Mobile Development Thread - Page 300

Alxx611 · #**5981** Posted **Oct 19, 2014, 8:40 PM**

Any pics or updates on the Van Antwerp renovation, RSA parking garage, Maritime Museum, or hotel by Bienville Square?

NitekKetin · #**5982** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 12:10 AM**

The RSA garage on Royal Street is largely completed. The masonry is a near approximation of the adjacent Battle House hotel.

As for the Hilton Garden Inn proposed for the edge of Bienville Square, there has been no construction as of yet.

mobilebadboy · #**5983** Posted **Oct 27, 2014, 11:16 PM**

The redev of Westwood Plaza is really coming along nicely. Almost looks like a respectable place to shop! Kidding aside, can't wait to see it when it's done. It's making that corner look above par.

Gander Mountain opens tomorrow. Bunch of MFD vehicles up there as I rode through (didn't have time to hang around). Assuming either a pre-opening to-do, or last minute inspection.

Alxx611 · #**5984** Posted **Oct 30, 2014, 4:49 AM**

^^^It's nice to see a lot of the retail spaces/strip malls in West Mobile that have gotten upgraded in the past few years or are currently getting upgraded like:

Westwood Plaza on Schillinger

Hillwood Shopping Center at Cottage Hill & Hillcrest

Hillcrest Plaza @ Hillcrest & Airport

Plus the new McGowin Park, and additions to Festival Center.

Even though I hate the sprawl it encourages, its nice that it's at least good, updated retail that we've always lacked. Something should be done to mitigate the traffic issues they are aggravating though.

Alxx611 · #**5985** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 4:03 PM**

Looks like the same developer working on the 7-story 951 Govt. Street is official for the two school properties:

Quote:

2 historic Mobile schools sold to Georgia developer, who plans to convert them into upscale apartments

Sally Pearsall Ericson | sericson@al.com By Sally Pearsall Ericson | sericson@al.com
on October 28, 2014 at 8:12 AM, updated October 28, 2014 at 8:18 AM

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Mobile County school board unanimously approved the sale of three school properties, including two historic buildings, during its meeting Monday night.

The board agreed to sell the former Augusta Evans Special School on Florida Street for $1,550,000, and to sell Old Shell Road School and the Russell School, both about 100 years old, for $800,000.

MAB Acquisitions, a Delaware-based company, made the offer for the 8-acre Augusta Evans site through local developer John Vallas. MAB had increased its original offer by $50,000 during negotiations.

"Pending the City Council's zoning regulations and the developer's approval process, we have agreed to sell the properties," Tommy Sheffield, the school system's facilities manager, said Tuesday.

"If the developer gets over all those hurdles, we will execute the sale," he said.

...................................

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index....ools_sold.html

elb401 · #**5986** Posted **Nov 7, 2014, 9:05 PM**

Mobile Bay Bridge Video:

http://www.mobileriverbridge.com/mrb_video.html

Alxx611 · #**5987** Posted **Nov 12, 2014, 4:19 AM**

A few updates:

1. Buick Building to be renovated, Roger&Willard, RSI confirmed tennants

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf...se_rogers.html

2. ServisFirst Bank to open branch at Royal/Dauphin

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf...l#incart_river

This is in the building Phelps Dunbar will leave for the Van Antwerp Building in Jan 2015. This image shows the building looking about the same, but shows rendering of the new RSA garage:

3. Planning Commission denies application for new entertainment venue at 401 Dauphin Street.

http://lagniappemobile.com/planning-...ainment-venue/

4. Grand Central venue closes after 20 years:

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf...es-old_la.html

5. Ralph and Kacoo's to move into old Tacky Jack's space on the Causeway

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf...l#incart_river

Port_of_Bama · #**5988** Posted **Nov 13, 2014, 10:57 PM**

Facade of the new RSA parking garage, I took this photo today. In one of the downtown Mobile plans I saw a mid rise in the same area where the Phelps and Dunbar building is. If I run into that plan again I will post it.

New Royal street parking garage. by Port_of_Mobile, on Flickr

Port_of_Bama · #**5989** Posted **Nov 13, 2014, 11:14 PM**

For a long time I have expressed ideas about the potential of St.Louis in downtown Mobile. As of lately there have been a few tech firms that have come to the city and there is talk to develop St.Louis into a tech corridor. It sounds like an awesome idea to me !!!! I have always theorized about the gentrification of St.Louis and the impact that gentrification would have on the outskirts of the CBD.

Automobile Alley Makeover? Mobile's St. Louis Street eyed for high-tech corridor, possible research park

Quote:

MOBILE, Alabama - Imagine a dedicated corridor of high-tech activity that encourages entrepreneurial activity and increases the Port City's economic vitality by making Mobile a sought-after destination for tech savvy startups and employees.

That idea is exactly what drove a $500,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant proposal submitted last week by the University of South Alabama - on behalf of a much larger consortium of local interests - that could fund a feasibility study into the potential creation of a research park along Mobile's St. Louis Street.

"We're seeing some traction on entrepreneurship, and we saw a very successful model on our (exchange) trip to St. Louis this summer, and as you might imagine, the group came back motivated to find a way to replicate some of what we saw in downtown Mobile," Bill Sisson, president of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, said.

The efforts are in the very earliest stages, and AL.com will present more detail from a variety of angles in the coming weeks, but USA and the chamber are currently joined by the city of Mobile, the Downtown Mobile Alliance, Bishop State Community College, the Mobile Airport Authority and the Alabama State Port Authority in pursuit of the feasibility study Sisson is hopeful could help shape what the creation of a high-tech incubator/research park akin to T-REX visited in St. Louis could look like.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson even alluded to the effort in his live chat Nov. 3 with AL.com readers when he was asked what the city is doing to be more proactive in its recruitment of high-tech firms.

"The incubators that create companies we helped start to get off the ground, which is an initiative of the Chamber of Commerce right now. It's very active in how we create these companies. The chamber is closely coordinating with South Alabama to do this, and I think we'll see outstanding results as a result of that collaboration...Also, we'd like to take St. Louis Street and call it our tech corridor," Stimpson posted during the chat.

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index....l#incart_river

I will keep you guys updated on the activity of downtown.There has been a lot of construction as of lately !

Alxx611 · #**5990** Posted **Nov 17, 2014, 1:28 AM**

A high-tech corridor would be great for St. Louis Street.

A lot of these buildings are too small for today's warehousing and manufacturing. The new DDD zoning code gives St Louis Street it's own special zoning district that basically allows anything and everything, and the new Master Plan calls for a "St. Louis Street Business Corridor" with tech start-ups suggested.

The new President at USA mentioned wanting to get involved in Downtown Mobile more, and I think they'd be perfect to lead the way on any tech start-ups ventures.

sahara727 · #**5991** Posted **Nov 20, 2014, 4:45 PM**

Did anybody notice that the large "Van Antwerp" letters have been whitewashed off the building? I'm presuming that this is necessary for them to complete the exterior renovations, after which time they'll repaint them. They wouldn't get rid of something so iconic...would they?

sahara727 · #**5992** Posted **Nov 21, 2014, 9:22 PM**

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index....air_marke.html

Alxx611 · #**5993** Posted **Nov 27, 2014, 11:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sahara727

Did anybody notice that the large "Van Antwerp" letters have been whitewashed off the building? I'm presuming that this is necessary for them to complete the exterior renovations, after which time they'll repaint them. They wouldn't get rid of something so iconic...would they?

Hopefully and probably not, especially if they're using Historic Tax Credits.

Here's the image from Sahara's link above. What do you guys think??

future_mobile · #**5994** Posted **Dec 7, 2014, 9:18 PM**

Saw this rendering of South Landing. They are placing it where the Shed once was.

https://flic.kr/p/q3Q4v4

SouthSky · #**5995** Posted **Dec 7, 2014, 9:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by future_mobile

Saw this rendering of South Landing. They are placing it where the Shed once was.

https://flic.kr/p/q3Q4v4

I believe there also is a hotel to be built immediately behind that building.

SouthSky · #**5996** Posted **Dec 11, 2014, 2:18 PM**

$750 million redevelopment of the Taylor Plaza area

This would be a huge boost to that area...

http://lagniappemobile.com/mhb-moves...pment-project/

eshore78 · #**5997** Posted **Dec 12, 2014, 4:53 AM**

According to Naman's Catering, the old Bienville Club is about to become a Baumhowers.

SouthSky · #**5998** Posted **Dec 17, 2014, 3:30 PM**

^And it's "official"

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2...l#incart_river

...this also talks about Baumhower opening a Cuban cigar bar downstairs.

sahara727 · #**5999** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 8:48 PM**

per the Lagniappe:

http://lagniappemobile.com/council-a...-improvements/

mobilebadboy · #**6000** Posted **Jan 21, 2015, 5:28 AM**

Mobile CVB wants to create a brand for tourism (and looking to spend $148k to figure it out). What they don't realize is there's nothing here for tourists. That should come first. Not random museums, not little open air markets. Not more shopping centers. Not skate parks.

Ok, we have a battleship. I went and visited it (out of necessity) today for the first time since I was a kid (I'm 39 now). They're repainting it. That's great. The wood decking has more patches than a convention of people trying to quit smoking. Our 1 'attraction' can't even be maintained to standard. I know it's supposed to be self-sufficent and all, but hey if you're going to throw around $148k to thinktank a city brand (which has worked well in the past) ...

While there I saw many out of state tags which was awesome (there was about 50-75 cars around noon~). Save for a couple of kids I was by far the youngest person not working there.

I like Bellingrath, but I've made that trek twice in the last 5 years (and only once did I drive myself - and it, like today, was for a purpose). I don't see it anywhere as a tourist draw, though I'm sure people might "stop in" if in the general area and know about it.

Mobile is in one of the best locations for this region. Hub of 2 major interstates, no major cities for miles in either direction (and I mean New Orleans type cities), but the most of what Mobile is known for is Mardi Gras (2nd best at that), a leprechaun and a bad tunnel.

Until something is built here to define this city, you can't define this city. It doesn't have to be unique, just something that is a must see (amusement park, world class aquarium, something that makes money for the city as well, not just rely on money from the city). Anything to do around here, is not in Mobile. Casinos, beaches, etc.

They need to quit trying to come up with witty brands to draw people here, they need to come up with something to draw people here. Then you don't need to brainstorm fancy brand ideas.

Every time I go to New Orleans, I have several things that I do nearly without fail (Riverwalk, Audubon ... hell even Jax). I rarely even go to our mall. But there's nothing to it. Riverwalk is even just a nice location. Or I drive 6-7 hours to Tennessee (with plenty to do). Or 7 hours to Disney World (yeah that's kind of different). Or just 3 hours to Panama City.

I can never think of anything to do here. I've had a vehicle at my disposal since Thursday (my truck's broke down). I've been 2 places, Walmart and then BMP today. And if I didn't need pictures of BMP for something I'm working on, it would've just been Walmart.

Side note: running around a submarine as a kid is quite different (and easier) than doing so as a 6'5" 39 year old. I left a few dents in the ole Drum, and a couple of new aches in my back.

Sorry for the long post/rant.