What will be the next town to incorporate? (Mobile: apartment, crime)

[EscAlaMike]

Has the city of Mobile made any effort to annex Tillman's Corner or the land out to and around the airport? I'm guessing the people living out there have no interest in annexation? Too bad.

It's a strange dynamic I've noticed since moving to this region from Central Florida years ago. Pensacola has much the same issues Mobile has. It's surrounded by unincorporated areas that have no desire to pursue incorporation.

If Pensacola were able to annex Brent, Ferry Pass, Warrington, Myrtle Grove, etc, then it would probably have a similar population to Mobile. But, it's stagnated around 50k for years because there doesn't seem to be any move for annexation.

[evlb401]

Originally Posted by Surge0001

Curious what population Theodore could have. They say a population of 6,000, but ZIP 36582 essentially falls under all of broader Theodore which has a population of over 21k. Which could make it one of our bigger suburbs. I actually think of Theodore as Mobile's version of Metaire in NOLA, a clear suburb of the city but not an official city

Well, the census designated place has a population of around 6,000. The zip code is very large and includes areas that are not typically considered Theodore, such as Tillman's Corner, Dawes, Mon Louis, Fowl River, Hollinger's Island, Belle Fontaine, Bayle's Corner, and portions of the city of Mobile. It might be hard to get all that incorporated due to rivers, city of mobile limits, and local community pride. Plus outside the census designated place the population density decreases a lot.

They would probably have to start small like Semmes. But even Semmes is running into issues with its large size and low population.

[evlb401]

Originally Posted by EscAlaMike

Has the city of Mobile made any effort to annex Tillman's Corner or the land out to and around the airport? I'm guessing the people living out there have no interest in annexation? Too bad.

It's a strange dynamic I've noticed since moving to this region from Central Florida years ago. Pensacola has much the same issues Mobile has. It's surrounded by unincorporated areas that have no desire to pursue incorporation.

If Pensacola were able to annex Brent, Ferry Pass, Warrington, Myrtle Grove, etc, then it would probably have a similar population to Mobile. But, it's stagnated around 50k for years because there doesn't seem to be any move for annexation.

About 10 years ago when Sam Jones was mayor, the neighborhoods around Boykin Park, Old Pascagoula Road, and Carol Plantation Road approached the city and had a few discussions with the city. These were predominantly African American neighborhoods. I have no idea why it didn't go anywhere.

[Surge0001]

Originally Posted by evlb401

Well, the census designated place has a population of around 6,000. The zip code is very large and includes areas that are not typically considered Theodore, such as Tillman's Corner, Dawes, Mon Louis, Fowl River, Hollinger's Island, Belle Fontaine, Bayle's Corner, and portions of the city of Mobile. It might be hard to get all that incorporated due to rivers, city of mobile limits, and local community pride. Plus outside the census designated place the population density decreases a lot.

They would probably have to start small like Semmes. But even Semmes is running into issues with its large size and low population.

Mon Louis, Fowl River , Bellefontaine, Baley's corner, and I believe Hollinget's Island all fall under the "city" Theodore (very confused as a kid when I found out Theodore wasn't actually a city lol) Theodore could go by like what Semmes is doing and do Enclaves and small patches of incorporation just going off Laurdine RD can get them access to Bellfontaine and Fowlriver

[Surge0001]

Originally Posted by EscAlaMike

Has the city of Mobile made any effort to annex Tillman's Corner or the land out to and around the airport? I'm guessing the people living out there have no interest in annexation? Too bad.

It's a strange dynamic I've noticed since moving to this region from Central Florida years ago. Pensacola has much the same issues Mobile has. It's surrounded by unincorporated areas that have no desire to pursue incorporation.

If Pensacola were able to annex Brent, Ferry Pass, Warrington, Myrtle Grove, etc, then it would probably have a similar population to Mobile. But, it's stagnated around 50k for years because there doesn't seem to be any move for annexation.

Mobile has become very ambitious about annexation, attempting to annex nearly 20k last year, but a single city council vote got in the way, their needs to be a super majority of 5-2 but failed with 4-3. The 3 seems very unlikely to even add at 10 people to the city limits. This upcoming election will likely be the most important election in a generation, 3 council members are giving up their seats this election, 2 of them were pro annexation and 1 anti annexation, I imagine the 2 will be replaced by pro annexation seats. The big seat is the anti annexation one, if we can just get that seat pro-annex, It will likely change the course of the city. Mobile could be as ambitious as Huntsville and quickly become the biggest city in the state

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by Surge0001

Mobile could be as ambitious as Huntsville and quickly become the biggest city in the state

That's all good but we also need non organic growth. When Sam annexed the city grew from 192k to 195k. And now we're in the 180s. 90% of the population lost went into the unincorporated areas in the county. That's why non organic growth is just as important.

[natedoggbry]

I feel like Theodore would be a rather poor city that would struggle to keep up with city services. I hate to disparage the people there, but the area size is too big, too rural, and too poor for it to realistically incorporate. How are they gonna pave their roads, pay their police officers, firefighters, etc when they city would be as dense as skim milk?

[Surge0001]

Originally Posted by natedoggbry

I feel like Theodore would be a rather poor city that would struggle to keep up with city services. I hate to disparage the people there, but the area size is too big, too rural, and too poor for it to realistically incorporate. How are they gonna pave their roads, pay their police officers, firefighters, etc when they city would be as dense as skim milk?

They don't have to start out with all the service from the get go, Semmes has been around for 10 years and is just now getting a police department. Also Fowl River and Bellfontaine are relatively wealthy, so this would likely be a staple of their tax base, not to mention Bellingrath Road is currently going through suburbination, with I believe 3 high end subdivisions under constructions. The average income is just $1000 lower than Mobile for the broader Theodore area

[Surge0001]

Really it comes down to where they incorporate, if they don't incorporate Bellfontaine, Fowl River, and Bellingrath from the get go, they are gonna struggle getting off the ground,

[evlb401]

Originally Posted by PortCity

That's all good but we also need non organic growth. When Sam annexed the city grew from 192k to 195k. And now we're in the 180s. 90% of the population lost went into the unincorporated areas in the county. That's why non organic growth is just as important.

Yes, unfortunately we only annexed neighborhoods that were in the declining stage of the real estate life cycle back then. I totally agree that we need to grow organically. However, I think it is important to do both. We need to annex while also put policies in place to foster growth in our current neighborhoods. The current administration is trying to do that right now. The organic growth will take years possibly more than a decade to start reaping the benefits. Annexation can be a part of a larger plan to achieve growth in all the districts. That is were I think a lot of the annexation opponents like Finely, Fred, etc. get it completely wrong. It isn't a one or the other (Organic vs. Annexation).....We can do both and find a way how they can the complement each other. Areas that are annexed with surplus revenue can have those funds directed to growth initiatives within the current limits. That will strengthen the city and make the city more desirable for additional organic growth and future annexations. That is how both can contribute to growth in our city.