Mobile Development Thread

[CottonCity251]

Originally Posted by future_mobile

Oh ok. Cool Alxx. I thought I was a little late on Gayfer. haha. And I totally agree with you Port_of_Bama. That shud have been placed downtown. But have you all noticed the rather large construction of the Village of Midtown over there behind Tricentennial Park (the park across the creek behind Mobile Infirmary)? It looks like its going to be really nice and large. I searched for renderings of that but couldn't find a thing. Do any of you guys have those renderings?

Village of Midtown as in the name of the development or area....? Because, thats a really strange name for this to be in Toulminville. Looks rather nice now, but would love to see the finish product....you know how they like finishing up the cheap way in Mobile...although this developer may be a little different because they are going rather fast and seems like all the money is there behind it. It should bring in new faces seeing its new and medium income rather than low to no income. I like what they have done to the little park there also, thats how all of Three Mile Creek should be as it runs through the city. Mobile really waste lots of what could be rich greenspace. From Langan to downtown, behind Orange Grove, could be some type of riverwalk/boardwalk development lined with retail shops and office on both sides. Mobile needs someone with a vision to improvement the neglected things we have....once they put it there, they let it go down the road of despair and negligence.

[Port_of_Bama]

Cottoncity you have said a gazillion things dude !!!!!!

I was looking at a map of three mile creek it would have been nice to have certain sections of three mile creek offering little canoe or gondola rides or something. There could be park ever 3rd of a mile on the creek that would have slips and the rides could be 3 or 5 dollars. Another great idea people could rent little canoes from the parks and paddle them selves. It is a great idea for a green forward city and excersise.Langan park use to have little foot peddle boats they were bicycle style paddle boats that had two seats .It would be more than nice to see people cruising the creek. There should be nice shops, cafés, and etc along the creek.


I was surprise to see the new apartment complex going up near Tricentennial park. The complex will spin off more decent housing in that area. I know that the development would be a good one when I saw that the complex offers personal parking garages,lol.

Is it me but i`m noticing upscale housing developments in strange areas,e.g ( the five story condos in midtown on Florida Street and the upscale apartment complex near Tricentennial park) hmmm ? I don`t know about anyone else but I like the way this is going so far and I believe the Oakleigh Historic district will be expanding a couple of blocks into the DOWN THE BAY COMMUNITY.

[Port_of_Bama]

Mrs. Mallick a hotelier from Hawaii who bought the Lafayette Plaza in 2004 and renovated the entire hotel and added the skyview lounge and all.After the renovations of the Lafayette Plaza Hotel it met the standards or guidlines to become a Holiday Inn brand hotel. She purchased the Radisson for 3 million but they don`t know if the Radisson brand will remain the same under new ownership. I can only see this as a good thing because I like what she has done with the Holiday Inn.The Sky View Lounge is one of the best and most hip cosmopolitan spots in the city and state. The new owner will announce new plans for the hotel later this month.

Also the IHS Global Insight economic firm ranked Mobile 46th out of 363 metros in job growth.Nothing much to brag about but it isn`t in the 200th spot either.Mobile`s job growth percentage is average which is good with me.

Huntsville 16th at 2.7 %

Mobile 46th at 2.3 %

Decatur 54th,Auburn-Opelika 61,Tuscaloosa 92( all three were slightly above 2%)

Birmingham 162 at 1.69 %

Montgomery 177 at 1.65 %

Regional rankings

Pensacola 175 at 1.66 %

Pascagoula 179 at 1.64 %

Gulfport-Biloxi 223 at 1.45 %

Birmingham and Montgomery both have been recruiting industry lately so the rankings should move below or slightly above the 100 spot next year.

[CottonCity251]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Cottoncity you have said a gazillion things dude !!!!!!

I know right....

[future_mobile]

I totally agree with the both of you CottonCity and Port of Bama.... And yes. Mobile has wasted alot of opportunities for green space. Somebody should really do a massive renovation of Langan Park and bring it back. It has really lost alot of its luster. It's a beautiful park but there is room for improvement I feel. And they really have been building these condos and upscale apartments in strange places. I really do think Mobile is trying to take back its historical districts (downtown & midtown area) one bad neighborhood at a time by if you all know what i mean. So dont be suprised to see upscale living, dining, and shopping in the Creighton area next. haha. Also, I might sound crazy but i think Mobile is trying to pull a quick one on us with the so called "new" U.S. 98. Have you all looked at maps of it on google, yahoo, etc. On 158, at its western tip, it begins to veer southwest. I think it will eventually become the Mobile Bypass. Its parallel to previous proposed western routes and its structure is of a freeway. Could this be the beginning of the Mobile Bypass?

[Port_of_Bama]

Hmmm good question I hope so.....

I also noticed that they are adding a 4 lane hwy to Hillcrest.Once you pass Cottagehill going towards Three Notch there is a huge slit in the woods to the left.They are building a four lane hwy around that section.

[Port_of_Bama]

Does anybody know what is going on with the Maritime Museum.They were suppose to start the foundation in August and where in the middle now.So what is going on ?

[NitekKetin]

Originally Posted by future_mobile

.... Also, I might sound crazy but i think Mobile is trying to pull a quick one on us with the so called "new" U.S. 98. Have you all looked at maps of it on google, yahoo, etc. On 158, at its western tip, it begins to veer southwest. I think it will eventually become the Mobile Bypass. Its parallel to previous proposed western routes and its structure is of a freeway. Could this be the beginning of the Mobile Bypass?

There has been an evolving expressway plan for the County since at least 1960. One extreme example had I-65 continuing southward across Dog River for an eventual interchange with a Dauphin Island Expressway!

I'm glad ALDOT is doing something to address traffic patterns in the western part of the city. AL 158 (and a relocated US 98) are supposed to continue along a limited access highway towards the MS state line. Schillinger Road is going to be a least five or six lanes from AL 158 to I-10.

I would have an eight lane elevated expressway running above Schillinger Road, with slip ramps to the street below..

[CottonCity251]

Originally Posted by future_mobile

I totally agree with the both of you CottonCity and Port of Bama.... And yes. Mobile has wasted alot of opportunities for green space. Somebody should really do a massive renovation of Langan Park and bring it back. It has really lost alot of its luster. It's a beautiful park but there is room for improvement I feel. And they really have been building these condos and upscale apartments in strange places. I really do think Mobile is trying to take back its historical districts (downtown & midtown area) one bad neighborhood at a time by if you all know what i mean. So dont be suprised to see upscale living, dining, and shopping in the Creighton area next. haha. Also, I might sound crazy but i think Mobile is trying to pull a quick one on us with the so called "new" U.S. 98. Have you all looked at maps of it on google, yahoo, etc. On 158, at its western tip, it begins to veer southwest. I think it will eventually become the Mobile Bypass. Its parallel to previous proposed western routes and its structure is of a freeway. Could this be the beginning of the Mobile Bypass?

Not really related, in a way, but its looks like they are about ready to widen Mobile St. in Creighton..... anyone know of this?

[future_mobile]

Originally Posted by NitekKetin

There has been an evolving expressway plan for the County since at least 1960. One extreme example had I-65 continuing southward across Dog River for an eventual interchange with a Dauphin Island Expressway!

I'm glad ALDOT is doing something to address traffic patterns in the western part of the city. AL 158 (and a relocated US 98) are supposed to continue along a limited access highway towards the MS state line. Schillinger Road is going to be a least five or six lanes from AL 158 to I-10.

I would have an eight lane elevated expressway running above Schillinger Road, with slip ramps to the street below..

Wow.. I hope what you are saying is true. That would be great. I doubt Mobile's freeway system will be oval shaped like most cities (Birmingham, Atlanta, Houston) due to the bay. I really see Mobile's freeway system being similar to alot of west coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. I would love to see a connection to Jackson, MS going thru Hattisburg, although i dont travel that route much. But i see our freeway system becoming complex. Way more complex then most cities due to the bay and our closeness to Biloxi and Pensacola. Hopefully not too complex. I would hate to scare away tourist. But thats way off some where else in Mobile's future. Probably by the time im 60yrs old (now 19).

[buckett5425]

Originally Posted by future_mobile

Wow.. I hope what you are saying is true. That would be great. I doubt Mobile's freeway system will be oval shaped like most cities (Birmingham, Atlanta, Houston) due to the bay. I really see Mobile's freeway system being similar to alot of west coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. I would love to see a connection to Jackson, MS going thru Hattisburg, although i dont travel that route much. But i see our freeway system becoming complex. Way more complex then most cities due to the bay and our closeness to Biloxi and Pensacola. Hopefully not too complex. I would hate to scare away tourist. But thats way off some where else in Mobile's future. Probably by the time im 60yrs old (now 19).

By the time you are 60 years old, our interstate system will be in disrepair and everyone will be utilizing mass transit in more densely built cities

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by buckett5425

By the time you are 60 years old, our interstate system will be in disrepair and everyone will be utilizing mass transit in more densely built cities

I agree lol


Also I think it would be beneficial to Widen I-10 to the Miss state line. And I have noticed that the city has set up Mobile street for widening.

[NitekKetin]

There are plans to widen I-10 through Mobile and Baldwin counties. I-65 is also slated to be six-laned from Industrial Pkwy north to, at least, Celeste Road.

[Bama_Boy_251]

Casinos and hotel resorts, we need three to five casinos in the city of mobile maybe two or three high rise casinos down town.

It would boost our economy there will be thousands of jobs added and it would modernize the downtown skyline.

[phoenixboi08]

I think we should take it one step at a time...

Let's see how the rest of the state feels about "Bingo Halls" first

[Bama_Boy_251]

Alabama refuses to grow and expand into the new millinium, we are so behind in everything. I think we should have gambling, and a lotto, we need the money. the tourist will flock us.

[Bama_Boy_251]

Originally Posted by phoenixboi08

I think we should take it one step at a time...

Let's see how the rest of the state feels about "Bingo Halls" first

F*CK the rest of the state I wish each individual County had the right to vote and decide whether they wanted gambling in their County or not.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by Bama_Boy_251

F*CK the rest of the state I wish each individual County had the right to vote and decide whether they wanted gambling in their County or not.

AGREED! That way a random 'Holier than thou' from a rural county has no real power when it comes to development of a new tourism base in any more-progressive counties like the majority of the urban areas in Alabama.

New Urbanism article in the Press-Register

Smart Growth: Is it Mobile's future and the solution to urban sprawl?
Published: Sunday, August 15, 2010, 6:00 AM
Updated: Sunday, August 15, 2010, 9:20 AM
Robert McClendon, Press-Register
Link

First of two parts
If you grew up in a typical American suburb, walking through the Florida community of Rosemary Beach is likely to feel like traveling through time.

The tightly packed houses sit close to the narrow streets, which are laid out on a 1920s-style grid.

It's quaint. It's pedestrian-friendly. It's completely illegal under most cities' zoning rules, including the ordinances that govern most development in Mobile.

Eight years ago, then-Mayor Mike Dow sparked an effort to create room in Mobile's rules for Rosemary Beach-style development, which is known in planning circles as Smart Growth or New Urbanism.

Planners, community leaders and others laid the groundwork for an overhaul of Mobile's zoning and traffic engineering ordinances in a series of meetings held over two years.

Despite early momentum, the overhaul never happened and the effort was largely shelved, said Laura Clarke, director of Mobile's Urban Development Department, a key player in the meetings... continued here

It's a shame all the momentum for this was lost. However, it still can be achieved in Mobile. Most of the older east Mobile already has the groundwork laid and we just need to push through... this would be a major boon for the aesthetics and utility of many areas.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by Bama_Boy_251

F*CK the rest of the state I wish each individual County had the right to vote and decide whether they wanted gambling in their County or not.

If I'm not mistaken, it's legal to petition the government. Why don't we start there?

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

AGREED! That way a random 'Holier than thou' from a rural county has no real power when it comes to development of a new tourism base in any more-progressive counties like the majority of the urban areas in Alabama.

New Urbanism article in the Press-Register



It's a shame all the momentum for this was lost. However, it still can be achieved in Mobile. Most of the older east Mobile already has the groundwork laid and we just need to push through... this would be a major boon for the aesthetics and utility of many areas.

Oh yeah ! East Mobile was already blessed with the smart growth] DNA[/B]. I read an article in the PR around 2005 or 06 about east Mobile’s structural density. The article mentioned that east Mobile’s structural density is as dense as a fairly large city(Chicago,San Fransisco,Detroit,Philly).

I think Mobile is still the state’s most densely populated city ?

What happened to the second phase of the Bring Back Broad Street project ? The section of Broad that is south of Govt( Down the Bay community) looks nice and that was part of the first phase. The second phase included modern directional signs that will be on the side instead of towering above. Trees were suppose to be planted on the sides lanes were suppose to be reduced from three to two. And a middle lane for a proposed trolley line was in the plan ! Business will be closer to the street to minimize parking space on the street scape.What happened !!?? We need Dow back ! Jones is just to relaxed with the way things are, Dow was more into development and growth in my opinion.