Mobile Development Thread - Page 177

Alxx611 · #**3521** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 1:56 AM**

Some construction going on at the University of South Alabama:

Bell Tower and Alumni Plaza:

New Student Rec Center

More to come soon..

Electrical Porpoise · #**3522** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 2:13 AM**

Alxx, what is South's current rec center like? I can't even remember where it is.

BlessedMobile · #**3523** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 5:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthSky

Well, some news from the "Alabama Motorsports Park":

Link

This is great news. I have been saying for some time that the investors had not put any money into the venture beyond earnest money for the land buy that has not happened. Someone has stepped up to the plate to put in the 10 million to tie in the Gulf Coast Entertainment name. I think the real money players have taken over and could make our track happen. One of the big issues for money brokers is that our initial investors had no experience running a motorsports park; including Dover as park managers drops that obstacle. Notice too that Dover accepted stock in GCE which should tell us that the racing community does have confidence in the AMP project. I still feel that we must read that AMP has bought the land before the project can obtain permanent financing for development...I mean, come on...would you lend money to someone to build on land they don't own? You might think that they would bundle the land with the development but that would still leave the money people with all of the risk and have the owners with no money of consequence in the project. I do know that AMP has been looking for equity partners and they may have found some in the persons of the Earnharts and others. This has got to appear in the PR with additional details. I'm again excited that this track could actually happen.

BlessedMobile · #**3524** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 5:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixboi08

That's definitely true...I just hope that it isn't a halfhearted attempt...you know, like the person is trying to make a profit without the risk? I don't know...I guess I just want this to turn out amazing, it might spur further interest in residential development downtown.

Jackie runs a tight ship on that property and will oversee the condo association. He likes neat, clean and orderly. One thing I can guarantee all of you is that it won't be "seedy". I think this might be a good place for investors to buy units to make them rentals. Downtown living is a big draw for more and more people, especially you young ones, so this change will probably give us some more rentals. Dauphin Realty has a lot of investor clients who may want in on this venture. If any of you are interested in being a renter, call Dauphin Realty and tell them; they will then use your interest to get buyers from whom you can rent. win/win.

phoenixboi08 · #**3525** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 6:49 AM**

South will now finally have a nice campus!

nimsjus · #**3526** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 7:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrical Porpoise

Alxx, what is South's current rec center like? I can't even remember where it is.

I think it is the old Jag Gym next to the Mitchell Center

Alxx611 · #**3527** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 8:11 AM**

Yeah, the old Rec center is by the Mitchell Center. its very small compared to this new one which will have swimming pools, batting cages, and a much larger gym.

buckett5425 · #**3528** Posted **Feb 2, 2009, 6:55 PM**

Someone suggested I design another new facade for the Bank Tower. I haven't had time, but the Idea I would play with is in the picture below. I happened to stumble across this image today and I think its exactly what should be done. What the image is below, is the remodeling of Verizon tower. It was an ugly facade they simply recladded in glass.

Port_of_Bama · #**3529** Posted **Feb 2, 2009, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckett5425

Someone suggested I design another new facade for the Bank Tower. I haven't had time, but the Idea I would play with is in the picture below. I happened to stumble across this image today and I think its exactly what should be done. What the image is below, is the remodeling of Verizon tower. It was an ugly facade they simply recladded in glass.

My man buckett ! Been waiting for your response for some time now. I like the glass idea and thats what I envisoned for the building but blue tint instead of green. Also add that Las Vegas palm style roof top that was part of your second design that would look good and of course a nice light show as well !!

BlessedMobile · #**3530** Posted **Feb 2, 2009, 9:58 PM**

Buckett....you're hittin'em out the park. I like your design. I stared at that ugly monolith the other day from my seat in Serda's and thought there had to be some way to retro that thing. There is little they can do to the inside beyond tearing it all out but the outside can have your updatd look. You know Bronner will want to give the Monolith some of the RSA Tower appeal. Send your idea to Bronner in Montgomery.

ChristopherNFTL · #**3531** Posted **Feb 3, 2009, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlessedMobile

Buckett....you're hittin'em out the park. I like your design. I stared at that ugly monolith the other day from my seat in Serda's and thought there had to be some way to retro that thing. There is little they can do to the inside beyond tearing it all out but the outside can have your updatd look. You know Bronner will want to give the Monolith some of the RSA Tower appeal. Send your idea to Bronner in Montgomery.

I know that they capped the old Adam's Mark, and it looks alright from the ground, but is it a done deal that he is going to do something to the Bank Building, or is it just rumor at this point?

nimsjus · #**3532** Posted **Feb 3, 2009, 10:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristopherNFTL

I know that they capped the old Adam's Mark, and it looks alright from the ground, but is it a done deal that he is going to do something to the Bank Building, or is it just rumor at this point?

In the article in a previous post, Bonner just says it will be "updated" now that RSA bought it. All of us are speculating that he will do something to the outside since it is so bad looking. There have been no speciffics released about the updating.

nimsjus · #**3533** Posted **Feb 4, 2009, 1:32 PM**

Another small triangle park for downtown. I like the idea of having these everywhere. Those little spots of land are city owned and currently just sit empty. The only concern I have is the fact that we can create new parks like this one with a fountain, but there are lots of parks with broken fountains across town (Washington Square, Lyons Park, etc.)
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1233742582216240.xml&coll=3

Port_of_Bama · #**3534** Posted **Feb 4, 2009, 8:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimsjus

Another small triangle park for downtown. I like the idea of having these everywhere. Those little spots of land are city owned and currently just sit empty. The only concern I have is the fact that we can create new parks like this one with a fountain, but there are lots of parks with broken fountains across town (Washington Square, Lyons Park, etc.)
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1233742582216240.xml&coll=3

With all the parks downtown it would be nice if they would do a produce food market/venders, live music, or a sea food cook out in those parks on Fridays and Saturdays I would support that !

nimsjus · #**3535** Posted **Feb 4, 2009, 10:46 PM**

Cathedral Square has a Farmer's market from late spring through the fall on Saturday mornings. My wife and I have bought something every time we have been. Good produce, homemade breads, some seafood, pastas. it isnt huge, but there is good variety. I wish it was bigger. I think having the market at the park/art museum makes both of them smaller than if we just had one big one.

nimsjus · #**3536** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 12:49 PM**

Story from the PR on the attempt to turn the historic Russel Elementary School into condos. The Board of Education extended the deadline for the developers to get everything together for the sale. Hopefully this goes through. We need these kinds of projects along Broad St to really make the Bring Back Broad deal worth it. The city is doing what it can to improve the things that it can (streets, streetcapes, landscaping, sidewalks, etc. ), but it is going to take private investment to really make the public improvements pop. Hopefully they make this happen.

phoenixboi08 · #**3537** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 1:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimsjus

Story from the PR on the attempt to turn the historic Russel Elementary School into condos. The Board of Education extended the deadline for the developers to get everything together for the sale. Hopefully this goes through. We need these kinds of projects along Broad St to really make the Bring Back Broad deal worth it. The city is doing what it can to improve the things that it can (streets, streetcapes, landscaping, sidewalks, etc. ), but it is going to take private investment to really make the public improvements pop. Hopefully they make this happen.

I really love that building, I hope this goes through. When will ground be broken on the Maritime Museum, or has that already happened?

10101000 · #**3538** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 3:55 PM**

Wednesday, February 04, 2009 By KAIJA WILKINSONBusiness Reporter
Iberiabank Corp. is opening a loan production office in the Mobile area and has named former Regions Financial Corp. commercial banker Lawrence "Russ" Ford Jr., 39, area president.

Iberiabank (Nasdaq: IBKC) is the 25th banking company now in business in Mobile or Baldwin counties, according to federal data.

Daryl Byrd, president and chief executive of Lafayette, La.-based Iberia, said the bank is impressed by the "good economic progress" in Alabama.

Executives are in town this week scouting property for the first physical location, and Ford will be hiring five to seven bankers and support staff, Byrd said.

He said he expects the loan office to open in about two weeks, with up to five full-service branches within three years.

Iberiabank, which now does business in nine states, tailors itself to fit different markets, Byrd said. In south Alabama, it plans to focus on midmarket commercial lending and private banking, he said.

Ford, a native of Decatur who now lives in the Mobile area with his family, said he joined Iberiabank because of its reputation and the growth opportunity.

"I learned through a friend and former colleague who works for Iberiabank that there are banks out there that are growing and looking to expand as others are dealing with consistent problems," Ford said.

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1233742617216240.xml&coll=3

ChristopherNFTL · #**3539** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 7:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixboi08

I really love that building, I hope this goes through. When will ground be broken on the Maritime Museum, or has that already happened?

I too am eager to see the museum go up. I cannot wait to be home in a few weeks taking pictures and it would be nice to see some broken ground on the waterfront!

phoenixboi08 · #**3540** Posted **Feb 6, 2009, 1:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristopherNFTL

I too am eager to see the museum go up. I cannot wait to be home in a few weeks taking pictures and it would be nice to see some broken ground on the waterfront!

Yes that would be nice. The city did ask for funding from the Stimulus Package for the Museum correct? I just remember reading that in the newspaper, I'm wondering how this project will be affected by the economy (wait, cancellation, etc.)