Mobile Development Thread

[SouthSky]

MPR posted 3 different downtown real estate-related articles today:

"New" firm foretelling a great decade coming:
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/201...ices_firm_stak.html#incart_river_default

Commercial Forecast (with a particular interest in downtown):
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/201...t_short-term.html#incart_flyout_business

Interview with DMA's Chairman:
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/201..._downtown_mobi.html#incart_river_default

Cliffs: great news for Mobile

[Port_of_Bama]

It would be great if Rouses were to enter into the downtown market they would fit in good with the neighborhood. Downtown is in need of a quality grocery store .

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/201..._rouses_market.html#incart_river_default

[Port_of_Bama]

The Owners of Café 360 will be turning the building next to it into apartments. I believe the building was erected in the mid or late 1800s .

The many months of behind the scenes discussions with the City and the Historic Development Commission have resulted in approval of a plan for the complete renovation of 358 and 360 Dauphin Street - beginning immediately. “Our little Jazz Cafe is only a small fraction of this exciting development for downtown Mobile” stated Dave MacPherson, Managing Partner of 360 Jazz Café. “Our landlord has been working on this for months, and although the timing is not great for our guests and all the seasonal parties, we all agreed that it just makes sense to get the construction started now - the sooner the better.”

The project will include first floor commercial space in 358 Dauphin, three apartments in the two floors above that space, as well as rebuilding two floors above (and behind the historic façade) of 360 Dauphin for an additional four apartments. The renovation will be topped off – literally – by a rooftop garden on the 360 side. Upgraded electrical and plumbing, an expanded kitchen, a tenant elevator, dedicated off-street parking and extensive landscaping in the rear courtyard are all also key elements of the plan. Projected time for the entire project is expected to be at least 6 months.

“When people see the finished product and Cafe' it'll be great , we look forward to our return when the project is finished.” MacPherson added. “Please stay tuned to our website athttp://www.360jazzcafe.com/ for updates and our Re-Opening party!”

http://www.360jazzcafe.com/

[elb401]

That's one of the projects that I worked on a few months ago. These developers are great. They have properties all over the world. They have built condo/apartments in Sydney, London, and Shanghai. Their previous developments are great. I'll try to find the link to their company site and post it. Really high end stuff they will be a great addition to downtown.

[Port_of_Bama]

The University of South Alabama will build a new 35, 000 seat horse shoe stadium! The rendering looks good and it will be built for future expansions.


http://thevanguardonline.com/left-of-center/1569-south-to-build-football-stadium.html

[NitekKetin]

Originally Posted by Port_of_Bama

The University of South Alabama will build a new 35, 000 seat horse shoe stadium! The rendering looks good and it will be built for future expansions.


http://thevanguardonline.com/left-of-center/1569-south-to-build-football-stadium.html

Look at the date it was published.

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by NitekKetin

Look at the date it was published.

Damn damn damn damn!!! Lol I hope their is some truth to this I was told on another forum that USA has a major announcement in December.

[Port_of_Bama]

Developer interested in school properties: 'If I can't salvage the buildings, then I don't want the deal'

MOBILE, Alabama – A developer looking to purchase two of the Mobile County school board’s historic buildings said he is only interested in restoring them, not demolishing them.

“We’re all about historic preservation,” said Pace Burt Jr., who’s based in Albany, Ga .

A property sale requires a unanimous vote of all five school board members. The board has requested new appraisals of the two properties, so it is unlikely to vote again on the offer until December or January, according to Nancy Pierce, spokesperson for the school system.

Burt said he wanted to develop the buildings as historic properties. “If I can’t salvage the buildings, I don’t want the deal,” he said. “If my company is unable to restore the buildings back to their original historical significance, then we’re not interested in the project. It’s not worth it to us. … To tear them down would be completely against everything we’re trying to do.”

http://blog.al.com/live/2013/10/developer_interested_in_school.html#incart_flyout_business



The same developer just recently purchased a 75,000 sq feet Office building on government street.

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2013/05/government_street_property_sla.html

[Port_of_Bama]

I`m glad to see some of Mobile`s historical properties being renovated.

DeBriere Building attracting 'creative culture' to downtown Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama – Soon after Mobile’s DeBriere Building re-opens its renovated doors in early 2014, Red Square Agency will occupy about three-quarters of one of downtown’s most historic structures.

“I think we built something in downtown Mobile that was the first of its kind in terms of work environment, but we’re going to do something at (54) St. Emanuel that’s going to eclipse anyone’s imagination for a workspace,” said Rich Sullivan, chief executive officer of both Red Square Gaming and RSQ.

In August, the Mobile-based advertising agency split into two separate divisions: a full-service firm focused on casino brands and a project-based creative group with a sharp focus on digital innovation.

Now, the company will undertake the physical move from its cramped 202 Government Street office to roughly 15,000 square feet directly across Conception Street, allowing ample space for a staff that has more than doubled to 75 since 2008.

“Our growth is going to become accelerated, and we can accommodate close to 100 in the new building, which I think we’ll hit sooner rather than later,” Sullivan said.

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/debriere_building_attracting_c.html#incart_river




Current downtown and midtown renovations :

951 Goverment street converted into apartments

358 Dauphin street is being renovated into apartmenst

360 Dauphin st will under go renovations as well

Building on Conti street being renovated into condos.

Old Shell Road Elementry will be converted into Apartments

The old Boarded up school that is on the corner of Broad and Augusta streets will be converted into upscale apartments

The old Antoinette Apartments on Goverment seem to be complete( beutiful building)

DeBriere building renovations renovation.

[Port_of_Bama]

The Antoinette Apartments on Govt st looked nice on one of the night scenes and the port of Mobile mad a perfect back drop as well.


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=655784557795375&set=vb.192496927457476&type=2&theater

[Port_of_Bama]

Westwood Plaza redevelopment to nearly double shopping center's size, attract new retailers to Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama – Retail options in west Mobile will get a jolt in early 2014 when Burton Property Group launches an $18 million-plus redevelopment of Westwood Plaza.

With a projected March groundbreaking, the project at the southeastern corner of Airport Boulevard and Schillinger Road will bring at least six new retailers to the Mobile market.

Citing ongoing contract negotiations, Philip Burton, chief executive officer of Burton Property Group, declined to identify the newcomers joining the plaza’s existing 14 tenants, but he did say land acquisitions made during the past 12 months will allow the shopping center to nearly double retail square footage from 140,000 to 265,000.

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/201...edevelopment_t.html#incart_river_default

[elb401]

Thats good news on the retail front. I wonder if a Dick's Sporting Goods in the mix as one of the Junior Achors. They have been rumored to be looking at that intersection for space and the developers have a relationship with them at Jubliee Square in Daphne.

[NitekKetin]

Dick's 'Field and Stream' store format was rumored to anchor McGowin Park near Hank Aaron Stadium.

[SouthSky]

Not announced yet, but there are plans for a medium-scale hotel downtown on Bienville Sq... Conception and St. Francis, right on one of the main parade routes.

[NitekKetin]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

Not announced yet, but there are plans for a medium-scale hotel downtown on Bienville Sq... Conception and St. Francis, right on one of the main parade routes.

This would be great, especially if the Labor Finders space is demolished. Perhaps it could incorporate Starbucks or some type of coffee bar.

[Port_of_Bama]

MOBILE, Alabama – For the first time, the University of South Alabama has
reached $1 billion in assets.


It’s yet another milestone in the university’s 50th anniversary year, which
also saw record enrollments of 15,311 for undergraduates and 3,466 graduate
students and the dedication of a $72.6 million, 195,000-square-foot expansion tower

at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital.


Here are some highlights from the university’s fall financial report.


Financial position of the university, including the hospitals, as of Sept. 30, 2013








Total assets: $1,042,345


Operating revenues: $ 483,606


Operating expenses: $ 602.1 million


Total liabilities: $549.3 million


Total net position: $492.9 million

http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/12/usa_hits_1_billion_in_assets_f.html#incart_river_default

[SouthSky]

Quiet in here... Any scuttlebutt?

[TideJoe]

Not big news, but it looks like the 98 bypass is about to start back up after a 4 year hiatus.

http://www.safe98.com

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by TideJoe

Not big news, but it looks like the 98 bypass is about to start back up after a 4 year hiatus.

http://www.safe98.com

This is definitely good news. I hope the shovel hits the dirt (again) soon, but with ALDOT, who knows.

[NitekKetin]

Books A Million is shuttering its Bel Air Mall location after nearly 20 years of operation.

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2013/12/bel-air_mall_books-a-million_t.html#incart_river