Mobile Development Thread

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

OK, thanks. I knew it wasn't actually leaning- but I notice the waterline now.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Public Hearing set for December 1st

The legality of the Downtown Mobile Business Improvement District (BID) was upheld by the state supreme court recently and the plaintiffs have been denied a rehearing.

A public hearing to determine whether the District should be continued for another five-year period will be held December 1st at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium of Government Plaza. After a six month long planning process a new five-year plan to guide the District through 2015 was developed and sent out to all property owners. The plan is available on our website or in our office for review. We encourage all those who support the renewal of the Business Improvement District to attend the public hearing on the first.

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This year the North Pole Stroll has been added to the many wonderful holiday events you've come to expect in Downtown Mobile. The event is set for December 4th from 5:00 - 8:00 and comes two weeks after the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Bienville Square, followed by the December ArtWalk on December 11th and the Christmas and Holiday Parade on the 19th. Downtown will definitely be the place to be for free, family focused holiday celebrations.

The North Pole Stroll was conceived by businesses along Royal Street and the inaugural year's activities will be centered on Royal and Dauphin streets. Highlights include:

Children's Activities in the Exploreum and Museum of Mobile

Unveiling of 20 decorated balconies at the Hampton Inn
Carolers and other live entertainment
Special Fed Ex box for "Letters to Santa"
Storytime in the lobby of the Battle House Hotel
Holiday vendors
A "Snow Tunnel" for little ones to explore

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Pillars of the Community- Mobile's Greek Revival Movement
Museum of Mobile
Now through January 10
The love affair of the city and its architecture is a story retold in The Museum of Mobile's newest temporary exhibit. As a companion piece to the new book by John Sledge, the exhibit explores the people who in the 1820's changes the region physically from a fortifies colonial town to a more modern American city. "Pillars of the Community" will examine the extraordinary early nineteenth century intersection of personality, economics, architecture and technology that made Mobile's columned masterpieces possible.
Also, don't miss the Springdale Barnes & Noble Bookfair from December 11 - 13. During this weekend, a portion of all sales in the store will be donated to the Barton Academy Preservation Fund. John Sledge will be on hand to sign The Pillared City Dec. 12 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

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Vision of the Universe: Four Centuries of Discovery Space Exhibit
Ben May Main Library
Now through November 20
It is an exibit all about astronomy

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Gulf Coast Comedy Jam
Mobile Civic Center
Friday, November 13
at 8 p.m.
Presented by Variety Entertainment. Featuring Nephew Tommy, Jay Anthony Brown, Earthquake and JJ. Tickets are on sale now! Ages 18 +

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Art Soup
Christ Church Cathedral
Friday, November 13 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Choose (and keep) an artist-made bowl; taste a variety of soups, bid in a silent art auction,; enjoy music by Bay Runners. Benefits 15 Place (Mobile's multi-service center for the homeless) Tickets are $40. Reservations recommended.

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Murder on the Casting Couch
Mobile Mystery Dinners
Saturday, November 14 at 7 p.m.
$57.00 per person includes an unlimited wine bar starting at 6:45 p.m., a tour of the museum, a meal catered by the Pillars Restaurant and two hours of hilarity by the Mobile Mystery Dinner Players. Reservations are required.

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Beethoven & Blue Jeans
Saenger Theatre
November 14 and 15
Don't forget your blue jeans for this annual Mobile Symphony favorite, sure to be a sellout! Enjoy the mischievous melodies of Rossini's Thieving Magpie Overture, and hear two of you Beethoven favorites- the sublime Piano Concerto No. 3 with piano phenomenon (and master skateboarder) Alpin Hong , and Beethoven's most propulsive and rhythmic work, Symphony No. 7. Bring canned goods to benefit the Bay Area Food Bank.

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Jamey Johnson
Saenger Theatre
Thursday, November 19 at 8 p.m.
With special guest Randy Houser. Tickets are on sale now!
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Also,
Chrysanthemums at Bellingrath Garden
Space 301
Cathedral Square Gallery
Mobile Arts Council
Market on the Square
Ben May Main Library
Mobile International Festival (Civic Center, 11/21)
Lighting of the Trees (Friday the 20th, 5-8, Bienville Square)

[WEMO]

Construction contracts will likely be bid out in January or February, said Tony Zodrow, the museum's executive director. Construction will take 20 to 22 months, with the museum slated to open in late 2011, Zodrow said.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
By DAN MURTAUGH
Staff Reporter
GulfQuest has a green light.

The Mobile City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to take out more than $80 million in bonds to refinance old debt and help pay for the construction of GulfQuest, an interactive maritime museum to be built on the downtown waterfront.

Councilman John Williams voted against the bond issue after raising concerns about the city's indebtedness.

Williams proposed an amendment to the bond issue that would have required the city to use any savings from the refinancing to pay off debt ahead of schedule. But the amendment failed, with only Williams and Connie Hudson supporting it.

Other council members said they wanted as much flexibility as possible, given that the city is operating on a

leaner-than-usual budget this fiscal year.

The bond issue would add $23 million to the city's debt in order to build the maritime museum, buy land for additional parking for the museum and construct a fire station and police mini-precinct.

The museum will include interactive exhibits, such as remote-controlled tugboats that can guide ships into port and a simulator that will allow visitors to navigate vessels through a virtual Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay.

Construction contracts will likely be bid out in January or February, said Tony Zodrow, the museum's executive director. Construction will take 20 to 22 months, with the museum slated to open in late 2011, Zodrow said.

The city is partnering with a nonprofit museum foundation to build GulfQuest. That foundation is paying $15 million to

$17 million for the exhibits and programs and will pay the estimated $3.8 million in annual operating costs. The city is on the hook for $36 million in construction costs.

The city has received about $18.7 million from the federal government for the museum, which also will be used as a ferry and bus terminal. City officials spent more than

$8 million of that on bulkheads and site preparation along the waterfront.




The remaining $10 million will be combined with bond money to pay for the construction. Mobile Mayor Sam Jones has said the city could be forced to repay the federal government if the museum is never built.

Jones has said he will schedule payments on the new loans so that the city doesn't have to increase its planned debt payments for the next 10 years. Scheduled pay ments would increase after that, but those payments would remain below what the city is paying now.

Jones called it

"revenue-neutral" borrowing, meaning that if the city's revenue stays flat, it will still be able to afford to pay its debt.

Total revenue for the city dropped from

$245.6 million in the 2008 fiscal year to $235 million in fiscal 2009 — which ended Sept. 30 — despite an annexation in the fall of 2008 that brought a retail-rich area near Theodore into the city limits.

The bond proposal also calls for the city to be reimbursed for part of its interest payments on the debt through two federal stimulus programs passed earlier this year.

The fire station and police mini-precinct in Theodore would be paid for in part by a $1.9 million federal stimulus grant and in part by $500,000 included in the bond issue.

The city promised the station to residents during last year's annexation campaign.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

It's about time someone gave us some dates; I just hope it sticks to schedule. Not sure why a new firestation and police "mini-precinct" in Theodore are lumped in with this, though.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by nouveau_Mauvilla

It's about time someone gave us some dates; I just hope it sticks to schedule. Not sure why a new firestation and police "mini-precinct" in Theodore are lumped in with this, though.

It's cheaper to lump them together, and much less of a hassle. Basically you get to make one individual payment instead of like two or three.

[TheMobilian]

What happened to Boom Buggy I saw it one time DT and then it disapeared

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Originally Posted by TheMobilian

What happened to Boom Buggy I saw it one time DT and then it disapeared

The pedicab? I've seen him on Dauphin and not too long ago someone said they saw him (with passengers) going down Royal.

[Alxx611]

A few pictures:

Candlewood Suites





New Hopjacks sign



Gulf City Louge



New park by Broad and State Streets







Extra:

















Cool mosaics in the Civic Center:







old Buick Building would make great development











Anyone ever been to British Park? Very Hidden, small, but beautiful

[Port_of_Bama]

Good pics Alxx hopefuly I`ll be posting a Christmas series soon. Where was the 3rd last pic shot at alexx I never saw that church downtown before ?


I`m glad to see that the Candlewood Hotel is still in the works though I wish it could be taller. I also wish that the fed gov will hurry up and give us our new federal building which would be across the street from Candlewood.


The new park at the intersection of Broad and Springhill did a lot for that area Im ready for the second phase of Bring Back Broad Street. The medians ,new street lights, and Magnolias gave the south end of Broad a major face lift.

It would be cool to see more mural art around downtown especaily LODA because that is where the art walks are held at.


The area near the old buick building is in desperate need of development. The area has a lot of potential. Instead of Commercial development I would rather see more residentual in that area. Brownstones or apartment complexis that fit into the downtown charm would do a lot for that area. I can also see a couple of deli,ice cream,and coffee shops

That area of downtown is in great need of development I can see new apartment complexis that would fit the downtown charm.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

City Council Renews Business Improvement District



The Mobile City Council today continued it's visionary leadership by approving the renewal of the Downtown Mobile Business Improvement District (BID) for another five year period. In a public hearing, the council heard from several property owners who testified to the dramatic improvement in downtown since the establishment of the BID in 2005. No one spoke against the BID's renewal.

The council vote was six for approval with one abstention. In summing up the general sentiments of many council members, President Reggie Copeland said the BID was one of the best things happening in downtown these days.

The new management plan, which emphasizes improving the downtown user experience will become effective with the 2010-2011 year.



Downtown Mobile Alliance

[WEMO]

Nice shots...

[jmbreland]

Nice shots, Alxx. Thanks for sharing! I enjoy keeping updated on how my hometown's downtown is coming along.

[phoenixboi08]

I really wish there was some way for the city to bury those power lines...I HATE those damn poles!

[Dyingyak]

Originally Posted by phoenixboi08

I really wish there was some way for the city to bury those power lines...I HATE those damn poles!

It's easy...all they have to do is cut the check!

[phoenixboi08]

Originally Posted by Dyingyak

It's easy...all they have to do is cut the check!

Haha! I just don't see that happening is what I meant.

[jmbreland]

Originally Posted by phoenixboi08

I really wish there was some way for the city to bury those power lines...I HATE those damn poles!

The feeling's mutual, Phoenixboi08.

[jmbreland]

A few questions about Alxx's pictures:

1. What's up with the colorful building in the 12th picture from the top? A planned renovation long put on hold or just an artistic pampering until someone buys the structure for renovation?

2. What is the building in pictures 14 and 15? I've never noticed that one. It's got an interesting architecture.

3. Where is British Park? I've never been to the park. I'll have to make sure I visit the park the next time I'm in Mobile.

Also, I'm wondering what's going on with the uhh ... (trying to remember the name of the old cross-shaped structure) ... oh, the Gayfers building. Is it being renovated right now or what?

[Port_of_Bama]

Ity looks like renovations on the Gayfers building is on hold, but the Kress building is under renovations. Royal street is looking nice. North Royal could use more development and i believe it will start with the new hotel.


12th pic : I know that it is located on lower Dauphin and I beleive that they were suppose to be converted into condos at one time. I would rather see them being coverted into retail and cafes.


Pic 14 & 15 : That building is a church that is near Dunbar Magnet. I don`t think that it no longer has services. Im not sure but I believe that church is in Mobile`s old Creole neighborhood like the old Creole firestation near lower Dauiphin.



British Park: ?

[Alxx611]

The church in those two photos is the St Louis Missionary Baptist Church.

I'm pretty sure they still operate, they had service hours on the door, and I've seen a van with their name driving around time, but you never know.

British Park is a very obscure park close to the Civic Center. I cant remember the exact street, but its in the Church Street Historic District area, going towards Canal St. Its really beautiful and small, I think its mostly the hidden aspect of it that made it attractive to me. Seems like mostly a dog walking park, as its mostly sidewalk and maybe a few benches. It has a fountain at the entrance, and a few plaques. It looks great with all its christmas lights hanging from the trees. I recommed you all check it out, if not, I'll try to take more pictures soon.

The third from last picture is an Architectural Firm's office in De Tonti Square. I think it used to be a funeral home. I tried taking a lot of pictures from that area and North downtown as you can see, areas that have good potential, but are very run down, and semi industrial

[jmbreland]

Thanks, guys!

The third from last, an architectural firm, really? That's a beautiful building and I guess an architectural firm is a great fit since the occupants would be proud to be inside a great piece of architecture and keep it that way!