Montgomery development news

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by OCA REP

True. But, it sure is exciting to see this tower rise in downtown Montgomery!

Yes, and for a "12-story" building it seems really impressive from a distance.

[OCA REP]

From today's Montgomery Advertiser:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/arti...+building+in+foreground+of+library+plans

I guess a library might be a good option for Court Square instead of a State House. But I have always heard the old Belk's Department store on Dexter mentioned whenever a new library downtown is discussed. Time will tell...

New downtown building in foreground of library plans
By Jill Nolin • January 15, 2010

The city of Montgomery will be asking the federal government to help it realize its dream of having a new downtown library, but Mayor Todd Strange has also tasked the library board with lending a hand in the effort to cobble the money together.

Strange said Thursday that the city has requested a $35 million federal appropriation for the project in the 2011 fiscal year. The first phase, which would include architectural planning and property acquisition, would cost between $1 million to $2 million, Strange said.

While Strange said the city might match funding, he said he didn't want money from the city's general fund to be the primary source for the project.

Still he said the city is not passively waiting for an outside funding source to be identified. Strange said the city is starting the process of posturing itself for the large-scale project.

Thomas McPherson, the new Montgomery City-County Public Library Board president, told the board on Thursday that the mayor wants the board to orchestrate a community fundraiser to lessen the burden on government. It is not clear right now how much the board would be expected to raise.

Strange, who took office in March, said building a new downtown library is one of his top five priorities for the next five years.

The current building, which opened in 1960, was designed for both the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the library. The museum moved out and to its current location in east Montgomery in 1998.

"This is one of those projects you have to start thinking about and dreaming about (now)," Strange said Thursday.

Strange said a state-of-the-art main library, which would likely be located near the Court Square area, would bring more people downtown. This would, in turn, spur even more downtown revitalization, he said.

Strange isn't the only one who has made a new downtown library one of his priorities. McPherson, who was given control of the board Thursday, also has it as one of his major goals.

"I enjoy conversations and I enjoy meetings, but I am a task-oriented individual. I trust our conversations and meetings will result in these accomplishments," McPherson said to the board shortly after becoming president.

McPherson replaced Gary Burton, who will now serve as secretary on the library board.

McPherson shared his top three goals for the new year, listing them in the order he believes that they need to occur:

For the board to clearly establish itself as a governing board, rather than an advisory board. A memorandum of understanding, shared with the city and county governments, was recently written to clarify the board's role as a governing board.

"We just became a governing board, but we're just a governing board on paper. It's going to take time for that to become a reality," McPherson said.

For the board to establish relationships with other individuals, organizations and institutions.

"We do not exist in a vacuum. We need to build the relationships and partnerships that we are going to need to provide the services the community needs and to raise the money needed to provide those services," McPherson said.

For the board to create a clear strategy for making a new downtown library a reality. This includes a public relations campaign that would improve and market the public library system's image in the community.

[bystander1]

I have a good feeling that the library will be the future of One Court Square. We need a new one baaaddd!

Of course, today's modern libraries aren't like we were used to when we were growing up; not a place of "geekdom" with that "closed in" feeling. With them being centers for technology and having more interactive activities for the average person, I think it will be a great catalyst to help spur development along lower Dexter Avenue. Plus it will help bridge lower Dexter with the Alley.

Check out some of these modern designs.

[bystander1]

Check this out. This is a pic from the Montgomery Water Works. It shows the area of the riverwalk, the Alley, the new Renaissance Hotel, the baseball stadium, and the Capitol complex (downtown Bronnerville) rising above the river. A cool nighttime shot.

[kevinlpugh]

New Lofts Downtown on Adams....
Video from WSFA

[bystander1]

*removed*

That would be a huge mistake. The Kress building would be the wrong size for a main library. Plus, I wouldn't trust BB&T to use much of any building in the city for anything worthwhile and would take virtually any offer from the city to get rid of One Court Square. If not that building for a library, then it would have to be some other building.

To sink $35M into a building as limited in so many ways as the Kress building is for the main library, it would call for an immediate investigation of everyone involved in the purchase of it for that purpose.

[thoraudio]

Originally Posted by bystander1

That would be a huge mistake. The Kress building would be the wrong size for a main library. Plus, I wouldn't trust BB&T to use much of any building in the city for anything worthwhile and would take virtually any offer from the city to get rid of One Court Square. If not that building for a library, then it would have to be some other building.

To sink $35M into a building as limited in so many ways as the Kress building is for the main library, it would call for an immediate investigation of everyone involved in the purchase of it for that purpose.

Have you been in the Kress building.... It's got to be bigger than the existing library. There's a full sized basement/lower floor + a full size third floor for storage/offices.

To me, the two drawbacks are parking and the guy who owns it who wants way too much money.

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by thoraudio

Have you been in the Kress building.... It's got to be bigger than the existing library. There's a full sized basement/lower floor + a full size third floor for storage/offices.

To me, the two drawbacks are parking and the guy who owns it who wants way too much money.

Yes, but just because it is bigger than the current library doesn't mean it is the right size and fit for a new one. It's more than just space for the sake of space, it's about how we utilize that space that's just as important. The long, closed-in layout and feel of the Kress building just wouldn't make a good library location to me. And yes, the parking issue and the price are two of my reasons for my lack of support.

[Capital Heights]

For library enthusiasts, check out this: http://www.sslarch.com/onTheBoards/otb_MontgomeryLibrary1.cfm

[rbp]

Noticed last night that the new observation tower on the riverfront has LEDs similar to the MPAC center.

[Scoots71]

Originally Posted by Capital Heights

For library enthusiasts, check out this: http://www.sslarch.com/onTheBoards/otb_MontgomeryLibrary1.cfm

I really like that.

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by rbp

Noticed last night that the new observation tower on the riverfront has LEDs similar to the MPAC center.

Is the lighting anything like this?

[thoraudio]

no, there are some lights on the bridge, and on the tower it looks like the Hotel. Horizontal stripes of fading lights.

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by thoraudio

no, there are some lights on the bridge, and on the tower it looks like the Hotel. Horizontal stripes of fading lights.

Cool. When I go downtown at night the lights on the tower are never on. Hopefully they will light it up this weekend.

[bystander1]

Great news for the Alley and downtown. Perfect for when the baseball games start later this year.

We need to start planning now for our next forum meet.
Can you say... Pub Crawl?

House to vote on Montgomery 'open container' bill
The Montgomery Advertiser
By Markeshia Ricks • January 28, 2010

A bill that would allow Montgomery to change the way that alcohol is sold and consumed in specified parts of the city is expected to be passed by the Alabama House of Representatives today.

The "open container" bill would allow the city to establish, by ordinance, "entertainment districts" in which alcohol can be purchased from a licensed provider and consumed anywhere within that district. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said that by passing the bill the city could further its economic development goals downtown.

"This is not intended to be like New Orleans," Strange said. "This is nothing more than allowing people to move around in a very small defined area like The Alley."

Currently, if people buy an alcoholic drink at one business, they cannot leave that business and go somewhere else with that drink. If they do, they are violating an Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board rule.

City Councilman Tracy Larkin, who represents much of the downtown area, said the bill would make it easier for the city to promote popular events such as pub-crawls and attract other major events such as conferences and conventions.

"Those kinds of events are extremely successful, but they are hampered by archaic laws," Larkin said. "It's time for Montgomery to finally move into the 21st century."

Strange said no other city in Alabama has such districts, but they are allowed temporary permissions regarding the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages for events, such as they are with Montgomery's Jubilee CityFest.

Although city officials are eyeing downtown as the obvious choice for establishing such a district, bill sponsor state, Rep. Thad McClammy, said the bill would allow the city to look at other areas for similar purposes.

"I think this could be a real asset to the city, not only in the downtown area, but also in the Cloverdale area," he said. "We are really hoping to pass this bill with all deliberate speed, and we're looking forward to seeing it come to fruition."

Strange said he's not currently considering establishing any entertainment districts other than in downtown.
Larkin said while there are obvious benefits to making downtown more attractive as a center for entertainment, having it as an entertainment district would benefit the entire city.

"Downtown development and growth is so important to the entire city," he said. "The city needs to seize upon this as a catalyst for making downtown entertainment more exciting, and if it's more exciting and alluring, people will spend more time downtown and hopefully they'll spend more money."

Maj. Huey Thornton, spokesman for the Montgomery Police Department, said there is already a heavy police presence in downtown and he doesn't foresee the change would create any problems the department couldn't handle.

State. Rep. Greg Wren, who serves as the chairman of the Montgomery County legislative delegation, said the bill is uncontested and should be passed today and sent on to the Senate.

[OldCloverdale]

HB401

McClammy Montgomery County H Passed by House of Origin Montgomery County Legislation 01/28/2010
Montgomery, alcoholic beverages, city council authorized to establish entertainment districts authorizing consumption of

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

HB401

McClammy Montgomery County H Passed by House of Origin Montgomery County Legislation 01/28/2010
Montgomery, alcoholic beverages, city council authorized to establish entertainment districts authorizing consumption of

Yay!!!!!!

Is this just for Montgomery, or does this apply to the anywhere in the state that approves it for the certain districts?

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by tredici

Yay!!!!!!

Is this just for Montgomery, or does this apply to the anywhere in the state that approves it for the certain districts?

It's a local bill for Montgomery only.

[bystander1]

Alabama gets federal funding for rail study
By Jill Nolin • January 29, 2010

Montgomery officials believe it makes sense for passenger trains to return here, and the federal government is investing $200,000 to help them find out.

The White House announced Thursday that $200,000 of federal stimulus money will go toward conducting a feasibility study to see if passenger trains should operate between Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile and other Alabama cities.

"Based on the amount of riders and the population that each area will have over time, we think it will actually be feasible to put the service back in place," said Robert Smith, Montgomery senior transportation planner.
"This is the next generation of transportation right here -- rail," Smith added.

The $200,000 will require a 50 percent match from the players in Alabama, but a funding arrangement has not been made yet. The other $200,000 could be split three ways among Montgomery, Mobile and Birmingham, or it could be spilt six ways among those larger cities and three smaller cities along the route.

The revived line would link Montgomery to a 21,100-mile web of Amtrak rails that run to more than 500 destinations in 46 states. Riders could start in Montgomery and make it to New York in less than 24 hours.

The line also would mean more riders coming to Montgomery, as well as all the other stops along the route.

"We are delighted to get (the grant) because that's all about giving people another mode of transportation in and out of Montgomery. And that means more people here," Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said.

Smith said that while the study could show that passenger rail service would work from Mobile to Birmingham, it also could indicate that a different route is needed. For example, the study could possibly find that the rails would need to be closer to highway traffic.

High-speed rail also could be considered and factored into the study, Smith said. High-speed rail service features speeds greater than 110 miles per hour.

"Expanding passenger rail in Alabama would have a tremendous economic impact, and I fully support this important first step," 2nd District Congressman Bobby Bright in a Statement said. "People can access Alabama by car, air, bus and boat, but train service is lacking in most of the state, including our Capital City."

The Gulf Breeze line, an Amtrak route, ran from 1989 to 1995.

Here's the entire article from the Montgomery Advertiser.

[bystander1]

"Can you imagine how amazing Montgomery would be to someone stepping off the train at Union Station and seeing our city from the Riverfront for the first time?"

Yeah, I can.

BTW, if this plan works, I'm glad this mayor, unlike Folmar, won't treat Amtrak like an afterthought...bring back the full-service office instead of just some uncovered wooden platform next to the tracks.