My Mobile Downtown Plan (Belk: salons, apartments, condos)

[MPC]

First of all let me state I know this plan actually coming together has just about zero chance of happening but I just wanted to share my idea on making Mobile more retail downtown like it was back in the day.

Back in the 60's and 70's Mobile was alot more retail rather than nightlife, as it is now. Here is my visual.

I also want to note that as we know, our city needs better leadership that has the urge to move forward and progress.

Downtown needs retail, supermarkets and stores with convenience type items so that people will move down there and come down there. Maybe if you get these types of stores then developers will build condos and such.

Basically move the mall to downtown and add some retail suites/plazas in-between them all, along with restaurants like a Olive Garden, O'Charleys, Ruby Tuesday along with an occasional McD's or fast food restaurant or maybe a Star Bucks.

I also I've heard their putting a Macys at the mall which will mean Mobile is the only Alabama city to have one I Think. Just a little info.

[annie_himself]

My knowledge on Mobile is very limited but I highly doubt it could support a Kroger and Target a black apart from each other and the Walmart, the accumulation of Dillards, Sears, Belk, JC Penny, and Macy's would never work. Mobile is way too small to support all of that in one area.

Firstly, residential comes first then the grocery stores and shopping, etc.

If anything, cater it [the project] to the city residents as well as the passerby's on I-10, it would be the perfect stop between major destinations on I-10.

[PortCity]

I agree downtown Mobile has a few hurdles to jump before we can get all of that....I will say we need to start with light retail first ( Old Navy ,Gap, Foot Action, and etc).

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by PortCity

I agree downtown Mobile has a few hurdles to jump before we can get all of that....I will say we need to start with light retail first ( Old Navy ,Gap, Foot Action, and etc).

Does anyone live downtown? Those types of stores won't work if not. First you need a pharmacy, grocery store, etc before you go to stores that are found in a mall or outlet. Necessity first, pleasure later.

We're dealing with this issue in downtown Baton Rouge, the new residential units are attracting the amenities.

[bon_regis]

There is service retail (banks, convenience stores, pharmacies) on the periphery of Downtown.

I think Downtown will thrive on art galleries, museums, studios and other creative commercial usage.

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Does anyone live downtown? Those types of stores won't work if not. First you need a pharmacy, grocery store, etc before you go to stores that are found in a mall or outlet. Necessity first, pleasure later.

We're dealing with this issue in downtown Baton Rouge, the new residential units are attracting the amenities.

Yeah it is..They just need to make downtown living more affordable but there are residents downtown.And we have pharmacies grocery stores,barbershops/beauty salons, and other basics already.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by PortCity

Yeah it is..They just need to make downtown living more affordable but there are residents downtown.And we have pharmacies grocery stores,barbershops/beauty salons, and other basics already.

Hey then yall are halfway there. Just hope for a saturated residential market for downtown. You say entertainment is abundant downtown? That only helps the situation.

[MPC]

I appreciate the replies and I want to note that I already knew it would take the stores like a CVS, Walgreens, Neighborhood Market, Publix etc to run that area because the idea was to make Mobile convenient and in my eyes people live near convenience and necessities.

The reason it is so much retail is because that is my retail plan. I think Bienville needs to go back to being a retail magnet like it was back in the day. Ofcourse the areas around it would be condos/apartments and stores of which you all named but I was stating simply retail, I just added the Publix, Walgreens etc to give you the idea of the surrounding areas.

One more thing is that this is my long term idea. Nothing of this nature could happen within the next 10 years, I know that but unlike our council today; I am thinking 20-30 years from now. The biggest mistake I think a City/County can do is plan for the next 5-10 years given that virtually nothing can happen in that time frame as far as true economic development.

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Hey then yall are halfway there. Just hope for a saturated residential market for downtown. You say entertainment is abundant downtown? That only helps the situation.

We have an entertainment district too...There have been improvements lately as far as safety. I do think that Mobile need to experiment with small anchor national retailers first.We have an urban emporium/retail incubator in the works already.And from what I hear is that it has attracted a nice crowed.Some of the abandoned eye sores are in desperate need of TLC.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by PortCity

We have an entertainment district too...There have been improvements lately as far as safety. I do think that Mobile need to experiment with small anchor national retailers first.We have an urban emporium/retail incubator in the works already.And from what I hear is that it has attracted a nice crowed.Some of the abandoned eye sores are in desperate need of TLC.

More locally based stores are the best, IMO, they are more accepted and people try to support them more, which is very ideal for having a strong small business market, which is perfect for the local economy. The way New Orleans supports is neighborhood bars and restaurants are an example.