Montgomery development news - Page 188

bystander1 · #**3741** Posted **Apr 18, 2009, 3:45 AM**

Nice shots. Are those pics from your friend's HD camera?

OldCloverdale · #**3742** Posted **Apr 23, 2009, 2:23 PM**

The Montgomery Towne Center on East Boulevard is dotted with empty storefronts. Barnes & Noble, one of the anchors of the center, will close in June.

April 23, 2009

Barnes & Noble to close

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20090423/BUSINESS/904230337&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
By Cosby Woodruff

Barnes & Noble will close its Montgomery store at the end of June, the national bookseller confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser on Wednesday.

The store is in the Montgomery Towne Center shopping center at the intersection of East Boulevard and Troy Highway. The center has been declining for years, and a company spokesman said that is one of the main reasons it decided to leave.

"The Montgomery Towne Center has had numerous retailers close over the last year or two, and no new retailers have filled those spaces," David Deason, vice president of development, said in an e-mail statement.

"The performance of the store has deteriorated to the level that it no longer makes sense to continue to operate," he said.

Stores that once called the center home include Old Navy, Office Depot and Circuit City. An empty Italian restaurant is in front of the main building, and an abandoned theater anchors one end of the center.

Kristy Reynolds, a professor of marketing and management at the University of Alabama, said the formula that led to Barnes & Noble's decision is common throughout the United States.

"It is absolutely critical," she said of a retail business wanting to be near other successful stores.

"Part of the draw of a mall is the effect of all stores that are out there," she said.

Once a shopping center loses one or two major retailers and can't replace them, other stores suffer from lost sales. Before the recession, retailers could overlook that, hoping sales would eventually rebound.

The location of a shopping center also can impact stores, she said. If the shopping district is in an undesirable part of town, it is difficult to recruit new stores.

"The location itself can hurt if it is dated," she said.

Now, many companies are looking for ways to cut expenses, and closing under-performing stores is becoming common.

In January, Barnes & Noble announced it was eliminating more than 100 corporate jobs in a cost-cutting move.

Reynolds said closing locations was to be expected.

"Companies are really looking closely at every location," she said. Stores with low or declining sales usually go out of business.

Barnes & Noble will close its Montgomery store June 30. The company did not say how many workers would be affected or if it will consider opening another store in the market.

One other chain bookseller has operations in the market.

Books-A-Million has three locations in central Alabama. It has stores on East Boulevard and at EastChase in Montgomery and one in Prattville.

bystander1 · #**3743** Posted **Apr 23, 2009, 8:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

[IMG]Once a shopping center loses one or two major retailers and can't replace them, other stores suffer from lost sales. Before the recession, retailers could overlook that, hoping sales would eventually rebound.

It's tough. They hung in there for quite a while though.

====================

Does anyone know what's the deal with the new crane between Union Station and the Intermodal Deck? Are they preparing to build the pedestrian bridge from the deck to the riverwalk?

hiijakd · #**3744** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 2:55 AM**

dreamland was jumping tonight. they're blowing it out, and people said you can't have a restaurant downtown thats open after hours. hopefully this energy will spread. its neat to see people out.

bystander1 · #**3745** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 5:02 AM**

Probably the same folks who said you couldn't have a watertower on the sidewalk or a successful ballpark downtown...wrong!!

hiijakd · #**3746** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 2:23 PM**

yeah the crane is for the building of the tower and elevator to the riverfront.

OCA REP · #**3747** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 2:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bystander1

Probably the same folks who said you couldn't shouldn't have a watertower on the sidewalk or a successful ballpark downtown...wrong!!

As a Biscuit's season ticket holder, I am all over baseball! I did however correct your statement concerning the watertower. We get some things right and occasionally stumble on others...

OldCloverdale · #**3748** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 3:04 PM**

Does anyone remember the idea of bringing "A" ball to town (instead of "AA") and building a ballpark at Auburn-Montgomery (instead of downtown)?

Thank God that idea disappeared like a fart in the wind.

OCA REP · #**3749** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

Does anyone remember the idea of bringing "A" ball to town (instead of "AA") and building a ballpark at Auburn-Montgomery (instead of downtown)?

Thank God that idea disappeared like a fart in the wind.

I do recall that... wasn't the team a Single A affiliate of the LA Dodgers?

Thank goodness we held out for our own field of dreams. I think we should next pursue the SEC Baseball Championship... get it away from that horrible, suburban, concrete park in Hoover, AL.

OldCloverdale · #**3750** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

I think we should next pursue the SEC Baseball Championship... get it away from that horrible, suburban, concrete park in Hoover, AL.

No doubt about it. Todd Strange should make this a priority.

On a much smaller scale, MGM should also try to get the (Montgomery/Huntingdon-based)AISA football championships (three games, six teams) to move from Troy to Cramton Bowl.

They should team up with ASU and go after as many SWAC championship events as possible. With the Birthplace of Civil Rights tie-in, it seems like it might help sell the city to the conference.

Make MGM a sports championship destination. Fill those hotels, restaurants, and shops.

OldCloverdale · #**3751** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 7:38 PM**

Anybody know anything about a bar going in next to Nancy Paterson's Bistro in Cloverdale?

OCA REP · #**3752** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

Anybody know anything about a bar going in next to Nancy Paterson's Bistro in Cloverdale?

Yes. I have not been impressed by anything that I have heard so far. Apparently to be named "The Standard" and will be a bar only; no food. I hear they want to have live music in the breezeway seperating them and Nancy's.

Since nothing official has been announced, that is all I will say. From what I hear, there will be significant opposition to the place. I am not 100% sure of the connection, but apparently someone behind it is someway connected to 1048. Draw your own conclusions there...

OCA REP · #**3753** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 8:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCloverdale

On a much smaller scale, MGM should also try to get the (Montgomery/Huntingdon-based) AISA football championships (three games, six teams) to move from Troy to Cramton Bowl.

Nice thought... but until something is done to that dump we call Cramton Bowl, I cannot see them leaving a nice facility like you have in Troy to come up here.

OldCloverdale · #**3754** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 9:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

Yes. I have not been impressed by anything that I have heard so far. Apparently to be named "The Standard" and will be a bar only; no food. I hear they want to have live music in the breezeway seperating them and Nancy's.

Since nothing official has been announced, that is all I will say. From what I hear, there will be significant opposition to the place. I am not 100% sure of the connection, but apparently someone behind it is someway connected to 1048. Draw your own conclusions there...

Why not say more? This is a sharing place.

1048's owner, Doug Gurney, recently opened a second place. I doubt he's involved. Could it be a bartender going out on his own or something?

bystander1 · #**3755** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 9:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

As a Biscuit's season ticket holder, I am all over baseball! I did however correct your statement concerning the watertower. We get some things right and occasionally stumble on others...

"We" meaning the Architectural Review Board, right? If so, I agree. Most of the time, you all do get things right.

We should meet up at one of the games soon.
Better yet, let's get hiijakd to open his luxury suite and we could have our next forum meet there!

hiijakd · #**3756** Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 9:59 PM**

monday night (three days from now), at the stadium. we can go the suite and buy our own food downstairs, or if you are interested i can order food for the suite to the tune of about $15-20 per person. i know thor has kids, so you're welcome to bring them. I have 16 tickets, minus 3 for me and two friends leaves 13. respond on here if you want to come and how many you've got. if this monday doesn't work for everyone, i will have more nights available.

thoraudio · #**3757** Posted **Apr 25, 2009, 12:40 AM**

I'm interested, let me figure out #'s. My 4 y.o. would have no interest, but my boys do. I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out.

bystander1 · #**3758** Posted **Apr 25, 2009, 2:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiijakd

monday night (three days from now), at the stadium. we can go the suite and buy our own food downstairs, or if you are interested i can order food for the suite to the tune of about $15-20 per person. i know thor has kids, so you're welcome to bring them. I have 16 tickets, minus 3 for me and two friends leaves 13. respond on here if you want to come and how many you've got. if this monday doesn't work for everyone, i will have more nights available.

So far, this Monday seems OK. Whatever you decide, I'll go along with the consensus.

GARDEN MAN · #**3759** Posted **Apr 26, 2009, 12:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiijakd

monday night (three days from now), at the stadium. we can go the suite and buy our own food downstairs, or if you are interested i can order food for the suite to the tune of about $15-20 per person. i know thor has kids, so you're welcome to bring them. I have 16 tickets, minus 3 for me and two friends leaves 13. respond on here if you want to come and how many you've got. if this monday doesn't work for everyone, i will have more nights available.

Sounds good to me,see ya.

thoraudio · #**3760** Posted **Apr 26, 2009, 12:39 AM**

article on Riverfront from Montgomery Advertiser. Also mentions the roundabout at Cottage Hill.

Quote:

Progress continues on tower, bridge for downtown Riverwalk project

Work is progressing on a tower and pedestrian bridge that will connect the intermodal facility on Molton Street with the Riverwalk.

The project is a crucial part of riverfront development, said Jeff Downes, mayoral executive assistant.

"It will really be a key milestone in the development of the Riverwalk itself," Downes said.

Prominent lighting will make the tower and the bridge visible from Interstate 65 South, drawing attention to the Riverwalk, he said.

The tower and bridge will be one of several entryways to the Riverwalk and will provide easy access to events on the Riverfront for people who park at the intermodal facility, Downes said.

"It will make for easier access, and aesthetically and architecturally it will be very pleasing for the eye," he said.

The tower will be three stories high and will be even with the top level of the parking deck, said Chris Conway, city engineer.

The bridge from the parking deck to the tower will be about 150 feet long, Conway said.

The tower will include both stairs and an elevator, he said.

It is a $3.7 million project and is expected to be completed in the fall of this year.

A design change delayed the project, which originally was scheduled to be completed in March.

Pre-cast concrete panels that were needed for the new design are now available, which has helped move construction forward, Downes said.

Meanwhile, a parking deck on Coosa Street is in the final stages of construction.

Crews are working on streetscaping at the site, including new curb lines, street trees and asphalt on Coosa from Tallapoosa Street to the railroad tracks.

The parking deck, which sits next door to Riverwalk Stadium, soon will be available for hourly parking and monthly leasing, Downes said.

The railroad crossing at Coosa Street will be closed to public vehicles.

"It will be a quiet zone, thus quieting train horns as they come through," Downes said.

A construction project still on the horizon is a roundabout near Cottage Hill.

Documents could be ready for bid in about a month for the roundabout at the intersection of Mobile, Clayton, Goldthwaite and Montgomery streets, Downes said.

Images from said article.