Exciting to see this process moving along. It appears one of the finalists is proposing to keep the existing Civic Center structures in place for continued use for Mardi Gras balls. The remaining space and parking lot would be developed as some type of mixed-use entertainment district. The article references Kentucky Live! in Louisville, but another analogy could be something like The Wharf in Orange Beach, but in a more urban context.
I think a proposal like that could be a real win-win. The existing buildings are just too perfect for Krewe's balls, with the Arena used as space for the tableus/dance areas, and then all of the rooms in the Expo Hall for food and socializing. But outside of that, the size, amenities, and layout of the existing buildings are too out of date to be a legit entertainment venue. The key will be having a good promoter that can book solid events and maintain relationships in the industry. That was not the case at the Civic Center in the past, which is what damaged its reputation permanently, and acted as its death nail several decades ago.
Quote:
Cordish Companies, Stirling Properties finalists for Mobile Civic Center redevelopment
Updated Jun 11, 2019; Posted Jun 11, 2019
By John Sharp | jsharp@al.com
Baltimore-based Cordish Company and Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties are the two finalists among the teams seeking to redevelop the 22-acre Mobile Civic Center property, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said Tuesday.
The mayor said one of the teams could be announced next month as the winning team for the project.
“It will come down to choosing one of those and we’ll reveal it to the public and go from there,” said Stimpson.
The mayor’s announcement comes about a week after he and several officials from Mobile including Councilmen John Williams and Fred Richardson visited the 4th Street Live! Entertainment district in downtown Louisville, Ky. The district is a Cordish property, developed in 2004 as a downtown revitalization effort of a former mall property.
“Part of what they are going to recommend on the Civic Center site is similar to 4th Street Live!” Stimpson said. “But it would be suitable to Mobile.”
https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2019/...velopment.html
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