Mobile Development Thread

[pkp]

I took a little stroll around the CBD toady after lunch with a buddy and we were discussing how amazing the development is on the entire blocks encompassing Dauphin, Conti, Royal, and Conception. These blocks have mysteriously been devoid of life for years. Now, the Gayfers building (which makes up most of the block) is on track, the Senior Bowl is renovating the corner of St. Emanuel and Dauphin, Hancock re-did the other corner, Hargrove is redoing most of the space on four streets. Those two block look like they are going from vacant to sold out in about 2 years. Anyone have any guesses on what area is next. Dauphin between the Cathedral and Wintzell's? St Louis Street? Neglected Government Street?

Also, as far as Government Street goes, what are everyone's thoughts on the state of that thoroughfare? I am excited to see a neutral ground going into Broad with the Bring Back Broad project. Although I don't think it is feasible to take away any travel lanes on Government, I think the city should look into a narrow median on Government (basically only where the turning lane is) with breaks at cross streets for turning, and possibly a small turning lane at the busier intersections. The downtown study a few years ago listed this as a major issue to pedestrians and labeled it as basically dividing downtown. I think if this is done, along with a proper Water Street bridge, bike and foot traffic will be much more appealing.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by pkp

Anyone have any guesses on what area is next. Dauphin between the Cathedral and Wintzell's? St Louis Street? Neglected Government Street?

My hope is that there are ripple effects from all the development on Dauphin going north and south a couple of blocks. As more and more development builds, the more values and demand will rise.

Originally Posted by pkp

Also, as far as Government Street goes, what are everyone's thoughts on the state of that thoroughfare? I am excited to see a neutral ground going into Broad with the Bring Back Broad project. Although I don't think it is feasible to take away any travel lanes on Government, I think the city should look into a narrow median on Government (basically only where the turning lane is) with breaks at cross streets for turning, and possibly a small turning lane at the busier intersections. The downtown study a few years ago listed this as a major issue to pedestrians and labeled it as basically dividing downtown. I think if this is done, along with a proper Water Street bridge, bike and foot traffic will be much more appealing.

Ideally, I'd love for a street car to run down the median and out west ... but I think it would look great if they added some greenery in the turn lanes starting a block away from the Bankhead tunnel and running west. Of course, you would need to provide adequate turning lanes but I would love to see it.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

My hope is that there are ripple effects from all the development on Dauphin going north and south a couple of blocks. As more and more development builds, the more values and demand will rise.



Ideally, I'd love for a street car to run down the median and out west ... but I think it would look great if they added some greenery in the turn lanes starting a block away from the Bankhead tunnel and running west. Of course, you would need to provide adequate turning lanes but I would love to see it.

Well, my wanting to see any of the main street's turning lanes turned into greenspace is part of my long term desire for street car service to return to at least a shell of its 1890-1920 self. If we have the space dedicate, it will be fairly easy to put lines back in again. I have a map in my house from 1891. At that time, not only did the street car run down Government and Broad - it ran down Marine, Charles, George (basically three lines within two block of my house). I would like to see it at least go down Government to the Loop and Broad from GM&O to I-10. Eventually, service back on Dauphin and Spring Hill may be feasible as well.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by pkp

If we have the space dedicate, it will be fairly easy to put lines back in again. I have a map in my house from 1891.

That is awesome! Do you have any scans from it? I would love to see it.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

That is awesome! Do you have any scans from it? I would love to see it.

no. it is a poster size map. $15 from the USA archives. cool though because my house is actually on it. the streets with car service are marked with "double lines" instead of single street lines.

[nimsjus]

Seems like the most of the development is spreading more north and south (a couple of blocks either way of Dauphin) staying close to the CBD. Not a lot of development spreading out to the far western edge (Cedar, Warren, Dearborn Washington, Scott, Bayou). Hopefully Bring Back Broad will have a positive effect on those areas. I know there are 10-20 historic homes on various streets within that area that would be prime for redvelopment. Alot of them are smaller, which would make them perfect for young professionals and empty nesters, which seems to be the target audience for downtown residnetial projects. I also love the idea of the medians for Governement if they could be squeezed in. Throw in some azaleas and that area would feel much more pedestrian ( and look nicer too). Government, Broad, and Water are definitely the biggest berriers to downtown expansion. Government would have to be addressed if any kind of major redevelopment happened on the Civic Center site and Water will have to be addressed when the Maritime Museum and former CSX site are developed.

[10101000]

I am with you, I would love to see some amazing landscape down there. I see some now, but breathtaking! Something exotic, different, provocative.

[bayou15]

Palm Trees Please! looks way better than those crappy azaleas which only bloom once a year.


PKP ...how tall is the new hotel going to be ?

[CottonCity251]

Originally Posted by bayou15

Palm Trees Please! looks way better than those crappy azaleas which only bloom once a year.


PKP ...how tall is the new hotel going to be ?

I agree with bayou...the city needs to put up more palm trees. The 30-40ft. ones, like those along the avenues in LA, would fit nice on Broad St. while the much smaller ones would fit beautifully along Government and Water streets. I hope they don't make the Bring Back Broad St. look cheap because of the area.

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by CottonCity251

I agree with bayou...the city needs to put up more palm trees. The 30-40ft. ones, like those along the avenues in LA, would fit nice on Broad St. while the much smaller ones would fit beautifully along Government and Water streets. I hope they don't make the Bring Back Broad St. look cheap because of the area.

King Palms( like the the obes that line Canal street in NOLA) would be a good look on Water and even Broad street. Street cars would add to that Mobile charm !!

Bayou kinda have a ggood point becasue the Azalia median that is on Springhill AVE is ok but I have never seen it bloom and they just planet those things about 3 or 4 years ago. They said it suppose to be 16 differnt kinds I havn`t seen 1.

I aslo wish that more of the streets in Mobile would look more like the ones in Fort Conde Village (red bricked). Imagine that being part of Bring back Broad street with Palms and streets cars !!

[MobileLSUboy2005]

instead of palms...why don't we put something native to the area, that would characterize our city better?

[DruidCity]

King palms might have trouble in the very coldest winters, as Mobile can get a little colder than New Orleans.
Palmetto trees do extremely well, though, and are indeed southeastern natives. Jelly palms give a very nice effect where you want something a little lower and wider.

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by MobileLSUboy2005

instead of palms...why don't we put something native to the area, that would characterize our city better?

Thats why I went with azaleas(even if they are only in bloom for 1 month out of the year). I would love huge oaks down the middle of all of the streets mentioned, but those aren't really conducive to a narrow median. Dogwoods, magnolias, crate myrtles would all be a lot more "Mobile" than 50 ft palm trees. Regardless, I would take a median with anything growing in it over a 6 continuous lanes concrete.

[elb401]

remember..... Mobile was built over a swamp that was filled with small palms. and in the 1900 -1920s some of the streets used to be lined with huge palm trees. the only ones left from there are on spring hill ave. in ashland place near the visitation monestary. The city sold the rest in the depression to raise money. i like the king palm idea. lets stay away from the crate myrtle. But palm trees or not.....I would like medians better too.

[spookyapp]

You do realize that if there were a median on Govt St downtown that there would have to be breaks in it VERY frequently. Installing medians would cause traffic nightmares because people would be U-turning to get into their neighborhood or business (see This story ). This isn't Airport Blvd, the street density downtown is much higher than anywhere in the city. Broad St works because it isn't cutting directly into the city.

And palm trees? Are you serious? Why would you want to take away from the natural beauty of the oaks?! Palms would wholly conflict with the oaks.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by spookyapp

You do realize that if there were a median on Govt St downtown that there would have to be breaks in it VERY frequently. Installing medians would cause traffic nightmares because people would be U-turning to get into their neighborhood or business (see This story ). This isn't Airport Blvd, the street density downtown is much higher than anywhere in the city. Broad St works because it isn't cutting directly into the city.

And palm trees? Are you serious? Why would you want to take away from the natural beauty of the oaks?! Palms would wholly conflict with the oaks.

I disagree, I am either walking or riding down government everyday during rush hour. Nearly all the traffic is through traffic. There are probably three streets that have any real traffic turning (maybe 3 cars at the most waiting to turn). I would be in favor of having a small turning lane for those streets, and simply cross overs (would allow folks to go half way) for the other streets - this could in fact be one all the way to the loop without effecting traffic much. This would not be taking away any travel lanes. Not to compare to NOLA again, but Poydras is a good example of this. It's median is not wide like canals, but it doesn't cause any turning problems. I am not in favor of any high growing vegetation.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by bayou15

Palm Trees Please! looks way better than those crappy azaleas which only bloom once a year.


PKP ...how tall is the new hotel going to be ?

I am really not sure - but its not a highrise - 6-8 floors if I had to guess, which is fine with me. I just wish the other space was anything put surface parking.

[DruidCity]

I am not in favor of any high growing vegetation.

Mobile marijuana median

[Muskavon]

Why not a crapload of Yucca plants? We had them all over my neighborhood as a kid. I learned they keep punks (me at the time) from screwing around where we aren't supposed to and ruin the day of anyone trying to throw or especially kick a football (a common problem of Alabama or Auburn fans). Advantages: no water required, no jaywalkers, bikers learn a hard lesson when they fall off and the road dept. has an excuse not to trim near them (money saved). Also, anyone ejected into the median from a car in a wreck can be presumed dead one way or another saving precious search & rescue funds. They also spread easily. All you need is one thorn to start the median and the rest takes care of itself. Forever.

[BlessedMobile]

Originally Posted by pkp

I am really not sure - but its not a highrise - 6-8 floors if I had to guess, which is fine with me. I just wish the other space was anything put surface parking.

I know that Republic Parking will manage the lot for them during the day and guest will park there at night. Even though it won't be a parking deck it will look better than the general lots downtown. I was informed that there are plans to someday put a parking deck on the Republic lot by the Battle House. The lawyers at Lyons, Pipes own it and will have to commit to the 15-20 million to build it; they're are not yet committed! There are plans already drawn for the project.