Mobile Development Thread

[Randallg223]

Just returned from a four day trip to Huntsville. Our local leaders and developers need to spend time in this very progressive city.......I was amazed at how more urban and upscale Huntsville is compared to Mobile. I felt as if I was in a much larger city.......There's not a Wal-Mart or Dollar General on every corner. Makes me so disappointed in my city, Hopefully with the addition of Airbus our leaders and developers will start thinking outside the box. I love this city, but it seems such a hick town........move forward Mobile. Its hard to believe Mobile was once larger than Orlando, Charlotte, Tampa, Austin, Nashville.......maybe this is our time.....

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Randallg223

Just returned from a four day trip to Huntsville. Our local leaders and developers need to spend time in this very progressive city.......I was amazed at how more urban and upscale Huntsville is compared to Mobile. I felt as if I was in a much larger city.......There's not a Wal-Mart or Dollar General on every corner. Makes me so disappointed in my city, Hopefully with the addition of Airbus our leaders and developers will start thinking outside the box. I love this city, but it seems such a hick town........move forward Mobile. Its hard to believe Mobile was once larger than Orlando, Charlotte, Tampa, Austin, Nashville.......maybe this is our time.....

Glad you enjoyed your visit, keep in mind though Huntsville has been building the high tech infrastructure (Aerospace/Defense/Space) for over 50 years. So it won't happen overnight, Mobile is a very historic and beautiful city that has just begun it's journey. Boeing has been a player in Huntsville since the 1950's.
By the way Huntsville has 6 walmarts, 10 area Publix(one on the way downtown)
and at least 15 dollar eyesores so we have our share.
Check out this link for more info if interested
http://www.huntsvillealabamausa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138&Itemid=271

[Port_of_Bama]

I lived in Huntsville for 3 years when attended Alabama A & M University then I transferred back to Mobile and graduated from USA. Huntsville and Mobile is on the same tier as far as size and they have more shopping options that Mobile and the city over all was cleaner and more manicured. Hopefully with new leadership that should change. I Disagree with your statement about Huntsville being more Urban though.There is no other city in this state outside of Birmingham that is as structurally dense as Mobile.I found Mobile on the other hand to be more dense, compact and walkable than Huntsville.They also have just as many Walmart supercenters as Mobile also LOL but i get your point.I use to work at the Walmart in Madison Alabama. Huntsville was blessed with forward thinking leadership! And hopefully Mobile will get the same in August and we can learn a lot from the leadership of Huntsville.

[SouthSky]

Here's the layout for the reported retail/lodging development at Government and 65:



Lots of rumors flying around about the stores being included...

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Not completely satisfied with the layout, but at least more store fronts than are usually expected front closely to the thoroughfares.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by quattordici

Not completely satisfied with the layout, but at least more store fronts than are usually expected front closely to the thoroughfares.

I agree. The problem lies in Satchel Paige Drive (pre-existing), which would need some re-routing for a development to have a more "mall-ish" look.

Hopefully they move the BayBears downtown and open more space for development here.

[NitekKetin]

The two large buildings close to I-65 will be Costco and Cabela's. Target is the large freestanding building in the lower left, and the remaining strip will be typical big box stores.

This would be a great opportunity for Regal to upgrade Hollywood Stadium and add an Imax auditorium - something the market lacks.

[Verve]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

Here's the layout for the reported retail/lodging development at Government and 65:



Lots of rumors flying around about the stores being included...

SouthSky,

Was there a link or image showing the layout? I didn't see anything on your post.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by Verve

SouthSky,

Was there a link or image showing the layout? I didn't see anything on your post.

It's still showing up for me?

Here's where I grabbed it: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BPPMMvzCEAE2HNc.jpg:large

[Verve]

Got it, SouthSky. Thanks.

[elb401]

I just cringed when I read this. I was hoping this project would die. I understand that this side of Downtown could use some development, but not a suburban shopping center. These people are crazy. You can tell they are not real estate developers. There isn't any demand for this type of retail at that location. Its no wonder there hasn't been any preleasing activity. Trust me, in real estate, if you build it does not mean that they will come. Unless they are wanting pawn shops, liquor stores, and loan shark businesses. They might be able to attract a beauty supply store. I hope I'm wrong and this project achieves the goals of the MLK redevelopment group.

http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/groundbreaking_announced_for_b.html#incart_river

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by elb401

I just cringed when I read this. I was hoping this project would die. I understand that this side of Downtown could use some development, but not a suburban shopping center. These people are crazy. You can tell they are not real estate developers. There isn't any demand for this type of retail at that location. Its no wonder there hasn't been any preleasing activity. Trust me, in real estate, if you build it does not mean that they will come. Unless they are wanting pawn shops, liquor stores, and loan shark businesses. They might be able to attract a beauty supply store. I hope I'm wrong and this project achieves the goals of the MLK redevelopment group.

http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/groundbreaking_announced_for_b.html#incart_river

Yeah that pissed me off too! Where is the zoning police? And anything that is being developed in downtown or midtown should follow urban building codes .

[jmbreland]

Saw this article in the Sunday paper while I was visiting family in Mobile last weekend. I'm excited about Mobile's bright future.

http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/citys_economic_momentum_smooth.html

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by jmbreland

Saw this article in the Sunday paper while I was visiting family in Mobile last weekend. I'm excited about Mobile's bright future.

http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/citys_economic_momentum_smooth.html

Very exciting times ahead for Mobile indeed...

If we stay on track and focus on doing things right the first time through, we are poised for a massive upswing.

Another subject:

The City Council today unanimously approved the tax incentives for that 65/Govt development.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I-10/Mobile River Bridge conversations continue, permits could be sought in early 2014

By Kelli Dugan
AL.com
LINK

“As we understand it, (ALDOT has) sent the documentation to the Federal Highway Administration for the third time, and the responses they received were more cosmetic than structural, so we anticipate having the final document back at the end of this month, but then I’ve been saying that for a year,” Hallett said.

Once said documents are approved for review a public hearing must be held, and ALDOT must post and publicize said meeting at least 45 days in advance.

“Once that hearing is held – two really, one in Mobile County and one in Baldwin County – then ALDOT will submit the final documentation back to the Federal Highway Administration, and if they give it their approval, then sometime after the first of the year they could get the ball rolling by applying for permits,” Hallett said.

When asked how likely that chain of events is to take place in that particular order on that particular schedule, Hallett said simply, “If I knew that I’d go to Biloxi and make a lot of money because I’d be a lot smarter than anybody I know.”

[SouthSky]

Two competing proposals for Mobile soccer complexes at the County Commission:

Ludgood and Hudson advocate this plan on the northwest side of the 10/65 interchange:


While Carl advocates this plan off McDonald Rd south of I10 in southwest Mobile county:


I've got to say I like the Ludgood/Hudson location more...

[jmbreland]

I love the Lugwood/Hudson proposal because of the location and inclusion of natural areas and interpretive trails but I can already see a problem: this has only soccer fields, that's it. No baseball or football fields like the second proposal. Is soccer popular enough in Mobile to warrant building a complex solely for soccer?

[famaf007]

Do Yall really want this? Think about it! That proposed development is the few big parcels of land left in Mobile. I can see Mobile County jumping to 550,000 people in a few years with the recent developments. Plus it's tearing our watershed infrastructure of Mobile from swamps to parking lots. That's the last creek that hasn't been filled by a concrete gully. Mobile bay before Bel Air and Springdale mall (Wrag Swamp) use to filter the bay, where we had crystal clean water in Mobile Bay. One could use to see the bottom even at Middle Bay. Things are changing, more people, more traffic. I hate dense traffic. Remeber what happen in summer of 2010 during the oil spill when there was an extra 20,000 people. The interstates where jammed every where, not just the tunnel. Please think how we could preserve some things.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

More good news for Mobile and the rest of the state!

State Port plans to ship cars, more freight with $412 million in projects

By Michael Tomberlin
AL.com
LINK

POINT CLEAR, Alabama – The head of the Alabama State Port Authority said $412 million in new projects and expansions are slated to help the Port handle more shipping containers, finally be capable of shipping and receiving automobiles and may even pave the way for a rail link to Birmingham.

Speaking to the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s summer conference this morning, Jimmy Lyons, chief executive and director of the Alabama State Port Authority, said the success of Alabama’s companies and manufacturers are boosting the fortunes of the Port.

In fiscal year 2012, Lyons said the Port took in record revenues of $144 million and handled more than 25 million tons of cargo. Direct and indirect jobs tied to the Port number 127,591, he said.

But to remain successful will require constantly growing and expanding the Port to handle new business.

A good portion of the new investment will boost the Port’s ability to move shipping containers between ship and rail. There is $36 million going into an intermodal rail project at the Port this year. A second $44 million intermodal rail project will follow in 2015.

In the middle of that will be $68 million spent on the second phase of the Port’s container terminal next year.
Logistics Park and Terminal rendering.jpgAn artists rendering of the planned intermodal facility and logistics park at the Alabama State Port. (courtesy of the Alabama State Port Authority)

“Our container terminal has been a phenomenal success,” Lyons told the economic developers.

Linking the container terminal to intermodal facilities such as the one Norfolk-Southern now operates in McCalla or smaller facilities operated by other railroad companies in the Birmingham area remains on Lyouns’ wish list.

“We would love to establish a direct link between Birmingham and Mobile either with Norfolk-Southern or CSX,” Lyons said. “It will help take some of the load off I-65.”

But the future development at the Port that seemed to excite the crowd the most are the plans to start shipping cars into and out of the Port.

“We think the time is right to get into the automotive business,” Lyons said, pointing to plans for a $54 million automobile roll-on/roll off terminal to be built between 2015 and 2018.

Lyons said the Port is not currently equipped to ship passenger cars but the new terminal will enable that.

The growth of the port coincides with the $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal slated to double the capacity of the canal when it is completed in late 2015.

“Panama Canal expansion will serve our port well,” Lyons said, noting Mobile is one of only two Ports in the Gulf of Mexico with direct shipping service to Asia.
..........

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by quattordici

More good news for Mobile and the rest of the state!

State Port plans to ship cars, more freight with $412 million in projects

By Michael Tomberlin
AL.com
LINK

Came here to post this, but you beat me

Big news for the port and for the state, since this will pay dividends not only in Mobile, but in every corner of Alabama.

• APM Mobile Container Terminal - a huge investment and just right on time for the Panama Canal expansion
• Intermodal Terminal - a huge piece of infrastructure that will enhance both the container terminal and Brookley Aeroplex
• Steel Coil Facility
• Automobile Facility on the TIC - they must have an investor for this (which is a good thing
• McDuffie expansion - forever expanding