Mobile Development Thread

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by NitekKetin

Thanks for the update! I thought the former Rousso's building at Fort Conde Village was going to be a steakhouse at one point.

It was reported that way a while back. If I remeber correctly Bob Baumhower (sp?) was suposed to do the steak house but nothing ever came. I always thought that was a terrible place for a business and I wondered how Russo's cut it there for so long. Now I think it has alot of potential with all those cruisers to support it along with locals.

[mobile]

Ok I'll post this again don't think like an OLD Mobilian, think like a new Mobilian who wants to see Major growth in the are and 4 our City 2 be on TOP! Have an Imagination!!!


This is what I would like to see for Mobile sometime in the next 10 or 20yrs....... (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 20 yrs. U know this would be one of the hottest cities in The U.S.

[mobile]

Oh yeah, add the motorsports park and the mall in North Mobile.

[sahara727]

Originally Posted by Scottybo

We've got Big Titted Sphinxes ...

...and over 1,000 cannons.

[Bogue]

That video was hilarious.

On the O'Gwynn building... What's the price range on those?

[Electrical Porpoise]

Originally Posted by mobile

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.

I would LOVE it if they could ever do that. I think the north side of downtown by the Press-Register has some promise, and the aforementioned additions would make the rest of the area nicer.

[mobile]

Originally Posted by Electrical Porpoise

I would LOVE it if they could ever do that. I think the north side of downtown by the Press-Register has some promise, and the aforementioned additions would make the rest of the area nicer.

Thanks for the reply

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by Bogue

That video was hilarious.

On the O'Gwynn building... What's the price range on those?

I think they are in that 200k-325K range. I know that is pretty broad. The website does not list prices but I feel like I remember seeing a figure aroun 275K. All the places downtown are in that range it seems like. Here is the companies website:
http://drummondgrouponline.com/condos.asp
and an article on some of the current projects/prices
http://bama.live.advance.net/business/pr...ase/business/1214126241173610.xml&coll=3
and a blog I found on Mobile/downtown
http://marionsellsmobile.squarespace.com/

[pkp]

I have seen a lot of posts about an aquarium in Mobile. Look, there are already several in the Southeast, and face it, ours probably would not be nearly as nice. Why bother. Same goes for a zoo - been done a thousand times and we don't have the resources or corporate sponsors to make ours nice. Also, forget about pro sports. Cities very rarely recoup their investments in these endeavors - and we are not a major market. Plus, NOLA is less than 2 hours away and already has basketball and football. Let B'ham chase the ridiculous dream of having a pro sports team - lets focus on something realistic!

I say we get the Maritime Museum done (The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, that is). It would be the only one - there couldn't be another. It's different, and if done well, I think it will be a big draw. Polish that off with some good pedestrian bridges across Water St. build out the old CSX site with some retail and public space, and your off.

Honestly, the best thing going for us now is all the residential and low to mid-rise office development downtown. The Gayfers and Kress renovations alone are amazing - I would have never imagined that would have ever happened. These are the types of things that will make our city center great - I would rather have a bunch of little successes than big pie in the sky projects that try to compete with larger markets.

Just my two cents.

[mobile]

Originally Posted by pkp

I have seen a lot of posts about an aquarium in Mobile. Look, there are already several in the Southeast, and face it, ours probably would not be nearly as nice. Why bother. Same goes for a zoo - been done a thousand times and we don't have the resources or corporate sponsors to make ours nice. Also, forget about pro sports. Cities very rarely recoup their investments in these endeavors - and we are not a major market. Plus, NOLA is less than 2 hours away and already has basketball and football. Let B'ham chase the ridiculous dream of having a pro sports team - lets focus on something realistic!

I say we get the Maritime Museum done (The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, that is). It would be the only one - there couldn't be another. It's different, and if done well, I think it will be a big draw. Polish that off with some good pedestrian bridges across Water St. build out the old CSX site with some retail and public space, and your off.

Honestly, the best thing going for us now is all the residential and low to mid-rise office development downtown. The Gayfers and Kress renovations alone are amazing - I would have never imagined that would have ever happened. These are the types of things that will make our city center great - I would rather have a bunch of little successes than big pie in the sky projects that try to compete with larger markets.

Just my two cents.

Yeah and as long as we keep that attitude we will always be overshadowed by other cities in the south! I never said anything about a pro team but since u bring that up yeah N.O. has a football and basketball team but them don’t have a baseball team and the closest to us is like 5 or 6 hours away. So maybe someday in the future if we can get our MSA close to 1.5million (MS, AL, and FL). Than we could support a baseball team and the people from N.O. and B.R. could come to Mobile to watch our baseball team just like we go over there to what there football and basketball teams.

U got to start thinking outside of the box!!!!

[Electrical Porpoise]

We will never get a big three pro team, or at least in the next fifty years, but an Arena team, a PGA event, or something like that is more than a legit possibility.

It wasn't that long ago that the Babe was cranking them out of "The Pit" and Arnie was winning at Azalea City.

[mobile]

The population of the Phoenix metropolitan area increased by 45% from 1990 through 2000. So somebody tell me why The Mobile Area can't grow by 45% over the next 10yrs??? We gotta change are mind set and start to think bigger or we will always be know as the other place that has Mardi Gras.

[Bogue]

It is entirely possible for Mobile to grow meteorically, but the Phoenix explosion happened in conjunction w/ a massive expansion of the economy nationwide and a surge in migration from the Midwest and NE to the Sunbelt. Those may restart in a few years, but it's not a given that that particular set of stars aligning will happen.

Give Mobile B'ham's massively bloated MSA (it covers 12 counties, many of them large ones) and it's already around 1.3-1.5 million. I think for pro teams, etc. We would need to think in terms of the CGC (Central Gulf Coast) as one single unit... Biloxi/G'port, Pascagoula, & Pensacola (& all of their suburbs) combined. Ultimately, these cities will all grow into us (and we into them). They are, culturally, economically, politically, & (in many cases) genetically tied to us (and we to them). Intra-regional cooperation is going to be VERY important for Mobile to achieve its full potential given our geographic placement. The CGC that I just described may easily be pushing up towards 2.5 million a decade from now, btw.

There are lots of political challenges to going regional, but it's something we've got to encourage our politicians to aim for.


On the Aquarium... I like the idea of having one. Sure, there are several of them, but that doesn't preclude our ability to have a nice one. There's only one w/in driving distance (a distinction that's shrinking by the day due to the expense of gas) and that's 2 1/2 hours drive away. I think Aquaria can be great educational tools and are good family-friendly entertainment.

I would love a zoo of size in town, but that's almost gonna' be required to be a bit out from the main part of town. Even the close parts of West Mobile are fairly built-out now so the Mobile Zoo would be further out somewhere if we want to have one of truly sufficient size. Maybe Theodore/Tillman's Corner? Maybe in Baldwin County near Daphne/Spanish Fort?

I would also like to know more about the Gayfers/Kress renovations. I've seen the exterior shots, but I haven't seen any mock-ups of what it's going to look like when they're done. I agree that it's GREAT to have all the little successes, but we shouldn't be dismissive of greater hopes. You never know when things will fall your way.

[Electrical Porpoise]

Originally Posted by mobile

The population of the Phoenix metropolitan area increased by 45% from 1990 through 2000. So somebody tell me why The Mobile Area can't grow by 45% over the next 10yrs??? We gotta change are mind set and start to think bigger or we will always be know as the other place that has Mardi Gras.

It can definitely grow (and will!), but if you are responding about a pro team there is no way it will happen any time soon due to many other reasons than city size.

With that being said I am with you regarding forward thinking.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by mobile

Yeah and as long as we keep that attitude we will always be overshadowed by other cities in the south! I never said anything about a pro team but since u bring that up yeah N.O. has a football and basketball team but them don’t have a baseball team and the closest to us is like 5 or 6 hours away. So maybe someday in the future if we can get our MSA close to 1.5million (MS, AL, and FL). Than we could support a baseball team and the people from N.O. and B.R. could come to Mobile to watch our baseball team just like we go over there to what there football and basketball teams.

U got to start thinking outside of the box!!!!

I never said not to think outside of the box. But, I for one really don't want to be just another sprawling sunbelt city. If I wanted Atlanta, Houston, or Dallas, I would move there. I want to be bigger and better. But just copying what everyone else (sports, zoo, aquarium, etc...) has is not thinking outside of the box. You are working to copy something that other cities (with much greater resources) already have. Let's be progressive, let's be smart. Let's focus on transportation, culture, education, arts. I can guarantee you, unless we are looking at a 3MM MSA, forget about pro sports. And why would that make us a better city anyway? I think B'ham is a great city, but their leadership's pursuit of a domed stadium and a pro sports team is the biggest waste of time and resources I think I have ever seen. If I was looking to spend $500 - $600MM on something, how about something that creates well paying jobs and better opportunities - not something that provides a $7 per hour concession stand job or a $8 an hour retail job. Create real economic development and these things will come.
How about the Portland of the South, with better food and more interesting culture of course.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by Bogue

It is entirely possible for Mobile to grow meteorically, but the Phoenix explosion happened in conjunction w/ a massive expansion of the economy nationwide and a surge in migration from the Midwest and NE to the Sunbelt. Those may restart in a few years, but it's not a given that that particular set of stars aligning will happen.

Give Mobile B'ham's massively bloated MSA (it covers 12 counties, many of them large ones) and it's already around 1.3-1.5 million. I think for pro teams, etc. We would need to think in terms of the CGC (Central Gulf Coast) as one single unit... Biloxi/G'port, Pascagoula, & Pensacola (& all of their suburbs) combined. Ultimately, these cities will all grow into us (and we into them). They are, culturally, economically, politically, & (in many cases) genetically tied to us (and we to them). Intra-regional cooperation is going to be VERY important for Mobile to achieve its full potential given our geographic placement. The CGC that I just described may easily be pushing up towards 2.5 million a decade from now, btw.

There are lots of political challenges to going regional, but it's something we've got to encourage our politicians to aim for.


On the Aquarium... I like the idea of having one. Sure, there are several of them, but that doesn't preclude our ability to have a nice one. There's only one w/in driving distance (a distinction that's shrinking by the day due to the expense of gas) and that's 2 1/2 hours drive away. I think Aquaria can be great educational tools and are good family-friendly entertainment.

I would love a zoo of size in town, but that's almost gonna' be required to be a bit out from the main part of town. Even the close parts of West Mobile are fairly built-out now so the Mobile Zoo would be further out somewhere if we want to have one of truly sufficient size. Maybe Theodore/Tillman's Corner? Maybe in Baldwin County near Daphne/Spanish Fort?

I would also like to know more about the Gayfers/Kress renovations. I've seen the exterior shots, but I haven't seen any mock-ups of what it's going to look like when they're done. I agree that it's GREAT to have all the little successes, but we shouldn't be dismissive of greater hopes. You never know when things will fall your way.

Hargrove and Assoc is finishing out the Kress Building and Gayfers is being turned into office and residential. As you probably know, this is basically two entire blocks, and will be totally developed in the next 3-9 months. On the little successes, these are the best to have because their loss might not be that big of a deal. The loss of one huge project can kill a city, i.e., Brookley. I would rather see the city center brimming with a bunch of stores and residential projects any day than one huge skyscraper. It's one thing if you drive down I-10 and see downtown once a month. It's different if you live here - these little things make all the difference.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by mobile

The population of the Phoenix metropolitan area increased by 45% from 1990 through 2000. So somebody tell me why The Mobile Area can't grow by 45% over the next 10yrs??? We gotta change are mind set and start to think bigger or we will always be know as the other place that has Mardi Gras.

Why would you want it to? Phoenix is a shit hole, urban waste land with some god spas and golf courses that are draining the CO river dry. If you want to be big, think NYC, Chicago, European cities, etc... not one of the most sprawling cities in the world. Growth for the sake of growth is pointless. "Good" growth is a different story.

[Bogue]

I'm completely with you on "good" growth... Atlanta is example numero uno on how not to let things get in terms of sprawl. I think we should learn from their mistakes and successes and try to emulate the good things.

I am completely with you on hoping for a plethora of small businesses and shops, etc. but a large project can do a TON to promote that set-up. I also think you underestimate the impact from those sports events. Baseball would make the most sense as an ultimate aim (more games, higher impact... plus the city has a long history w/ that sport).. but that's sort of something that's far out there. There are still tons of big projects that can drive development, etc.


On that particular note... I've read some of the articles in the B'ham News lately referring to their attempts to plan for their future water needs... and I've seen how the drought impacted Atlanta so severely. I think we need to prepare for the development that will be coming and to head off the danger of a drought impacting our development.

We should build a new reservoir or two in the upcountry area. There are vast areas with scattered populations, cheap land (relatively speaking) and lots and lots of rivers and creeks.

I also think that we need to start looking at transportation. We need a light rail service linking the airport in Mobile to Daphne. Start w/ that and then branch it out to places like Saraland, Fairhope, Foley, & Gulf Shores when ridership makes it feasible. With gas prices going where they've gone and the population spreading on the Eastern Shore and northward in Mobile there needs to be a way to give folk an economical and expeditious way for people to get to work. A light rail system can function as the centerpiece and make it work more quickly.

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by Bogue

I also think that we need to start looking at transportation. We need a light rail service linking the airport in Mobile to Daphne. Start w/ that and then branch it out to places like Saraland, Fairhope, Foley, & Gulf Shores when ridership makes it feasible. With gas prices going where they've gone and the population spreading on the Eastern Shore and northward in Mobile there needs to be a way to give folk an economical and expeditious way for people to get to work. A light rail system can function as the centerpiece and make it work more quickly.

We always talk about light rail and I love the idea. However, every time I try to think of where a line would have to be to work, I have a hard time making a route that would maximize its use. The bus system would also have to be revamped to provide feeder service to the train, rather than try to serve the key locations in the city like it does now. THis morning though when I read you line about a straight rail line that just runs from Daphne to the airport it got me thinking in an "if you build it they will come" kind of thought process. Right now a a long straight line would not be particularily useful because the person from Daphne working off Cottage Hill can't really ride a train to work if it is a fixed line down Airport and the feeder buses don't get close enough to his/her work. But maybe businesses and residential projects will begin to congregate along the line creating and urban strip along the train line after its completion. Create nodes/stations at either end, and maybe others at downtown, the loop, the mall, airport/mcgregor, airport/university, airport/schillinger. I can just see the malls (especially springdale) redeveloping their parking lots into a more urban enviroment complete with a couple of taller buildings (regions/marriot with maybe two more simlar sized new bulidings) around the line allowing people to easily run downtown or over the bay. Can you imagine an urban or at least non-sprawl core running from Daphne to the airport? I think the current gas situation finally makes mass transit more viable in the sprawl-loving South.

[MobiMan]

I believe a newer larger ZOO and Aquarium, in or very close to DT is something needed for the children... You know our schools take children on field trips every year to the N.O.ZOO. Think about the cost for gas, wear and tear on the Busses, paying the driver's and most importantly the money we are spending in N.O. and other places ...Now think about all the counties in Florida,Mississippi,and just north of us that are also going to the N.O. ZOO spending money... that money could be spent right here, why send it out of town... and its great Education for our children... Remember and i can't stress this fact enough we do have the largest school district in alabama... Ok now we have a cruise ship
but people arent coming a day or 2 early to take in the sights and explore our beautiful and historic city. they are ariving and getting straight on the boat and when they return, they aren't staying a day or 2 later they are getting in their cars and leaving...WHY? Because we have nothing to do or offer them or atleast thats what they think... we need more, Mobile can't grow without people, and people dont want to live where there is nothing to do... and i here people that are from here and some that are here for school say that all the time... most say they can't wait to get out of Mobile... The Biggest reason, you guessed it, NOTHING TO DO... Everyone doesn't just want to walk the streets of DT and think WOW these old buildings are nice and oh look at that tall building i hear it's the tallest in Alabama... We want something to do and so do people who visit...Also bring back the Carriage rides people love that and its romantic and a great way to see the city...The city stopped the carriage rides because of the horse manuer smell and waste on the streets, but they actually sell bags for the horse to wear so there is no waste on the streets... And please stop trying to make us Atlanta, what the f@#&, why would you want us to be Atlanta or N.O. ...Having some of the same things are fine, we should look at them for ideas, but we are Mobile we are Mobilians we have our own identities we dont need someone elses... Do you remember when everyone was saying Dauphin street was a small Bourbon Street... didn't you hate that... Mobile is Mobile and we need to build a strong foundation and build on that... starting with race relations and getting these children Educated, Black, white, our new Hispanic Mobilians, Asian, and Other... Think about the children, happy children grow up to be happy adults and if they are happy here as children they will stay here as adults... I keep reading how these great people are getting building's , streets, colleges and other things named after them in New York, Dallas and other places, and guess what those people are from Mobile born and raised and moved to those other places and obviously did something very special to make national news... Now imagine if they would have done those great things here at home... With education and happiness means less crime in the future... every day i see black people women and men more often men and a few white people here and there, in the Mobile Press Register going to jail either for drugs, murder, or just being stupid, and one thing that most of them have in common are that they are unhappy and uneducated, and trying to make an easy buck or killed someone over a momma joke or baby momma drama crap...We need attractions, theres a reason all the big cities have them, because its brings people from all around close and far, and for people there on business its something to do while they are there, and it helps create happy families, and with word of mouth it brings even more people, and you need people to visit and see your beautiful city so maybe they will say hey i love it here this is where im gonna live...W e need people to grow and they have to have a reason to come here in the first place... Job's good school's and lots of things to do... a good quality of life