Montgomery development news

[Brown Duckz]

Montgomery moves up in business ranks
By Cosby Woodruff • September 18, 2008


Montgomery rocketed from 78th place to No. 38 in a Milken Institute ranking of cities that have experienced business success.

The Milken Institute, an economic research group, ranked cities based on factors that include job growth, wage growth and technology growth over one-to-five-year periods.

The group said its Best Performing Cities Index is a measure of job growth and does not measure cost of living or other factors, only increases in the number of jobs and salary increases.

Keivan Deravi, an economist at Auburn Montgomery, said he believes the ranking stems from Montgomery's successful recruitment of Hyundai, along with the area's base of government jobs and its growing technology sector.

He said the two are largely interrelated. Much of Montgomery's technology sector is based with the U.S. Air Force, he said.

"We have a pretty good government anchor," he said. "And we have a pretty good high-tech base out at Maxwell. They have some pretty serious high-tech programs going on."

Hyundai, he said, also increased technology jobs in the area.

"They have so much automation, it had to," he said.

Deravi said Hyundai made all the difference in job and wage growth.

"With Hyundai, we had to raise wages to the regional level," he said. "A lot of structural changes happened with that."

He predicted wages in the area will level off as the area job market adjusts to Hyundai.

"That wage growth is beginning to slow now," he said.

Wages should not fall, but Deravi said the sudden increase that came from thousands of new manufacturing jobs is hard to maintain.

Provo, Utah, ranked No. 1 in the survey.

Huntsville was fifth overall.

[futuremm]

funny

[OldCloverdale]

Yesterday, a nice new fountain went up in the small park (in Old Cloverdale) at the intersection of Galena Avene & Cloverdale Road.

It was working today. Big thumbs up to the Old Cloverdale Association, Martha Roby, the City of Montgomery, and/or whoever got this done.

The small park had a broken down fountain that was in need of replacement for quite some time. The job is done and the result is very attractive.

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

Yesterday, a nice new fountain went up in the small park (in Old Cloverdale) at the intersection of Galena Avene & Cloverdal Road.

It was working today. Big thumbs up to the Old Cloverdale Association, Martha Roby, the City of Montgomery, and/or whoever got this done.

The small park had a broken down fountain that was in need of replacement for quite some time. The job is done and the result is very attractive.

Thanks for pointing this out!

We (Old Cloverdale Association) have been working on this replacement for some time now. Special recognition goes to Karen Benton, who chairs our beautification committee. She worked hard with a number of sources to coordinate this fountain replacement. Martha Roby did come through with funds to buy the new fountain and Montgomery Parks and Recreation handled the installation.

I have not seen the fountain since it was installed. I will be sure to go by on the way home and check it out!

[hiijakd]

got the floorplans for my loft today.
rooftop patio cookout forum meet anyone?

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by hiijakd

got the floorplans for my loft today.
rooftop patio cookout forum meet anyone?

Start making the list!

You described your loft plans to OCA REP and I somewhat, but I wish you could post the plans so we can see them in more detail.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

If you actually intend to have a forum meet, depending on when it is, I might be able to make it down from Ttown.

[kevinlpugh]

Down the alley
Entertainment district to open in early '09

By Cosby Woodruff • [email protected] • October 1, 2008
Just across from the new Renaissance Montgomery hotel, there's another rebirth going on: the development of an entertainment and dining district with a few retail shops sprinkled in.
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Most of the district, bounded by Commerce, Bibb, Coosa and Tallapoosa streets, is what its developers call the Alleyway Project. They also intend, though, to renovate a couple of other empty buildings in the same block.

At least five years in the making, the 120,000-square-foot Alleyway Project will be officially unveiled early next year. One building is completed already and has a banquet room open for events.

In those five-plus years, the developers have watched downtown come alive. Riverwalk Stadium, home of the Montgomery Biscuits, went up. Then the new convention center.

The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center opened in February. Hampton Inn, next door to the Alleyway Project, began taking guests this summer. Another hotel is on the drawing board.

"We feel like the time is right with all the things going on down here, and we feel like we are recycling the whole inner city," said Jerry Kyser, one of the developers.

Kyser along with Greg Allen, Jere Beasley, Bill Helms and Randy Roark are individual investors. Businesses with interests are Summit Development Group, the O'Connor Law Firm, the 2WR Holmes Wilkins Co., the Junior League and Coldwell Banker Commercial Moore Co. Realty, a partnership of Helms, Roark, Steve Hughes and Jerome T. Moore III.

The building already finished belongs to Kyser.

Called 129 Coosa for its street address, the structure has three levels: a banquet room at the top, the site of several events a month so far; the middle space for an Italian restaurant, which will open soon; and a private dining area and wine cellar in the basement.

The back of the restaurant opens to the old railroad alleyway between the century-old buildings. The trains served warehouses on either side of the alley, which will be paved over in decorative concrete patterns.

The developers envision residents and tourists strolling through the alley, stopping for a bite to eat or to enjoy a band.

Allen, a partner in the Beasley Allen law firm, owns the property at 138 Commerce St., where the alley breaks off through a former storefront.

A trio of shops, about 1,000 square feet each, will line one side of the pedestrian walk. On the other, a restaurant -- possibly a high-end pizza place. A bar area will extend into the walkway, giving it an airy feel while keeping it protected from the elements.

Upstairs, Allen plans luxury-loft apartments, with maybe some office space mixed in. Renderings of the building show a rooftop garden.

Down the alleyway, toward Tallapoosa Street, another old warehouse will be converted into a barbecue restaurant. A rooftop bar, a dream of the developers, would let patrons watch the Biscuits from on high.

Over on Coosa Street, Roark and Moore have a building. Their offices are upstairs and they want to open a restaurant on the street level.

The developers, each used to calling the shots, had to work together to get -- and keep -- the project moving. For example, they had to agree on a consistent exterior appearance for the buildings. The result: the recycling of bricks and lumber, taken from demolished walls and floors, to keep an authentic look.

Roark, who wants a restaurant in his building, knows he can't put up exactly the same thing as another owner.

"I think there is a market for all these restaurants," he said, "as long as they are diverse."

Kyser has had to spend more money protecting a neighbor building just to improve his 129 Coosa. The building had a small basement, but he wanted a bigger one.

To dig under his building, built in the 1890s, Kyser had to work under a neighboring building. That wasn't an easy feat: he had to shore up the foundation of the neighboring building with several cubic yards of steel-reinforced concrete, all pumped under ground.

Down the block, where Coosa crosses Bibb, are a couple of empty buildings that Kyser and other owners plan to renovate as well.

A former gas station likely will be turned into a diner, open late for partiers looking for a midnight snack.

Perhaps some of those patrons will come from another Kyser bar -- one he calls a "pure beer joint" at 108 Bibb St.

Kyser expects to cut out part of the floor on the second story, allowing patrons to look down at a country band on the first-floor stage.

Photo Gallery of Work on the Alleyway

KUDOS to the Advertiser!!!!

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by kevinlpugh

Photo Gallery of Work on the Alleyway

KUDOS to the Advertiser!!!!

Thanks for sharing with everyone. I enjoyed reading this in hard copy this morning, but was wondering where is the map/graphic that was on the front page of the paper? I could not find it at the MA's web site. It showed the layout of the alley and the proposed locations of the various restaurants, etc.

[thoraudio]

Article and pics about the Alleyway from the Montgomery Advertiser. lots o pics.

Down the alley
Entertainment district to open in early '09

Just across from the new Renaissance Montgomery hotel, there's another rebirth going on: the development of an entertainment and dining district with a few retail shops sprinkled in.


Most of the district, bounded by Commerce, Bibb, Coosa and Tallapoosa streets, is what its developers call the Alleyway Project. They also intend, though, to renovate a couple of other empty buildings in the same block.

At least five years in the making, the 120,000-square-foot Alleyway Project will be officially unveiled early next year. One building is completed already and has a banquet room open for events.

In those five-plus years, the developers have watched downtown come alive. Riverwalk Stadium, home of the Montgomery Biscuits, went up. Then the new convention center.

The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center opened in February. Hampton Inn, next door to the Alleyway Project, began taking guests this summer. Another hotel is on the drawing board.

"We feel like the time is right with all the things going on down here, and we feel like we are recycling the whole inner city," said Jerry Kyser, one of the developers.

Kyser along with Greg Allen, Jere Beasley, Bill Helms and Randy Roark are individual investors. Businesses with interests are Summit Development Group, the O'Connor Law Firm, the 2WR Holmes Wilkins Co., the Junior League and Coldwell Banker Commercial Moore Co. Realty, a partnership of Helms, Roark, Steve Hughes and Jerome T. Moore III.

The building already finished belongs to Kyser.

Called 129 Coosa for its street address, the structure has three levels: a banquet room at the top, the site of several events a month so far; the middle space for an Italian restaurant, which will open soon; and a private dining area and wine cellar in the basement.

The back of the restaurant opens to the old railroad alleyway between the century-old buildings. The trains served warehouses on either side of the alley, which will be paved over in decorative concrete patterns.

The developers envision residents and tourists strolling through the alley, stopping for a bite to eat or to enjoy a band.

Allen, a partner in the Beasley Allen law firm, owns the property at 138 Commerce St., where the alley breaks off through a former storefront.

A trio of shops, about 1,000 square feet each, will line one side of the pedestrian walk. On the other, a restaurant -- possibly a high-end pizza place. A bar area will extend into the walkway, giving it an airy feel while keeping it protected from the elements.

Upstairs, Allen plans luxury-loft apartments, with maybe some office space mixed in. Renderings of the building show a rooftop garden.

Down the alleyway, toward Tallapoosa Street, another old warehouse will be converted into a barbecue restaurant. A rooftop bar, a dream of the developers, would let patrons watch the Biscuits from on high.

Over on Coosa Street, Roark and Moore have a building. Their offices are upstairs and they want to open a restaurant on the street level.

The developers, each used to calling the shots, had to work together to get -- and keep -- the project moving. For example, they had to agree on a consistent exterior appearance for the buildings. The result: the recycling of bricks and lumber, taken from demolished walls and floors, to keep an authentic look.

Roark, who wants a restaurant in his building, knows he can't put up exactly the same thing as another owner.

"I think there is a market for all these restaurants," he said, "as long as they are diverse."

Kyser has had to spend more money protecting a neighbor building just to improve his 129 Coosa. The building had a small basement, but he wanted a bigger one.

To dig under his building, built in the 1890s, Kyser had to work under a neighboring building. That wasn't an easy feat: he had to shore up the foundation of the neighboring building with several cubic yards of steel-reinforced concrete, all pumped under ground.

Down the block, where Coosa crosses Bibb, are a couple of empty buildings that Kyser and other owners plan to renovate as well.

A former gas station likely will be turned into a diner, open late for partiers looking for a midnight snack.

Perhaps some of those patrons will come from another Kyser bar -- one he calls a "pure beer joint" at 108 Bibb St.

Kyser expects to cut out part of the floor on the second story, allowing patrons to look down at a country band on the first-floor stage.

[thoraudio]

sorry about the re-post.... I actually had the post previewed, and got called away..... doh!

[Capital Heights]

These are exciting time in downtown Montgomery. If we, as a nation, can survive the financial crisis, the next few years ought to be phenominal in Montgomery.

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by OCA REP

Thanks for sharing with everyone. I enjoyed reading this in hard copy this morning, but was wondering where is the map/graphic that was on the front page of the paper? I could not find it at the MA's web site. It showed the layout of the alley and the proposed locations of the various restaurants, etc.

I spoke with Terry Manning at the MA and he added the map to the site. Here is a link:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/assets/pdf/DS119092101.PDF

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Those pictures are great! Montgomery I think is going to be like another Chattanooga. But, I think Montgomery could easily do them one better if they keep going like they are.

[bystander1]

Yes. I'm just really glad to see that this project has moved beyond the "big dream" stage and into the "reality" stage.

[EXbubba]

Gotta get some of those mid-rise condos/apts in like I have seen in Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, Chattanooga, and other locns. That will bring folks for groceries and eating out.

[bystander1]

Here are some pics of the Riverfront Entertainment District I took a while back.








The Coosa Street deck is almost complete.






As we read in the MA, work is being done on the Alleyway.




The underground entrance to the riverwalk area.










The future home of the Harriott II, our new riverboat for tours.












Here you can see the riverwalk being extended to the area where an observation tower is being built, which will connect to the Riverfront Intermodal parking deck on Monroe Street.








I-65 river bridge in the background.






The Cypress Creek inlet will make an excellent marina alongside the amphitheater and an area that was being promoted as the site of a highrise condo building on the eastbank in the initial riverfront development plan.









Also in those plans, this old factory building with its signature smokestack on the east bank was pegged for mixed use--with lofts, restaurants, bars and retail. You can see the red brick tower in the water to the left...which was the inspiration for building the observation tower on the riverwalk. Eventually, the riverwalk will extend all the way to this area near North Blvd.



I can see so many possibilities with this building. Entertainment, recreation, residential, shopping, outdoor markets, farmers markets. There could be something taking place weekdays, weekends, day and night. If only I had the cash to buy it...

[DruidCity]

Thanks for the photos. I don't get to Montgomery very often, but the number one thing the downtown riverfront area lacked when I visited a couple years ago was restaurants, a problem that the entertainment district should solve.

[EXbubba]

The river front is primed for development. I just wonder if anyone with the money is town is ready to part with it . Mr Kyser seems to be ready with the restaurants, but what about businesses other and banks that keep getting gobbled up or hotels for visitors? It just seems like so many half measures whose parts do not seem to add up to a viable whole. I used to dream about the redevelopment of downtown forty years ago, but all we every saw was new parking lots. I hope someone local with money will invest in that frontage. It is a great asset that has been sorely unused. BTW are both those building fronting Coosa either offices or condos? They are some of the few large warehouses with character down there. I sure hope they heavily promote the alley as a convention destination and keep it clean and safe.

[floc34]

Originally Posted by OCA REP

Thanks for sharing with everyone. I enjoyed reading this in hard copy this morning, but was wondering where is the map/graphic that was on the front page of the paper? I could not find it at the MA's web site. It showed the layout of the alley and the proposed locations of the various restaurants, etc.

I think www.thebigbangbarstore.com or www.theshouthouse.com woule be two perfect bars for the alleyway project.