Mobile Development Thread

[BlessedMobile]

There isn't a winner to mudslinging as both sides get dirty. Keep your conversations among FRIENDS and you won't get personal with others over matters than have NOTHING to do with advancing the Mobile area. If you must be a voyeur in a thread unrelated to you then just read and enjoy another group's thoughts but don't engage them in an argument. Would you let a nerdy stranger get into your conversation with friends at a party? probably not. You would ignore them.

[Musicisright]

I get embarrassed by people who spew out hateful posts that are full of misspelled words and bad grammar, and they say that they're just defending their city. I care about what people from other cities think of Mobile, and I feel like they probably get the wrong idea about us when they read crap like that.

[sandebr00]

With respect to movie showings in downtown Mobile, I thought that the Downtown Mobile Alliance might be interested in helping us financially, since they have an incentive to bring more people to downtown, so I sent them an email yesterday containing the cost information for the screen, the projector, and speakers (thanks to Mobiman). I also explained who we were, what we are trying to accomplish, and why we believe that movie showings in Cathedral Park would benefit downtown Mobile. I'll try to continue to follow up on this, and will update everyone if I get any good news. Even if the Alliance is unable or unwilling to assist us financially, hopefully they can give us some advice on the best way to raise the funds, and who may be interested in helping us.

If anyone else has any other suggestions on how we could raise money, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[MobiMan]

Hey everybody as far as business goes what would you want to see DT ...I know we need a Grocery store, one would go great where the Solenski Bros were at before they moved around the corner, their old location is across from SubWay, Grocery Store/Deli/Meat market, they could take out the tall windows and replace them with old french style doors and put tables and chairs on the side walk, make it kinda like the Fresh Market, nice pleasant atmosphere with added side walk dining, they could sell fresh fruits vegetables and fresh cut Flowers ofcourse bread, milk, eggs and the usual, it needs to be upscale and sell high quailty goods that most stores dont sell even fresh baked bread... the building needs a facelift but would be nice corner store, its small but it would be ok for a neighborhood market...

I am actually in the process of starting a business DT... Im sure most if not all of you would love this idea, i almost have all the funds i need, then i have to go before the city council im sure, and im sure they will welcome it unanimously, it will be a great addition to DT, I cant say what it is just yet

Just be looking for it in the next 4 to 6 months

[pboo74]

Originally Posted by sandebr00

With respect to movie showings in downtown Mobile, I thought that the Downtown Mobile Alliance might be interested in helping us financially, since they have an incentive to bring more people to downtown, so I sent them an email yesterday containing the cost information for the screen, the projector, and speakers (thanks to Mobiman). I also explained who we were, what we are trying to accomplish, and why we believe that movie showings in Cathedral Park would benefit downtown Mobile. I'll try to continue to follow up on this, and will update everyone if I get any good news. Even if the Alliance is unable or unwilling to assist us financially, hopefully they can give us some advice on the best way to raise the funds, and who may be interested in helping us.

If anyone else has any other suggestions on how we could raise money, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

It's funny you said that because i emailed Carol Hunter of Mobile Alliance a couple days ago about some ideas about downtown.I recently went to chattanooga and it' amazon the amount of changes they have done to their downtown.I was asking her to sumit the ideas to the alliance and other people associated with them about the possibility of an aquarium,zoo,boat for sightseeing/dinner night cruises,the moda free electric buses to run later,more resturants to open later,seems like all of the resturants,icecream joints didn't close til after 11:00 weekdays.The ben and jerry joint was very nice downtown etc..She wrote me back and said that chattanoga was a good model for us,but we need several million dollars for it to happen.I was surprised that she took the time out to write back,I wrote back and told her how much i appreciated her for doing that,I also gave her this website so she can communicate with us and share her views and to listen and take back some of our input back to the alliance.'I'am all for getting this going guys so count me in.Let's get it going.I can't meet in the city because i stay out of town but i can express my ideas to you'll on the forum.But born and raised for 19yrs in Mobile.

[MobiMan]

Im curious to know where all the people are that stay in our DT Hotels, you think the streets would be full of people, i know they have to be there or we wouldnt be building new hotels, So where are they and what can we do to bring them out of their rooms and into the streets and shops...

Im DT every other day researching for my business checking out foot traffic , i know around lunch time it can get pretty busy, i wish DT would stay open longer, The new ready to lease buildings that are empty would be good retail clothing stores like maybe a Abercrombie and maybe a American Eagle store,(i may get slapped for that one) the stores we have there now just dont carry what most people wear they are out dated, and i never see people shopping in them although somebody has to be or else they wouldnt still be in business after all these years, I just know we need some name brands DT that would help boost things a little

Oh and before i forget, about the movies in the park, i thought about this and maybe it would be better to have them in several locations playing different movies around the DT area, i notice there is a vacant lot on Dauphine that would be great, and Beinville square would be cool, that way it would spread people out and create more foot traffic and help more business owners, play old movies on one screen , shreck the third type movies on one , and romantic comedies on another

[Port_of_Bama]

To my Mobile froumers I would like to appologize for my earlier post becasue mudslinging doesn`t solve anything. I love Mobile just as the rest of you and will defend it , want the best for Mobile just like the rest of you guys. I will aslo be a bigger man and appoligize to our friend from Seattle and I honestly believe we can have tanker discussions without the bashing.


I was down town Friday for Space 301 ( I
believe that`s what they call it )and was a nice atmosphere DT. Lots of poeple were out there was a live band from Daphne playing in Cathedral square and other musicians playing on Dauphine street. I was eating ice cream right in front of 3 Georges just checking out the scenery. There were visitors asking me about where to shop DT and I had to tell them they would have to take Govt west and merge into Airport. There are nice restaurants DT we may need a little more but I wish the DT Alliance would recruit retail DT. The view on top of space 301 was nice and to hear people from cities such as Chicago and Houston and other cities compliment DT Mobile was good feeling.

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by MobiMan

Im curious to know where all the people are that stay in our DT Hotels, you think the streets would be full of people, i know they have to be there or we wouldnt be building new hotels, So where are they and what can we do to bring them out of their rooms and into the streets and shops...

Im DT every other day researching for my business checking out foot traffic , i know around lunch time it can get pretty busy, i wish DT would stay open longer, The new ready to lease buildings that are empty would be good retail clothing stores like maybe a Abercrombie and maybe a American Eagle store,(i may get slapped for that one) the stores we have there now just dont carry what most people wear they are out dated, and i never see people shopping in them although somebody has to be or else they wouldnt still be in business after all these years, I just know we need some name brands DT that would help boost things a little

Oh and before i forget, about the movies in the park, i thought about this and maybe it would be better to have them in several locations playing different movies around the DT area, i notice there is a vacant lot on Dauphine that would be great, and Beinville square would be cool, that way it would spread people out and create more foot traffic and help more business owners, play old movies on one screen , shreck the third type movies on one , and romantic comedies on another

I`ve noticed that most of the foot traffic is along Royal,of course Dauphine,Conti,and Govt from the Royal street inersection to the Library. I like your ideas about movies, I wasn`t realy that happy about the crecent theater that will be DT. You have a better proposal.

[mobile]

Man I wish I could take this guy from Seattle and drop him of somewhere in PA, Orange Grove, Roger Williams, Birdsville, Duval St., ect… He would get a good tour of Mobile and maybe then he would understand why our median household income is lower than average, are crime rates are above average, and why we need this Tanker more than the Seattle area. Yet, were not the ones crying about it. I think we are built a little more tuff in this part of the world.

[mobile]

On to bigger things............

This is what I would like to see for Mobile sometime in the near future....... (I know some of My Ideas are a far from being possible but if I could I would give Mobile all of this thing)

1. Tear down the Orange Grove projects. We would have to rebuild them somewhere else because it wouldn’t be right to put that many people out of a home. As long as those projects are there that large piece of land above (it’s about the same size as DT mobile it self) will never be used. People would be too scared to walk in that area. Then I would like to turn Bishop State into a 4 year HBC like Alabama A&M, Alabama State, or Miles with a football team and all. It would take over the old Orange grove land. That would add more density to DT Mobile just like UAB does 4 B-Ham. Then that would connect you safely to the land behind Orange Grove.
2. Now that we have access to that land it is large enough to put are aquarium, large zoo, and a Dome the size of the superdome. All three could be connected by a river walk like atmosphere with 3 mile creek. We could have a few shop and restaurants along the river walk.
3. Now we can teardown the current Civic Center and put up 4 condominiums/ apts., a parking garage behind them, and a nice little park in front that connects to the Spanish Plaza. That would really increase DT living and foot traffic.
4. Do something with that area behind Ft. Conde if I spelt that right. Maybe like a Market Place or something that will get people to walk over there. Maybe u guys can come up with a better Idea?????? Also do something with that land 4 the Mardi Gras Park. Build the park or Build the Condo, I don’t care just do something!!!
5. This is 4 our river front area….CSX old site must turn it into something good to get people to cross Water Street. Also, a better way to cross Water Street. Build The Maritime Museum. I also wonder is the Ports Could afford to lose the land right below the Cruise terminal. If so we could turn that area into an strip like the area in Sydney Australia where all there clubs and nightlife is. It would be right on the water and right by the Cruise Ships. Now that would be nice.
6. I would also like to see all other Ideas that u guys have brought up come to life between St. Louis Street and Gove. St. Like Chain Town, more places to eat, shop, live, more night clubs, ect….
7. I would like to see a large Pro. Size Baseball Stadium built right on the bay!!! Standing at home plate with a camera espn would have a great view of DT mobile and the Battle ship could be lit up. And on the back side of the stadium behind the parking could be 2 more Cruise ship terminals for large Cruise ships. Maybe we could host team like the Brave, Astros, and rays. I would take a lot of dredging but it could work.
8. The land behind battle Ship Park could be a huge amphitheater like the one in VA Beach.

That’s it 4 now I gotta get back to Work. But just Imagine Mobile with all of this!!!!

Give me some feedback tell me what u guys like what u don’t like and what u think is a possibility for Mobile in the next 10 or 15 yrs. U know this would be one of the hottest cities in The U.S.

[CottonCity251]

Originally Posted by mobile

Man I wish I could take this guy from Seattle and drop him of somewhere in PA, Orange Grove, Roger Williams, Birdsville, Duval St., ect… He would get a good tour of Mobile and maybe then he would understand why our median household income is lower than average, are crime rates are above average, and why we need this Tanker more than the Seattle area. Yet, were not the ones crying about it. I think we are built a little more tuff in this part of the world.

LMAO!! I agree, we don't get feed with gold and silver spoons like the northerners...hell, a wooden spoon would do us just fine. Northerners are known for bickering and being rude, while southerners are more humble and laid back. This Seattle guy said himself he wishes the deal would go to the Gulf Coast yet he agrues why Seattle should get it....?? That alone deserves him no response. With or without the tanker deal Mobile will keep on pushing. As I learned from the streets, its not about where you from, its about where you at right now and right now we getting money down here. Time too short to worry about what the next man think because right now today, Mobile doing what we been doing but just getting our shine on. BOOYA!

[mobile]

Man I bet that boy from Seattle has never worked hard a day in his life, nor does he even know what it’s like 2 work hard and earn what u get!!! Like EADS and NG they worked hard to create a great deal for the Air Force and they won. Boeing just didn’t work as hard to win this deal and they lost. Now their Crying (They have been eating from a Silver Spoon for 2 long and NG gave them a slice of Humble pie) lol. I bet Boeing would have put much more into the Tanker deal if they didn’t just expect to get it given them.

[NitekKetin]

National retailers such as Abercrombie, AE and Macy*s probably wouldn't open second and third stores or even enter this market. I'm thinking we may see more higher quality local merchants like Metzger's or High Cotton occupy those Dauphin Street storefronts.

[Bogue]

I'm curious about the status of the Orange Grove housing development. I thought that one of those Hope IV projects was under construction there. I would love to see something for more public use go there. That area on that side of I-110 does have a big chunk of semi-blank area and blight that could be cleared up and made into a really nice area.

I also like the idea of replacing Bishop w/ a 4 year institution, but not as a HBC b/c it seems like a lot of those have been having a lot of issues w/ economics and safety. I think a general private college would be better. Maybe convincing the Univ. of Mobile to move? Just aiming for a small college w/ a less than 10,000 enrollment might be just about right for that location given that there's already a large public university in town.

Bishop needs to be replaced lock, stock, and barrell, IMO. Even the name conjures up images of corruption now. Mobile deserves a top of the line community college to help train the workforce for all of these new jobs coming into the area that has its reputation fully intact. I also think that I'd prefer to see it located near where I-10 and DIP join. I think that'd make it more accessible to future students and help anchor further redevelopment in that area.

[mobile]

Oh yeah I almost 4got one of my biggest ideas!!!!!!

Take the causeway and line it with high-rise casinos resort hotels. Basically take a small part of the strip in Vegas and put it in Mobile on the causeway. So the Causeway would be “the Strip” but we could do it with a Mobile Bay Charm.

Can u imagine people passing through Mobile going down I-10? I bet net time their on I-10 they wont be passing through they’ll be making plans to visit the Port-City.

[mobile]

Yeah I agree the college needs to have a small enrollment, maybe 4 or 6 thousand at most. It would be fine with me if a different University like Mobile moved to that spot, but I still think that Mobile needs an HBC with sports “football”. We are the only major city in Alabama that doesn’t have one. It would create more excitement for the city of Mobile or even if it went to Prichard.

***Maybe the University of Mobile and Bishop could swap*** LOL

[NitekKetin]

Originally Posted by mobile

Oh yeah I almost 4got one of my biggest ideas!!!!!!

Take the causeway and line it with high-rise casinos resort hotels. Basically take a small part of the strip in Vegas and put it in Mobile on the causeway. So the Causeway would be “the Strip” but we could do it with a Mobile Bay Charm.

Can u imagine people passing through Mobile going down I-10? I bet net time their on I-10 they wont be passing through they’ll be making plans to visit the Port-City.

Unfortunately, most of the Causeway is in Baldwin County, specifically the city of Spanish Fort. Building massive casino resorts on this land bridge would do nothing but generate revenue outside of Mobile County.

[mobile]

Originally Posted by NitekKetin

Unfortunately, most of the Causeway is in Baldwin County, specifically the city of Spanish Fort. Building massive casino resorts on this land bridge would do nothing but generate revenue outside of Mobile County.

True but I look at Mobile and Baldwin as one. To me it's all the bay area and if Baldwin is growing that great for Mobile. I want 2 see this whole area grow. From Gulfport to P-Cola with Mobile being the epicenter of it all. One MSA called Mobile Bay. That’s what I what like 4 us 2 shot 4.

[Bogue]

USA now has football, though, which will be played at Ladd. I would prefer to see Mobile support a program that has a chance to be well known at the national level rather than one that would barely register on the local scene (like the ones in B'ham & H'ville do).

I don't know that I like the idea of the casino's on the Causeway. I would prefer to see the Causeway stay more along the lines of restaurants and low-rise places. It has a certain character. I think condo construction should really focus on the downtown area and the area just over I-65 on Airport. I would love to see that area get a few midrise condo projects to take the place of the decaying strip retail over there.

If Casino's do come to Mobile I dunno' where they'd locate, but I would rather those stay downtown as well to localize the impact as far as parking needs and police presence.

[mobile]

Yeah I agree that USA is more important but that’s already in effect, so I would still like to see an HBC. The majority of my friends are black and some of them wanted to attend and HBC but they couldn’t do that in Mobile so they had to move.

If we didn’t put casinos on the causeway they would defiantly need to be downtown. Also if we didn’t do that we need to put more restaurants and low-rise places than are there now and clean it up a little.

But I still like Casinos on the Causeway along with the restaurants that are there now.