Mobile Development Thread

[elb401]

Hey i was wondering what a reasonable rate for apartments would be downtown.......you know for an average person. Keep in mind the cost of insurance and the cost of land/restoration. what would be the most you would pay?

[Port_of_Bama]

Originally Posted by Alabadrock

I think it's a bit much to call the Boeing evil. If it weren't for them, the state would be lacking one or two thousand jobs. Probably more, I don't know the count. Because of them, the United Launch Alliance plant is in Decatur, and they also have a branch, or w/e you wanna call it, in Huntsville. I'm sure they also have other plants around the state. I think they're mean to try and take this away, but calling them evil is a bit much don't you think?

I agree Boeing is a low down dirty company, they basicly said that Mobilians are to dumb to build planes and it`s just a corrupt company. They tricked the state into thinking that they will build a plant here in Mobile. I understand your defense for Boeing because you are in the Hunstville area but they have treated us bad down here in Mobile. There were 22 former Airforce generals who wrote letters to congress pleadeing to keep the tanker contract becasue NG had the best plane over all. Northrup won fair, this contract competition went on for 3 years.Both companies had time to present the best product and NG presented the best.The Airforce has been a true costumer to Boeing so why would they choose a NG if there plane wasn`t superior ? If the contract is overturned for Boeing we all know who the true winner is "Northrup Gruman" !

[Scottybo]

Originally Posted by elb401

Hey i was wondering what a reasonable rate for apartments would be downtown.......you know for an average person. Keep in mind the cost of insurance and the cost of land/restoration. what would be the most you would pay?

Right now the avg price in West Mobile for a decent 1BR/1BA is probably a little under $500/month. 2BR/2BA about $600. So I'd say being downtown...depending on the area...about $700 for a 1BR/1BA and about $850 for a 2BR/2BA. Been a while since I've looked at apt's though. All depends on what your tastes are...but I'd say the cheapest downtown in a good area would be $650/month minimum for a 1BR/1BA.

[SouthSky]

If this tanker contract between the Air Force and NG/EADS is ever voided (which it is probably not going to be), you will see a backlash of major proportions. What the likes of Patty Murray and that Tiahart character from Kansas will realize after the likes of something like the aforementioned is something they have never dreamed... Intra-party bickering like they have never seen... The southern Democrats will cry foul until the likes of that ***** Murray and Tiahart will cry in their sleep. They will never see the public realm again... especially if Murray abuses her possible post at chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee during Byrd's departure and tries to kill that deal.

[Bama_75]

Originally Posted by timothyncrystal

Bama75

you said that you are from the wire grass area right?

Yes, I grew up in west Coffee county near the Covington county line. I was 10 miles out of Opp. I moved to Mobile in 1999. It took me roughly two years to get use to the change. I still love and miss back home, BUT there is nothing like Mobile!

[Muskavon]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

If this tanker contract between the Air Force and NG/EADS is ever voided (which it is probably not going to be), you will see a backlash of major proportions.

If this thing is "given" to Boeing, the part we will never be able to totally evaluate is the future cost. It will be clear in not so many words that any other bidder cant win a truly big contract. Thus...guess what...they aren't gonna spend multi-millions bidding them, designing competitive structures, etc. driving the price to a sane level. So it is gonna be whatever Boeing decides to give our military at whatever cost Boeing decides from then on. Lou Dobbs dream world for his private stock. Zero motivation to get better and more efficient. Ever seen Russian tech in the '70's that wasn't reproduced from confiscated western goods? I think their studio cameras still weighed about 4,800 lbs and the reporters microphone was a quarter acre big and weighed 250 lbs. (I loved SCTV).

That's where we are heading if this deal gets reversed IMO. Stone age. Boeing may not even bother to make the next contract planes fly.

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by elb401

Hey i was wondering what a reasonable rate for apartments would be downtown.......you know for an average person. Keep in mind the cost of insurance and the cost of land/restoration. what would be the most you would pay?

I tried to make downtown work for my upcoming move and it wasn't possible. Tower at Ryan Park had a move in special with a studio for $690. There is a studio above NOJA listed in the rental section on the Downtown Alliance site for $495 I believe, but I was never able to see that one to make a decision on. There are a couple of others on the site on Dauphin that are a little more spacious but are in the neighborhood of $1,200 a month. I also looked at the newly rennovated Summerville Court on SpringHill near downtown. 1 and 2 br were $800-$1000. They are really nice(granite counter/wood floors/fancy pendent lighting). I ended up in a 2br/1ba at Regency Gates off Grelot for $760. Most of the other west mobile spots I looked at were upper 600s for 2 br and upper 500s/lower 600s for 1 br(Cimmaron Ridge/Colonial Vilage on Grelot/Inverness Lakes). I also know the new places at Legacy Village ar $800-$900 for 1br and over a $1000 for larger models. I had a hard time finding rental properties downtown. It didn't help I was in Auburn because I couldn't really walk around or ask around because of the distance. I had to do my whole search pretty much using apartments guides, the Downtown Alliance site, and the paper.

[10101000]

Originally Posted by Bama_75

Yes, I grew up in west Coffee county near the Covington county line. I was 10 miles out of Opp. I moved to Mobile in 1999. It took me roughly two years to get use to the change. I still love and miss back home, BUT there is nothing like Mobile!

Have you ever been to dakota coffee works?

[Bama_75]

Originally Posted by timothyncrystal

Have you ever been to dakota coffee works?

I know of it, but have never been.

[10101000]

[QUOTE=Bama_75;3496457]I know of it, but have never been.[/Q

My Uncle owns that chain. I have not been in a long time. I do oder coffee from him though.

[nimsjus]

Lots of downtown articles, but not alot of news. There is an article about courthouse park but it does not really say anything we didn't already know.
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1208683022235550.xml&coll=3
There is an article with Larry Posner, developer/rennovator for Ft Conde Village. He makes mention of possible doing some apartments on an empty parcel and bringing retail to go along with his offices and B&B in the area. I wish they would do less law offices down there and do more retail restaurant and bar type stuff. That area has so much charm and is Mobiles oldest remaining residential area. It seems such a waste that it is pretty much a cul-de-sac of offices that sees abou 10-20 people each day.
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1208682994235550.xml&coll=3
Not downtown, but we are apparently going to get an update on Prichard's race track. There was alot of hype about this project and it was supposed to move very quickly, but it seems like it is moving painfuly slow. Having to get rid of half the tracks took alot of the hype out of it. It kinda of feels like a glorified MIS now. I was hoping for something on par with Barber Motorsports Park in Bham.
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1208683022235550.xml&coll=3

[The 251]

I was driving on the causeway last night around midnight and out of nowhere a car just exloded and burst into flames right down from the oyster house. did anyone else see that shit? it was crazy. i called 911 and got the spanish fort fire dept out there

[BlessedMobile]

Originally Posted by nimsjus

Lots of downtown articles, but not alot of news. There is an article about courthouse park but it does not really say anything we didn't already know.
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1208683022235550.xml&coll=3
There is an article with Larry Posner, developer/rennovator for Ft Conde Village. He makes mention of possible doing some apartments on an empty parcel and bringing retail to go along with his offices and B&B in the area. I wish they would do less law offices down there and do more retail restaurant and bar type stuff. That area has so much charm and is Mobiles oldest remaining residential area. It seems such a waste that it is pretty much a cul-de-sac of offices that sees abou 10-20 people each day.
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1208682994235550.xml&coll=3
Not downtown, but we are apparently going to get an update on Prichard's race track. There was alot of hype about this project and it was supposed to move very quickly, but it seems like it is moving painfuly slow. Having to get rid of half the tracks took alot of the hype out of it. It kinda of feels like a glorified MIS now. I was hoping for something on par with Barber Motorsports Park in Bham.
http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1208683022235550.xml&coll=3

I know Larry and he isn't going to do anything down there that he can't turn over quickly. I would look for condos that are affordable before I would look for apartments (renters). Those buildings required a lot of work at a cost only lawyers are WILLING and ABLE to pay. He is doing the bed and breakfast now which is one of the bigger ticket remodeling jobs he has taken on; There will be enough demand now to get someone to lease the building as a B&B. He owns several apartment complexes here in town and is very fond of Mobile. Larry Posner is a blessing to Mobile...he took on Fort Conde when others thought it was a lost cause. Thank you Larry Posner!
On another note, I know enough about the track investors to know they want it all without putting much money in the pot. Remember, Earnhardt is not an investor like he is a draw; he gets a cut of something if there is something...otherwise, he is not in the money mix. To build this they will need an equity partner and those are in short supply. Banks are in trouble for lax loan requirements so they don't have a lot of capital for something this bold. I give it a 50/50 chance today. The Corp of Engineers is not the hold up like the money issue. Start reading between the lines when you hear or read a story about the track. I would like nothing better than to see this happen and me be wrong.

[yeahwhatever]

i'm not too worried about the track just yet. if you look at the early progress of other major motorsports facilities, you will see that it takes a while for things to get rolling.

ill use kansas speedway as an example since it is one of the most recent new tracks.
project announced : January 1997
property site selected : August 1997
construction begins : May 1999
first race held : April 2001


and this was on a piece of empty and flat property in the middle of nowhere that didn't have to deal with wetlands and special permits. so, just have some patience with this long process before you give up hope on our new track.

[nimsjus]

The Exploreum will be hosting live tigers during the month of June as part of an exhibit. The tigers will be staged on the future park site across the street. If the city/downtown will put this park to good use with things like this and the Farmer's Market then I think it will help keep out the homeless and help justify not putting condos. I know it probably isn't enough to sway the pro-highrise condo crowd here, but at least they are using the space for things. I will definitely go down one weekend and check out live animals in downtown. Maybe if this is successful it would spur interest in a downtown zoo/aquarium/insectarium. I have been hearing about New Orleans new insectarium and it counds pretty cool.

[Del]

I'm sorry, but the idea of using tigers to keep out the homeless did give me an inappropriate giggle.

Nimsjus, are they talking about moving the Farmer's Market from Cathedral Square to the old courthouse lot?

I hadn't heard about an insectarium. What an incredibly cool idea. And I hope one that combines serious research with the "wow, ick" factor...I'll google and learn more - thanks.

[yeahwhatever]

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1208683007235550.xml&coll=3&thispage=1



Renovations will clear way for new park

Mobile County officials expect to begin renovations on a Probate Court building this summer, making it possible that land could be available in early 2010 for a long-awaited downtown park.

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said he would use the time before then trying to cobble together about $6 million to $7 million for the park, which would be at the corner of Government and Royal streets, across from the Museum of Mobile and the Gulf Coast Exploreum.

Jones said he hopes to work out a long-term lease with the county for the land, and said the city would bear the cost of maintaining the park. The Mobile City Council has approved a bond issue that includes $1.2 million for the park, and the Hearin-Chandler Foundation has offered to contribute $1.3 million.

The city hasn't hired an architect to design the park yet, but it will include a grand water display and something commemorating Mobile as the birthplace of Mardi Gras, Jones said.

There will be a performing arts stage and lots of room for activities, he said.

"It's the only space left downtown that can possibly be open green space," Jones said of the location.

[10101000]

Awesome

[nimsjus]

Originally Posted by Del

I'm sorry, but the idea of using tigers to keep out the homeless did give me an inappropriate giggle.

Nimsjus, are they talking about moving the Farmer's Market from Cathedral Square to the old courthouse lot?

I hadn't heard about an insectarium. What an incredibly cool idea. And I hope one that combines serious research with the "wow, ick" factor...I'll google and learn more - thanks.

I don't think they are moving it, but they have had Art Markets on the other site and several other things where people ended up selling food, crafts, etc. I don't think it was the official Downtown Farmer's Market, but they have had other markets on the courthouse site. I did not think about my statement on the tigers/homelss in that way. I do not advocate using large carnivores to solve the homeless problem in Mobile, just thinking an exhibit/more people tend to keep away the homeless. Maybe the tigers could eat the Bienville Square preacher while they are at it...

[Del]

The building that is now the Museum of Mobile is the old Market building, isn't it? So yes, a very appropriate new use for a nearby space, if that ends up happening.

We were near Mobile Infirmary yesterday afternoon and there were a ton of cars parked by the little neighborhood park they have over there, wish I knew the name - it has one of those water-feature things for kids to play in, and I assume they had it up and running. Those are so great. They look good, they're a lot of fun for the kids, and you don't have the liability issues of a swimming or wading pool. Oh, and they cool the air nearby. I think it's a fine idea to install one in a downtown park. It could even be artist-designed, so that it would be an asset 12 months a year as a fountain as well as a playspace.

Is that "preacher" still screaming his head off in Bienville Square? I haven't seen him there for a long time.

Oh, and I knew what you meant about more activity keeping the homeless away--it just struck me funny to see "tigers" and "homeless" in the same sentence. The Large Carnivore Solution, lol