Montgomery development news - Page 193

Brown Duckz · #**3841** Posted **May 25, 2009, 10:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsully76

I think all the previous posts concerning this issue are spot on and would help this great city move forward. I have to admit i was apprehensive about mayor strange but i am really warming up to this guys management skills. Is anyone attending the upcoming Riverfront Pub Crawl on friday.

I can speak firsthand, that he's really revamping the way the city is spending it's budget dollars. He is trying to "level head" the budget as tightly as possible before making drastic cuts to the workforce [which is a direct loss of services to the city]. Strange will also take Bright's approach with revitalization throughout Downtown, by way of private and public tax dollars. I believe leadership will be strong through Strange's tenure, if not stronger than Bright's. On a side note, I was not a Strange supporter before he took office.

bystander1 · #**3842** Posted **May 26, 2009, 2:37 AM**

I'm not surprised. Look at his background. Budgeting, economic development, managing, and DT development...Strange breathes this kinda' stuff.

OldCloverdale · #**3843** Posted **May 26, 2009, 1:57 PM**

Why does Montgomery not have an old county courthouse (or does it, and I'm just stupid?) ... was it torn down? Where was it?

I love old courthouses and absolutely hate going to a county seat and seeing some courthouse built in the '60s or something.

OldCloverdale · #**3844** Posted **May 26, 2009, 4:14 PM**

Another question: anyone know the opening date for The Alley Bar?

The owner's daughter's wedding reception is scheduled to be there "in June" but I'm not sure when the bar will open to the public.

mgmrebel · #**3845** Posted **May 26, 2009, 7:43 PM**

Why does Montgomery not have an old county courthouse

Montgomery has had two courthouses in the past that have been torn down...the first one was located on court square and and the second was located where the present courthouse is located.

OldCloverdale · #**3846** Posted **May 26, 2009, 7:54 PM**

I sure do wish this place were still standing

OCA REP · #**3847** Posted **May 26, 2009, 8:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgmrebel

Why does Montgomery not have an old county courthouse

Montgomery has had two courthouses in the past that have been torn down...the first one was located on court square and and the second was located where the present courthouse is located.

Good subject, as I too loathe the monstrosity we currently have as a county courthouse.

I did not know the history of our courthouse so I called a friend, Mary Ann Neely, to get a brief history. Outlined below are the highlights of our conversation. I made these notes at work, so I do hope I scribbled the approx. dates correctly.

Original courthouse was built at Court Square in 1822. This courthouse was replaced in 1835 by a two-story brick greek revival style building.

After Montgomery became the state capitol, the courthouse moved to its current location around 1852 when another greek revival building was constructed. Additional space was required and a new wing to this courthouse with a tower was added in 1894 (this may be the photo OldCloverdale posted?).

In the late 1950's all of this was torn down to construct the current building. During construction, Montgomery county used the old federal courthouse which was located at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and South Lawrence Street where Compass Bank is currently located.

OldCloverdale · #**3848** Posted **May 26, 2009, 9:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

Good subject, as I too loathe the monstrosity we currently have as a county courthouse...

In the late 1950's all of this was torn down to construct the current building. During construction, Montgomery county used the old federal courthouse which was located at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and South Lawrence Street where Compass Bank is currently located.

I mentioned the '60s earlier so I wasn't off by much

and that Compass (my bank branch) is horrible, too

Brown Duckz · #**3849** Posted **May 27, 2009, 5:12 PM**

An update to a previous discussion:

The city is in the process of leasing a large building Downtown to move the Municipal Court into. Should take place before the end of the year, and the plan is already on the drawing board for a completely new campus that will house a state of the art PD, jail, & court. The location near the railroad tracks off Court St is probably not going to materialize.

bystander1 · #**3850** Posted **May 27, 2009, 8:24 PM**

...what 'large' building downtown could they possibly be thinking of...besides the obvious?

thoraudio · #**3851** Posted **May 27, 2009, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bystander1

...what 'large' building downtown could they possibly be thinking of...besides the obvious?

I don't know, but the old First Alabama/Regions/Alabama National building on Court Square, redone back to its original pre-1970 style would be a great city office location.

Source

bystander1 · #**3852** Posted **May 27, 2009, 10:13 PM**

^ Yeah, for city hall, but not for a PD, jail, & court. Nowhere around Court Square will do for those.

Brown Duckz · #**3853** Posted **May 28, 2009, 2:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bystander1

^ Yeah, for city hall, but not for a PD, jail, & court. Nowhere around Court Square will do for those.

They will be moving the court and it's general operations only. The plan looks to be inmate transport to and from the court house location until everything unites at the new campus. Nearly any vacant building Downtown is more work room for the court & it's employees than is currently available. It may be farther into Downtown close to the river, & the city will probably renovate the property extensively.

bystander1 · #**3854** Posted **May 28, 2009, 3:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown Duckz

They will be moving the court and it's general operations only. The plan looks to be inmate transport to and from the court house location until everything unites at the new campus. Nearly any vacant building Downtown is more work room for the court & it's employees than is currently available. It may be farther into Downtown close to the river, & the city will probably renovate the property extensively.

No, they definitely don't need to move the court operations - including inmate transport - near the riverfront...

hiijakd · #**3855** Posted **May 28, 2009, 3:56 AM**

or into the block next to my lofts, can you say property value through the floor. hey, where are your lofts? umm you know the municipal jail?, right there.

bystander1 · #**3856** Posted **May 28, 2009, 4:02 AM**

Yea, that 'll be pretty messed up!

OCA REP · #**3857** Posted **May 28, 2009, 12:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoraudio

I don't know, but the old First Alabama/Regions/Alabama National building on Court Square, redone back to its original pre-1970 style would be a great city office location.

The entire existing Regions complex... the 8 Commerce Street location AND the former Bancshares Building (connected via bridge) across First Alabama Plaza, would give all the space they would probably require.

As a former (22 year) employee of First Alabama and Regions, I would not be honoring the "good old days" correctly if I did not point out that the bank/building mentioned in this post used to be First National, not Alabama National.

thoraudio · #**3858** Posted **May 28, 2009, 2:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

The entire existing Regions complex... the 8 Commerce Street location AND the former Bancshares Building (connected via bridge) across First Alabama Plaza, would give all the space they would probably require.

As a former (22 year) employee of First Alabama and Regions, I would not be honoring the "good old days" correctly if I did not point out that the bank/building mentioned in this post used to be First National, not Alabama National.

blah blah blah, as a 22 year users of Union Bank/First Alabama/Regions/RINO, I don't care.

but yeah, you're right, it was First National Bank of Montgomery

hiijakd · #**3859** Posted **May 28, 2009, 3:45 PM**

Thor, you're so saucy and confrontational on this board. don't scare any more people off

thoraudio · #**3860** Posted **May 28, 2009, 6:53 PM**

don't make me go all Joe L. Reed on you.

Had lunch at Dreamland today, great bbq salad if you haven't had it before. Alley is shaping up nicely (if slowly). They were finishing up the lights on the water tower. Sat outside in the alley, and there were several people talking about who and what and when things were going to open.