brad0022

Jimmy John's opening second location in the Alley soon. No location or date has been announced yet. http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/01/19/jimmy-johns-coming-downtown-montgomery/22002949/

Also another group called Helicity will hold an event named The Future is Now on June 3rd in the building of the former Brew Pub off Jefferson Ave. Helicity is another group of young professionals that are hoping to make changes in this city. Search Facebook for helicity montgomery for more info.

The Idea Factory is put on by the Development Department. Hosted by Chad Emerson and Tyler Caldwell. Robert Smith is in attendance to speak with everyone. They at the Dexter Plaza (old One Court Square building) typically hold the events every Thursday 5-7. Dreamland BBQ has catered the last events with food, beer and water so it's save to say that future events should be as well. They show architectural drawings of new projects and ask the public that attends to write down suggestions. They collect these ideas and implement them. Developers and architects attend also to gauge the public on what needs to be built. The office is actually open weekdays 8-5 so they encourage anyone to walk in to discuss any ideas you may have.Previous Idea Factory events have been traveling to Atlanta to explore the InTown neighborhoods, getting an ideas for restaurants that we need downtown and screening the documentary about urban farming called FRESH. Email Tyler at [email protected] to get on the list. When I get the email for the next one, I'll make a post before hand.

Thats sad that they are identical. Hopefully the rest are not cookie cutter.

The Fairview Avenue farmer's market had been threatened to be shutdown to save the state money recently but the city has agreed to let ASU purchase the site to use to trained students how to run a business. The MPD will rent space on the site for 4-5 officers on site. The city has been looking into building a police substation on Fairview. The rented space will not be the location for the substation but just a police presence. http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110309/NEWS01/103090359/Agreement-keeps-Fairview-Ave-farmers-market-open

Fresh Market is moving it's store to the former Bruno's on Perry Hill Road. The Mayor confirmed the move on Tues. March 8. A coming soon sign is placed outside the new location. The current site gives the store 19k square feet. The new location will be much larger and give them an opportunity to redesign the store. http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110309/NEWS01/103090360/Fresh-Market-to-move-to-new-location

2010 Census population update Montgomery: 205,764 Montgomery County: From 223,510 to 229,363, or 2.6 percent growth Suburbs Autagua County: From 43,671 to 54,571 almost 25 percent growth Elmore County: From 5,874 to 79,303, or 20.4 percent growth

This is kinda small but hopefully it will add a few more tourist to the city. The city approved moving forward with a sky tram for the zoo which will run east to west and stop at some of the exhibits. The zoo averages 240k visitors a year so hopefully this will increase attendance. http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=12879893

WSFA 12 News has also learned that a private developer in Florida is investigating the possibility of building an aquarium off Bell Street near the Alabama River. http://www.wsfa.com/global/story.asp?s=11472480

Fredrick Thomas proposes horse drawn carriage rides in downtown by mid November. The city will have to get a license first. http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910310324

nowyano That was a great writeup. I love to read about my city from a different perspective. I am hopeful that in a decade this city really will shape up. I must say I was in Birmingham this past weekend for the Barber Vintage Festival and after I was through on Saturday by 2 pm. I and my two friends could not find a thing to do besides kill time at the Summit. We didnt have time to go downtown but even then I dont think there is anything downtown Bham on a Saturday afternoon. We stayed on 280 the whole day. Its the largest city in the state but its no ATL or even Nashville.

I havent heard any serious decisions on other businesses locating downtown other than one more nice restaurant at the Alley and a country music venue that is in the plans for the Alley but the developer is waiting for more traffic. Thats the deal. It will take a good amount of time before more foot and auto traffic fills the streets again. Developers that are less risky are holding out for more people and consumers are waiting for more businesses. More lofts and apartments will definitely help. I really wish they could build levees or whatever they need so that the river can be managed during flood seasons. So that the land across the river can be build up. It would be awesome to have riverside lofts right across from the stadium have a foot bridge to get across to downtown. Build a park. But it can't since its flood plains. nowyano I have to say that that was a great writeup. I like reading about my city from a different perspective.

nowyano Speaking of the Alley bringing tourists. Former Mexico Pres Vicente Fox is in town for an Ag conference at the convention center and he's checked out Dreamland. http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=11145655

It is hard to really notice when driving on Madison if you dont know what to look for. Yes the Alley has already brought lots and lots of tourists and locals alike. Ive been to the Alley bar twice and it was almost impossible to get in at the times I was there. Very crowded. The alley outside the club and Dreamland was crowded with people socializing too. Also the city is doing pubcrawls once a month so that is drawing a lot of local traffic. Its absolutely packed. I would image logs of people staying in the hotels at the sametime not knowing the pubcrawl is going on are joining in but I dont know for sure without surveys. Its packed and there is only just one bar/venue open. The rest of is to come soon. Its slow but will be filled out one of these days.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/sectio...t#_wholeArticle The New Alabama Association of Realtor building (mentioned above) will be the first LEED green building in the city and 16th in state.

I can't wait for this. Looks very good. Now I can definitely skip Dreamland. I hope the prices aren't too crazy.

More great news. A new Italian restaurant, Sa Za Serious Italian Foods, is coming to the Alleyway. Ken Register, owner of the Olive Room, will open the restaurant. He will hold a formal announcement on Feb. 13 at 4:30pm. "I am making this investment because I believe in the future of downtown," Register said in a news release Friday. "All the people associated with this project are as excited as I am. http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/articl...357/1007/NEWS01

The Montgomery Architec

I liked Boomer T's. Only ate there once several months ago. I'm not a huge fan of Dreamland but will support it downtown. I also read a while back that Wintzell's Oyster House out of Mobile was interested opening up to 4 regional locations. First one in P'ville then on the eastside and later one downtown. Can't remember where the owner mentioned the 4th. Looks like they will miss out on an Alleyway location.

Dreamland BBQ will open at the Alleyway and close the Atlanta Hwy location. They cite the city's continued support for downtown growth as a reason to locate downtown. http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=969...mp;nav=menu33_7

I can definitely see that. Nice little place to meet up before and after races. The classic car museum would complement the Barber museum nicely. I can see this as possibly being more economical. Although it still would fit in downtown over freestanding or attached to a shopping center.

It is cool. That's a type of place I could frequent. It would be much more suited for downtown. Especially to checkout some classic cars. Would be cool to make the venue a live music venue but sounds like it may just be for rent.

Ok here is a little project that could turn large but none the less cool and significant. The Cheyenne Diner, a classic New York City diner, located at 33rd St. and Ninth Ave. was saved from demolition when an Alabama buyer purchased the diner to move it Birmingham. Alabama businessman Joel Owens purchased the diner and will move it by flatbed in two sections from Manhattan. He will restore the diner and plans to add a classic car museum and special events venue. The diner attracted Jerry Lewis and David Letterman during its heyday. There are only about 70 nationwide railroad car-style diners left and this maybe the first for Alabama. New York City diner to move to Alabama

That will be so great. Just hope enough parking decks will be built to support more tourist and locals.