Mobile Development Thread

[elb401]

I feel like the city has lost a lot of steam in the downtown redevelopment area. I hope the banks start lending again. I hope this plan isn't a lot of wishful thinking.

I voted for Obama last Tuesday concerned about the tanker project. I still voted for him knowing that when he made those comments he was talking to a union. I just can't vote on one issue. He has since changed his opinion to the best plane for the war fighters. I'm still unsure about how he feels. I watched a video of the European Commission President talking about possible protectionism from Obama. He said that the Europeans will fight him on that issue. So expect a lot of pressure from europe and asia to keep the markets open. So that helped ease my mind a little. Mobile will be okay.....we have been here for 306 years. the city has seen a lot worse.

Sorry if I kept this conversation going.

[buckett5425]

Tim.....

Your political comments on this forum are some of the most ignorant things I have read during this entire election. Your comments coming from someone who I assume is an intelligent person. Try reading up on the facts before posting such blatant nonsense in a public forum, it makes you look stupid and people will call you out on it, as you can see above.....

In other news Tim, did Winston say "hey" to you for me, I went to yalls office to drop him off a check two weeks ago.

[10101000]

No he did not. I have not been at my office a lot, I had a death in my family and I have been back and forth to Alabama, and was out three days this week due to my automobile accident. Thanks, hey back.

[Port_of_Bama]

Tim your cool with me bro but I have to disagree with you on Obama being a terrorist.


Any way back to Mobile, What is the name of the ship I see out in dry dock around Atlantic Marine ? That thing is huge I was able to see it coming down hill on Airport Blvd east bound. Close up it looks to be the same size as the Triumph that is coming to New Orelans and this ship doesn`t look like a Carnival ship it looks more upscale to me.

[Electrical Porpoise]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Tim your cool with me bro but I have to disagree with you on Obama being a terrorist.

Be careful out on that limb there pob.

[Muskavon]

I haven't seen anything to say one way or another, but I assume the motorposrt park is at very least in trouble of never happening. However, I was just wondering if anyone has heard anything reagrding this thing from anybody associated with it in the last several months? Just curious.

[BlessedMobile]

Originally Posted by Muskavon

I haven't seen anything to say one way or another, but I assume the motorposrt park is at very least in trouble of never happening. However, I was just wondering if anyone has heard anything reagrding this thing from anybody associated with it in the last several months? Just curious.

The developers were to exercise the options to buy the land by November. I don't think they have the money. My guess is that they will announce that the deal is off due to the economy...at least there will be some truth to the statement. There may never be another opportunity to put this deal together as there are 5 parcels involved that will likely now be sold off by the current owners thereby reducing the possiblity of a full scale motorsports park at a later date.

[Muskavon]

thanks Blessed for some input. Not likely, but maybe I could hope for a reincarnation way down the road in Baldwin County that puts this facility between you and I. That was an original option. I know, I know...booo Baldwin County...as is the popular sentiment here. But hell, chopping down that many acres to build a track doesn't seem like less sprawl north of Mobile or East of it, imo. Seems about the same. Maybe those turtles up there can be protected now while the inevitable forest of suburbs, retail, music venues and race tracks connects the two of us together.

[nimsjus]

A couple of articles on our booming container port...
The first article talks about the new deal reached to double the ports current capacity. Currently they work with only one shipping company, but they have added a second and have doubled the number of containers they will be handeling. I think they said after this deal they will be operating at 60% capacity. It wont be long before we need another expansion!
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1226052919276500.xml&coll=3
The second article just lists a buch of quotes from civic leaders, port leaders, and port customers.
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1226053000276500.xml&coll=3
I saw Mr. Lyons on tv talking about the growth and the need for the new tuning basin. Apparently an expansion of the current turning basin has funding appropriated, but just not received yet. The turn basin expansion is needed to allow larger ships into mobile. Currently we can't handle large ships, and with the new panama canal expansion, even larger ships will now be available as well. He also acted liek we needed a second turning basin. THis would allow smaller ships to turn in one area (more southern) and then the big boys would go down to the northern turning basin. He claims the one turning basin is getting congested and will get worse as the container port reaches capacity. On a side note, I assume that same expansion would allow us to have a much larger cruise ship as well. Maybe now we will be able to compete with the big boys of the cruise industry. No more discounting Mobile because of its turning basin.

[nimsjus]

Another couple of interesting things from Kathy Jumpers column...
Coastal Bank & Trust has opened in 3,200 square feet on the first floor of the Athelstan Club building at 170 St. Francis St., according to Michael Holland , city president.
Also I mentioned that Parkside was closing the day we went down for the Downtown Living Tour. Lagniappe and now Cathy Jumper have reported why...
The former Parkside Home & Garden store building at 51 S. Conception St. at Conti Street, was purchased for $885,000 by local attorney Richard Dorman , according to court records. Dorman said he plans to open a restaurant on the first floor. There are two condominium units on the second floor.
I had talked to one of the guys on the tour and he said they got a deal that was just too good to refuse. It also gave the Parkside guys the opportunity to redo another building somewhere else. Hopefully they will open back up elsewhere soon. This restaraunt is backed monetarily by the same guy who backs NOJA. I have heard he is trying to one up NOJA and True with this new venture. Hopefully this will happen before I leave in May.

[BlessedMobile]

I talked with Judith Adams of the Port the other day and asked about adding more container cranes (currently two). She said that APM usually has as many as 50 being built for them at any one time since they are so large worldwide. If our terminal needs more they can schedule it for delivery to Mobile in a short time. Now that is one large company to be doing that type of building. We are fortunate to be associated with such a successful and large shipping company. The rail car repair company is still on the 12 acres that were bought by the docks; I don't there is the big push to move them to their new home at the old IP site.

[SouthSky]

Update on West Alabama freeway/interstate:

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/200811..._Mobile_would_take_public_private_effort

[NitekKetin]

Parkside might be strutting out to one of the high-end lifestyle centers, before you know it.

I think Downtown needs a good buffet restaurant, as a counterbalance to all of these higher-end eateries.

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by NitekKetin

Parkside might be strutting out to one of the high-end lifestyle centers, before you know it.

I think Downtown needs a good buffet restaurant, as a counterbalance to all of these higher-end eateries.

I could see them doing very well at Legacy Village or somewhere along Old Shell Rd. The only thing is some of their furniture/decor was pretty edgy and might not fit with the Spring Hill crowd. Who knows? I have heard those guys like to get into buildings and redo them so for that reason alone I don't see them in one of the strip centers. I just hope they reopen period, but it would be nice if it was downtown. I like the idea of some more homestyle places downtown. Maybe some people who work down there can verify this, but I think there are several places like this downtown, but they only opne for lunch Monday-Friday when the work crew is down there. It is a shame that they cant do enough business to do dinner or weekends because it give the impression that things are always closed downtown. One that I know of is Mama's on Dauphin. Ive always thought it looked interesting and it is never open when I am downtown.

[Mike06]

Dorman's ex wife has been with my uncle for 15-20 years (guess he doesn't want to get that piece of paper again). I'll see what they have to say at Thanksgiving. I like seeing him investing his money in Mobile.

He was one of the lead attorneys for Alabama against Exxon-Mobil in that huge offshore case.

[10101000]

I want to apologize for my actions in my previous post. I should have kept my comments to myself and sorry if I came across to any of you as a rude uneducated individual. None of you deserve the remarks that I have made.

[BlessedMobile]

Originally Posted by (Tim)

I want to apologize for my actions in my previous post. I should have kept my comments to myself and sorry if I came across to any of you as a rude uneducated individual. None of you deserve the remarks that I have made.

Well Tim, now you know why it is NOT a good idea to freely state your political feelings on a forum. I have a rule in our business that employees are not to argue about politics and religion; it is permanently devisive and puts puts people into two camps. Most people know how others feel and can gauge just how far to go in talking about their own beliefs. Does it throw water on free speech...sure does...but smart employees know how far to push with the conversation. The forum is about "Mobile Development". We should focus ONLY on that matter.

[10101000]

Thanks, glad you see what I meant. I will remember that when you get on one of your fits! Cool

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by (Tim)

I want to apologize for my actions in my previous post. I should have kept my comments to myself and sorry if I came across to any of you as a rude uneducated individual. None of you deserve the remarks that I have made.

Thanks for the follow-up Tim. We all have strong personalities and sometimes they just come shining through. Posting to these various forums proves we probably have a lot more in common than apart!

Originally Posted by BlessedMobile

I have a rule in our business that employees are not to argue about politics and religion; it is permanently devisive and puts puts people into two camps. Most people know how others feel and can gauge just how far to go in talking about their own beliefs.

We follow the same rule in our shop. There is a line (often blurry) that we generally do not cross when dealing with politics and religion...

[NitekKetin]

Wild rumor:

A certain Midtown grocer might be shuttering doors as its parent company files for bankruptcy soon.