Mobile Development Thread

[BlessedMobile]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

Bridge opponent promises to fight

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/124479820251530.xml&coll=3

Friday, June 12, 2009 By DAN MURTAUGH
Staff Reporter

An opponent of a proposed Interstate 10 bridge said Thursday that there will "no doubt be litigation" if the state highway department chooses any route south of downtown Mobile.

"If they won't reconsider and look at a northern route, then in that case, there would no doubt be litigation," Mobile attorney Bob Edington said. "It would tie up the project for several years, and eventually the government will get tired of fooling with us."

On Wednesday, Mobile Mayor Sam Jones announced his... Continue with story

Edington is the local dissident. His tune will mellow after he finds out how few supporters he will have among his own party. We will be driving over that bridge long after he is gone. I think he makes his true personality evident when he says "fooling with us."

[Electrical Porpoise]

Forbes names Mobile as a top 10 city for recession recovery

[Port_of_Bama]

Looks like Mobile learned a valuable lesson from the closing of Brookly Field, that it`s important to have a diverse economy.

[Mobilian in Exile]

If they build a huge bridge over the river, I think the appeal of tearing down the Water St. exit and developing more waterfront property is a lot less. I mean, you're replacing one interstate obstruction with another. I certainly wouldn't want to enjoy a riverfront that was directly under a giant interstate overpass.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by Mobilian in Exile

If they build a huge bridge over the river, I think the appeal of tearing down the Water St. exit and developing more waterfront property is a lot less. I mean, you're replacing one interstate obstruction with another. I certainly wouldn't want to enjoy a riverfront that was directly under a giant interstate overpass.

Well, the thing is, if we make it look like the I-10 and I-10 spur interchange in Pensacola, I think it could actually enhance the area. Bridges, even plain ones, can be made to look very ornamental.

[BlessedMobile]

Since many of us are interested in knowing more about the River Bridge I thought I would gather some facts about the proposed bridge and other similar bridges. Our own Cochrane-Africatown bridge is a cable-stayed suspension bridge like the one proposed. The C-A bridge is 140' above water, 1.4 miles long and has 350' pylons. The River Bridge would be 190' above water, have a longest span of 1250', be 6-8 lanes, have pylons which are 575' high +- (AmSouth Bank Building is 424' high). I haven't seen a bridge length but estimating the above ground length from the placement map shows a length of at least 10,000'. The bridge would start near Virginia Street and end near the battleship. The attachment photo is of the Arthur Ravenal bridge in Charleston; it has a height above water of 186', a bridge length of 13,200', pylons of 575' , longest span of 1546' and has 8 lanes (this bridge is carrying a state highway not interstate). One bridge many of us have seen from Jackson Square in New Orleans is the Crescent City Connection; it is 150' above water. The Golden Gate Bridge is 220' above water, 1.7 miles long and has pylons that are 746' high.( RSA Tower is 745' high)



http://www.dd715.org/reunions/2006/2006_charleston_bridge.jpg

[Port_of_Bama]

It would look nice over the river if done right. Austin ,Tx has a bridge over there river near downtown. It blends in well and people are still able to enjoy there river front. Another city that comes to mind is Shreveport , La has a nice bridge as well with riverwalk.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I was in Charleston when that bridge was being built. The old bridge was scary to drive over, it looked like it would just tip over at any moment.

[SouthSky]

Press-Register Sunday Business Stories:

Building permits up sharply in Mobile
89% Increase
Link

Kathy Jumper's Real Estate Column (Interesting points)

• "A local couple purchased the former Guido's restaurant building at 351 George St., in the Oakleigh Garden Historic District, for $300,000, according to Gavin Bender of Bend er Real Estate Group . He represented the buyers, Susan and Kevin Carley, who own Palette CaféMobile Museum of Art on Museum Drive. The Carleys are renovating the 4,500-square-foot building and plan to lease it to Cortland Inge for his new restaurant. Sunbelt Business Brokers worked for the seller."

• "Hargove & Associates, a local engineering firm, plans to build a courtyard in the center of the 70,000-square-foot Kress building downtown at an estimated cost of $500,000, according to court records. The circa-1907 building is T-shaped and fronts on Royal, Dauphin, St. Emanuel and Conti streets. The Kress will be separated into four individual buildings around the courtyard, which will open to the sky, according to architect Ben Cummings."

Link

[Port_of_Bama]

^^^ Good news hopefuly retail will one of the 4 parts of the Kress building.

[Port_of_Bama]

Reading this article in the PR sounds like a bunch of bull crap. PF Chang is in Huntsville, and it is also in Destin. Mobile has a larger metro than the two. Demographics has nothing to do with it Ruth Chris with there 100 + dollar steaks are still standing strong.

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/insider.ssf?/base/business/124497099771650.xml&coll=3

[BlessedMobile]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Reading this article in the PR sounds like a bunch of bull crap. PF Chang is in Huntsville, and it is also in Destin. Mobile has a larger metro than the two. Demographics has nothing to do with it Ruth Chris with there 100 + dollar steaks are still standing strong.

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/insider.ssf?/base/business/124497099771650.xml&coll=3

I posted a note on here a few weeks ago that P.F. Chang's wants to come here and had its eye on the old Copeland's corner but the economy and the corner itself didn't mesh. They will be here when the economy turns back up. Good grief, half the people in that Stix across the Bay in the ESC are from Mobile...why not build an upscale asian in Mobile. We need a new, very nice lifestyle center where they can locate. Jumper also mentioned a frozen custard place; we had one on Schillinger and no one supported it. Personally, I wish we had a BOPS from Mississippi...once you've had good frozen custard you won't go back to ice cream or yogurt. People have got to be educated about the custard if they are to try it. The name "frozen custard" is lousy but the flavor and texture is incredible. Seriously, I want one right now.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Reading this article in the PR sounds like a bunch of bull crap. PF Chang is in Huntsville, and it is also in Destin. Mobile has a larger metro than the two. Demographics has nothing to do with it Ruth Chris with there 100 + dollar steaks are still standing strong.

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/insider.ssf?/base/business/124497099771650.xml&coll=3

Actually, Ruth's Chris has been struggling. He gets most of his profits from Felix's, but keeps Ruth's Chris going for Mobile.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Blessed, you're right. If only the people who could bring these places to Mobile realized how many people go to places like New Orleans to shop and dine because we don't have the stores here. I think we could definitely support nicer retail.

Also, that's too bad about the custard place. I never even heard of it... If only it had been in midtown/downtown instead of Shilinger.

[NitekKetin]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Reading this article in the PR sounds like a bunch of bull crap. PF Chang is in Huntsville, and it is also in Destin. Mobile has a larger metro than the two. Demographics has nothing to do with it Ruth Chris with there 100 + dollar steaks are still standing strong.

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/insider.ssf?/base/business/124497099771650.xml&coll=3

Huntsville, in particular, has better income levels per capita, which allows for a higher quality of new-to-the-market retailers. The relationship a retailer has with a REIT, such as the one between Simons Proprety and Coach, also comes into play. That being said, I could see PF Changs opening a location in Eastern Shore Centre.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Reading this article in the PR sounds like a bunch of bull crap. PF Chang is in Huntsville, and it is also in Destin. Mobile has a larger metro than the two. Demographics has nothing to do with it Ruth Chris with there 100 + dollar steaks are still standing strong.

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/insider.ssf?/base/business/124497099771650.xml&coll=3

If Mobile can support a Ruths Chris, then they can easily support a Changs. EEEEEasily...

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by NitekKetin

Huntsville, in particular, has better income levels per capita, which allows for a higher quality of new-to-the-market retailers. The relationship a retailer has with a REIT, such as the one between Simons Proprety and Coach, also comes into play. That being said, I could see PF Changs opening a location in Eastern Shore Centre.

Yes Huntsville does have a higher income capita, but a Changs !!!! Come on now you and I both know my friend. I could see a Changs in ESC but it would be a lot better in Mobile. I was shopping in the ESC the other day number 2 tags out numberd 5 like 8 to 1 .Since Roussous have moved from downtown they have been struggling every since over there in Baldwin county. They were in the ESC and struggled and now there in Daphne and is still struggling. The only reason why the ESC is still standing is because of Mobile residents,not Baldwin county nor travelers.


I`m praying for light retail such as Old Navy,Gap,Foot Locker,Lucky Brand,and etc downtown. Also a lifestyle Center or what they have in Shreveport a mall that opens as a life style center in south Mobile along the bay.

[Port_of_Bama]

[QUOTE=nouveau_Mauvilla;4306546]Blessed, you're right. If only the people who could bring these places to Mobile realized how many people go to places like New Orleans to shop and dine because we don't have the stores here. I think we could definitely support nicer retail.



If im not mistakin maybe he will correct me but I think I remember Nitekketin mention a while back that He and his wife went to New Orleans to buy some expensive pumps that cost like $700. The guy who works at the store in New Orleans said that a huge number of there customers come from the Mobile area.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I don't think that a lifestyle center would really work in southern Mobile. It really has to be on the very fringe of the main downtown area. Bridge Street in Huntsville is, and the center in Bossier City is too. Course, I don't know much about southern Mobile, so for all I know there is some area that would be well suited for it.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

^^^ I think I remember hearing that, too. I wish someone would do a study or survey or whatever. As for the light retail, Charleston has done just that. They put stores like abercrombie/GAP in the old buildings downtown.