Mobile Development Thread

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by elb401

Better yet.....the cruise terminal. they could just add to it and build a tower next to it that could add to the skyline a bit. Ahh, I'm just dreaming. That will never happen.

Great idea you never know

[Alxx611]

New Ft. Conde Inn. Grand Opening, way nicer than I expected:

Somehow I managed to not take any pictures of the actual front of the building, but here is a slightly out of date photo of the front while work was still being done. The front porch floor is made of white marble.







Photos dont really do justice on the rooms




View from the top balcony:







Third floor suite:



Newer developments:

There are two more buildings left that this developer from NY wants renovate, pictured below. One is going to be a restaurant with rooms on top, and the other more B&B rooms.







View of the river, with Gulfquest construction and Austal expansion(sloped building)

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Great pics. Nice to see that area being taken care of. Loving the last shot

[Port_of_Bama]

Nice shots of the village ! Nice blend of modern and elactic old southern charm.

[Port_of_Bama]

'Cars 2' features Austal ship USS Independence in all its splendor on the silver screen
By Dan Murtaugh, Press-Register ,Published: Tuesday, July 05, 2011, 8:12 AM

MOBILE, Alabama -- A native Mobilian finagled a cameo role in one of the summer's biggest blockbuster movies.
But you won't find this star jetting around to press junkets or basking in the glow of paparazzi flashbulbs.
Or, for that matter, breathing.
Instead, the Austal USA-built USS Independence will be spending its summer running tests in the Atlantic Ocean, while a character based on it menaces Finn McMissile in Cars 2.
Officials from Austal and the U.S. Navy, which owns the Independence, said they didn't approach Pixar or Disney about using the ship, but they're tickled it happened.
"We didn't seek it out, but to have one of the most creative movie studios in Hollywood feature a Mobile-built product confirms what we locals have known for years -- our ship is awesome," said Joe Rella, president of Austal USA.

http://blog.al.com/press-register-business/2011/07/austal_ship_shines_on_silver_s.html

[Port_of_Bama]

Plans have been submitted to the Mobile Planning Commission for approval of a planned unit development or PUD, that would allow for construction of a grocery and three or four retail stores on land off Spring Hill Avenue, according to Doug Anderson, a local attorney who is representing the developer, Aronov Realty based in Montgomery.

The developer has kept the name of the store a secret, but Realtors have said it's likely to be Publix or the natural food retailer Earth Fare, based in Fletcher, N.C.

The proposed site, owned by Infirmary Health System, stretches from Spring Hill Avenue back to Old Shell Road and includes Fontainebleau Apartments at 1759 Spring Hill Ave., the Infirmary Federal Credit Union, 1753 Spring Hill Ave.; and the 3.5-acre former Ernest Construction property which fronts Old Shell Road.

Published: Sunday, July 24, 2011, 5:19 AM ,By Kathy Jumper, Press-Register

http://blog.al.com/press-register-business/2011/07/midtown_may_land_new_grocery_s.html

[Port_of_Bama]

'Project Apollo' could put Mobile back on the aerospace map (Talbot column)

Airbus, meanwhile, bounced back with a landmark victory of its own — capturing a record contract for new planes from American Airlines and reviving prospects for aircraft assembly in Mobile.

The Dallas-based airline announced last week the biggest aircraft order in history: 460 total planes with a list price of more than $38 billion.

The deal — code named “Project Apollo” — was the product of weeks of intense negotiations with Boeing and Airbus, and at first glance looked like a win for both sides. American would purchase 260 of Airbus’ single-aisle A320 jets and 200 of Boeing’s 737 narrow-bodies.

But while both competitors claimed success, experts and industry observers said Airbus was the decisive winner.

Aerospace analyst Michel Merluzeau described the outcome as an “Airbus smack down,” noting that American has flown Boeing planes since the 1950s and hadn’t bought an Airbus jet in nearly 25 years.

A headline in the Seattle Times gave a backhanded compliment to its hometown firm, which builds its planes in Washington state: “Big 737 order still leaves Boeing with egg on face.”

Published: Wednesday, July 27, 2011, 8:04 AM ,By George Talbot
http://blog.al.com/live/2011/07/project_apollo_could_put_mobil.html


I hope Mobile will get a piece of that pie !

[Port_of_Bama]

Barton Academy should become international magnet school, committee says

Published: Monday, August 08, 2011, 7:09 A mBy Rena Havner Philips, Press-Register



MOBILE, Alabama -- If its supporters can raise up to $20 million, historic Barton Academy in downtown Mobile will become the home of an international magnet school.
“It would be a tremendous boon for our community,” said Jaime Betbeze, a local lawyer who is heading up the Barton Academy Historic Preservation and Restoration Committee.
Committee members, including school system Superintendent Roy Nichols, said that the Barton magnet would be attractive to families arriving for jobs at international companies in the area. Many such families are sending their children to private schools, Nichols said.
Nichols said that Barton could even be a regional school, taking in students from Baldwin County as well.
The high-level curriculum would emphasize foreign language, world history and world cultures. Students would take Advanced Placement courses and be encouraged to participate in international student exchanges.
The school would enroll about 400 in the sixth through 12th grades, but likely would have no sports teams or marching bands.

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/08/committee_lets_put_an_internat.html

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Barton Academy should become international magnet school, committee says

Published: Monday, August 08, 2011, 7:09 A mBy Rena Havner Philips, Press-Register



MOBILE, Alabama -- If its supporters can raise up to $20 million, historic Barton Academy in downtown Mobile will become the home of an international magnet school.
“It would be a tremendous boon for our community,” said Jaime Betbeze, a local lawyer who is heading up the Barton Academy Historic Preservation and Restoration Committee.
Committee members, including school system Superintendent Roy Nichols, said that the Barton magnet would be attractive to families arriving for jobs at international companies in the area. Many such families are sending their children to private schools, Nichols said.
Nichols said that Barton could even be a regional school, taking in students from Baldwin County as well.
The high-level curriculum would emphasize foreign language, world history and world cultures. Students would take Advanced Placement courses and be encouraged to participate in international student exchanges.
The school would enroll about 400 in the sixth through 12th grades, but likely would have no sports teams or marching bands.

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/08/committee_lets_put_an_internat.html

I think this is a good start for an idea, but I think it would be disastrous not to have sports or a marching band. If it wasn't for marching band, I don't know how I would have made it through college....

[phoenixboi08]

Originally Posted by tredici

I think this is a good start for an idea, but I think it would be disastrous not to have sports or a marching band. If it wasn't for marching band, I don't know how I would have made it through college....

They SHOULD partner with Larkins (it's affiliated with the Mobile Symphony) and other art/cultural organizations in the city to help make this happen. There's no high school in the city that has a very competitive/high caliber arts program. But now I'm dreaming...

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Barton Academy should become international magnet school, committee says

Published: Monday, August 08, 2011, 7:09 A mBy Rena Havner Philips, Press-Register



MOBILE, Alabama -- If its supporters can raise up to $20 million, historic Barton Academy in downtown Mobile will become the home of an international magnet school.
“It would be a tremendous boon for our community,” said Jaime Betbeze, a local lawyer who is heading up the Barton Academy Historic Preservation and Restoration Committee.
Committee members, including school system Superintendent Roy Nichols, said that the Barton magnet would be attractive to families arriving for jobs at international companies in the area. Many such families are sending their children to private schools, Nichols said.
Nichols said that Barton could even be a regional school, taking in students from Baldwin County as well.
The high-level curriculum would emphasize foreign language, world history and world cultures. Students would take Advanced Placement courses and be encouraged to participate in international student exchanges.
The school would enroll about 400 in the sixth through 12th grades, but likely would have no sports teams or marching bands.

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/08/committee_lets_put_an_internat.html

If they can raise the funds, this would be an incredible addition to the educational environment of the area along with being a great boost to that area of downtown.

[Verve]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

Barton Academy should become international magnet school, committee says

Published: Monday, August 08, 2011, 7:09 A mBy Rena Havner Philips, Press-Register



MOBILE, Alabama -- If its supporters can raise up to $20 million, historic Barton Academy in downtown Mobile will become the home of an international magnet school.
“It would be a tremendous boon for our community,” said Jaime Betbeze, a local lawyer who is heading up the Barton Academy Historic Preservation and Restoration Committee.
Committee members, including school system Superintendent Roy Nichols, said that the Barton magnet would be attractive to families arriving for jobs at international companies in the area. Many such families are sending their children to private schools, Nichols said.
Nichols said that Barton could even be a regional school, taking in students from Baldwin County as well.
The high-level curriculum would emphasize foreign language, world history and world cultures. Students would take Advanced Placement courses and be encouraged to participate in international student exchanges.
The school would enroll about 400 in the sixth through 12th grades, but likely would have no sports teams or marching bands.

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/08/committee_lets_put_an_internat.html

Great article. Barton could be the centerpiece for an international school/art school/technology school for that area. One thing for sure, the building with all of its history needs to be preserved.

[elb401]

I was thinking, what if Mobile county added another 0.5%-1% to the lodging tax to help fund restoration of historic sites within the county. I know it wouldn't be a whole lot (one estimate from the high speed ferry report could be as much as $700,000 a year) but coupled with fundraising it could make a difference. Spend all the total funds in one year on one project to make the biggest impact. Baton could be first, then Fort Gaines, Magee farm in Citronelle, resurrecting Monroe Park, Battleship park, the old Mobile site (for research purposes), 1930s federal courthouse (as long as the feds deed it to the county when they build the new one), historic parks and graveyards, and historic schools.

Baldwin county could do the same and help fund the restoration of Blakely State park, fort Mims, fort Morgan, and other historic buildings and parks in the county.

I know most people are against raising any tax, but with this people will be able to see the results and the burden would not be that great or on the local population. Our lodging taxes are low compared to other tourist areas anyway.

[Port_of_Bama]

Good idea ! I hope our new museum will be a success along with new city leadership !

[elb401]

Yeah, NEW city leadership.

[Port_of_Bama]

Walkable Urbanism creates wealth, real estate expert says
Published: Friday, September 09, 2011, 7:12 AM
By Robert McClendon, Press-Register

MOBILE, Alabama -- When it comes to the production of walkable environments and downtown redevelopment, other cities in the Southeast have far outpaced Mobile, Christopher Leinberger, a real estate expert and developer, told a packed auditorium Tuesday.

“Your downtown, and therefore your region, is not being lapped by your main competition, you’ve already been lapped by your main competition,” he said.

Leinberger, holder of a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard and former owner of one of the largest independent real estate consulting firms in the country, was the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Downtown Mobile Alliance at The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa.

Leinberger’s business acumen colored his presentation, making it an interesting follow-up to last year’s speaker, Andres Duany.

Duany, the ideological figurehead of the New Urbanism movement, brought his background as an architect and his trademark wit to bear as he explained why details matter in an urban environment.

At one point he quipped that the cheap lighting often installed by power companies downtown makes people “look like death,” discouraging nightlife.

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/09/walkable_urbanism_creates_weal.html

[Port_of_Bama]

Check out the happinings in downtown Mobile !!!

http://mydowntownmobile.com/images/news/dan_august_2011.pdf

[eshore78]

from the MPR the past couple weeks.. A new restaurant in the old brewery building in October and Panini Pete's is coming to the old Noell B's building in November. Don't forget TP Crockmiers in October as well.. Here's a video of panini Pete's if anyone was wondering what it's about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u2Kj-B88Tc

[Port_of_Bama]

Glad to know that Panini Pete`s is coming to downtown Mobile..In my opinion the beignets at Panini Pete`s can compete with the ones in New Orleans !

[Alxx611]

-Urban Emporium to open soon in old Cathedral Square Gallery location
- Club Atlantis shut down officially (suprise..)
- Monsoons open in building that was previously Risque
- new consignment shop in empty store front next to Rollin's
-Entree Arts/ Island Thyme closing. very very unfortunate.