New 500,000 sq ft Shopping Center on Brewer Property on Schillengers (Montgomery: movers, crime)

[Mobile City Guy]

I saw on WKRG last night where developers are planning a new 500,000 sq ft shopping center on the old Brewer property site on Schillengers Rd in West Mobile. This does not have to be good news for Rouse Properties and Bel Air Mall. With all the violence at the mall in recent months and the fact that the WAVE bus service does not service that area of West Mobile, I can see retailers wanting to bolt Bel Air for the new area and new retailers would choose the new development over Bel Air. To be 500,000 sq ft, I imagine it would have 1 or 2 Department Stores for the development.

[piratepress]

Thanks for the info. I'm interested to see how this unfolds!

[ITGuyAL]

Originally Posted by Mobile City Guy

I saw on WKRG last night where developers are planning a new 500,000 sq ft shopping center on the old Brewer property site on Schillengers Rd in West Mobile. This does not have to be good news for Rouse Properties and Bel Air Mall. With all the violence at the mall in recent months and the fact that the WAVE bus service does not service that area of West Mobile, I can see retailers wanting to bolt Bel Air for the new area and new retailers would choose the new development over Bel Air. To be 500,000 sq ft, I imagine it would have 1 or 2 Department Stores for the development.

Meh. For the majority of the residents of Mobile that area is simply too far away to visit regularly.
Most major retailers they prefer to stick near the interstate and major arteries.

[Southsky]

Originally Posted by Mobile City Guy

With all the violence at the mall in recent months and the fact that the WAVE bus service does not service that area of West Mobile, I can see retailers wanting to bolt Bel Air for the new area and new retailers would choose the new development over Bel Air.

Retailers aren't going to make different decisions than individual movers these days... middle class/+ people are moving back into the cities and out of the suburbs. No matter your individual beliefs here (these beliefs are quite apparent given your need to equate bus coverage to crime), it's not going to change that most billion dollar corporations aren't going to follow the middle class suburban flight of yesteryear.

For example, see the Eastern Shore Center or the Spanish Fort development for evidence of this. There is surely less crime in the middle of a cow pasture, but people (sure as all hell) aren't going to flock there just because of perceived crime differences.

[Southsky]

By the way, this "development" was initially announced last January.

[Mobile City Guy]

Developers must have some contracts ready to go to already clear the land and have a sign on the property. Gunshots in front of PF Chang’s, gunshots near Forever 21, fights in front of shoe stores. These have all been reported on the news and I have friends who work in different shops in the mall who state they have huge loitering, even with the new mall policy about loitering, and attribute it to the WAVE bus service. The Eastern Shore Center was very popular and successful when it opened and Dillard’s, Belk, and Barnes and Nobles do a great business. The ESC problem is poor management and how the center is laid out on the property. East chase in Montgomery is in former farm pasture and is always busy when I pass it on the interstate. East chase has more of a village feel and is properly managed as well.

[Mobile City Guy]

Originally Posted by Southsky

By the way, this "development" was initially announced last January.

I guess they are finally moving forward with the land now being cleared and a sign.

[Mellowboy]

Where is that property exactly?

[Mobile City Guy]

Right behind Kohl’s on Schillengers

[Mellowboy]

Originally Posted by Mobile City Guy

Right behind Kohl’s on Schillengers

Thank you! 😊