Mobile Development Thread

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Dauphin Street was ready for its closeup last month as a commercial for Mercedes-Benz of Mobile was shot early one Saturday morning. The commercial, with dealer Ronnie Lemarque at the corner of Dauphin and Joachim streets, is now running in heavy rotation on local stations. It may be the only Mercedes commercial where the location is as lovely as the cars!

Meanwhile, another month and another "best" list for the Port City. The housing melltdown has left cities across the country with wobbly economies, but BusinessWeek magazine has named Mobile as one of the top 30 housing markets in the nation. Now, if only folks just now moving to Mobile could sell their homes in other cities, our housing market would really take off!

Just last month we announced the plans for the Candlewood Suites Hotel, an 81-suite hotel for the extended-stay business traveler. Less than four weeks later, ground was broken for the project with more than 100 in attendance. The hotel is scheduled to open in about a year, filling a much needed niche in downtown.

In other development news:

The Radisson Admiral Semmes has announced a plan to expand the hotel and add condominium units on land just south of the current building. The plans call for an additional 100 rooms and 50 condo units, as well as office space. Total cost for the expansion is estimated at $27 million.

The Southern High Speed Rail Commission has moved its offices from New Orleans to the GM&O Building, where it will receive staff support from the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.

Melodix Music Hall will be opening at the end of September at 9 S. Joachim Street, in the building last occupied by Alabama Contemporary Dance. The venue will offer live music ranging from light to heavy rock.

One of Downtown Mobile's most charming boutiques has moved into its permanent location on Bienville Square at 7 N. Conception Street. Inside Up has already attracted a loyal following of shoppers looking for a great gifts and must-haves for the home and wardrobe! The new location is a light-filled, spacious and beautifully arranged space, with a second floor for larger furniture items. Stop in and check out the latest fall fashions or just visit with the friendly proprietors!

In other retail news:

Cafe Royal at Royal and Dauphin streets has announced that Chef Kevin Brooks from Blu Bistro in Springhill is now taking charge in the downtown landmark's kitchen. The menu features fresh, local seafood and Greek specialties. There are also great lunch and dinner specials daily.
After 15 years of satisfying the breakfast and lunch demands of folks from across the region, Spot of Tea After Five is open at night with a new menu. Chose from a variety of steaks, Italian dishes or Gulf seafood favorites. And because it's always time for an order of Eggs Bienville, breakfast is available whenever the restaurant is open.

Mayor Sam Jones and the Mobile City Council will be dedicating Mobile's newest green space this Saturday, August 22nd from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the corner of Broad Street and Springhill Avenue. Unity Point will celebrate the lives and partnership of Joseph Langan and John L. LeFlore, two leaders whose work during the Civil Rights movement encouraged Mobilians to put aside their differences to unite around common goals.

The centerpiece of the triangle green space is a statue of the two men by Mobile sculptor Casey Downing. Unity Point will serve as a beautiful, welcoming gateway into downtown at one of our busiest intersections.

Other points of interest: Bayfest/Exploreum/IMAX/Saenger/Brown Bag in Bienville/Upcoming music/Homeless Roundtable discussion/ Annual Meeting of the Downtown Mobile District Management Corporation and the Downtown Mobile Alliance (with Bronner)/"Staycations" and giveaways/Personal Items Drive for Children/Ben May Library/International Beer Festival/Look Up Mobile!/ArtWalk/Space 301/Cathedral Gallery.

As always, you can sign up for their newsletter and get all the info. I just put some of the main points.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Back to those run-down neighborhoods for a sec: I spent a little while looking at listings of the "fixer-upper" kind of houses in downtown & the southern half of midtown and there aren't that many that are legitimately worth fixing. A couple were being sold at the worth of the lot b/c the house was irreparable. Some were overpriced relative to the work needed. I did find a couple that were probably worth fixing.

Yes, many simply need to be bulldozed in my opinion. If you could find enough non-historic dilapidated houses in/around downtown, that would be a great opportunity for redevelopment. That being said, many others are worth the trouble and should be fixed up. Restore Mobile has several projects underway, and even though they won't be immediate, they are much needed.

[pboo74]

Originally Posted by nouveau_Mauvilla

Dauphin Street was ready for its closeup last month as a commercial for Mercedes-Benz of Mobile was shot early one Saturday morning. The commercial, with dealer Ronnie Lemarque at the corner of Dauphin and Joachim streets, is now running in heavy rotation on local stations. It may be the only Mercedes commercial where the location is as lovely as the cars!

Meanwhile, another month and another "best" list for the Port City. The housing melltdown has left cities across the country with wobbly economies, but BusinessWeek magazine has named Mobile as one of the top 30 housing markets in the nation. Now, if only folks just now moving to Mobile could sell their homes in other cities, our housing market would really take off!

Just last month we announced the plans for the Candlewood Suites Hotel, an 81-suite hotel for the extended-stay business traveler. Less than four weeks later, ground was broken for the project with more than 100 in attendance. The hotel is scheduled to open in about a year, filling a much needed niche in downtown.

In other development news:

The Radisson Admiral Semmes has announced a plan to expand the hotel and add condominium units on land just south of the current building. The plans call for an additional 100 rooms and 50 condo units, as well as office space. Total cost for the expansion is estimated at $27 million.

The Southern High Speed Rail Commission has moved its offices from New Orleans to the GM&O Building, where it will receive staff support from the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.

Melodix Music Hall will be opening at the end of September at 9 S. Joachim Street, in the building last occupied by Alabama Contemporary Dance. The venue will offer live music ranging from light to heavy rock.

One of Downtown Mobile's most charming boutiques has moved into its permanent location on Bienville Square at 7 N. Conception Street. Inside Up has already attracted a loyal following of shoppers looking for a great gifts and must-haves for the home and wardrobe! The new location is a light-filled, spacious and beautifully arranged space, with a second floor for larger furniture items. Stop in and check out the latest fall fashions or just visit with the friendly proprietors!

In other retail news:

Cafe Royal at Royal and Dauphin streets has announced that Chef Kevin Brooks from Blu Bistro in Springhill is now taking charge in the downtown landmark's kitchen. The menu features fresh, local seafood and Greek specialties. There are also great lunch and dinner specials daily.
After 15 years of satisfying the breakfast and lunch demands of folks from across the region, Spot of Tea After Five is open at night with a new menu. Chose from a variety of steaks, Italian dishes or Gulf seafood favorites. And because it's always time for an order of Eggs Bienville, breakfast is available whenever the restaurant is open.

Mayor Sam Jones and the Mobile City Council will be dedicating Mobile's newest green space this Saturday, August 22nd from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the corner of Broad Street and Springhill Avenue. Unity Point will celebrate the lives and partnership of Joseph Langan and John L. LeFlore, two leaders whose work during the Civil Rights movement encouraged Mobilians to put aside their differences to unite around common goals.

The centerpiece of the triangle green space is a statue of the two men by Mobile sculptor Casey Downing. Unity Point will serve as a beautiful, welcoming gateway into downtown at one of our busiest intersections.

Other points of interest: Bayfest/Exploreum/IMAX/Saenger/Brown Bag in Bienville/Upcoming music/Homeless Roundtable discussion/ Annual Meeting of the Downtown Mobile District Management Corporation and the Downtown Mobile Alliance (with Bronner)/"Staycations" and giveaways/Personal Items Drive for Children/Ben May Library/International Beer Festival/Look Up Mobile!/ArtWalk/Space 301/Cathedral Gallery.

As always, you can sign up for their newsletter and get all the info. I just put some of the main points.

That is good news hopefully more good news will follow....Thanks Nouveau for the info.....

[Scottybo]

If anyone read the front page of yesterday's paper, then you saw the article about "The Shed". Fairly famous BBQ "joint" in Ocean Springs and their pulled pork is just so damn amazing. Anyway, my point is the article mentioned Mobile would be getting one, and I've heard for the longest time that someone will be turning the old Solomon's on Old Shell into The Shed.

[TheMobilian]

Yes its true , the old Solomans will be the Shed
its so much larger than the Shed in Ocean Springs
so im curious as to what it will look like when completed

i know they will have live music
a lot of blues, or atleast thats what they have at the one in ocean springs
but being so close to the college im thinking they will also cater to the students as well

they are actually there every day that i pass by working to get it completed

[BuenaVista]

Originally Posted by nouveau_Mauvilla

Yes, many simply need to be bulldozed in my opinion. If you could find enough non-historic dilapidated houses in/around downtown, that would be a great opportunity for redevelopment. That being said, many others are worth the trouble and should be fixed up. Restore Mobile has several projects underway, and even though they won't be immediate, they are much needed.

Check the OVRF website


http://www.ovrf.org/

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Haha, thanks.

Let's just say that I keep track off all the developments and goings on around there and keep in close contact with Oakleigh. Any of y'all ever seen the houses around 1116 Old Shell Road?

[Bogue]

Bayfest has been named Alabama's "Event of the Year" by the Alabama Tourism Board.

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1251450908136610.xml&coll=3

"In announcing the honor, the Tourism Department indicated that the choice was based largely on BayFest's economic impact, which is estimated at more than $185 million over the course of 15 years.

Criteria for Event of the Year include 'outstanding performance, outstanding economic impact statistics, quality and effectiveness of marketing efforts, additions and/or improvements designed to increase appeal to tourists, increased attendance and the enhancement of local, regional or state image as a tourist destination,' according to the department."

The Pres. of Gulf Shores' Compass Marketing will also be awarded the Governor's Tourism Award.

For the organizers of Bayfest. Way to go!

[Bogue]

Where do I sign up for that newsletter, btw? I went to the website (located via google) but didn't see that it had been updated in a while & there wasn't anywhere to sign up for a newsletter.

[pboo74]

Have they started construction on the maritime museum?

[pboo74]

Maybe something will be done with the civic center property soon?

[TheMobilian]

pboo74

I was just at RiverSide Park Fri night and no they haven't started on the Maritime Museum, As of yet

[pboo74]

Originally Posted by TheMobilian

pboo74

I was just at RiverSide Park Fri night and no they haven't started on the Maritime Museum, As of yet

Thanks TheMobilian...I have to say that cooper is so underused as an amphitheater,and could be a lot better than it is,if they would build an pedestrian bridge over water street i think it will suite a lot of people an more visitors will be there..As of right now its kinda hard to get to with the fast moving traffic..

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

The pedestrian bridge will come with the museum.

[nouveau_Mauvilla]

Originally Posted by Bogue

Where do I sign up for that newsletter, btw? I went to the website (located via google) but didn't see that it had been updated in a while & there wasn't anywhere to sign up for a newsletter.

Bottom of the page under News & Reports it says Mailing List; here's the link http://www.downtownmobile.org/mailinglist.html

They also have the upcoming events on the website. Unfortunately they could do a better job updating the site.

[pboo74]

Originally Posted by nouveau_Mauvilla

The pedestrian bridge will come with the museum.

Thanks Nouveau Mauvilla....

[TheMobilian]

i bet Riverside Park will get a lot more use once the Maritime Museum opens
and during its construction

I walk my Dog there a few times a week, the Park closes at Midnight
there are always around 15 to 30 people fishing and a few walking

the view is amazing from the Park
there is a parking lot right in front of where the Maritime Museum
for public use

you should go check it out
its beter after dark

[NitekKetin]

The City of Mobile or whomever performs maintenance on Cooper Riverview Park needs to steam clean the bathroom kiosks on a constant basis. Hurricanes and the homeless population have violated that space.

[pboo74]

Meaning big concerts and other activities that could take place there,art walk,things for kids to do,like play movies in the park,etc...

[NitekKetin]

The bridge/skywalk connecting Downtown to the Waterfront needs to be constructed soon in order for Riverside Park to be another focal point for events and whatnot. Imagine a Bayfest concert and post-concert fireworks show!