Tuscaloosa Developments

[DruidCity]

No, that article's the first I'd heard of this project. It sounds great though - 1 10-story and 1 12-story. This is the next block over from the Metalworks project, so we could start to form some critical mass there.

[FLClarkKent]

Saw that the Federal Courthouse/Downtown Redevelopment plan made it into the spending bill. Sounds like it 's close to becoming a reality.

[DruidCity]

Yes, and also the first funding for the 5-year, $150-million + "makeover" of the science and engineering portion of the UA campus:

http://shelby.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=248952

I've heard that the plans include replacing all of the older engineering buildings on campus - all the way from across-from-the-quad down through the Mineral Industries Building, which includes the main office for the College of Engineering.

There has been a lot of clearing work in the last couple of weeks on a couple of downtown-area park projects, the Stafford park at the SE corner of downtown and at Queen City Park at the NE corner of downtown for the future home of the transportation museum. There's talk of possibly two new amphitheaters in town, a small one on the UA campus in a couple of years, as part of the Palmer Lake dorm project, and a large (several-thousand capacity) one downtown in 2-4 years, where the ballfields are now, under and just west of the bridge.

[DruidCity]

< 1 mile east of downtown is the new Central High School, which will be completed by August 2006:

http://www.chs.tusc.k12.al.us/chs.jpg

Here's the recently-completed $28-million addition to Coleman Coliseum, UA's sports arena (cap. 15,100+ ):

http://media.cw.ua.edu/vimages/shared/vnew...2434ae-18-1.jpg

I'll add that Coleman was the largest indoor arena in Alabama, until the BJCC Arena was built in B'ham, and remains the state's second largest.

Clara Verner Tower, a 13-story apartment for the elderly, located by the university, will kick out its approximately 250 residents the first week of January 2006, because the owners of the building refuse to pay for the sprinkler system to bring the building up to fire code. The future of this, one of Tuscaloosa's tallest buildings, is uncertain :

http://www.albrc.com/claraverner.htm

The following aerial shot shows a lot of the downtown area :

http://imgsrv.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs...0&Title=1&Q=100

The lower left corner is the future site of Riverwalk Place (timetable unknown).

The large property between the road and river is the Corps of Engineers site. The city plans to purchase this section, wil the Corps relocating some of its operations to new facilities out of the downtown area.

The "forest" to the right of that is more Corps property, and they will build a new administrative office there (and the city hopes also a museum). Just up and right from that is the Tuscaloosa Chevrolet site. The dealership is moving out Monday. It is unknown what will go in there, but obviously, this is a very prime location. On the other side of the bridge to the right of that (pretty much off the photo) is athe site of the planned farmer's market & amphitheater (cap. ~ 5,000 seats + 5,000 on grass).

The "forest" covering much of the left side of the photo is Queen City Park. The round structure 1/3 from the left and 1/2 way up the photo will be the future home (within a year or so) of the West Alabama Transportation Museum.

Just on the other side of the park from this (about an inch up and a little to the right), you'll see a low building with a white roof. This is the site of the future Metalworks condo project (timetable unknown). The large, cleared area just up and to the right of that is the future Paramount mixed-use project (rumored timetable : 2008 ).

Stafford Plaza is the whitish building to the upper left of the photo. The area between it and City Hall/Courthouse (about 1/2 inch down and an inch to the right) is the Downtown Renewal Project area.

The city recently began acquiring land. The public portion of the redevelopment will cover about 6 blocks, anchored by a new Federal courthouse. The city has sent feedback on some proposed designs to Federal authorities.

Here's a good article on the riverfront development :

http://www.al.com/news/citymagazine/index....5000.xml&coll=6

Northport plans a new city hall on the site of the old East Circle government housing project, along its levee walk, and Northport's Stonegate condo hopes to get the environmental go-ahead in April 2006.

Northport also owns a bit of undeveloped land adjacent to its downtown on the west side, and hopes to develop a 60-home subdivision there.

[L'burgnative]

It's been irritating to me that rolltide.com has not been doing as good of a job showing updates on the bryant-denny project like they were before the summer. Anyone know where I can find updates on the bryant-denny expansion.

[DruidCity]

I don't know where to find photos other than Rolltide.com , which as you say, hasn't stayed updated .

Here are some more Bryant-Denny renderings, though:

http://www.bricebuilding.com/bricespecs/Pl...x?PlanRoomID=40

http://www.bricebuilding.com/bricespecs/Pl...x?PlanRoomID=59

Bryant Hall expansion :

http://www.capstonebuilding.com/project_detail.asp?aryCur=1

[DruidCity]

Here are recent photos of the end zone expansion:

http://www.wtbc1230.com/

[L'burgnative]

Thinks for the site. My brother is a member of tiderinsider or one of those sites that you have to pay for, and he had shown so photo updates over the weekend. If I knew how I would post those photo's, because I saved them on my PC. I don't know, there might be copyright laws since there on a paid membership site.

[DruidCity]

Update-

DOWNTOWN AREA :

Paramount Apartments - Proposed two 10 ? story towers. Nothing happening yet.

Metalworks condo - Originally proposed as 11 stories. New rendering looks more like 4 stories.

On the bright side, this (and Paramount) is a brownfield redevelopment, on the site of a former

steel mill. Nothing happening yet. http://www.metalworkscondos.com/

2300 Bryant - Proposed 5 story condo, with office/retail on the ground floor. This would cover about 1/2 a block with 57 units. What's there now is a crappy set of apartments that have been renting for like $200/month and a nice BBQ restaurant. The new complex will be on the luxury end, with units expected to start in the upper $200,000s. No work started yet, but developers have said they might like to start pre-selling by the end of the year.

Downtown Revitalization District - The city recently began acquiring land for the project, and 4 existing buildings have been demolished so far. A new Federal Courthouse (start construction in 2007, to finish in 2009) is expected to be an anchor of the district. It is expected that as much as $100 million in public funds will be involved in the district over the next 4-5 years. http://www.tuscaloosarenewal.com

Riverwalk district - Proposed low-rise 100,000sqft+- office building for lawyers & accountants, to replace part of an old car dealership site. The city ballfield site is scheduled to be vacated next year. The city is still studying the possibility of an urban amphitheater with 2,500 seats and overflow area for an additional 7,500 or so.

DOWNTOWN/UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR : Potentially having the best "urban" functionality in the city, this area benefits from the city's decision last year to allow higher densities, and from the addition of Publix a year or two ago.

Tonight, the city granted zoning approval for University Station, which will include retail or restaurant space on the ground level and 21 luxury condos starting in the $300k range. http://www.universitystationcondos.com/

This is across from where "Doe's Eat Place" was supposed to go. A steakhouse is going in, instead.

A block or so west of University Station is a new Thai restaurant opening soon.

The Legends condo has pre-sold a sufficient %, but construction hasn't begun. http://www.thelegendsoftuscaloosa.com/photogallery.html

Not far from The Legends is a proposed 4-story luxury condo that would replace a current low-rent 2-story apartment building. No name has been given yet.

Riverwalk Place condo has not begun pre-sales, but has already created a local buzz because of the expected price per unit of $800,000-$1,500,000, by far and away the most expensive condo project ever offered locally.

http://www.riverwalkcondos.org/

Maree Rouge is a 3-story, 16-unit condo currently u/c, expected to be complete by this fall.

Greystone Townhomes - 2-story, 1st building u/c, $350,000/unit.

UNIVERSITY : The university is in the 3rd year of a 10-year plan to double the number of students living on campus, and is on track so far.

There's a couple of 4-story dorms currently u/c, to be ready this fall: 153-person Paul Bryant Hall, and 540-person Lakeside. A similar number of residents will be added in new projects next year, and there are plans for a new bus transit system on campus.

The north end zone expansion at Bryant-Denny Stadium is on track to be completed in August :

http://www.aerialphotovideo.com/ua/

MIDTOWN : The McFarland/15th Street area is the main retail area of the city, and is south and east of the university.

Midtown Village - Developers recently began clearing ground on this $120-million "new urbanist" project, which will include 228 condo units. The first phase of condos has presold a sufficient % to proceed :

http://www.midtownvillagecondominiums.com/property.htm

Crimson Place - 4-stories, 148-unit condo, construction will be complete in August: http://www.crimsonplace.com/fw/main/Site_Plan-67.html

Summit - 4 stories, 108-unit condo, under construction: http://www.summitcondos.net/

Traditions - 3 stories, 150-unit condo, has not begun pre-selling : http://www.traditionstuscaloosa.com/community.html

NORTH OF THE RIVER : The wealthiest of the city's 7 districts, but also one of the most suburban in nature.

The Reserve at North River - 233-unit apartment complex, recently began leasing :

http://www.reserveatnorthriver.com/

Townes of North River - Planned 494 residences, mostly single family, in a

new urbanist-influenced project. Construction began recently :

http://www.townesofnorthriver.com/goals.php

Ridges of Wellington - 53-unit suburban-style single-family homes. However, there's talk of evenetually building equestrian trails connecting this area to the local equestrian arena. http://www.duckworth.com/ridges/ridgesdevplan.shtml

Westervelt Realty's NorthRiver neighborhoods - Suburban-style "McMansions," but within city limits.

Long-term plans include about 1,000 new single-family residences, of which maybe 100 have been built so far or are in the process of being built.

SOUTH OF EXIT 71 : Two miles south of downtown is where an interstate spur connects to the main interstate. There's a good bit of new activity south of this intersection, driven in part by Shelton State Community College, a newly 4-laned highway to Moundville, and new retail stores like Academy Sports.

Hilton Garden Inn - 6 stories, under construction, hopeful opening around Thanksgiving.

Boardwalk at Brittain Landing - 150 4-bed/4-bath apartment units :

http://www.boardwalkua.net/about_facts.html

Links at Tuscaloosa - Arkansas-based Lindsey Management plans a golf course community with 872 apartment units (3 stories, I think).

CITY OF NORTHPORT - Our main suburb is in a way more of a smaller "twin city." Northport has its own little "historic" downtown.

Spiller building - Old 2-story building at downtown Northport's main intersectio. Work has begun on the renovation, which will result in a couple of residences in the upper floor, and retail on the ground.

Downtown/Riverfront - Comprehensive plan is still months away from completion :

http://www.cityofnorthport.org/Default.asp?ID=239

Possibilities include a condo (by Birmingham-based Stonegate Realty) and a new city hall.

Construction is well underway on Northport's first riverfront restaurant, which will be a local seafood place.

[FLClarkKent]

Thanks, D.C.

So have they actually started work on the Midtown project?

And did they finalize the list of tenants for the stores?

[DruidCity]

Yes, clearing work began a week or two ago on the Midtown Village property.

Oddly, no tenants have been announced yet, other than Best Buy and Barnes & Noble.

Here's a link to the list of retailers that were planned for the old Midtown plan, which was by a different

developer : http://www.midtowntuscaloosa.com/retailers.html

I don't know how different the list will be for the current plan, but I imagine we'll see some of the

same names.

The Paramount Apartment project downtown went through the first round of zoning meetings last week,

so that's good & is listed with 306 units.

There is also a proposed 150-unit condo somplex called Houndstooth near the Parkview

shopping center on 15th street, but I haven't seen any details about it yet.

There's some talk of the Traditions condo being built on 15th near Loop Road, instead of in Alberta.

[FLClarkKent]

Can't wait until they get Midtown built. What an eyesore!

Keep us posted on the tenants...I don't get to T-Town much these days.

[DruidCity]

There are still no new Midtown tenant announcements, but they're very actively clearing the site.

Here's some new info on the Metalworks project downtown : http://www.metalworkscondos.com/about.html

Also, at least three development groups have expressed some interest in the possibility of a downtown hotel at the "Cityfest Block" downtown, a long-vacant lot owned by the city & currently used as a surface parking lot. Mayor Maddox has stated his preference for that site is to draw a hotel with a conference center on the ground level.

Also, local leaders are travelling to Houston within a month to talk with interested parties about the possibility of the downtown/riverfront amphitheater at the ballfield site.

[greystone98]

Druid, I live in Tuscaloosa and never hear some of the updates you keep us abreast of.

I so enjoy reading your posts as they are a wealth of information.

[Southron]

Love the infill projects. I hope the old-style urban renewal tear-downs don't happen, though.

[Southron]

City mulls Hyatt for old CityFest site

Retirement Systems

[Southron]

University may destroy 'The Strip'

The University of Alabama bought property on The Strip -- an area of bars, restaurants, and retail that has been the hang-out for students and alumni for decades -- which resulted in the closing of the Booth, a popular bar, and business owners say the administration wants to tear down structures to build a parking deck.

I don't understand this at all. This area is adjacent to campus so that students can walk to get something to eat or drink, or to buy supplies. Without it, students will be drinking and driving in far greater numbers and there would essentially be nothing of interest within walking distance of campus.

I guess we should have seen this coming when the Solomon's building was torn down a few years ago, and the new Publix was poorly done with parking facing University Boulevard. Replacing walkable street-level retail with a parking deck is simply inconceivable.

AP story: Supporters rally round 'The Strip'

[kayman]

^^^This is just an another example of this state's lack of foresight when comes to development. The University of Alabama is too busy concerned about the availability of more parking than worried about the student's well-being. Morons, plain and simple.

[DruidCity]

The really stupid part is that the university already owns more than ample land for parking.

They could convert the gigantic surface lot by Tutwiler dorm into a deck for much cheaper

than gobbling up the Strip one building at a time.

One more really stupid thing (...And in case folks can't tell, I'm very much at odds with the university

overall right now) is that the university now plans to replace the large green field along University Blvd (across

from Newk's Cafe and next to the new medical building and backing up to the recreational fields) with an

enormous surface lot. This is the parcel that the RSA has reportedly considered for a major development.

In short, they're ruining what I consider "my" campus - just paving everything over for surface lots for absolutely

no good reason. They're champing at the bit to buy the 200+ acre Bryce property, too. The toothless wonders

who donate to the football program want it paved over so they'll have a place to park their damn RVs a few weekends a year.

This still has the potential to be a walkable campus. The Publix, improperly aligned as it might be, and the new dorms,

utilitarian and bland as they are, have made it possible for students to live on campus and walk or bike to buy groceries.

The grocery store and the Strip are also nice amenities for the nearby old neighborhoods, whose value has increased

significantly in recent years. It is frustrating to see so much potential being pissed away.

[convulso]

i meant to post about this a while back. here's a link to the organization that is trying to sway public opinion about the demise of the strip:

http://savethestrip.com/

i was in tuscaloosa this past friday night, passing through from a looong-ass drive home from tucson. i was surprised at how alive the entire town was - not just the campus area. the downtown, which is sometimes not quite so lively on a saturday afternoon, had every parking space filled and people walking everywhere. maybe it was event-related, but it was impressive. i thought my current AL town of residence (auburn) had tuscaloosa beat on the walkable community thing, but - echoing druidcity - i think T-town has a lot going on...right now. what happens in the future may piss a lot of people off, though, and transform the univesity corridor into a 'family-friendly' dead zone.

'bama is trying to do one or two things that could help...they're even implementing something auburn has had for a long time - a campus transit system. unlike auburn's sytem, though, the UA's buses only run right around the campus - more convenient for getting students from one building to another than for getting them from home to campus and back again. auburn's system, meanwhile, covers much of the city and almost passes for an in-town transit system in the process. i hope that, as UA works out the kinks with its new buses, it sees the need for expanded routes that take people to and from where they really need to go, instead of just making a campus taxi service. so many more off-campus dwellings seem to exist right around campus at alabama than at auburn, so expanding routes in tuscaloosa wouldn't entail taking them miles and miles away from campus, as they do here. it wouldn't be a difficult upgrade, and it would diminish the car-oriented mentality that is apparently driving some of the recent land-use issues at alabama.

parking decks don't bother me, though - parking lots do. until recently, tuscaloosa had auburn's ass kicked in that respect. auburn still has a long way to go, but they just opened a new four-story (i think) deck near the stadium. more decks with more levels decreases the demand for open parking lots, which cover the perimeter of auburn's campus in abundance.

Edited April 17, 2007 by convulso

[DruidCity]

A few thoughts :

* The old neighborhoods along Queen City Avenue have quite a lot of walkability.

Increasing numbers of families and empty-nesters are moving in.

* If you're visiting downtown T-town in the future, I recommend Chuck's Fish:

http://www.chucksfish.com/about.htm

It's a shame that the little German bakery next door went out of business, because it was my favorite

place of its kind in Alabama.

* Tuscaloosa and Auburn have used some of the same consultants for their development plans, so

I think we'll see some of the same improvements implemented in both cities.

* "what happens in the future may piss a lot of people off, though, and transform the university corridor into a 'family-friendly' dead zone." My *guess* is that some of the "savethestrip" group's concerns are overblown.

I do expect some of the bars will be weeded out. On the other hand, at least one city councilman favors

establishing an official "entertainment district" near the bank building downtown, which would be the only place

in town where zoning would allow a collection of bars next to each other. The city bus routes already run from campus

to this area.

* UA plans for 25% or so of the students to live on campus by 2010.

* Campus buses : http://www.ua.edu/features/crimsonride.html

City buses: http://www.uatrolley.org/

[kayman]

That whole notion of 25% of the student population living on campus by 2010 is a pipe dream. Before I changed my mind and decided to go back to UAB, I was considering going to UAT.

However, my biggest turn off was how they chose to bypass all transfer students because they were only granting on-campus housing request to incoming freshmen. In other words, if you are an upper classmen, you will be bypassed by housing. I don't have the time or patience to apartment hunt for an affordable, nice, and convenient apartment so I can avoid having to drive to/from my classes. From what I found out there aren't any, unless you plan on finding a roomate, which something totally out of the question in my case.

[convulso]

lol - it depends on what you're willing to live in. there are some affordable apartments very near campus - a few that are in the 300+ range - but they're not for everyone. the one i really like is a two-story brick building about half a mile up from campus on university, but it's an old building and lacks central heat & air, dishwashers, etc. and it does require some looking to find something off campus.

what portion of 'bama's students are currently living on campus now? i don't like living on campus, but that has more to do with the way most campuses set up their housing (usually it's not near the heart of off-campus activity and is buried deep inside the campus) than with the quality or availability of the university's housing.

[DruidCity]

what portion of 'bama's students are currently living on campus now?

[kayman]

lol - it depends on what you're willing to live in. there are some affordable apartments very near campus - a few that are in the 300+ range - but they're not for everyone. the one i really like is a two-story brick building about half a mile up from campus on university, but it's an old building and lacks central heat & air, dishwashers, etc. and it does require some looking to find something off campus.

what portion of 'bama's students are currently living on campus now? i don't like living on campus, but that has more to do with the way most campuses set up their housing (usually it's not near the heart of off-campus activity and is buried deep inside the campus) than with the quality or availability of the university's housing.