Mobile Development Thread

[pkp]

Originally Posted by nimsjus

Did anyone make it to beerfest this weekend? Just curious how the crowd/event were with the ominous weather predictions that never came to pass.

Went - had a blast as usual. Seemed like there was a good crowd, despite the weather. There were 25 bars this year, great beer - good times.

[elb401]

I went to the city council meeting yesterday. wow. that was an interesting meeting. the room was completly divided. the only people against it were the people that aren't even living in the proposed annexation areas. You know the law is on the city's side on this one. I'm glad the elections will be held.

Glad that beer fest went well......I didn't go because I thought it would be rained out and I made other plans. I wish I went.

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by elb401

I went to the city council meeting yesterday. wow. that was an interesting meeting. the room was completly divided. the only people against it were the people that aren't even living in the proposed annexation areas. You know the law is on the city's side on this one. I'm glad the elections will be held.

Glad that beer fest went well......I didn't go because I thought it would be rained out and I made other plans. I wish I went.

I read the article on the meeting. It sounded like a marathon session between that and the springhill approval. I wish they had just accepted the original springhill plan. Now CVS is just going to come in and build one of there generic stores since the zoning is optional. Oh well maybe something will be better than nothing. Now I want to hear about all these developments they say were waiting on the zoning changes. I'll be curious to see if there really are plans in the works or if that was just talk to get the zoning moved through.

[CottonCity251]

Originally Posted by nimsjus

I read the article on the meeting. It sounded like a marathon session between that and the springhill approval. I wish they had just accepted the original springhill plan. Now CVS is just going to come in and build one of there generic stores since the zoning is optional. Oh well maybe something will be better than nothing. Now I want to hear about all these developments they say were waiting on the zoning changes. I'll be curious to see if there really are plans in the works or if that was just talk to get the zoning moved through.

Optional is BS. Who would abide by stricter building codes that are optional....not many, which makes everything seem like a waste of time, money, and other resources for something optional....my, my, my! I wish all laws were optional. At first I thought the sidewalks' width were the only part optional but I guess I was wrong...hope things won't get too tacky. I wonder how many developers will take the "optional" codes?? When we will start doing things right the first time?? It was good while it last but it looks like the Village lost this time to me.

I hope the codes from the New Plan for Old Mobile isn't optional, which pretty much defeats the purpose if you ask me.

[10101000]

BREWTON — Though the stage was much smaller than the Democratic National Convention, the stakes could not be higher for the people listening to U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner defend Alabama's experience at making war machinery.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting of elected officials and investors at the Coastal Gateway Economic Development Authority on Wednesday, Bonner, R-Mobile, blasted right back at Kansas and Washington state delegates who criticized Alabama workers the day before at the Democratic gathering in Denver.

According to U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., the $40 billion U.S. Air Force contract to produce aerial refueling tankers is too important to put in Alabama's inexperienced hands.

Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat and governor of Kansas, told party officials in Denver that Republican presidential candidate John McCain would ensure that a foreign company would be making the aircraft. Both Washington and Kansas would see job increases if the bid goes to aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Mobile stands to gain 1,500 workers and a new, $600 million factory if a Northrop Grumman Corp. team that includes the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. lands the contract.

"Some of the largest companies in the world know where small-town south Alabama is," Bonner said, "and southwest Alabama is where it is happening economically."

When the Department of Defense makes a final decision, he said, hopefully ratifying Northrop-EADS as the provider, "it will be a game-changer unlike any we have seen in our lifetime."

Bonner encouraged towns and counties in the region to begin preparing for an influx of support companies for the tanker manufacturer, but made it clear the state has experience at building war machines.

"Alabama is already ranked 12th in the nation in providing Department of Defense contracts," Bonner said, "with our state handling

$6.9 billion in defense business last year."

He said he and Gov. Bob Riley met with 30 executives of major international avionics suppliers in London in recent weeks to sell them on Alabama. He said they already knew almost as much as he did, and were already planning visits to the state in anticipation of the contract.

Coastal Gateway president Wiley Blankenship said representatives from the state have met with six EADS suppliers solidly interested in Alabama. Four are currently looking for sites in southwest Alabama, Blankenship said. The regional marketing approach makes selling the state easier, he said, and most counties are looking to aviation as an economic promised land.

Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Authority is a partnership of Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties in south Alabama

[10101000]

Thursday, August 28, 2008 By DAN MURTAUGHStaff Reporter
The RSA Tower, historic homes on Government Street and oak-lined streets are all assets that downtown Mobile should develop around, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said Wednesday.

Campbell, also a former mayor of Vancouver, Canada, spoke to a packed Moonlight Grand Ballroom at the Battle House Hotel at the annual meeting of the Downtown Mobile Alliance.

Among the attendees were Mobile Mayor Sam Jones and City Councilman Fred Richardson.

Campbell explained how city leaders in Vancouver were able to redevelop that city into one that consistently is rated among the most livable in the world by promoting dense residential developments, such as high-rise condominium buildings, in the downtown area.

"A downtown is not lively because you're in an office," he said. "It's lively because you come out of that office, and you do things on the street."

Vancouver has also avoided putting freeways in the downtown area, Campbell said. About 62 percent of the trips in downtown Vancouver are made by walking, he said, which leads to safer streets and better public health.

Mobile city leaders need to plan what they want their city to look like in 20 years, Campbell said, and then start enacting policies to bring that vision to fruition.

He said the historic "heritage buildings" are a great asset to downtown Mobile, as are the lovely streetscapes. He said he was also impressed with the RSA Tower, Mobile's tallest building, which opened two years ago.

"This would be a spectacular building anywhere," he said. "It pulled me in. You can see it from anywhere, and you know that's where downtown is."




© 2008 Press-Register. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by (Tim)

Thursday, August 28, 2008 By DAN MURTAUGHStaff Reporter
The RSA Tower, historic homes on Government Street and oak-lined streets are all assets that downtown Mobile should develop around, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said Wednesday.

Campbell, also a former mayor of Vancouver, Canada, spoke to a packed Moonlight Grand Ballroom at the Battle House Hotel at the annual meeting of the Downtown Mobile Alliance.

Among the attendees were Mobile Mayor Sam Jones and City Councilman Fred Richardson.

Campbell explained how city leaders in Vancouver were able to redevelop that city into one that consistently is rated among the most livable in the world by promoting dense residential developments, such as high-rise condominium buildings, in the downtown area.

"A downtown is not lively because you're in an office," he said. "It's lively because you come out of that office, and you do things on the street."

Vancouver has also avoided putting freeways in the downtown area, Campbell said. About 62 percent of the trips in downtown Vancouver are made by walking, he said, which leads to safer streets and better public health.

Mobile city leaders need to plan what they want their city to look like in 20 years, Campbell said, and then start enacting policies to bring that vision to fruition.

He said the historic "heritage buildings" are a great asset to downtown Mobile, as are the lovely streetscapes. He said he was also impressed with the RSA Tower, Mobile's tallest building, which opened two years ago.

"This would be a spectacular building anywhere," he said. "It pulled me in. You can see it from anywhere, and you know that's where downtown is."




© 2008 Press-Register. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

He's right. In order for the city, and particularly downtown, to be the best it can be it will take government stepping in to make it happen. If we rely strictly on commercial interests to pump money into the area, its not going to work, because those folks are typically looking at a five year return on investment, not 20 - 30 years +. Vancouver is a fantastic city (and I would say has a lot of things in common with Mobile) - people should listen to what this guy has to say.

[10101000]

I agree

[bayou15]

+ 1

[Muskavon]

Well, it looks like a major Hurricane might miss us both (Pensa for me for those that don't know). You agree to come help me dig out after my next Ivan and I promise to send everything I have to you guys in the next Katrina. Us little towns get left out of the mix of importance. It is up to you and I to see that our neighbors survive. We sent about 12 pickup truck loads of stuff to our friends on the Mississippi Coast last time from my little culda-sac. Let's make a pact to send 20 truck loads (per user and his/her friends) between each other this time. This hurricane is gonna hurt some area badly. I know from Ivan...you don't have to live in New Orleans and get national media coverage to be without a roof or power for weeks...months...years. Or die. The national folks will drop coverage if this doesn't hit N.O.....but we know the reality. No food, no water, no roof and no A/C sorta sucks. Most of us have lived it. Time to start helping ourselves more. Feds can get their act together later. Probably as it should be.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Hey, if anyone needs help with storm damage, I'll drive down from ttown to help dig out.

[Scottybo]

We won't get much storm damage. Gustav going too far west for that to happen.

[pkp]

Originally Posted by Scottybo

We won't get much storm damage. Gustav going too far west for that to happen.

Save Bayou la Batre, Coden, Dauphin Island, and all along the West side of the Bay. I am almost a mile from the river, so I am not too worried about it, but we will be seeing 8-10 ft storm surge in AL in all of these areas, and likely 6 ft + in Baldwin. Better than a direct hit, but we will have some damage. We had a feeder band come in about 45 minutes ago that dropped 1/2 inch of rain in 10 minutes with wind gusts I would guess around 40 mph. Cleared a few loose limbs out but it will be a long night of no sleep and plenty of cold beer. Could be worse - as far as we know, we are safe in our homes, unlike our poor brethren in the Crescent City.

[Electrical Porpoise]

The water is already near yard level around Perdido Bay. Those people do not need to flood again.

[pkp]

finally starting to go down, but had knee deep water here for the last few hours - all from rain. Actually had an inflatable boat and a kayak go down my street.

[nimsjus]

Ive been tdriving back and forth to pcola the last month, but these last few days have been packed with evacuees going east then back west. I couldn't help but think how great our skyline looks now with the new additions. I wouldnt have given it a thought in the days PreRSA/Riverview addition, but now I think some of these people will look back into visiting Mobile or cruising from Mobile after coming through town on I-10.

[Muskavon]

lol, nim...I know it is pretty absurd (and an obvious sign of an inferiority complex)...but you guys getting that tower always makes me look at tags now when I go to or from Mobile back to P'cola. It's like I want to know someone from Wyoming sees this area isn't just a log cabin full of the last remaining Confederate soldiers or something. I've now moved that ridiculous emotion to even the lane expansion on I-10 thru Pensacola. I find myself looking for tags and wondering if they are surprised we need 6 or 8 lanes to make traffic flow. It's pretty pathetic really. But I don't know how to stop myself from that emotion. Been pummeled too long.

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by nimsjus

Ive been tdriving back and forth to pcola the last month, but these last few days have been packed with evacuees going east then back west. I couldn't help but think how great our skyline looks now with the new additions. I wouldnt have given it a thought in the days PreRSA/Riverview addition, but now I think some of these people will look back into visiting Mobile or cruising from Mobile after coming through town on I-10.

yeah it does especialy when you first enter the tunnel the skyline looks much more dense to me. I am ready for the Fantasy to be part of the Mobile skyline, becasue the Holiday doesn`t look right any more.

[elb401]

If you drive down MLK jr. Blvd toward downtown you will see a great skyline scene. It almost feels like a different city.

[pboo74]

Has anyone got an updated pic of the Hampton inn downtown?Also how are the meetings going with the new plan Mobile' dealing with downtown? Maritime museum what is up with that???????????????????