DruidCity

Proposed 2,500-acre "Lake Dothan" reservoir : http://www.lakedothan.org/

More info on the projects in the "Bayside condo plans shaping up" article : http://www.daphnebayfrontvillage.com/ and http://turquezaholdings.com/ Another condo project in Spanish Fort carries the "Cypress Point" name : http://www.privatecommunities.com/visit/in...nk_location=top Spanish Fort Town Center: http://www.cypressequities.com/Development...erty_category=2 The last time I drove through Daphne, I noticed that the site where a 16-story condo was planned is now for sale, so it looks like this one isn't happening : http://www.apalacheelifestyle.com/news_1_06.html Luxury neighborhood associated with the Grand Hotel in Point Clear: http://www.colonyatthegrand.com/residences.html

The largest retail project I'm aware of down there is the Dothan Pavilion: http://www.thomasent.com/properties/al1-1.asp

Here's the latest on Envision Gulf Shores: http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/inde....xml&coll=3

One odd bit is that the Retirement Systems of Alabama arguably has more investment in Charlotte than in Birmingham: http://www.rsa.state.al.us/Investments/investment_links.htm http://www.raycommedia.com/companies/raycomsports.htm http://www.raycomsports.com/companyhistory.htm "Based in Charlotte, (Raycom Sports) has provided employment to over 400 employees and income for hundreds of other freelance employees."

Not to start a flame war, but that's a very funny statement from someone from the Birmingham area...

Yeah, there's a lot of development planned for "off the beach," and "regular subdivisions" popping up in places like the Foley Beach Express. I'll say this much, my condo is a dinky little concrete deal built in 1975, across the street from the beach. It has withstood the best punches that hurricane after hurricane have had to give. Most of the outrageously expensive new stuff is built to even better standards. A well-built project in a well-chosen location can withstand a whole lot. I see where you're coming from, but some of the new stuff shows promise beyond just a wall of vacation condos - mixed-use, walkable districts like Envision, massive new shopping and entertainment areas like Wharf/Riverwalk, new bike paths, planned state convention center at Gulf State Park for around 2010, bus service (I don't know how extensive this is, but saw buses taking people between the outlet mall in Foley and the beach), new urbanist-inspired neighborhoods planned along the intracoastal, etc.

As much as anything else, I hope to see the entertainment district happen - something that locals and visitors alike can enjoy 365 days a year.

I have a small efficiency condo in Gulf Shores. Long-term, there's a load of development planned there, too - esp. lots of mid-rise condos planned along the intracoastal. I can't remember the names of all the developments. Delfino's the one just east of Lulu's. There's the Colonial Properties shopping center, with Target opening later this month, and a theater opened there last year. Envision Gulf Shores is expected to take about 5 years to build out, with the "heart" of the project being the upgrade to the "T" intersection, where 59 meets Beach Blvd. The Envision concept is my favorite of all the planned amenities for Alabama's Gulf Coast, as it will mix in retail and restaurants with condos in a walkable "downtown" district in the center of everything: http://216.14.214.109/pages_2006/projects/envision.html Periwinkle Place is one early proposal in the area : http://www.cfbre.com/preconstruction_condos.htm I'm not sure what project this is referring to, but here's mention of a possible 38-story condo in Orange Beach: http://www.bidclerk.com/projects/projectDe...rojectID=348126 Although not right on the coast, here's a great-looking development as part of the RSA's master plan for the Grand Hotel in Point Clear : http://www.colonyatthegrand.com/

There are still no new Midtown tenant announcements, but they're very actively clearing the site. Here's some new info on the Metalworks project downtown : http://www.metalworkscondos.com/about.html Also, at least three development groups have expressed some interest in the possibility of a downtown hotel at the "Cityfest Block" downtown, a long-vacant lot owned by the city & currently used as a surface parking lot. Mayor Maddox has stated his preference for that site is to draw a hotel with a conference center on the ground level. Also, local leaders are travelling to Houston within a month to talk with interested parties about the possibility of the downtown/riverfront amphitheater at the ballfield site.

Yes, clearing work began a week or two ago on the Midtown Village property. Oddly, no tenants have been announced yet, other than Best Buy and Barnes & Noble. Here's a link to the list of retailers that were planned for the old Midtown plan, which was by a different developer : http://www.midtowntuscaloosa.com/retailers.html I don't know how different the list will be for the current plan, but I imagine we'll see some of the same names. The Paramount Apartment project downtown went through the first round of zoning meetings last week, so that's good & is listed with 306 units. There is also a proposed 150-unit condo somplex called Houndstooth near the Parkview shopping center on 15th street, but I haven't seen any details about it yet. There's some talk of the Traditions condo being built on 15th near Loop Road, instead of in Alberta.

A relative of mine is considering the Madison area. If I recall, it's a pretty nice suburban area. Are there any parts of town to avoid ? He's looking at a condo somewhere called "Emerald Forest."

Update- DOWNTOWN AREA : Paramount Apartments - Proposed two 10 ? story towers. Nothing happening yet. Metalworks condo - Originally proposed as 11 stories. New rendering looks more like 4 stories. On the bright side, this (and Paramount) is a brownfield redevelopment, on the site of a former steel mill. Nothing happening yet. http://www.metalworkscondos.com/ 2300 Bryant - Proposed 5 story condo, with office/retail on the ground floor. This would cover about 1/2 a block with 57 units. What's there now is a crappy set of apartments that have been renting for like $200/month and a nice BBQ restaurant. The new complex will be on the luxury end, with units expected to start in the upper $200,000s. No work started yet, but developers have said they might like to start pre-selling by the end of the year. Downtown Revitalization District - The city recently began acquiring land for the project, and 4 existing buildings have been demolished so far. A new Federal Courthouse (start construction in 2007, to finish in 2009) is expected to be an anchor of the district. It is expected that as much as $100 million in public funds will be involved in the district over the next 4-5 years. http://www.tuscaloosarenewal.com Riverwalk district - Proposed low-rise 100,000sqft+- office building for lawyers & accountants, to replace part of an old car dealership site. The city ballfield site is scheduled to be vacated next year. The city is still studying the possibility of an urban amphitheater with 2,500 seats and overflow area for an additional 7,500 or so. DOWNTOWN/UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR : Potentially having the best "urban" functionality in the city, this area benefits from the city's decision last year to allow higher densities, and from the addition of Publix a year or two ago. Tonight, the city granted zoning approval for University Station, which will include retail or restaurant space on the ground level and 21 luxury condos starting in the $300k range. http://www.universitystationcondos.com/ This is across from where "Doe's Eat Place" was supposed to go. A steakhouse is going in, instead. A block or so west of University Station is a new Thai restaurant opening soon. The Legends condo has pre-sold a sufficient %, but construction hasn't begun. http://www.thelegendsoftuscaloosa.com/photogallery.html Not far from The Legends is a proposed 4-story luxury condo that would replace a current low-rent 2-story apartment building. No name has been given yet. Riverwalk Place condo has not begun pre-sales, but has already created a local buzz because of the expected price per unit of $800,000-$1,500,000, by far and away the most expensive condo project ever offered locally. http://www.riverwalkcondos.org/ Maree Rouge is a 3-story, 16-unit condo currently u/c, expected to be complete by this fall. Greystone Townhomes - 2-story, 1st building u/c, $350,000/unit. UNIVERSITY : The university is in the 3rd year of a 10-year plan to double the number of students living on campus, and is on track so far. There's a couple of 4-story dorms currently u/c, to be ready this fall: 153-person Paul Bryant Hall, and 540-person Lakeside. A similar number of residents will be added in new projects next year, and there are plans for a new bus transit system on campus. The north end zone expansion at Bryant-Denny Stadium is on track to be completed in August : http://www.aerialphotovideo.com/ua/ MIDTOWN : The McFarland/15th Street area is the main retail area of the city, and is south and east of the university. Midtown Village - Developers recently began clearing ground on this $120-million "new urbanist" project, which will include 228 condo units. The first phase of condos has presold a sufficient % to proceed : http://www.midtownvillagecondominiums.com/property.htm Crimson Place - 4-stories, 148-unit condo, construction will be complete in August: http://www.crimsonplace.com/fw/main/Site_Plan-67.html Summit - 4 stories, 108-unit condo, under construction: http://www.summitcondos.net/ Traditions - 3 stories, 150-unit condo, has not begun pre-selling : http://www.traditionstuscaloosa.com/community.html NORTH OF THE RIVER : The wealthiest of the city's 7 districts, but also one of the most suburban in nature. The Reserve at North River - 233-unit apartment complex, recently began leasing : http://www.reserveatnorthriver.com/ Townes of North River - Planned 494 residences, mostly single family, in a new urbanist-influenced project. Construction began recently : http://www.townesofnorthriver.com/goals.php Ridges of Wellington - 53-unit suburban-style single-family homes. However, there's talk of evenetually building equestrian trails connecting this area to the local equestrian arena. http://www.duckworth.com/ridges/ridgesdevplan.shtml Westervelt Realty's NorthRiver neighborhoods - Suburban-style "McMansions," but within city limits. Long-term plans include about 1,000 new single-family residences, of which maybe 100 have been built so far or are in the process of being built. SOUTH OF EXIT 71 : Two miles south of downtown is where an interstate spur connects to the main interstate. There's a good bit of new activity south of this intersection, driven in part by Shelton State Community College, a newly 4-laned highway to Moundville, and new retail stores like Academy Sports. Hilton Garden Inn - 6 stories, under construction, hopeful opening around Thanksgiving. Boardwalk at Brittain Landing - 150 4-bed/4-bath apartment units : http://www.boardwalkua.net/about_facts.html Links at Tuscaloosa - Arkansas-based Lindsey Management plans a golf course community with 872 apartment units (3 stories, I think). CITY OF NORTHPORT - Our main suburb is in a way more of a smaller "twin city." Northport has its own little "historic" downtown. Spiller building - Old 2-story building at downtown Northport's main intersectio. Work has begun on the renovation, which will result in a couple of residences in the upper floor, and retail on the ground. Downtown/Riverfront - Comprehensive plan is still months away from completion : http://www.cityofnorthport.org/Default.asp?ID=239 Possibilities include a condo (by Birmingham-based Stonegate Realty) and a new city hall. Construction is well underway on Northport's first riverfront restaurant, which will be a local seafood place.

In March, our sister city of Narashino, Japan sent its high school band to visit the southeastern U.S. They performed at EPCOT one week. Here's a shot of the band at Capitol Park in downtown Tuscaloosa:

Wow, the New Orleans-Houston one looks most convincing. In 25 years, Birmingham's skyline will probably look just like it does now. They haven't added anything over 15 stories since the 1980s, and to my knowledge, don't have any in the works. Tuscaloosa doesn't have a skyline & because of its layout is unlikely to get one (although we'll be adding some nice few-story, mixed-use deals that should improve downtown's functionality and appearance significantly). Of Alabama cities, Mobile's skyline might be the one to watch, if the current RSA tower leads downtown Mobile into a "condo boom." The Eastern Shore suburbs are just starting to approve high-rises, too. 25 years is probably too soon for a "mini-Tampa Bay," though.

38-story condo in Orange Beach Anyone have details? This is the only mention I've seen of such a monster: http://www.bidclerk.com/projects/projectDe...rojectID=348126 I know there are plans for some other 30+ story projects, but this is the tallest one I've seen any reference to.

Thanks for the clarification. It's great to hear about so much going on up there. For that matter, it seems like quite a lot is going on all over the state right now.

Refresh my memory. That's the deal where the state is matching $80 million in private donations with $50 million in state funds ? Is that just for the first building ?

Remember that is just the INITIAL cost, too. This thing will have to be financed long term, so the annual payments will include a lot of interest. At 7%, we're talking $50 million or so PER YEAR for the next 30.

Good deal. FWIW, here's some employment data for the state: http://www2.dir.state.al.us/LAUS/LAUSCNTY.asp From December 2004 to December 2005, Baldwin County employed 3,249 more people, and Mobile County 4,361. So, overall, that's an addition of 7,610 jobs for Mobile-Baldwin in just one year. That's cooking right along.

"I think Mobile is about to see its third big economic expansion..." I'm a "Mobile fan," as I have some roots there. I just got off the phone with my aunt there, in fact. That said, I wonder if there's really enough going on to create a "major" economic expansion ? Huntsville has the thousands upon thousands of new high-paying military jobs coming in, so I can see their argument for likely major growth. Montgomery has the new Hyundai plant and the ever-expanding state government, so I can see reason for expecting a bit of continued growth. Mobile ? I guess there is EADS + the gigantic RSA tower with unknown tenants, but is there really an engine that will create thousands of new, good-paying jobs ? Is there enough in the works in the tourist sector to become an actual destination, rather than just a pass-through ?

Mississippi has its own forum ? Great ! It was really weird having to look in TN and LA forums for topics about Alabama's twin state.

Here are recent photos of the end zone expansion: http://www.wtbc1230.com/

I don't know where to find photos other than Rolltide.com , which as you say, hasn't stayed updated . Here are some more Bryant-Denny renderings, though: http://www.bricebuilding.com/bricespecs/Pl...x?PlanRoomID=40 http://www.bricebuilding.com/bricespecs/Pl...x?PlanRoomID=59 Bryant Hall expansion : http://www.capstonebuilding.com/project_detail.asp?aryCur=1

I really like PFChang's. I've never tried Sullivan's, but apparently it's owned by Lone Star : http://www.sullivansteakhouse.com/locations.asp Bravo Cucina is run by the same company as Brio, which I've been to in B'ham : http://www.bestitalianusa.com/