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Biloxi and the Coast


tombarnes

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A somewhat churlish summation....from the Hattiesburg American

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pb.../512010303/1055

Well, requesting $250 Billion will go down as a huge blunder. We would have been better off with a lower request. But, if you add it up... 15 billion for coastal reastoration, 35 billion for levee protection... and then you have the intangible economic disaster. Then you have highway and transportation upgrades that are a must if we expect people to be able to evacuate. It's hard to put a number on it, that's for sure

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Well, requesting $250 Billion will go down as a huge blunder. We would have been better off with a lower request. But, if you add it up... 15 billion for coastal reastoration, 35 billion for levee protection... and then you have the intangible economic disaster. Then you have highway and transportation upgrades that are a must if we expect people to be able to evacuate. It's hard to put a number on it, that's for sure

This is all true.

Louisiana certainly asked for a very high amount of money, but we will certainly need a very large amount of money to improve upon almost all things possible in SE Louisiana, from levee's, to schools, and roads, which of course is obvious.

But there were projects in that request for money that should not have been there, almost all of these such projects were hundred's of miles away from coastal Louisiana, and were in no way as important as the rebuilding projects going on here.

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Thats really a great article, and great audio and visual videos.

I also really hope that Bay St. Louis doesnt turn into another Destin or Gulf Shores, but keeps its identity as a beautiful beach city, not filled with high rise condos lining the beaches.

The 250 machines, each worth about $5,000, were damaged in the warehouse by Hurricane Katrina, and the insurance company was making sure the property wouldn’t be recycled elsewhere. Serial numbers were removed and the candy-colored slots were lined up for execution.

1.25 million dollars worth of slot machines just getting destroyed one at a time, every day...

Edited by NCB
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What sort of development happens in Bay St. Louis remains to be seen. The suggestions produced in the recent charrette were most attractive. I would think that the people who live in Bay St. Louis would fight to preserve the character of their town. A few high-rises are inevitable, but they could be well placed and designed attractively to minimize their impact on the whole. The area really could be a laboratory for the concepts of New Urbanism if the rebuilding is handled with care.

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I was fortunate enough to have been able to participate in the charette. I can tell you that from talking to the elected officials who came around (many of whom are my clients), they have a significant determination to rebuild better. I think that we are going to see a wave of condos coming in to a certain extent. However, most coastal cities are hearing a strong public sentiment against condos. IMO, during this particular time when emotions are tending to run high and when there is a strong feeling of unity in an effort to recover, the local officials are likely to side with local sentiments.

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IMO, during this particular time when emotions are tending to run high and when there is a strong feeling of unity in an effort to recover, the local officials are likely to side with local sentiments.

I agree.

I dont have a problem with condos going up in Bay St. Louis, I just would hate to see the whole city get trounced by them, like so many other coastal cities have been.

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I have no article to post to support the rumor, but the word on the street is that the Grand Casino properties in Biloxi will be rebuilt as one Caesars property. This may not happen for at least two years. As for the Grand Casino property in Gulfport, there is speculation that the hotels may have been too severely damaged to save. Having seen pictures of workmen at both properties, I'd think it would be more likely that these two hotels and the land might be sold to another company. Casino Magic isn't coming back to Biloxi, so their hotel might well be renovated by someone else. Though the casino was destroyed, I think the hotel tower might be salvageable. If anyone knows more about these properties, please post away.

Edited by tombarnes
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I agree.

I dont have a problem with condos going up in Bay St. Louis, I just would hate to see the whole city get trounced by them, like so many other coastal cities have been.

I am the team leader for the Mississippi Renewal Plan for Bay St. Louis (just got back from there). It is extremely unlikely that anything over 50 feet in the downtown and over 35 feet elsewhere will be allowed by the mayor or the citizens, EXCEPT around Casino Magic, which is isolated from the town and to the north across marshlands.

It is a great town filled with artsy interesting people and it will come back with its unique character.

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Keep the small town character, the architectural heritage, and the natural beauty. Build on the arts character. Provide for growth without destroying what makes Bay Saint Louis so liveable.

:thumbsup:

The plans look great Tom!

Like you said, lets hope they stay the same in reality.

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Nearly everyone in southeast Louisiana knows exactly what these Mississippi residents are going through.

There are so many questions you ask to yourself in your head when you here about all the money that will be coming here. The #1 question being "when?"

President Bush's pledge to pour billions of dollars into a coastal recovery effort were "like the weapons of mass destruction: a figment of his imagination," Scruggs said after a panel discussion Friday.

As long as the War in Iraq is sucking as much money out of the U.S. economy as it is now, this statement is very true.

Edited by NCB
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Beachfront parking spaces in Bay St. Louis? Give me a break....from the Sun Herald...

There is a grade change from Main Street and Beach Boulevard and the beach. The idea is to build under the rebuilt road as well as under the new businesses. The garage will be at level with the beach (or slightly above) but will be masked by an arcade that can have cafes and other seasonal businesses. There will also be parking on the street (head-in and parellel) as well as Park Once areas within blocks.

The renderings and section is in the report.

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Bay St. Louis and Waveland to merge? From the Sun Herald....

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/13371361.htm

The Golden Nugget deal could be in jeopardy.....from the Sun Herald...

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/13365643.htm

Personally, I think there could be better deals out there for the city.

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Landry's, which owns the Golden Nugget casinos in Nevada, plans to put the famous casino brand name on Point Cadet along with a Biloxi Boardwalk amusement complex with thrill rides, restaurants and other tourist attractions.

This aspect of the Golden Nugget project sounds nice.

Thought I also think there could be better deals for the city.

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