Montgomery development news - Page 212

bystander1 · #**4221** Posted **Dec 2, 2009, 10:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by floc34

This would be great for Montgomery, I was just there this past weekend for Faulkners Homecoming, and the downtown area looks great. It would be great also to see bars/shops along lower Dexter Ave similar to Mill Ave here in PHX.

I think you will begin to see more happening along Dexter Ave soon...especially with $5 million in streetscaping coming up.

bystander1 · #**4222** Posted **Dec 2, 2009, 11:25 PM**

I'm unloading my camera with some pics I took early one Sunday morning of the new RSA Judicial Building going up downtown, and some other miscellaneous pics. Enjoy!

From a distance, to the left.

The pedestrian bridge has been installed...

floc34 · #**4223** Posted **Dec 3, 2009, 1:46 AM**

Thanks for sharing your pics, Montgomery is still one of my favorite cities to visit....

Dyingyak · #**4224** Posted **Dec 3, 2009, 3:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bystander1

I'm unloading my camera with some pics I took early one Sunday morning of the new RSA Judicial Building going up downtown, and some other miscellaneous pics. Enjoy!

I really hope this new building doesn't destroy the visual site lines of Dexter Ave.

OldCloverdale · #**4225** Posted **Dec 3, 2009, 5:12 PM**

old view:

future view:

SpawnOfVulcan · #**4226** Posted **Dec 3, 2009, 6:25 PM**

I really don't think it'll be THAT big of a distraction. It seems that it is set back far enough from Dexter that it might even look like it's on another street.

OCA REP · #**4227** Posted **Dec 3, 2009, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyingyak

I really hope this new building doesn't destroy the visual site lines of Dexter Ave.

It does not matter... it WILL have a negative impact on the view, but RSA was able to bypass the rules, etc. and get whatever they wanted to build approved. I did like the initial specs for the building, but just not right on Dexter Avenue that close to the Capitol.

Dyingyak · #**4228** Posted **Dec 3, 2009, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

It does not matter... it WILL have a negative impact on the view, but RSA was able to bypass the rules, etc. and get whatever they wanted to build approved.

Sadly...any "state" agency can do whatever they want, where ever they want on state-owned property. Sad commentary in my opinion because the wants of any state agency are not always those of the community...obviously because the RSA doesn't have to follow the SmartCode in downtown Montgomery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

I did like the initial specs for the building, but just not right on Dexter Avenue that close to the Capitol.

Agreed...I think it's a good looking building, just don't like the presence along Dexter.

ttownfeen · #**4229** Posted **Dec 3, 2009, 8:35 PM**

Looks nice. What is this building for?

SpawnOfVulcan · #**4230** Posted **Dec 4, 2009, 12:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyingyak

Sadly...any "state" agency can do whatever they want, where ever they want on state-owned property. Sad commentary in my opinion because the wants of any state agency are not always those of the community...obviously because the RSA doesn't have to follow the SmartCode in downtown Montgomery.

RSA isn't a state agency. But, they do get treated as such.

bystander1 · #**4231** Posted **Dec 4, 2009, 4:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alabadrock

I really don't think it'll be THAT big of a distraction. It seems that it is set back far enough from Dexter that it might even look like it's on another street.

Yes, I agree. It will still be the same ol' view up Dexter Ave.

Dyingyak · #**4232** Posted **Dec 4, 2009, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alabadrock

RSA isn't a state agency. But, they do get treated as such.

Sure looks like it is to me...on the state's list of state agencies.

http://info.alabama.gov/directory.aspx?range=5&fs=

SpawnOfVulcan · #**4233** Posted **Dec 4, 2009, 11:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyingyak

Sure looks like it is to me...on the state's list of state agencies.

http://info.alabama.gov/directory.aspx?range=5&fs=

Hmmmm, guess I was wrong. I'd always heard that it was a private entity.

thoraudio · #**4234** Posted **Dec 5, 2009, 2:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alabadrock

Hmmmm, guess I was wrong. I'd always heard that it was a private entity.

It's quasi-governmental. Just independent enough to keep the legislature's hands off the money.

bystander1 · #**4235** Posted **Dec 5, 2009, 4:34 AM**

You forgot one word...

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoraudio

It's quasi-governmental. Just independent enough to keep the legislature's grubby hands off the money.

Dyingyak · #**4236** Posted **Dec 7, 2009, 3:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoraudio

It's quasi-governmental.

There are entirely to many of those entities this state!

Dyingyak · #**4237** Posted **Dec 9, 2009, 3:18 PM**

Quote:

from today's Advertiser:

Historic clock returns to downtown Montgomery

A clock is changing time, helping downtown's past become part of its future.

City Officials hope the return of the old Klein & Son clock to its original location at the corner of South Court Street and Dexter Avenue will be a pivotal moment in the redevelopment of the currently distressed lower Dexter Avenue area.

"This is the beginning of the revitalization effort of this street," Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said during a dedication ceremony Tuesday morning.

While the investment of energy and money in the riverfront is starting to pay off, the city has tried without success so far to jumpstart the revitalization of one of the most historic streets in the country.

City planners hope the energy that is building on the riverfront revitalization, which includes the Alley, Riverwalk Stadium and the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center, will expand to take in Dexter Avenue. Strange said this would be a "natural extension" of the revitalization on the riverfront.

Ken Reynolds, the city's retail development coordinator, said development interest concerning Dexter Avenue is beginning to brew. There are two businesses -- a restaurant and an Internet café -- that currently are negotiating the terms of lease agreements for locations on Dexter Avenue. He also noted that three buildings currently are being renovated.

Reynolds said he thought the clock would be a focal point for Dexter Avenue, much as the water tower has been for the Alley. But the water tower's relocation from atop a building in the Lower Commerce Historic District to the sidewalk was controversial. The clock's return to its original location has earned nothing but praise.

While it remains to be seen if the clock will be a catalyst for revitalization on Dexter Avenue, for Montgomerians it is already rekindling memories of when it was a significant landmark in the city's bustling downtown.

There have been marriage proposals under the clock. There have been historic moments, many captured in photos with the 15-foot-tall clock in the background. There have been many people who showed up on time because of that four-face clock.

Now the clock is back for round two of memory-making. Its return may even bring back the tradition of meeting up with friends and family at the clock at Klein's.

"It is a great pleasure for our family to donate the clock (to the city)," Bill Heilpern said during the dedication ceremony. "It's back where it needed to be."

The clock was moved in 1986 when Heilpern moved the store from Eastdale Mall to Zelda Road. City crews moved the clock from Zelda Road to 1 Dexter Ave. on Monday and were able to use the old wiring to power the clock.

Heilpern donated the clock, which would cost about $100,000 to replicate today, because he is moving the store from the Zelda Road location to EastChase. He hopes to open that location this month.

Good job moving the clock to Court Square...to bad he didn't move his business back downtown as well.

bystander1 · #**4238** Posted **Dec 10, 2009, 4:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyingyak

Good job moving the clock to Court Square...to bad he didn't move his business back downtown as well.

For real.

The internet cafe' will be a nice addition to Dexter, along with the new "Buddy's". Isn't that going to be the "western beer bar"?

philopdx · #**4239** Posted **Dec 12, 2009, 5:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bystander1

I'm unloading my camera with some pics I took early one Sunday morning of the new RSA Judicial Building going up downtown, and some other miscellaneous pics. Enjoy!

From a distance, to the left.

The pedestrian bridge has been installed...

Even though I was born and raised in the gump, I'm still positively stunned that there are leaves on the trees as of Dec 2nd, and many of those leaves are still green. Our leaves in the Pac-NW have been gone for weeks! And it was 12 degrees here two days ago. Yowza!

Although I consider myself to be by far the harshest critic of Montgomery on these boards, I am mightily impressed by the pedestrian bridge. It, along with the alley and the proposed changes to Madison (and Dexter?) Avenues, are finally something you guys got right.

Bronner's hideous white elephant, however, is another matter.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**4240** Posted **Dec 12, 2009, 5:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by philopdx

Even though I was born and raised in the gump, I'm still positively stunned that there are leaves on the trees as of Dec 2nd, and many of those leaves are still green. Our leaves in the Pac-NW have been gone for weeks! And it was 12 degrees here two days ago. Yowza!

Although I consider myself to be by far the harshest critic of Montgomery on these boards, I am mightily impressed by the pedestrian bridge. It, along with the alley and the proposed changes to Madison (and Dexter?) Avenues are finally something you guys got right.

Bronner's hideous white elephant, however, is another matter.

The entire state has been slow to lose its leaves. The trees in my yard in North Alabama JUST got finished shedding. BUT, last night it got down to 19 degrees in Decatur.

Of course, some of the trees you see in those pictures might be pines, magnolias, or live oaks, which don't lose their leaves.