Montgomery development news - Page 254

OldCloverdale · #**5061** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 3:07 PM**

It's time for the City of MGM to go after the (three games) AISA state football championships ... and later go after the AHSAA's "Super Six" ... and a college football Bowl Game!

Advertiser Editorial: Win for the city

The long-overdue renovation of Cramton Bowl is already paying one dividend -- the all-star football and basketball classics that pit the best high school players from Alabama and Mississippi are moving to Montgomery.

Of course, it will take much more than this once-a-year game to make the community's investment in Cramton Bowl pay off. But the classic could prove to be a significant boon for the city. And frankly, Cramton Bowl should have had this facelift long ago, with or without new events.

The annual football contest between Alabama and Mississippi players had been in Mobile since its inception in 1988. The basketball classic games -- girls and boys -- will be played at Alabama State University. They have been held in Pelham, but will move to Montgomery in March 2012.

While the basketball games are a plus for ASU and the city, it is the football game in early December that has the most potential to have a positive economic impact on the community.

"You're going to have a ton of people for a whole week in Montgomery, Ala., in early December, when it's a dead time," Mayor Todd Strange said of the football classic, which will be on Dec. 10. "The hotels will love this."

So will the restaurants and retail stores, because many of the families of the players will be in town not just for the game, but for the entire week.

If the upgraded Cramton Bowl allows the community to capture other such sports events, the boost to the local economy could prove to be substantial.

However, even if none of this happens, the improvementsto Cramton Bowl were necessary. The stadium, which is almost 90 years old, started showing its age decades ago.

The upgrade to Cramton Bowl actually began several years ago with a new playing field. The latest improvements continue that long-range project.

For the city to keep the football classic beyond the next two years, the community needs to support it -- in other words, businesses and individuals need to buy tickets and help fill the seats. Mobile has not been very successful in promoting the football classic for the past two years.

Montgomery, we believe, can do better -- much better.

brad0022 · #**5062** Posted **Jun 8, 2011, 2:57 PM**

So what happened to the Blue/Grey game? I cannot remember now. Did it fold or move to another city?

thoraudio · #**5063** Posted **Jun 8, 2011, 3:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad0022

So what happened to the Blue/Grey game? I cannot remember now. Did it fold or move to another city?

It lost it's sponsor in Kelly Tires, then resurfaced in Troy for a year or two as the Movie Gallery Blue/Grey, then when Movie Gallery started collapsing, it went away for good.

I liked having the Blue/Grey although it was always blacked out and I only went once.

brad0022 · #**5064** Posted **Jun 8, 2011, 3:11 PM**

Quote:

*removed*

Exactly. Forget Montgomery crime which this year is lower than this time last. The crime in the burbs has risen. I've heard of plenty of shootings, stabbings, robberies, murders, etc. in the "preferred community", Wetumpka, Pine Level, Millbrook, etc. in the last few years. More than I have read or heard of a decade ago. I have a friend who's cousin was involved with a crazy redneck who shot someone in Prattville one year. Those commenters are full of it.

I for one have never felt unsettled or very nervous anywhere in the city but that's my experience. Just because this happened in the city doesn't mean it can't happen in Ramer or Slapout or Pike Road.

Dyingyak · #**5065** Posted **Jun 8, 2011, 8:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad0022

Also the city is negotiating with a hotel chain to move to where the parking lot is across from the Renaissance. Not sure of the name. Good news after hearing that the Hyatt and the other hotel decided to cancel their plans for that spot.

Between the Renaissance and the Train Station?? I was under the impression that was going to be converted into the city "square" green space...so to speak.

thoraudio · #**5066** Posted **Jun 8, 2011, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyingyak

Between the Renaissance and the Train Station?? I was under the impression that was going to be converted into the city "square" green space...so to speak.

Other side. Former Frank Leu building site.

OldCloverdale · #**5067** Posted **Jun 23, 2011, 2:40 PM**

Construction at 78 Dexter Ave (Latin restaurant) should start in two weeks.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**5068** Posted **Jul 2, 2011, 4:26 AM**

Montgomery releases promotional video

From the Montgomery Advertiser: Article/Video link

City of Montgomery has released its full length video promotional video for its "Capitol of Dreams" campaign.

You should really watch it. Some great pictures, video, music, etc...

brad0022 · #**5069** Posted **Jul 2, 2011, 2:21 PM**

^^ That was a great video. Very well done.

brad0022 · #**5070** Posted **Jul 2, 2011, 2:26 PM**

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/arti...land-open-residents?odyssey=mod|mostview

"The Water Tower one-bedroom apartments include granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, "spa-inspired" bathrooms, exposed brick and beams and individual balconies -- several of which overlook The Alley, downtown Montgomery's emerging entertainment district.

There are two penthouse lofts on the fourth floor, both of which have been rented, and eight others on the second and third floors that range from 800 to 1,100-square-feet, Kyser said. The units on the lower floors rent for between $950 and $1,250. The penthouses are $1,550."

Also "Kyser said there are plans to turn the building's basement into a bar."

OldCloverdale · #**5071** Posted **Jul 6, 2011, 2:24 PM**

Yesterday, the City of Montgomery took an $82,000 loss that the city hopes will pay off in the long run.

The City Council approved the sale of 15 Dexter Avenue for $111,000, the city says the area needs to be approved and there need to be an incentive for developers. The incentive is at a discounted price, but they are confident the money will be made up and that bulding is appraised at $192,000.

Deputy Mayor Jeff Downes: "The key thing we want to have is action that will raise the value of the property long term and raise the value of the block. Bring life to it."

Also, the Kress building, which had an appraised value of $435,000 in 2009, has been offered to architect Mike Watson for $225,000, but that deal has not been approved yet by the City Council.

The city purchased 12 properties for about $3.2 million using state bond money.

Visible work is actually expected to begin this week at 11 Dexter Ave., which will become the developer's residence and continue to be City Drugs on the first floor. The first change will be to the facade, with Blackman replacing the existing windows.

OldCloverdale · #**5072** Posted **Jul 7, 2011, 1:17 PM**

The downtown Montgomery property that was until recently a Clarion Hotel on Madison Avenue closed a little more than a week ago.

It is 180 rooms.

Without the Clarion, Montgomery has about 674 downtown hotel rooms. The hotels closest to the Convention Center -- the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa, Embassy Suites and Hampton Inn -- had an occupancy rate of about 70 percent in April.

If there were more available beds close to the Convention Center, it could attract larger events.

bystander1 · #**5073** Posted **Jul 7, 2011, 2:22 PM**

Lol. Don't worry. They're coming...

OldCloverdale · #**5074** Posted **Jul 13, 2011, 1:25 PM**

brad0022 · #**5075** Posted **Jul 15, 2011, 12:56 PM**

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/arti...re?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p

The Gay House on Noble Ave wil be razed. Ken Register bought the home to renovate for a law office but the cost was way too much due to extensive damage from fire damage in 2007. Interior pieces of the home will be salvaged and sold.

The good news is the site will be home to "eight residential units that will be designed like carriage houses." They will be of Victorian style with different design and color. He will go in front of the planning board in July 28 to move forward.

brad0022 · #**5076** Posted **Jul 18, 2011, 1:15 PM**

Mike Watson will know by Aug. 2nd if the Council will allow him to buy the Kress building on Dexter Ave. He plans to redevelop with 30 lofts, a 200 person venue, a bar, eatery, rooftop terrace and fitness center. Watson also wants to incorporate 35 Dexter into the project after the current lease is up. Also there are plans purchase and demolish the building that sits between 29 and 35 Dexter to turn it into a public green space. That will allow for windows for some of the 30 lofts.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/arti...ilding?odyssey=tab|topnews|img|Frontpage

Key details
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/arti...LS?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

Recreate the Clover Bar which was originally in the Kress building which will serve simple fare and stay open late.
The cost will likely be $1.25 per foot for the loft space. Some will be small studio and some will be luxury.
The bar will be similar to the Ally Bar in decor.
There will be exhibit space with art that commemorates the building and Montgomery history.
The facades facing Dexter and Monroe will return to the 1929 appearance. Most of the work will be on the inside.

OldCloverdale · #**5077** Posted **Jul 18, 2011, 4:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad0022

...The bar will be similar to the Ally Bar in decor...

Gret news!

I love AlleyBAR ... but with another place I wish he would do something different.

OldCloverdale · #**5078** Posted **Jul 18, 2011, 5:15 PM**

Birmingham restaurateur Guillermo Castro, who owned Sol y Luna and the Cantina, dies at 52

Monday, July 18, 2011
By Bob Carlton -- The Birmingham News

Guillermo Castro started Sol y Luna in 1997 and opened his first Cantina seven years later. (Birmingham News file)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Guillermo Castro, who grew up in Mexico and built a small restaurant empire after moving to Birmingham, has died, apparently of a heart attack, some of his fellow chefs and restauranteurs said this morning.

Mr. Castro was 52.

Efforts to reach Mr. Castro's family members have been unsuccessful.

A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Mr. Castro opened Sol y Luna, which specializes in authentic Mexican tapas dishes, on Seventh Avenue South in Birmingham's Lakeview area in late 1997.

Seven years later, Mr. Castro opened the more casual Cantina, whose menu features what Mr. Castro called "street foods from around the world," in the nearby Martin Biscuit Building.

Mr. Castro has since started two more Cantinas in the Birmingham area -- one on Cahaba Valley Road in Inverness and a franchise in Hoover's Patton Creek shopping center -- and another in Montgomery in the downtown Alley Station entertainment district near Riverwalk Stadium.

A sign and voice-mail message at the original Cantina said the restaurant was closed today and the staff apologize for the inconvenience. It will reopen Tuesday, the message said.

Before opening his own restaurants, Mr. Castro managed The Pillars and worked with the Ruth's Chris Steak House chain.

Mr. Castro said in a 2004 interview with The Birmingham News that when he moved to Birmingham in the late 1980s, he found few foods from his native Mexico.

"I couldn't get good avocado, fresh cilantro, not even Corona beer," he said. "I grew up 40 miles from the town where they make tequila. But in restaurants here, I got something that was artificially flavored. I said, 'I've got to do something to expose my culture to Alabamians.'"

He did just that when he opened Sol y Luna, which not only offered Latino flavors in an upscale setting but also introduced tapas dining and premium tequilas.

"People thought I was out of my mind," Mr. Castro said. "But the excitement it created in the city showed me how the industry is moving toward Latin culture."

For a few years, Mr. Castro also owned and operated Los Angeles next door to Sol y Luna. The restaurant -- which Mr. Castro named for his sons Marcus and Gabe, "the angels," he said -- offered a fusion of Latin and South American cuisines.

OldCloverdale · #**5079** Posted **Jul 18, 2011, 7:59 PM**

http://aceaerialphoto.us/photos.htm

Brown Duckz · #**5080** Posted **Jul 18, 2011, 10:00 PM**

That's pretty neat. Nice view of the infill going on at the "Capital Complex"

That area has some DC-like attributes forming.