSky]

Looking great! Thanks for the pictures!

[stemanuelresident]

Is anyone else a resident of St. Emanuel on this forum? If so, I would like to know your opinion of the state of our building and the total lack of respect for a resident's rights by jamie and tilmon brown? I'm tired of the community thinking that they have done so much for downtown living. Yes, I admit, they have done a lot of projects; however, they have our building in a half ass fashion that is very frustrating to live in. They have made empty promises, and after living there for now over a year, I am a little frustrated with the situation. I have talked to the browns on several occasion about my concerns only to be met with apathy. Any suggestions on who I can speak to or what organization may be able to light a fire under them? They are not only the landlords, but the owners of the building. I'm in a lose-lose situation b/c i feel powerless over my apartment (like a roof that has leaked for over a year though I pay close to 1000 dollars/month).

Thanks Much.

[10101000]

Awesome photos

[elb401]

huh............ some one to light a fire under em. look over your lease and talk to a lawyer. developers need to put quality into their projects. If nothing gets solved then I would say move. Its not worth paying that much for a linking roof. there are nicer apartments down there and the midtown area for about the same price.

ps...great pics...I really didn't realize how much one building can change the density on the block.

[SouthSky]

The Mobile Downtown Airport and the Brookley Complex have finished a reconstruction of their website. The website has some interesting new data.

http://www.brookleycomplex.com/

[SouthSky]

The US Supreme Court issued a ruling today in favor of Riley's appointment in the Chastang case.

http://blog.al.com/live/2008/05/high_court_rules_in_rileys_fav.html

[Del]

If this means they are planning to push out Merceria in favor of Juan Chastang, I will be marching on the Government Kilroy building, Montgomery, or wherever it takes.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by Del

If this means they are planning to push out Merceria in favor of Juan Chastang, I will be marching on the Government Kilroy building, Montgomery, or wherever it takes.

I think it is quite doubtful since Ludgood won in a special election following Chastang's removal.

[BlessedMobile]

Ludgood is in and Chastang is out. I think the governor will be smart to let this fade away without making further issue of the MISTAKE he made appointing Juan to the job.

[Del]

Chastang seems to expect to be put back in so that "justice may be served," according to the morning paper. I wonder how much salary he would stand to collect between now and November? Or could there possibly be back pay too?

I guess if Riley doesn't at least try to re-appoint him, it looks like they fought all this time for nothing (although this decision also affects a similar lawsuit in B'ham). But given Juan's baggage and Merceria's overwhelming victory in the special election...I agree, the smart move is to let it fade away, if he can.

[elb401]

I don't want Chastang in there either. I don't think Riley would do that after the guy was crushed in the last election. But the state needed to fight it.... so if it happens again we all know it is the governor’s right to appoint. Right or wrong that is the way it is for now on.

But anyways, I heard (from the Mobile Bay Times) that the water street landing people are still pushing for it to happen. the city attorney Larry wettermark (SP) is helping with negotiating the air rights still and the quite zone updates to the CSX. Everytime I think this project is dead the developers seem to say there is some glimmer of hope. I just think Oliver wants this to happen so bad he is trying to keep this alive as long as possible. I mean how long did it take for the city to negotiate the rights for the convention center. If this project isn't dead yet, then it is going to be dead soon.

[Port_of_Bama]

That is good news I hope the water street condos are still alive. I was traveling down Broad street south the other day and I saw a lot of construction. It seem as if they are building a median so I assume that Bring Back Broad Street is in full affect now !

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by Del

A friend of mine was bubbling over with the rumor that it was indeed a Whole Foods planned for this development. But I agree with NitekKetin, there's no way WF would invest here. Maybe one of those Wal-Mart "neighborhood" things? Esp. since the one on Government got nixed (just heard about that this afternoon). Seems like Wally World's Plan B is to pop them li'l (relatively speaking) grocery stores anywhere they think there might be somebody other than them making money.

If not a Whole Foods i`m thinking they might squeeze a Waly World Neighborhood Market in there. I saw a new neighborhood market in a shopping center on cottagehill rd right acroos the street from the Brunos on the corner of Hillcrest and Cottagehill Rd.

[midwestrabbi]

I was reading in the News that the Am-South Tower has less than 50% occupancy , because Regions pulled out of their lease and relocated to the R S A Tower. My question is are there any plans to renovate this building so they can attract new tenants ? Why would anyone want to build more highrise buildings when you have a huge building more than half empty ?

[Muskavon]

Originally Posted by midwestrabbi

I was reading in the News that the Am-South Tower has less than 50% occupancy , because Regions pulled out of their lease and relocated to the R S A Tower. My question is are there any plans to renovate this building so they can attract new tenants ? Why would anyone want to build more highrise buildings when you have a huge building more than half empty ?

1) I think you could safely say the (about to be changed) ownership wasn't very "hands-on" and let it get to poor condition which begged for former tenants to leave. And thus the RSA pounced.

2) The leasing agent claims they have several interested parties (new tenants) but needs the ownership situation to be straightened out to go forward (but hey, that could be typical real estate boosterism).

3) I'd think you could look at any other town, including exploding office building growth like in Atlanta, and find plenty of buildings getting left behind as more modern options come online. I would have to agree that there is no demand for another 40 story office tower in Mobile right now, but AmSouth's problems have a great deal to do with not re-investing to keep up with the times for 40 years than anything else. And of course, you can't fix the floor plate heights in that building for modern office needs. With that said, it wouldn't shock me if a brand new 20-floor office building wouldn't fill up reasonably quickly. Especially by the time it was done considering the "on the cusp" explosion the area seems to be at. The AmSouth better do something major soon or it'll be a pretty tall dilapidated structure sitting in a spot not easy to hide with new structures no matter how great the future demand.