Mobile Development Thread - Page 173

NitekKetin · #**3441** Posted **Jan 1, 2009, 2:33 AM**

I was in a facetious mood yesterday.

Alternate Titles:

Azalea City Loop
New Henry 'Hank' Aaron Loop
Airport Bypass

mobilebadboy · #**3442** Posted **Jan 1, 2009, 6:42 AM**

Not sure what it looked like in person, but the moonpie garbage looked horrible via FOX 10. And the drop, err raise, was a bit off as far as time goes. Maybe the leprechaun fell asleep. I know I wouldn't have stood in the cold for that. Hell, I wouldn't stand in the cold in Times Square, but still.

Now Hong Kong, man their new year kickoff was awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyDrc5qBaRs (even better in HD!)

Maybe something like that with the RSA, a finale implosion of the bank tower.

Happy New Year anyway.

nimsjus · #**3443** Posted **Jan 1, 2009, 3:03 PM**

I was excited about the idea, but the execution idea was definitely not up to snuff. The crane looked terrible and te fact that all of it sat across the river in a big industrial parking lot looked pretty bad. I bet it would have looked better from the battleship with the city as the backdrop than the view we had of it looking out towards the Austal facilities. This event needs a more permanant home like the ball in NYC. It also needs a better public space to hold people who want to come. The paper said Cooper Park (which is tiny) was full around 11:00 PM and it said there were about 5,000 on hand. If this is going to be a big event it needs to be held in a big space. Block of some streets or something. I think the new MardiGras Park will be a good place for an event like this because it will be a fairly open space and you could raise/lower the moonpie on the clocktower that has been proposed so that is doesn't look so low budget with the crane. Just my personal thoughts. All the publicity that this event generated was definitely a positive for spreading the word about Mobile.

Musicisright · #**3444** Posted **Jan 1, 2009, 6:16 PM**

I braved the cold to go down last night and I was surprised at how packed it was! It was disappointing that the moonpie was so far away that you couldn't really read it...I wish it could have been on our side of the river. And the super-long fireworks show was good.

When I got home I turned on CNN and watched the replay of New York's celebration and then an hour later, Central Time Zone's. I was pleasantly surprised to see footage from the moonpie "drop" (personally I didn't see it rise OR drop). But it was cool they mentioned us.

With the lights on RSA being such a major stand out, I wish they would incorporate the rising or the dropping of the moonpie with the tower. There could be spotlights along with the ever-changing tower lights, and when the clock hits midnight, the crown could start strobing!

spookyapp · #**3445** Posted **Jan 1, 2009, 10:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimsjus

I was excited about the idea, but the execution idea was definitely not up to snuff. The crane looked terrible and te fact that all of it sat across the river in a big industrial parking lot looked pretty bad. I bet it would have looked better from the battleship with the city as the backdrop than the view we had of it looking out towards the Austal facilities. This event needs a more permanant home like the ball in NYC. It also needs a better public space to hold people who want to come. The paper said Cooper Park (which is tiny) was full around 11:00 PM and it said there were about 5,000 on hand. If this is going to be a big event it needs to be held in a big space. Block of some streets or something. I think the new MardiGras Park will be a good place for an event like this because it will be a fairly open space and you could raise/lower the moonpie on the clocktower that has been proposed so that is doesn't look so low budget with the crane. Just my personal thoughts. All the publicity that this event generated was definitely a positive for spreading the word about Mobile.

The proposed "Mardi Gras Park" (shudder) is an even smaller space than Cooper Riverside.

pkp · #**3446** Posted **Jan 2, 2009, 2:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spookyapp

The proposed "Mardi Gras Park" (shudder) is an even smaller space than Cooper Riverside.

Yes, but Church Street and all of the area surrounding Ft. Conde can be used. The obvious place for the moonpie to be permanently is on the clock tower that is supposed to be in the Mardi Gras Park.

nimsjus · #**3447** Posted **Jan 2, 2009, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkp

Yes, but Church Street and all of the area surrounding Ft. Conde can be used. The obvious place for the moonpie to be permanently is on the clock tower that is supposed to be in the Mardi Gras Park.

Yeah my point was that Cooper is small and is completely confined by buildings, the river, and a major street that the city would never block off. At least at the new Mardi Gras Park streets and other community space (ft conde, gvt plaza, etc) could be used if the event becomes larger. I like incorporating the RSA Tower in this like Times Square, but there is not really a good public space to congregate in downtown that is close to the tower, but far enough away that you could still see the top of it. My biggest point is that this event needs to become alot more professional and organized if it is going to continue and become a big community event. Hanging a moonpie with lights from a crane across the river is not going to cut it in the long term. First Night Mobile was about as successful as an alcohol-free New Years Celebration could be in Mobile. Maybe they should incorporate the moonpie drop/rise into a similar celebration (local art, music, food, dance, fireworks, etc.) only this time around allow alcohol and drop a light up moon pie from some structure downtown.

MobileLSUboy2005 · #**3448** Posted **Jan 2, 2009, 6:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MobileLSUboy2005

Ok so now the northern-bypass route option is out. (good) that wasnt going to do anything, and everyone knew it. So in order to not hurt the shipping industry, and make them quit crying...why cant we just build another tunnel south of the one we already have that is six lanes wide and doesnt have a 90 degree turn to get into it?? The tunnel sections could be built right there on the river like all the other ones before it , and that way ships can go over, and everyone's happy... Hazardous cargo would still have to go over the Cochrane bridge, but who cares.... then just build a new section of the bayway that woudl go south of the battleship and then connect in where the existing structure is at about where the middle-bay onramp to the bayway is....

oh yea, PS....at my apartment this AM in Baton Rouge we had about 3 inches of snow! haha of course LSU didnt cancel finals...

ok so i meant to do this sooner, but finals and then a 10-day trip to Israel delayed me...
give comments (i know you have plenty) on this proposal... and in true mobile fashion, tell me why it CANT work...

OR

phoenixboi08 · #**3449** Posted **Jan 2, 2009, 5:44 PM**

I think the second proposal makes the most sense. And could definitely work...however, I worry about the problems the bridge may pose for air traffic. Although, I don't know too much about this. But I do not think it wise to put it quite so near the MAE...Definitely a few miles up. But this is exactly what I've been thinking as the best possible solution.

BlessedMobile · #**3450** Posted **Jan 3, 2009, 2:13 AM**

Your sketches are very interesting. The tunnel aspect would cross the new container terminal and the upcoming TK offloading terminal. I doubt the state docks would like any disruption or use of their land for an approach or tunnel. I can't see where the tunnel approaches could be anything other than ground level which would then tie-up the land permanently. I thought the waterfront people preferred the route closest to downtown if they were forced to accept a southern route. It is great to have some dialogue on the bridge/tunnel.

MobileLSUboy2005 · #**3451** Posted **Jan 3, 2009, 5:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlessedMobile

Your sketches are very interesting. The tunnel aspect would cross the new container terminal and the upcoming TK offloading terminal. I doubt the state docks would like any disruption or use of their land for an approach or tunnel. I can't see where the tunnel approaches could be anything other than ground level which would then tie-up the land permanently. I thought the waterfront people preferred the route closest to downtown if they were forced to accept a southern route. It is great to have some dialogue on the bridge/tunnel.

oh yea, i forgot that google's image doesnt show the container terminal... haha maybe i can use yahoo's (which is updated) and come up with a new location...

BlessedMobile · #**3452** Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 3:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MobileLSUboy2005

oh yea, i forgot that google's image doesnt show the container terminal... haha maybe i can use yahoo's (which is updated) and come up with a new location...

Google Map shows Mobile from at least five years ago. IP closed in 2000 and was demolished a year or so later. I wish someone would update our image. There have been so many good changes. Anyone know how this is done?

Verve · #**3453** Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 9:10 PM**

I like both proposals especially since they place the route away from the downtown areas. They also shorten the distance and eliminate the tricky curve that's at the present tunnel.

The impacts on the Mobile approach side would seem to be more conducive to an industrial area than to the downtown commercial and business area. I'd much rather see bridge piers on industrial land than where they are currently proposed. Any route that would avoid conflicting with downtown development and port activities would be much better.

10101000 · #**3454** Posted **Jan 5, 2009, 3:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicisright

I braved the cold to go down last night and I was surprised at how packed it was! It was disappointing that the moonpie was so far away that you couldn't really read it...I wish it could have been on our side of the river. And the super-long fireworks show was good.

When I got home I turned on CNN and watched the replay of New York's celebration and then an hour later, Central Time Zone's. I was pleasantly surprised to see footage from the moonpie "drop" (personally I didn't see it rise OR drop). But it was cool they mentioned us.

With the lights on RSA being such a major stand out, I wish they would incorporate the rising or the dropping of the moonpie with the tower. There could be spotlights along with the ever-changing tower lights, and when the clock hits midnight, the crown could start strobing!

I like your idea.

10101000 · #**3455** Posted **Jan 5, 2009, 3:51 PM**

Mobile’s Money Making Moon Pie

Last Updated: Fri, January 02, 2009 - 10:07 pm

Diana Lucio The City of Mobile says more than 12,000 people showed up at Cooper Riverside Park to ring in the New Year, but city leaders admit everything didn't go according to plan.

The moon pie was only lifted about 100 feet into the air, only half of what was planned, because it was too windy. City leaders also admit some of the numbers were difficult to see.
While the moon pie celebration may not have gone off without a hitch, some businesses are still cashing in the crowd.
With less than a month to prepare the event, the City of Mobile says at $9,000 tax payer dollars, the moon pie was a money maker."All we can say is look at the proof in the pudding...the numbers were here and the economic side was here so we feel good about that,"Said Barbara Drummond, a spokeswoman for te City of Mobile.

Maura Garino is the General Manager at the Holiday Inn. Garino says the holiday season is usually one their slowest, but when word got out about the moon pie they booked over 100 rooms.
"We have a new asset we can reuse the moon pie from year to year and the exposure that it gave us will probably increase our Mardi Gras business as well,"Said Garino.

The City of Mobile says the moon pie celebration was mentioned in 383 cities, reaching an estimated 8.1 million people.
Next year, the City would like to bring it across the bay and there's even talk of erecting a permanent pole.

http://www.wkrg.com/local/article/mobiles_money_making_moon_pie/22297/

10101000 · #**3456** Posted **Jan 5, 2009, 4:00 PM**

http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/12-26-2008/0004946966&EDATE=

Other press

MobileLSUboy2005 · #**3457** Posted **Jan 5, 2009, 6:33 PM**

neato....a freakin moonpie pole....

BlessedMobile · #**3458** Posted **Jan 6, 2009, 2:10 AM**

I am pleasantly surprised that so many people went downtown for the moonpie event. I figured there would be 5-6 thousand max. They will fix the usual errors from a first time event and make it much better next year. I do know Barbara Drummond and she is a VERY CAPABLE organizer for any event; she will take it from here. You can be sure that next year there will be more paying sponsors who will push to have the event expanded. Thanks Fred for getting the moonpie rolling!

10101000 · #**3459** Posted **Jan 6, 2009, 2:54 PM**

I am very thankful for the moonpie. Mobile is really looking great these days.

Exodus · #**3460** Posted **Jan 7, 2009, 5:19 PM**

I like the second one, looks like it could really work actually.