Mobile Development Thread - Page 214

oscottscotto · #**4261** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 8:04 PM**

Hey everyone,

Native Mobilian (for 27 years) now living in Saint Louis (the last 2 years). Finding this site and reading this thread has me so excited. I have been all over and downtown Mobile has an unlimited amount of potential for progressive, unique, and profitable development - even if it is limited to a smaller area. It is a hidden pearl right now, waiting for growth.

It seems Mayor Jones and the crew have some nice plans for general revitalization in the next 10 or so years ... but government can only do so much in regards to attraction and promotion of gentrification. I can only hope that some "new money" investments come looking to help keep the momentum up. How great it would be if entertainment, conviences, and mass living quarters could spring up all over the place.

I just hope that living-space investors keep in mind the common man - and realize that many of us cannot afford condos/lofts/hosuing that is only $200k or higher. It would not promote optimum growth if living spaces only cater to the upper-middle or upper classes. You have to diversify and have your fancy places for big $$$ - and your reasonable places in the high 80-90k to low $100k rhelm. That will promote area growth across the board, which will bring business, which will bring numerous other opportunities.

WEMO · #**4262** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 8:28 PM**

Welcome aboard....Nice to have a newcomer.

WEMO · #**4263** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 8:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alabadrock

It doesn't matter if the counties are already in another metro, they can always be brought in as long as the statistics are there to support the move. In North Alabama, the Decatur Metropolitan Area will probably be dissolved and Morgan and Lawrence county will join the Huntsville Metro, because of daily movement because of jobs.

As long as there are more people working in Mobile county from those counties than work in the ones where Gulfport and Biloxi are, they can be added to the Mobile area.

That is what I am trying to say, the people that drive into Mobile to work on a daily basis are overlooked; it is high time that the city stand up for the numerical rights of our metro population and give us the benefit of a much bigger metro than what is currently projected.

Washington, Escambia, Shelby & all of Baldwin counties should be included. To my knowledge, some people from Monroe county drive to Mobile to work as well. I am sure that workers from Escambia county Florida and surrounding Mississippi counties benefit from Mobile jobs. I know a big set of them.

SouthSky · #**4264** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 8:47 PM**

Shelby county, Tim?

Are you talking about Clarke?

WEMO · #**4265** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthSky

Shelby county, Tim?

Are you talking about Clarke?

LOL, why yes, yes I am.......... Sorry

Over look that and just pretend that I was talking about Clarke..

SouthSky · #**4266** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 9:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by oscottscotto

Hey everyone,

Native Mobilian (for 27 years) now living in Saint Louis (the last 2 years). Finding this site and reading this thread has me so excited. I have been all over and downtown Mobile has an unlimited amount of potential for progressive, unique, and profitable development - even if it is limited to a smaller area. It is a hidden pearl right now, waiting for growth...

Welcome!

Don't you frequent the city-data forum as well?

oscottscotto · #**4267** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 9:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthSky

Welcome!

Don't you frequent the city-data forum as well?

Yep

. That is how I found this one.

Heart is still in Mobile - will be back one day.

Port_of_Bama · #**4268** Posted **Jul 7, 2009, 9:26 PM**

OSC: welcome aboard my friend im PC on another site.

I think it`s safe to say Mobile`s over all CSA is around 700 K or a bit more like 720 K. I see a huge number of Escambia ,Fl tags and 16(Clarke) in Mobile daily. i agrre it`s about time we defend our CSA and MSA numbers.Huntsville has 4 or 3 counties in there MSA,Birmingham has 8, Montgomery has 4 and Mobile has only 1.Yet with our 1(Mobile county) we still out populate Huntsville and Montgomery`s MSA with there multiples.

nouveau_Mauvilla · #**4269** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 1:09 AM**

Oscott, welcome aboard my friend. Glad you made the jump from City Data to the real news and talk.

oscottscotto · #**4270** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 3:12 AM**

Haha very cool. From the looks of it, this thread has much more meat to it than at CD. Thanks for the welcomings.

bayou15 · #**4271** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 4:02 AM**

T.V viewing area consist of 1.5million viewers

nouveau_Mauvilla · #**4272** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 4:50 AM**

..... Of shows broadcasted for/from Mobile..........?

You lost me, bayou.

SouthSky · #**4273** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 5:59 AM**

The Mobile-Pensacola-Fort Walton Beach DMA (Designated Market Area) is ~1.5 million. It's basically how many people can turn on their TV and see WKRG, WPMI, WALA, and WEAR.

This is the measurement TV stations would use to rank their market versus say Birmingham for example. Birmingham's DMA is ~1.8 million.

BuenaVista · #**4274** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 1:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by oscottscotto

Hey everyone,

Native Mobilian (for 27 years) now living in Saint Louis (the last 2 years). Finding this site and reading this thread has me so excited. I have been all over and downtown Mobile has an unlimited amount of potential for progressive, unique, and profitable development - even if it is limited to a smaller area. It is a hidden pearl right now, waiting for growth.

It seems Mayor Jones and the crew have some nice plans for general revitalization in the next 10 or so years ... but government can only do so much in regards to attraction and promotion of gentrification. I can only hope that some "new money" investments come looking to help keep the momentum up. How great it would be if entertainment, conviences, and mass living quarters could spring up all over the place.

I just hope that living-space investors keep in mind the common man - and realize that many of us cannot afford condos/lofts/hosuing that is only $200k or higher. It would not promote optimum growth if living spaces only cater to the upper-middle or upper classes. You have to diversify and have your fancy places for big $$$ - and your reasonable places in the high 80-90k to low $100k rhelm. That will promote area growth across the board, which will bring business, which will bring numerous other opportunities.

Lower cost housing is certainly a great idea, but in the case of existing buildings it is very hard to achieve- most existing fabric is in horrible condition- no maintenance for years, all endeavors have to be brought up to the current code, most are required to have fire sprinkler systems and Life Safety Code upgrades, new roofs are required, all new electical, mechanical and plumbing systems- all this is "behind the scenes stuff" that the average buyer does not see or understand but it has to be factored into the overall cost. And the lack of parking makes them a hard sell- yes, I have heard the argument about if people move downtown the stores will follow, but in the meantime, it is a chicken and egg problem!

BuenaVista · #**4275** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 1:47 PM**

The RSA is continuing to hemmorage money- I would not look for any major renovations to the First National Bank Building anytime soon! By the way, word on the street is that the plumbing is so messed up in the building that most of the toilet rooms have been shut down!

WEMO · #**4276** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 1:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuenaVista

The RSA is continuing to hemmorage money- I would not look for any major renovations to the First National Bank Building anytime soon! By the way, word on the street is that the plumbing is so messed up in the building that most of the toilet rooms have been shut down!

That is awful.. How long do you think it will take to fix all that mess?

BuenaVista · #**4277** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 2:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WEMO

That is awful.. How long do you think it will take to fix all that mess?

It is my understanding that Dr. Bronner wants to gut the entire building: exterior and interior walls leaving nothing but the structure and essentially start over with a new exterior skin, elevators, lobby, etc. Considering that the building is hugely energy ineffiecient, the elevators have been out of plumb since the building shifted during Hurricane Frederic in 1979 and really nothing has been done to in the way of MEP upgrades since it was built in 1965, it is not very ADA accessible, etc. I would say he has his hands full! And who knows if it has asbestos in it- my bet would be that it does!

WEMO · #**4278** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 3:28 PM**

Yeah, I am sure that it has asbestos in it being built in the 60's. well, I am sure that it will be a long haul, but it will be worth it in the end.

Have any of you read the PNJ? Well, Cordova is getting some nice retailers. Mobile will not be too far behind, that is good for Mob town. Now we can roll up our sleeves and bring some competition.

WEMO · #**4279** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 5:34 PM**

Just so you know, a list of retailers have been contacted by Mall manager Tim Nolan. The mall has several retailers that are interested and Coach is one for Mobile. If you have any questions of my resources please PM me and I will provide information for you.

elb401 · #**4280** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 2:18 AM**

thats great news for about the retailers. I hope we get some better stores in here.

but you know that saying... Mobile follows the battle house (or something like that). I got some bad news. they have stopped hiring and they have cut our hours about 2 weeks ago. today they started laying off people. the Battle House is almost $2 million over budget. It is bleeding money. We are having a meeting tomorrow and I hope that my neck is not on the chopping block.