Mobile Development Thread

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by Del

I think that may be one of those "what is your dream to see in this space?" projects.

Blah !



Well in other news

Sweet news for Midtown: Sugar Rush Donut Co. plans to open second Mobile location

MOBILE, Alabama – Sugar Rush Donut Co., which began in Bayou La Batre in 2011, announced on Facebook today (March 13) that a second Mobile location would open by June 1 in the Loop area.

It’s a blessing and a curse for Midtown residents, who both rejoiced at the news and joked on Facebook about having to run to the donut shop to burn off the calories they’d consume there.

The Bayou La Batre bakery began when Marcellus Bosarge’s work as a riverboat captain slowed down. Despite having a degree in chemical engineering, the mother of his children, Mya, was also having trouble finding a job.

Bosarge had grown up in the kitchen, learning to bake from his grandmother and his father. "A lot of it is self-taught," he said.

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/03/sweet_news_for_midtown_sugar_r.html#incart_river


The hell with you Krispy Kreme !


And so they, along with his three sons, brother, other family members and close friends, opened the first Sugar Rush in a tiny storefront on South Wintzell Avenue in Bayou La Batre. Before long, word spread about the made-from-scratch doughnuts and bubble tea.

[Port_of_Bama]

Mayor Sandy Stimpson's creative push, revisiting Doris Brown and Walter Energy in town (Sharp Eye on Mobile, John Sharp)

MOBILE, Alabama – You have to give Mayor Sandy Stimpson credit for returning from San Antonio, Texas, filled with enthusiasm and interesting ideas.

Stimpson1.JPGMobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson
As mayor, he's thinking proactive in terms of trying to find ways to lure investment and – by extension, tax revenues – into the city from some of its more underutilized assets. He was able to get some of the ideas while brainstorming during the Mayor's Institute on City Design last week.



But you also have to wonder if the mayor should verbally announce every interesting thought during City Council meetings if there is no concrete investment or interest from private investors to proceed with them. The ideas might add some initial intrigue into the minds of the council and public, but if none of them are ever realized – or don't happen within a couple of years – will the public eventually tune them out?

Here were three notable ones:

Restaurant at Convention Center. Stimpson said on Monday, during a roundtable with the local media, and on Tuesday during the council meeting, that he would like to see some kind of restaurant opened within the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. The idea impressed Councilman Joel Daves, who echoed his interest in wanting to see some sort of restaurant within the convention center.

More :http://blog.al.com/live/2014/03/mayor_sandy_stimpsons_creative.html

How do you guys feel about restaurant in the convention center ?

[Alxx611]

Originally Posted by Del

I think that may be one of those "what is your dream to see in this space?" projects.

I heard from a Virginia's employer that it's not happening anymore. They had renderings and everything made for the downtown site, but weren't ready for the move. The plans now are to move in the shopping center across its current site on Airport ,my guess being in the old Bruno's building. Bad move in my opinion, seeing as Whole Foods will be right across the street. I heard they were still trying to capture the Spring Hill customers, but I wonder if those customers would really be willing to cross the most dangerous intersection in Alabama to get there when they are closer to Whole Foods and Fresh Market.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by Alxx611

I heard from a Virginia's employer that it's not happening anymore. They had renderings and everything made for the downtown site, but weren't ready for the move. The plans now are to move in the shopping center across its current site on Airport ,my guess being in the old Bruno's building. Bad move in my opinion, seeing as Whole Foods will be right across the street. I heard they were still trying to capture the Spring Hill customers, but I wonder if those customers would really be willing to cross the most dangerous intersection in Alabama to get there when they are closer to Whole Foods and Fresh Market.

That's disappointing, but Virginia's really needs to re-think that move across Airport. I don't think that's a good move at all. They should try somewhere in midtown or downtown, for sure. Somebody, at some point, will try these areas and be greatly rewarded.

[Alxx611]

http://blog.al.com/live/2014/03/detonti_square_dilemna_surface.html

DeTonti Square dilemma surfaces over new zoning code for downtown Mobile

By John Sharp | [email protected]
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on March 11, 2014 at 7:35 PM


MOBILE, Alabama – Residents within a six-block historic neighborhood in the northern section of downtown Mobile remain skeptical over regulations addressing development for the area.

Some DeTonti Square Historic District residents and business owners approached the Mobile City Council on Tuesday to express their concerns about a proposed code that could restrict commercial uses within an area viewed by planners as being ripe for residential development.

"Leave DeTonti Square zoning as it is," Bruce Knodel, an architect who has had an office in the district for 36 years, said. "It's not broke. Let's not fix it."

DeTonti zoning

At issue is whether to change DeToni Square's zoning from its current use as "residential business" to a "T-3" sub-district within the proposed form-base code.

If the changes are approved, DeTonti would be classified as a "low-density" residential area that would not permit new commercial development.

The businesses currently within the district are "grandfathered" into the code. However, if a business closes and the owner does not renew the business license within two years, the property reverts to residential use.

"The businesses there can stay but no more businesses will be allowed in that six-block area," Scott Ball, project manager with Duany, Plater-Zyberk & Co.


.........Council President Gina Gregory said the code will come up for a vote at the council's March 25 meeting.

I'd really hate to see this much-needed and very cutting-edge new zoning code ruined over one small conflict. It follows the very progressive new Master Plan.

[Del]

Dropped in for a quick look after the symphony last night, thereby doubling the average age. Nothing further from Mediterranean Sandwich Shop can be imagined. There was a laser light show, pulsating club music, and scantily clad girls dancing on little stages.

They were patting down everybody--looks like they're taking security very seriously.

And I agree about Virginia's. I think a move to the old Bruno's strip would be deadly. What's left in there? Isn't it the Goodwill thrift store and Bojangles?

[Alxx611]

I've heard good things about Club Xcite. It's a cool building, and glad to see security not being an issue..yet.

I agree with the sentiment that whoever makes that big move to downtown will be handsomely rewarded. That one somebody needs to make the pioneer move.I honestly expected something along the lines of a Foo Sackly's or Virginia's to have done that by now. Or let alone a major retail chain.

[Port_of_Bama]

The Downtown Development District is what Mobilians have repeatedly said they want

By Elizabeth Sanders

Downtown Mobile Alliance

Our City Council will soon vote on whether to make the heart of downtown Mobile a "Downtown Development District" with a modernized zoning code that will encourage walkable urban development and stimulate growth in downtown's beautiful residential neighborhoods.

Creation of the district is the culmination of countless community meetings held over decades. Mobile's citizens have repeatedly said this is what they want. Urban planning gurus commissioned by the Downtown Mobile Alliance have also urged that such a district be created.

Downtown Mobile is endowed with a beautiful, human-scaled environment. Our downtown is less than one square mile. The blocks are small. The streets are narrow. There are trees and flowers. There are awnings and balconies and galleries that protect pedestrians from sun and rain. There is public art and an abundance of historic markers and public parks.

There are also vast swaths of vacant land where once there were buildings. In every block, it seems there is a gaping hole where a building is missing, as if it had been plucked out like a dead front tooth. There are blocks where large, ungainly developments landed as if flung from outer space.

More :http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/03/the_downtown_development_distr.html#incart_river

[Port_of_Bama]

Hey guys vote for The Three Mile Creek ! We need this green space !

http://www.bridgestonetire.com/rethinkgreen/fuelthecause/nominees

[future_mobile]

This was submitted to the planning commission on April 3. If this isn't confirmation that Costco is coming I don't know what is!

http://urban.cityofmobile.org/urban_pc/reports/101112mcgowinparksubandpuds.pdf

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by future_mobile

This was submitted to the planning commission on April 3. If this isn't confirmation that Costco is coming I don't know what is!

http://urban.cityofmobile.org/urban_pc/reports/101112mcgowinparksubandpuds.pdf

Yes, I find it funny they didn't want to publicly acknowledge any names, but they clearly are part of the development and that is evidenced by the link above.

I hope they announce the other tenants soon...

[NitekKetin]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Hey guys vote for The Three Mile Creek ! We need this green space !

http://www.bridgestonetire.com/rethinkgreen/fuelthecause/nominees

I voted!

[Port_of_Bama]

Councilman Lavon Manzie announced that a new 6 story Hilton Garden Inn will be built on by Bienville where the former Cawthon hotel use to be.Manzie said that it will have a roof top terrace/Lounge for entertainment ! Downtown has had several small developments but I`ve been itching for infill ,midrise, and high rise developments downtown.


https://www.facebook.com/lmanzie?fref=ts



I`m thinking that the building will be along the lines of something like this :


https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.honestbuildi...13b26d7b-78f0-9d91-ac44-a18ff58862c2.jpg

http://i1.bookcdn.com/data/Photos/Origin...Hilton_Garden_Inn_Athens_Downtown_A.JPEG

http://www.totsandtravel.com/images/hote...o_north_shore_evanston_illinois-main.jpg

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/80/84/0d/hilton-garden-inn-arlington.jpg

[Verve]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Councilman Lavon Manzie announced that a new 6 story Hilton Garden Inn will be built on by Bienville where the former Cawthon hotel use to be.Manzie said that it will have a roof top terrace/Lounge for entertainment ! Downtown has had several small developments but I`ve been itching for infill ,midrise, and high rise developments downtown.


https://www.facebook.com/lmanzie?fref=ts



I`m thinking that the building will be along the lines of something like this :


https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.honestbuildi...13b26d7b-78f0-9d91-ac44-a18ff58862c2.jpg

http://i1.bookcdn.com/data/Photos/Origin...Hilton_Garden_Inn_Athens_Downtown_A.JPEG

http://www.totsandtravel.com/images/hote...o_north_shore_evanston_illinois-main.jpg

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/80/84/0d/hilton-garden-inn-arlington.jpg

Good news. That will be a great addition to a corner that has been a "missing tooth" around Bienvile Square for years. If the design is similar to the examples shown, it will fit nicely with the area.

[SouthSky]

Proposed site plan. Top side is Bienville Square

[Alxx611]

Apparently this is the same developer that created the Hampton Inn and Candlewood Suites on Royal Street. I'd say they did a good job on both of those projects, but I'd like to see them use better materials and a better design than those two simpler, faux-historic Royal street hotels, since it's on Bienville Square and in a more historic setting. Some type of ode to the Cawthon Hotel would be great.

[Port_of_Bama]

It would be awesome if they would do a replica of the Cowthon.



Long-abandoned housing development on Mobile Bay's western shore shows whispers of new life

Smelling that sweet SaltAire?

Blake Whitney Thompson of Black Orchid Equity LLC tells me the long-beleaguered SaltAire development could be back on track as early as May with a closing for the first high-end home as early as August.

“With Airbus and all development on western end of Mobile Bay, this could be a long-term 20-30 year event with opportunities for retail, condos, docks and new waterfront housing, so we’re real excited about it,” said Thompson, whose company targets “special situations” in real estate and real estate debt.

For the unacquainted, as much as $15 million was invested in the development before legal disputes stopped it cold in 2008. It was originally envisioned as a picturesque community of as many as 1,250 homes surrounded by parks, two stocked lakes, shops, restaurants, a fitness center and other amenities.

The saga of SaltAire is one I’m only beginning to wade into, but my colleague, Michael Finch II, has a nice head start, and we hope to bring you a thorough look soon at where the development went off the tracks, how its issues have been resolved and what can be expected from it in the coming months and years.

For now, I’ll leave you with Thompson’s thoughts on the subject:

“I think you have to have housing stock that meets everybody’s needs on both sides of the Bay: affordable, waterfront, and all points in between. What you don’t want is a flight to one side,” he said.

“I like the idea of supporting both sides with infrastructure and not just developing one part of Mobile. The Fairhope model is one I’m trying to replicate. You build something nice, and when it’s full, people live next to that and next to that, watching it get nicer and nicer with more amenities and thoughtful little things going on.”

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/a_long-abandoned_project_shows.html#incart_river

[TideJoe]

Has work started back on the 98 bypass? I don't live in LA anymore but I travel that way several times a year. I read that work was supposed to start back this year and finally get it finished but I haven't seen anything in the news.

However it looks like the Baldwin beach express is going to be finished soon. From someone who grew up in Baldwin (Robertsdale), this was much needed. The traffic from March thru September is awful on 59. This along with the 98 bypass and eventually the I-10 bridge over Mobile River and widening I-10 over the bay will go a long way toward making the trip to the beach (and home) a lot more pleasant. It took me 4 hours to drive from Robertsdale to Hattiesburg last month (normally takes 2) and most of that time was over the bay and on 98 west of Mobile.

[elb401]

Sorry, but I think you will have to sit in the traffic in Semmes for a few more years. We've been hearing stuff for years, but work never starts. Hope i'm wrong though.

[elb401]

Looks like Broad Street will see some work! I used to live on Broad near Charleston about a year ago. My wife and I miss it sometimes. It will be a great street again!


http://local15tv.com/shared/news/feature...grant-transform-broad-street-10108.shtml