Biloxi and the Coast

[tombarnes]

Biloxi's Changing Skyline

Like it or not, the skyline of Biloxi is changing forever. Several high-rise projects are under construction and many, many more are on the way. This article gives a quick picture of the projects now under construction. The link within the article shows a list of condominium projecrs as of June, 2006. More have been proposed since this list was compiled.

The Gulf Coast News

[tombarnes]

That's one way to do it. Also, other examples are to be found in the work of Duany, Plater, Zyberk, e.g. Seaside, Florida. There should be lots of developmments along these lines. A few have been proposed and are under construction (Tradition is one example.

[tombarnes]

Shell Landing in Gautier

One development of interest is Shell Landing in Gautier. While this may take time to get off the ground, plans call for a mixed-use development with 2787 housing units, stores and condominiums. I will post more information when it comes along.

The Sun Herald

[tombarnes]

More on Tradition

Tradition, a planned community near Biloxi, is proceeding according to plan. Eventually, this new town will have over 20,000 houses. I'm not exactly thrilled with the buildings I have seen so far, but there may be better ones coming along. I'll be very interested to see the town center develop.

WLOX Channel 13 News

[yeoyeo78]

Tradition reminds me of The Villages in Florida in terms of how it looks. Several gated neighborhoods (each called a Village, hence the name The Villages) each put into clusters with a commercial center i the middle of the clusters. The best of these commercial centers is Spanish Springs, which is the one on US Hwy 27/441. The other is called Lake-Sumter Landing, which isn't as big as Spanish Springs, but is still like Tradition. The only difference between The Villages and Tradition is that The Villages is a retirement community and mainly caters to that segment of the population. There are some young people who live in The Villages, but not many of them which is why the elementary school, middle school, high school and college are all in one building.

Edited October 24, 2006 by yeoyeo78

[tombarnes]

Another Condo Proposal

The lessors of the site of McElroy's Harbor House restaurant have proposed a 26 story tower on the site of the restaurant. This is the very beginning of the process, so there could be many changes or outright dismissal of the project before it's done.

The Sun Herald

Edited October 25, 2006 by tombarnes

[tombarnes]

The Air Force Renews its Commitment to Keesler AFB

The Air Force won't be backing away from Keesler AFB any time soon, as some feared after KAtrina laid waste to much of the sprawling campus. AS an important training facility, Keesler should stand to receive many improvements in the near future. The reconstruction of over 1000 units of base housing is the largest such project untertaken by the air force in recent times.

The Sun Herald- Editorial

Edited October 30, 2006 by tombarnes

[tombarnes]

Landmark Del Castle in Ocean Springs to be Demolished

Efforts to save an unusual house in Ocean Springs may have reached the end of the line. Del Castle is an oddity for the Coast, as few Mediterranean-Revival houses of its type were built in this area. One of the only other examples, the Guice House in Biloxi, was leveled by Hurricane Camille in 1969. I went with local Coast historian John Beers to the site yesterday and we were able to get a couple of last photographs outside the construction fence on the perimeter of the property. The owner, Bruce Legate, is within his rights to demolish the building, but it is unfortunate that he has resisted all efforts directed at the possible preservation of the buiilding. The house is not badly deteriorated, having been lived in only a few years ago. Legate cited the cost of maintenance as the primary factor for the demolition.

The Clarion Ledger

I am hoping that we may be able to get a few pictures of the house posted on the site very soon.

[tombarnes]

A story from WLOX with a video clip showing the house.

WLOX Channel 13 News

[tombarnes]

Airport in Gulfport to Have Two Hotels

Two new hotels, a Hilton Garden Inn and a Marriott Courtyard will be built in an office park development near the Gulfport/Biloxi airport. I doubt that either building will have architectural merit, but they may well be needed.

The Sun Herald

[tombarnes]

Choctaw Casino Argument Heats Up

The possibility of a casino on the Coast owned and operated by the Choctaws may well be stifling other casino development there. Harrah's has already cited this as a reason for not pursuing their plans in Biloxi at the moment. This could develop into a major issue.

The Clarion Ledger

[The Dude]

A new affordable mixed-use community w/ a town center is coming to the coast....... details should be coming out very soon.

Edited November 15, 2006 by The Dude

[mattdev]

Can't wait to hear about that - Also, here's a great site for keeping abreast of current casino and condotel developments

http://www.gulfcoast.org/articles/index.cf...p;articleID=674

[tombarnes]

373 Ft. Tower Proposed for Site Near Edgewater Mall

The Tower at Edgewater will include townhouses as well, but the centerpiece is to be a 373 ft. tower with condominium units suitable for short-term rental- essentially a condotel. This hasn't yet received approval, and the only drawings I have seen so far are extremely rough sketches. This site, by the way, is outside of the Keesler AFB zone with limited height restrictions. So far, this is the tallest building yet proposed- with one exception. The Broadwater development is expected to include a 400+ ft. tower.

The Sun Herald

Edited November 17, 2006 by tombarnes

[tombarnes]

Tower Plan Stirs Controversy

The plan for the Edgewater Tower is not without controversy. The plan was pulled from the agenda of the City Council yesterday, but wil be submitted again next week. I think the design of the tower is important, and this is what ought to be considered. I think there is too much of a knee-jerk reaction against "monstrosities" being built. This is not to say that I think anything and everything should be allowed. This building would be well away from most of the other high-rises in Biloxi, but the area is hardly pristine. It is adjacent to a large (ugly) mall! Build carefully, but the "fishing village with an Air Force base" alluded to in the article is gone forever. I would prefer that the building had more of an architectural presence- make it a truly distinctive building.

The Sun Herald

Edited December 6, 2006 by tombarnes

[The Dude]

A new affordable mixed-use community w/ a town center is coming to the coast....... details should be coming out very soon.

Feb. is the big release, be on the lookout.

Edited December 22, 2006 by The Dude

[tombarnes]

Feb. is the big release, be on the lookout.

Thanks for the update!

[tombarnes]

Edgewater Tower Returns to Council Agenda

The proposed 33 story tower near the Edgewater Mall will be back on the agenda at tomorrow's City Council meeting. I will update if there is any news on this tomorrow.

The Sun Herald

[tombarnes]

Revelay

This has been mentioned previously in this thread, but bears mention again. A large condo/hotel project called Revelay is being built next to the Coliseum. This video tour gives an idea of what it might be like.

Revelay video tour

[Dale]

Villas at Ocean Beach Condominiums

This 16-story development would be built on the former site of the Biloxi Beach Amusement Park and Magic Golf on the south side of HW 90.

Curious. That's a rendering of an existing tower in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.

[tombarnes]

Very curious indeed. I have not heard anything more about this project. I wonder if whoever published the info. about the project mixed up the renderings in the release? I certainly have not heard much more about this. I'll have to do a bit of research.

[tombarnes]

My search turned up nothing except the original post on the Skyscraper Page. One new condo/hotel has actually opened its doors- the Sea Breeze started taking guests and owners in December. The building looks a bit, well, stumpy, but it's good to see something actually moving along.

Sea Breeze- Sterling Resorts

[tombarnes]

Council Delays Vote Yet Again

In what appears to be a pattern of inaction and vacillation, the Biloxi City Council has again delayed their vote on the Edgewater Tower project. Get on with it already!

The Sun Herald

[tombarnes]

Governor Barbour Unveils Housing Proposal

While I'm not ecstatic about the look of the modular houses being proposed (the sketch looks better than the model I have seen pictured elsewhere), they are undoubtedly an improvement over the miserable FEMA trailers now in use. It will be good to see the trailers replaced with something more substantial.

Governor Barbour's Website- PDF

Edited January 11, 2007 by tombarnes

[tombarnes]

Two New Developments Approved for Harrison County

Two major developments have been approved for Harrison County. I hadn't heard of either one of them until now. One is called River Hills, which will be mostly residential, though there will be a commercial component. The other is called Hawk's Landing and is expected to include 320 condominiums as well as a hotel and other commercial entities. I will post more as soon as details are out.

The Sun Herald