11 replies to this topic

[bhamsly]

I am just starting this just to gather thoughts about the Daniel Payne area of the city. Will it become a hot-bed for retail and residential development when I-22 opens? Do you think heavy industries will be the highlight of the area? How about a research park or office park? Could it be a new city within a city development? Any thoughts?

[kayman]

That's a good question, Sly.  A large chunk of the area is now residential with Westchester development that has just wrapped up it most recent phase in past 18 months.  However, the area south of Daniel Payne itself is probably going to remain residental or institutional as many abandoned buildings of the former Daniel Payne College still lie out there.  But it will probably be a combination of more residential and light commercial.

[kayman]

Although I know some of you guys may have heard about the Daniel Payne Towne Center development, well apparently the City Council has just approved the creation of a capital improvement cooperative district on Tuesday.  A captial improvement cooperative district would be like a mini-government for the area with ability to levy taxes and issue bonds for itself.

Daniel Payne Town Center is proposed to have 600,000 square feet of retail space, 550,000 square feet of office, an 800-room resort hotel and golf course, a 150,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 10 million-gallon aquarium and 350 single-family residences on 1,500 acres off Coalburg Road in the northern portion of Birmingham.  It would be developed by Genesis Development Corp owned by John A. Richard, and private investment is being provided by Development Capital International of Chicago.

[bhamsly]

kayman, on May 22 2009, 12:06 AM, said:

Although I know some of you guys may have heard about the Daniel Payne Towne Center development, well apparently the City Council has just approved the creation of a capital improvement cooperative district on Tuesday. A captial improvement cooperative district would be like a mini-government for the area with ability to levy taxes and issue bonds for itself.

Daniel Payne Town Center is proposed to have 600,000 square feet of retail space, 550,000 square feet of office, an 800-room resort hotel and golf course, a 150,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 10 million-gallon aquarium and 350 single-family residences on 1,500 acres off Coalburg Road in the northern portion of Birmingham. It would be developed by Genesis Development Corp owned by John A. Richard, and private investment is being provided by Development Capital International of Chicago.

I truly did not think that this development was serious, but apparently it is. A project like this would be a huge asset to that part of the city, and metro area. It seems like good things are about to happen in the Birmingham region...it's about time. We have watched many other cities/regions explode with development, while we have done only a little. I think that it is now our time!

[j.midtown]

kayman, on May 22 2009, 01:06 AM, said:

Although I know some of you guys may have heard about the Daniel Payne Towne Center development, well apparently the City Council has just approved the creation of a capital improvement cooperative district on Tuesday.  A captial improvement cooperative district would be like a mini-government for the area with ability to levy taxes and issue bonds for itself.

Daniel Payne Town Center is proposed to have 600,000 square feet of retail space, 550,000 square feet of office, an 800-room resort hotel and golf course, a 150,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 10 million-gallon aquarium and 350 single-family residences on 1,500 acres off Coalburg Road in the northern portion of Birmingham.  It would be developed by Genesis Development Corp owned by John A. Richard, and private investment is being provided by Development Capital International of Chicago.

No offense to the Birminghamians, but I'm pretty skeptical about this, particularly in the current economy.  The Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest at opening coming in at just over 8M gallons, had a final cost well over the $250M that Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus originally pledged for it. You're talking around $300M just for the aquarium.

[| BRAVO |]

Awesome location... would be a huge boon for the city... but aren't aquariums becoming a bit cliche?  
Can't we come up with an original idea?

Edited by | BRAVO |, 23 May 2009 - 08:05 PM.

[kayman]

| BRAVO |, on May 23 2009, 09:05 PM, said:

Awesome location... would be a huge boon for the city... but aren't aquariums becoming a bit cliche?  
Can't we come up with an original idea?

Yes and no.  Yes, because there are 4 aquariums surround us in Chattanooga, Atlanta, Memphis, and New Orleans.  However, the idea of an aquarium has been floating around here since the late 1990's, so it is still an original concept for us since none of the forementioned aquariums have exhibits focusing on Alabama's 4 unique ecosystems.  We are one of maybe 5 states in the nation that has more than 3 ecosystems within its state boundaries, so I say go for it.  The more attractions that bring in more visitors and tourists to our region, the better.  Also this project concept is a private business initiative, thus it shows that somebody has interest in investing in Birmingham.

[| BRAVO |]

I don't know.  It doesn't seem to matter how long the idea has been floating around... everyone else just beat us to it.  Still seems we are just copying the latest fad.  I'm sure the project will be a success and it is certainly promising to hear somebody has interest in investing in Birmingham.

[Dystopos]

For whatever it's worth I've gathered what little I can find about the project here:

http://www.bhamwiki....yne_Town_Center

[| BRAVO |]

Dystopos, on May 27 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

For whatever it's worth I've gathered what little I can find about the project here:

http://www.bhamwiki....yne_Town_Center

Sounds too good to be true.

Edited by | BRAVO |, 30 May 2009 - 09:33 PM.

[kayman]

| BRAVO |, on May 27 2009, 07:18 PM, said:

Sounds to good to be true.

Why would you say that?

[| BRAVO |]

kayman, on May 30 2009, 07:54 PM, said:

Why would you say that?

Well...

10 million gallon Atlantis aquarium
150,000 square-foot Aquatica indoor water park
600,000 square-foot destination retail center
800-room resort hotel with conference center and golf course
550,000 square feet of office space
a cinema / bowling center / arcade
350 single-family residences


That's an awful lot for any firefighter/developer to pull together while the professionals at the BJCC can't get a dome/multi-use facility and entertainment district after 15 years.

I hope it happens... it just seems too good to be true.  Pinch me.