Chuck Barnes News for the Gulf Coast

http://www.pnj.com/article/20111123/NEWS01/111230333/Perdido-gets-bed-tax-pitch-from-Pensacola-area-hotel-owners

2011-11-23T21:15:00.000-06:00

http://www.pnj.com/article/20111123/NEWS01/111230333/Perdido-gets-bed-tax-pitch-from-Pensacola-area-hotel-owners

The owners of several major Pensacola area hotels met with Perdido Key residents Tuesday to enlist their help in changing how $4 million in Escambia County's bed tax dollars are spent annually.

The group of hoteliers favor stripping the authority for tourism spending promotion from the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. They have formed a local chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to promote the change.

Innisfree Hotels CEO Julian MacQueen said the meeting at the Perdido Bay Community Center was "a sincere effort" to extend an olive branch to Perdido Key business leaders who felt snubbed by the hoteliers' determined drive to overhaul tourism marketing.

MacQueen was joined by Marilyn Hess, whose properties include the Crowne Plaza and Margaritaville Beach Hotel, Highpointe Hotel co-founder Dave Cleveland, Robert Rinke, a partner in Levin and Rinke Resort Realty, Pensacola Beach Realtor Noel Faddis and Tosh Belsinger of Gulf Blue Vacations.

"This is not a new cause, and it's not a secret cause," MacQueen said about the hoteliers' plans. "It's a cause we've been fighting for for 15 or 20 years. It was never our intention to eliminate or offend Perdido Key."

Of those attending the meeting, many expressed their frustration with the current structure of tourism marketing, and their concern that Perdido Key will have proportional representation on any new agency spending bed tax dollars.

"I promise you the current (tourism marketing) program doesn't work, and it doesn't work for anyone in this room," said Greg Jones, a member of the Tourism Development Council, and a branch sales manager for WCI, a major developer on the island. "I don't know yet what the right program is, but today's program is not the right one."

Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Alison Davenport stressed the need for the key to be fully represented on any new governing agency.

Cleveland told the audience the group is focused solely on "putting heads in beds" throughout all of Escambia County, and not just on Pensacola Beach.

MacQueen said the overall goal of the group is to create a "single brand and a single message" for Escambia County's tourism marketing efforts.

"I was happy with the way the meeting went today," MacQueen said.

Vision Bank sold to Arkansas's Centennial | al.com

2011-11-17T23:29:00.000-06:00

Vision Bank sold to Arkansas's Centennial al.com: Vision Bank sold to Arkansas's Centennial..

MOBILE, Alabama -- Arkansas-based Centennial Bank announced Thursday an agreement to buy 17 Vision Bank branch locations, all of its deposits and a majority of the bank's performing loans from Park National Corp.

Vision is the third-largest bank in Baldwin County by market share with $364 million in deposits -- an 11.25 percent share, according to federal data. It has eight offices in the county.

The purchase price is $27.9 million, according to a filing from Centennial's parent company, Home BancShares Inc.

Centennial will acquire $535 million in deposits and $379 million in loans as part of the agreement, which is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be complete in early 2012.

Vision branches will become Centennial branches once the deal is complete. Company officials said Vision customers should continue to bank as normal until then.

The move allows Centennial to increase its footprint in Florida and expand into Alabama, officials said.

"It will be a new beginning for the Vision bankers and directors, working without the burden of problem assets," said John W. Allison, chairman of Home BancShares.

Vision was heavily invested in beach properties that saw values plummet and bad loans during the real estate crisis.

It had been bleeding money for Ohio-based Park National, which owns several community banks. For example, during the first three months of 2011, Vision lost $7.6 million while Park National posted an overall profit of $21.4 million.

Vision lost $29.3 million in 2010 and $30.1 million in 2009.

Park National officials said it will keep some nonperforming loans and merge them with a non-bank subsidiary, SE Property Holdings LLC.

Park National officials said the sale will result in a pre-tax gain of $10 million to $12 million and will strengthen the company's capital ratios.

Park National acquired Panama City, Fla.-based Vision Bank in March 2007 in a deal valued at about $165 million.

Related topics: Centennial Bank, Home BancShares, Park National Corp., Vision Bank, banking

Tourism numbers could hit record 5 million one year after oil spill | al.com

2011-11-10T23:11:00.000-06:00

Tourism numbers could hit record 5 million one year after oil spill al.com: Tourism numbers could hit record 5 million one year after oil spill

GULF SHORES, Alabama -- After a 47 percent drop following the 2010 oil spill, Baldwin beach attendance are expected to hit a record 5 million visitors this year, tourism officials said Friday.

That number, up from 4.6 million in 2009, would also mean about $2.5 billion in visitor spending and 45,000 jobs, Herb Malone, director of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism told members of the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce.

“In the face of what happened last year, in the face of the nation’s worst recession in memory, we did OK,” Malone said.

Malone said final totals for 2011 won’t be known until 2012. The $237 million spent on lodging so far this year has already topped the previous record of $228 million for 2007.

In 2009, visitors spent about $2.3 billion in an industry that created about 40,000 jobs. Lodging revenue for the summer of 2011 was 16 percent more than in 2009, Malone said. Retail spending was up 9.3 percent.

Part of the reason for the increase was a marketing campaign funded with money from BP PLC, according to an Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism statement.

Malone said television commercials featuring celebrities such as former Alabama coach Gene Stallings and Auburn coach Pat Dye and well as print and Internet advertising helped promote the region.

In a statement issued Friday, Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department, said the marketing effort helped the region recover from the economic effects of the spill.

“We are excited that Alabama’s Gulf Coast beaches were able to rebound so quickly and to set record numbers on top of it,” Sentell said. “The BP funding allowed us to market effectively to travelers and those efforts paid off. We will continue to promote our Gulf Coat and hope to continue to set records.”

Malone said the area is well positioned to continue to attract “post-recession consumers,” who are looking for value as well as enjoyment.

“We still spend money, but we’re more selective about what we buy,” Malone said.

He said the area has long appealed to families and older visitors. Events such as the Hangout Music Festival and Wharf concert series have also helped promote the region with younger adults.

Sports events have also helped promote the region. Spending on events such as the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament increased from $3 million in 2008 to $16 million in 2011.

Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism has also become a sponsor of the SEC. Malone said the beach area’s prime market is also the region included in the conference.

National Seashore expects approval of ferry pier | Pensacola News Journal | pnj.com

2011-11-02T18:46:00.000-05:00

National Seashore expects approval of ferry pier Pensacola News Journal pnj.com: National Seashore expects approval of ferry pier

Link to Article: http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011111010309

The superintendent of the Gulf Islands National Seashore expects to get the OK today from the National Park Service to build a ferry pier at Fort Pickens with $2.8 million secured last year.

A ferry system to shuttle passengers from Pensacola Beach across Pensacola Bay to downtown or Pensacola Naval Air Station has been studied for more than 30 years.

"The ferry pier has been included in all our planning documents since the early days of the seashore," Superintendent Dan Brown said. "The pier is one very significant step in implementing the system."

A ferry system would resolve one of Fort Pickens' biggest problems: providing alternative transportation to the popular park when the only road washes out during storms.

"We have more than 700,000 visitors coming to Fort Pickens a year," he said. "It's the most heavily visited site in the National Seashore. The idea is to continue that access."

If the Park Service's development advisory board approves today, Brown will green-light the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to seek bids for a contractor.

Construction could begin in January and take six to eight months.

The next hurdle would be buying at least two or three ferry boats. The cost of the boats has not been determined because the type and size needed has not been nailed down, Brown said.

Brown has been making the rounds drumming up support from City of Pensacola, Escambia County, Santa Rosa Island Authority, and NAS officials. Everyone wants the ferry system, he said.

"All of us are looking at grant sources to see if we can get funding for boats," he said.

Brown has a strong advocate in Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward.

"(The National Seashore) is a huge draw, and being able to connect that beautiful beach with our downtown would be a tremendous opportunity," he said. "This is an issue that I am constantly bringing up in Tallahassee and in Washington, D.C., and I hope that we can all work together to make this happen."

Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson is convinced a ferry system will be in place in 2013, with the Seashore spearheading the effort.

(Page 2 of 2)

"No doubt, this is one project we'd like to see happen," he said. "We just have figure out how to get there."

The county is seeking money for a ferry system from the $100 million BP paid to the state for early restoration projects or from fine money BP is likely to pay through Clean Water Act fines, Robinson said.

Among the details to iron out is who would manage the system.

One idea is to set up the Fort Pickens ferry similar to the Seashore's West Ship Island ferry system in Mississippi.

A vendor operates that system, which attracts 1,000 paying riders a day during the peak season.

The Seashore's contract with the vendor that operates the two park stores expires at the end of 2012, and that would be the perfect time to "fold in" the management of the ferry into that contract, Brown said.

Laura Lee, a spokeswoman for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, is hopeful local officials will find money to support the ferry system because the bay offers the most beautiful views of the area.

"If there is a way to get everyone to all those attractions by ferry, it would be great benefit to our area," she said.

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Orange Beach officials reach settlement with BP for part of revenue lost because of oil spill | al.com

2011-09-28T10:24:00.000-05:00

Orange Beach officials reach settlement with BP for part of revenue lost because of oil spill al.com: Orange Beach officials reach settlement with BP for part of revenue lost because of oil spill

Originally published by the Mobile Press Register

ORANGE BEACH -- After a year of negotiations, Orange Beach officials have reached a settlement with oil giant BP PLC for a portion of revenue lost during last year’s oil spill.

But city leaders still believe they are owed upwards of $6 million.

The drawn-out, $1.27 million settlement would pay for lodging and retail revenue, along with a few other “small claims,” according to Mayor Tony Kennon.

He said the settlement was finally reached when BP agreed to pay an additional $300,000.

That figure does not include money from franchise taxes, sewer fees, business licenses and building permits, particularly for multimillion-dollar projects that could have come to fruition but did not because of the oil spill, said Clara Myers, the Orange Beach finance director.

“It takes some time to figure out what hasn’t come to town,” Myers said.

At a work session Tuesday night, the City Council appeared to agree that the figure was right. A vote is expected at a regular council meeting next week.

“That’s a nice settlement right there for that portion of it,” Councilman Brett Holk said.

Kennon said the agreement brings the city to a roughly 10 percent increase in lodging and retail revenue over 2009 figures.

“We used this summer as validation for our claim that we could have been up 15-20 percent in 2010, had it not been for the oil spill,” he said. “But the bottom line is, we knew what was fair, and we just stood by that number.”

Kennon said the city would continue to fight for other forms of lost money using “whatever legal avenues we have to go through to go after that revenue.”

Asked whether reaching a deal on that figure would ultimately satisfy city leaders, Kennon responded: “We’ll feel a whole lot better about being whole. They can never make us whole, because ‘whole’ incorporates more than just money. You can’t give back the time that we missed with our children on the water, our summer -- you can’t give that back.”

In neighboring Gulf Shores, officials agreed to a $1.8 million settlement for 2010 lost revenue late last year.

BP officials have acknowledged working with the Pleasure Island municipalities, but have declined to discuss settlement deals

Maritime Park Costs to be audited

2011-08-25T23:16:00.000-05:00

Originally Published by the Pensacola News Journal

Link: http://www.pnj.com/article/20110825/NEWS01/108250316/Maritime-Park-audit-expenses?

The Community Maritime Park Associates board will hire a Pensacola accounting firm to conduct an independent audit of the $54.7 million park project's finances and payments to vendors.

While the audit will explore the many changes in the CMPA's budget, it will focus heavily on the "soft costs," expenses not directly tied to construction materials and labor, such as the costs of engineering, architectural design, legal fees, consultants, financing, advertising and marketing.

Soft costs have become a concern because they are coming in higher than anticipated for a project of this size and scope.

The motion for the audit was made by CMPA board member Larry B. Johnson, who had asked for such an audit at a previous meeting.

Johnson said some citizens have questioned him about park costs since a Sunday article in the News Journal that detailed $23.8 million in expenditures to 117 vendors.

"To try and restore some of the public's trust in this project, I feel a more complete audit is warranted," Johnson said. "I want to know where every penny has been spent and who authorized every transaction. I want a more complete accounting of that to get a better comfort level for where this money has been spent."

The board voted 9-3 for the accounting firm Saltmarsh Cleaveland & Gund to be hired at a cost not to exceed $18,000 to do the audit. The work is to be done within 30 days, according to the motion.

Board members voting in favor of the audit were Brian Spencer, Dick Baker, Samuel Bolden, Audra Carter, Collier Merrill, Megan Pratt, Jim Reeves, Jim Smith and Johnson. Board members opposed were Jimmy Jones, John Merting and E.C. "Buddy" McCormick Jr. Members LuTimothy May and Juanita Scott were absent.

The intent of the audit is to drill into the details of the payments to, and work performed by, every vendor paid more than $10,000 on the project through Aug. 26, covering hard and soft costs.

It will document the history of CMPA construction budget activity from the project's inception through Aug. 26.

The audit also will:

» Examine the amount of each transaction to each vendor.

» Identify any subcontractors used by the vendor.

» Identify who approved each transaction.

» Document that individual's authority to approve the transaction.

McCormick said his concern was that the $18,000 cost of the audit will add to the CMPA's soft costs.

"I voted against that audit because I thought there were enough things in place with (CMPA Executive Director) Ed Spears, and Saltmarsh, and others we have had hired," McCormick said. "I just thought it was a duplication of effort and that we needed to save the money."

Luxury RV's called condos on wheels | al.com

2011-08-02T13:05:00.000-05:00

Luxury RV's called condos on wheels al.com: "Luxury RV's called condos on wheels"

Originally Published by the Mobile Press Register By Kathy Jumper

GULF SHORES, Ala. - People are coming back to the beach, and a lot of them are driving high-end recreational vehicles.

Six RV lots have sold in Bella Terra of Gulf Shores in the past two months, prompting developers to put the remaining 65 lots up for sale, according to Chuck Smith, a partner in the development off Baldwin County 12. So far, 110 potential buyers have signed up to buy one of the lots, Smith said. Lot prices range from $120,000 to $170,000 for lakefront sites.

Bella Terra and another local development, Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina, cater to the Class A motor coaches, which typically cost between $600,000 to $2 million.

The resorts and parks that serve them sell campsites and rent them out when the owners are traveling.

RV lovers may own a million-dollar coach, but they parked the condominium on wheels when the economy slowed and prices at the gas pumps increased, RV sales agents said. Still, sales and rentals were going well last year until the BP oil spill hit in April and "everybody vanished," Smith said.

But in the last 60 days, sales and interest have increased tremendously, he said.

"People are coming back to the Gulf," agreed Jim Howard, resort director at Heritage, on Bayou St. John in Orange Beach. "We had an awesome June. We sold 10 resort sites. We have now sold 46 of the 79 sites."

Heritage sites start at $165,000. A waterfront site with a coach house or guest house can be as high as $409,000. That park includes a private, 42-slip marina.

Owning a half-a million dollar RV is a lifestyle choice, Smith said. "Most of the owners are retired and generally have the means to invest in something they want. They love the resort. It's a place they can call home when they're not on the road."

The final phase of 65 lots in 175-lot Bella Terra will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, he said.

"Many, if not most on the list, have stayed at Bella Terra or heard of us."

Howard said RV owners are seeing that if they don't do something now, the lots won't be there later.

"A lot of our clients come in and rent for a week and get addicted to the place and decide to buy a site," Howard said.

Related topics: Bella Terra, Heritage, real estate, RVs

Condos sell in bulk; thrift store, Shell spend big bucks | al.com#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce

2011-07-31T11:24:00.001-05:00

Condos sell in bulk; thrift store, Shell spend big bucks al.com#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce: "Condos sell in bulk; thrift store, Shell spend big bucks"

GULF SHORES, Ala. - An investor paid $2.28 million total for 34 bank-owned condominium units and at Enclave at Oak Hill on Regency Road off Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores, plus 10 adjacent acres, according to Ken Crabtree of REMAX of Gulf Shores, who represented the buyer. Jimmy Junkins and Bobby Hill of Century 21 Meyer Real Estate worked for the seller. The buyer has priced the units for sale at $68,000 for a one-bedroom unit, $105,000 for two-bedrooms and $116,000 for three-bedroom units, Crabtree said.

America's Thrift Stores paid $2.85 million for the former Walmart store building at 5441 U.S. 90 W. in Tillman's Corner, according to Grubb & Ellis/Peebles & Cameron, which represented the buyer. America's Thrift has been leasing half of the 106,747-square-foot building, and NCO Group, a call center, leases the other half. Aaron Solomon of The Shopping Center Group worked for the seller. Charlie Gray of Surety Land Title handled the closing.

Shell Chemical LP paid $1.75 million for 22 acres adjacent to its existing property on Blakeley Island in Mobile, according to court records. Terrie Streed and Kimberly Whitehurst of Rels Title in Mobile handled the closing transaction.

Local investors paid $100,000 for a four-plex apartment building at 9330 Pinewood Ave., off Baldwin County 20, in Elberta, according to Tim Herrington of Herrington Realty, who worked for the buyer. The two-bedroom, one-bath units are 825 square feet. Brooks DeLaney of Gleason & Associates represented the seller.

Twenty lots in Long Pines Estates off Baldwin County 48 in Fairhope were purchased by local investors for $373,000, according to Nathan Cox of Bellator Real Estate & Development. The existing homes are priced in the low $200s.

Curves, a women's fitness center, has leased 1,200 square feet in the Winn Dixie Shopping Center at 2502 S. Schillinger Road, according to Angela McArthur of Prudential Cooper & Co. commercial division, who worked for the landlord. Jill Meeks of John Toomey & Co. represented the tenant.

Nicole Barnes Antiques will open next month in 1,400 square feet in the Mobile Popcorn building at 1710 Dauphin St., according to Angela Tunstall of McAleer Tunstall Co.

The Ogletree Law Firm has leased 2,400 square feet at 1365 Government St., according to Jay Roberds of Roberds Commercial Realty Group, who represented the landlord, Langan Development Co.

SouthernLINC Wireless and Raging Shears Hair Salon have each opened in 1,200 square feet in Dauphin Square on Dauphin Street at Interstate 65, according to Matt Cummings of Cummings & Associates.

Divine Consign, a consignment shop for ladies clothing and accessories, has leased 1,400 square feet at 221½ Dauphin St., downtown, and will open Monday, according to Nancy Stone of White-Spunner & Associates.

Related topics: America's Thrift, Condos, Curves, Raging Shears, real estate, Shell

The Wharf's retail space may have buyer | al.com#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce

2011-07-31T11:18:00.006-05:00

The Wharf's retail space may have buyer al.com#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce#incart_mce: "The Wharf's retail space may have buyer"

Excerpts from the Mobile Press Register:

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Lender-owned retail spaces at The Wharf in Orange Beach may soon have a new owner as several investor groups vie to purchase the shopping and dining spot on the Intracoastal Waterway.

The deadline to submit offers for the 375,103-square-foot, two-story retail development was Thursday, according to Chris Cooper, a spokesman for Jones Lang LaSalle in Atlanta, which is representing creditor JP Morgan Chase.

Offers will be submitted to the lender for approval, and the selected buyer will be notified, he said. While the highest offer will carry weight, Cooper said, it is also "very important that the buyer have credibility and the cash to close."

There will be a due diligence period before the sale is final, he said.

Merchants along The Wharf's retail boulevard say they are ready for a new owner to invest in and maintain the center. They also said they also hope the change brings new tenants for the vacant storefronts.

The retail portion is about 62 percent leased, according to Jones Lang LaSalle

The Wharf opened in 2006, with developers building retail shops, a condominium, 10,000-seat amphitheater and 220-slip marina.

Last October, Regions bought the music venue, marina and 178 undeveloped acres for $18.16 million at foreclosure auctions. Regions had loaned The Wharf developers more than $49 million to buy and build those portions of the 222-acre project.

The marina is reportedly under contract to be purchased.

The city of Orange Beach paid $1.6 million in March to BBVA Compass for the 27,000-square-foot Wharf Conference Center, which they plan to convert to a civic center.

Locally owned Charter Landing is one of the investor groups that has made an offer to buy The Wharf's retail spaces.

"We're hopeful," said Ken Montgomery of Point Clear, a principal at Charter. "The person that gets it and comes in and rents it up will have an awesome investment."

Charter bought the bank note on 89 condominium units at Levin's Bend at The Wharf last October. The units were quickly sold at net prices starting at $100 per square foot.

The retail tenants say sales have been good this summer.

"My main fear is that as soon as somebody buys it, they will jack up the rent," said Roger Butterfield, who owns Tickled Pink with his wife, Tamara. The ladies boutique features jewelry, accessories and gifts.

He would be happy to have Jones Lang LaSalle continue leasing and managing the center. "They made our rent extremely affordable, and what it should have been in the beginning," he said.

At one point, the merchants met to discuss buying the retail center from the lender, with each business owning its own space, said restaurateur Lane Gilbert.

"I loved the idea," he said, but unfortunately a number of tenants could not afford to pursue that idea.

Gilbert and his wife, Ginny, own three businesses at The Wharf: Ginny Lane Bar & Grill, Villaggio Grille and Intra Coastal Bread and Bottle Co.

He is hopeful that the retail purchase goes through, especially since it has drawn so much investor interest.

"I think people are realizing the value of The Wharf," he said.

H.L. Hood and H20, a women's apparel store and a swimwear store, have done well at The Wharf, and the owners of the two family-run businesses are optimistic about the retail center's future.

"My biggest worry is that somebody buys it and cheapens the center with junky stores," said Heather Hood, one of the owners. "We pride ourselves on being higher-end and specialty stores. We don't have chains."

Tickled Pink has had record sales in July, said Butterfield, who has been at The Wharf since it first opened. "I really want to stay. But if the new owners come in raising the rent, we're gone."

Related topics: Ginny Lane Bar & Grill, H.L. Hood, real estate, The Wharf

Bon Secour commercial lots up for sale in Gulf Shores | al.com

2011-07-29T13:07:00.000-05:00

Bon Secour commercial lots up for sale in Gulf Shores al.com: "Bon Secour commercial lots up for sale in Gulf Shores"

Originally Published by the Mobile Press Register By Kathy Jumper

The owners of Bon Secour Village have put about 250 acres on the north side of Baldwin County 4 in Gulf Shores on the market, including a 64-acre site adjoining Faulkner State Community College.

Charter Landing Inc., whose principals include Ken and Deena Montgomery of Point Clear, paid $4.5 million last April for 842 bank-owned acres on the north side of County 4 and 66 acres on the south side, including 4,000 front feet on the Intracoastal Waterway, according to court records.

Charter also has a contract to purchase the 60-slip marina, according to Ken Montgomery.

The planned community went bust more than two years ago, and Wachovia Bank won a $20.4 million judgement against the developers, taking ownership of about 900 acres. The traditional design included condominiums, upscale homes, retail shops and a marina.

Last month, Charter sold 589 acres of damaged wetlands in Bon Secour Village along the Intracoastal to Baldwin County. Commissioners said that $1.8 million investment would pay dividends because the Corps of Engineers estimated it could generate up to $5.5 million in value through mitigation credits.

The acreage released for sale last week has been divided into seven lots, starting at 15 acres priced at $339,000, according to Montgomery. The largest parcel, 64 acres, is listed at $1.59 million.

The property is zoned commercial or high density for condominium or multi-family, and averages $15,000 to $24,000 per acre.

Montgomery said that he plans to pitch the 64 acres to Faulkner for future expansion, and to the city of Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said that the city would be interested in the land, "if we had the money." He emphasized that there have been no discussions with the city council on the topic.

If Faulkner was interested in land for expanding its Gulf Shores campus, the city would try to help them in any way it could, Craft said. Faulkner's culinary institute has been a great fit for the city's tourism industry, and provides skilled workers for the area, he said.

Faulkner President Gary Branch said he was unaware that the land was available for sale.

"Under the ideal conditions, we would certainly be interested in that," Branch said. "We are eventually going to have to expand that campus, but like with most things in life, it has to do with money."

The college does have enough land in its existing tract to accommodate a couple of more buildings, he said.

A group of investors who bought 38 bank-owned residential lots in Bon Scour Village on the south side of County Road 4 plan to hang onto it, said Nathan Cox of Bellator Real Estate & Development.

"Anything they do on the north side will help us," he said.

Related topics: Bon Secour Village, Faulkner State, Gulf Shores, real estate, Robert Craft

SaltAire foreclosure sale back on the books for late August | al.com

2011-07-24T13:11:00.000-05:00

SaltAire foreclosure sale back on the books for late August al.com: "SaltAire foreclosure sale back on the books for late August"

Originally Published by the Mobile Press Register By Kathy Jumper

MOBILE, Alabama -- More than 200 acres in SaltAire subdivision on Mobile Bay's western shoreline will be offered at a foreclosure sale in late August, a move that could restart the project, according to an attorney representing the Belle Fontaine Improvement District.

The district serves as agent for the project's bond holder, Allstate, said attorney Doug Anderson in Mobile.

The foreclosure sale, sought by the improvement district to cover past-due assessments, will include all property north of SaltAire Road except home lots that have been sold, according to Anderson.

Allstate will put in a bid for the amount owed and, if successful, will then look for a developer to finish the subdivision, which is off Ala. 193, he said.

The land owners, Bay Mortgage Investors of Mobile, filed a temporary restraining order in Mobile Circuit Court in February to halt a planned March 1 foreclosure sale. Bay Mortgage disputes past-due assessments of $467,531 that the improvement district says it is owed.

The district was formed in 2007 by the Mobile County Commission to issue bonds that would finance construction of infrastructure within its boundaries, which include SaltAire.

Circuit Judge James Wood ruled earlier this month that the foreclosure sale will proceed.

Between $12 million and $15 million has been invested in SaltAire, which was to feature up to 1,250 homes surrounded by a fitness center, two stocked lakes, parks, shops, restaurants and other amenities. But progress on the subdivision stopped in October 2008 when Regions Bank ended funding for infrastructure work, according to court records.

There are nine finished homes in the community, with seven of them sold.

Work is under way to complete the sewer system by the end of August, according to Larry Giardina of Surety Land Title, a member of the improvement district. Infrastructure such as road surfacing, will soon be finished as well, he said.

"Then it will be a marketable subdivision."

Bay Mortgage Investors foreclosed and took ownership of 250 acres on the north side of the property more than a year ago. Neither the investment group nor its attorney, Stephen Harvey, returned phone calls seeking comment.

Bay Mortgage Investors, which had a $9 million first mortgage on SaltAire, wanted to keep 113 lots in the Lake District and most of the bayfront lots, Harvey has said.

The original land-owner group, Mobile Bay Investments, holds about 200 acres south of SaltAire Road and seven lots in the north section. Mobile Bay Investments' land will not be included in the foreclosure sale, Anderson said.

Related topics: Allstate, real estate, SaltAire

Officials: Baldwin's wetlands, megasite buys without appraisals OK | al.com

2011-06-14T14:07:00.002-05:00

Officials: Baldwin's wetlands, megasite buys without appraisals OK al.com: "Officials: Baldwin's wetlands, megasite buys without appraisals OK"

Officials: Baldwin's wetlands, megasite buys without appraisals OK

Published: Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 7:47 AM

By Connie Baggett, Press-Register Press-Register

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Baldwin County land purchases in excess of $30 million without prior appraisals are well within the law, various state and local officials said last week.

In a County Commission meeting last week, officials approved 3-1 the purchase of a 589-acre tract of damaged wetlands along the Intracoastal Waterway in Bon Secour for $1.8 million. Commissioners voted unanimously weeks before to apply for a $40 million bond issue with proceeds to pay for a 3,000-acre industrial megasite as well as preparation work.

Commissioner Bob James, who cast a vote against the wetlands purchase, called both buys into question since no appraisals had been done to determine a fair price.

State officials said the law does mandate that county governments pay "fair market value" for land, but a simple appraisal might not be the way to find that.

Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance Director Robert Ingram said, "It is my understanding that a county commission does not have to have an appraisal before buying property to be used for industrial purposes, unless federal funds are involved."

And that’s part of the reason no appraisal is required for land used in economic development projects, he said. Industrial property’s value is often much different from residential or commercial property, Ingram said.

"That is because final sales prices to clients are usually driven by the economic impact of the projects locating on those properties rather than by other factors," Ingram said. "Much industrial property is given away to new companies, because the economic impact of the jobs and construction created by the projects far outweigh any up-front revenue generated by a sale, and because competition for the high-pay manufacturing jobs is fierce."

Ingram said the megasite’s purchase price has to be weighed against the potential for "life-changing" economic impact for the region. He said the return on an automobile manufacturing operation would be billions in payroll and eventually tax revenues. That makes the site’s value "obviously much different from what it would be if the property were growing trees or being used for residential or other such purposes."

The factors that make the megasite valuable for industry — rail access, interstate access, nearby port, large available work force, attractive quality of life — increase the purchase price, Ingram said.

"Our megasite will be one of a few certified sites of its size available in the South, if not the country," he said. "That means it will be in competition for virtually every large project looking at the Deep South and we will have a competitive advantage over most other communities in creating the type (of) jobs we want to be available for our children and grandchildren."

Ingram said the Alabama Development Office conducts independent evaluations on potential projects. He said the impact of the megasite as a host location for major industry is part of what determines the property’s price.

Alabama Development Office Director Seth Hammett said the purchase without a prior appraisal is standard procedure in the state.

"Absolutely," Hammett said last week when asked if the practice were common. "Industrial sites have to have good road and rail access and other required features. The site being acquired in Baldwin County is probably the best such site in the Southeast."

Sonny Brasfield, the executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, said fair market price for industrial sites boils down to demand.

"It is basically what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller," Brasfield said. "The bottom line is counties are expected and required to pay the fair market value for property. It’s harder to determine that. The appraisal at the revenue commissioner’s office is no real measure of fair market value, especially if there is more than one interested buyer."

As for the wetlands property on Baldwin County 4, the county’s investment should be more than doubled thanks to a federal program to preserve and restore wetland areas, officials said.

"The seller had originally asked for $2.4 million," said Commissioner Tucker Dorsey who helped arrange the deal. He said the county had been in negotiation to purchase the land for some time, and when investor Mark Reed bought the land in March, Dorsey asked if he would be willing to sell the wetland areas.

The property was drained in the early construction phase of Bon Secour Village, billed in 2004 as a 1,000-acre resort development. The project was abandoned just months into construction, and developers lost the property to foreclosure, records show.

Reed eventually offered to sell just the 589 acres of damaged wetlands for $1.8 million, an offer the county accepted.

"Engineering evaluations of the land indicate that we can restore it to a high-quality wetlands area," Dorsey said. "It will take a little money to get it there, but we will get a whole lot of credit for it. The Corps of Engineers estimates about 600 credits, which is the equivalent of about $5.5 million. That gives us a $2.5 million to $3.5 million benefit on our investment."

The federal program is designed to preserve wetlands ecosystems often destroyed in government construction projects. Under a system of credits, for every acre of marshland destroyed, an acre must be preserved elsewhere. Counties can buy credits from mitigation banks, or in this case, purchase damaged wetlands and restore them for extra credit. Commissioners said the credits would be used during development at the megasite and in other road projects.

"The (U.S. Army) Corps (of Engineers) is not going to give you credit for just any land," Dorsey said. "These acres are valuable because these are very damaged wetlands, and with a little work, they can be returned to a high-quality ecosystem. Mark Reed bought the land from the bank, closing on the sale in March. He is keeping the higher ground, buildable ground. I don’t know if he made money on the sale, but I would guess the wetlands sale would offset the purchase of the good ground."

April home sales dip in Escambia County | Pensacola News Journal | pnj.com

2011-05-09T11:22:00.001-05:00

April home sales dip in Escambia County | Pensacola News Journal | pnj.com: "April home sales dip in Escambia County"

Originally Published by the Pensacola News Journal
New and existing home sales fell slightly in April in Escambia County, according to the latest figures compiled by Pensacola-based Metro Market Trends.

April's sales of 329 homes saw a 5 percent dip from the same month last year, and down slightly from March's total of 341 new and existing home sales.
Year to date sales in Escambia were flat compared to the same four month period in 2010.
Total home sales through April 30 were 1,140, compared to 1,139 last year.
One bright spot was the dramatic fall in foreclosures in Escambia.
April foreclosures were 44, compared to 82 in 2010, a drop of 46.3 percent. Similar steep declines in foreclosures were registered in March.
Santa Rosa home sales fares slightly better in April, rising 8.7 percent over the same period last year, according to MMT figures.
April saw sales reach 238, compared to 219 last year for the same month. Foreclosures also took a steep dive, falling to 19 compared to 41 last year, and a decline of 53.7 percent.

Baldwin County economic study predicts explosive growth, need for roads and rooms | al.com

2011-04-22T23:33:00.000-05:00

Baldwin County economic study predicts explosive growth, need for roads and rooms | al.com: "Baldwin County economic study predicts explosive growth, need for roads and rooms"

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Baldwin County is in for explosive growth in Daphne and Foley over the next 30 years with last year’s oil spill not impacting forecasts, according to a South Carolina firm’s economic study.

The county will need infrastructure upgrades and more available lodging to match that growth, the study suggests.

A representative from Wilbur Smith Associates told commissioners at the regular meeting Tuesday that last year’s oil spill had not significantly impacted an ongoing study meant to provide information regarding the Baldwin Beach Express Project and the future demands on county roadways serving tourists.

In late 2009, commissioners approved a $580,500 contract for the toll-road study, according to news reports.

The study’s preliminary findings arrived in March last year just prior to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill, forcing a delay in an investment study that would give some idea about the feasibility of operating a toll road to connect Interstate 65 to the Baldwin Beach Express. The county has long sought a second north-south route to funnel tourists to the county’s beaches to take pressure off the often-crowded Ala. 59. Officials said the expressway would also serve as a hurricane evacuation route.

According to the 56-page report, the 26-mile connector from I-10 to I-65 will be needed as the county’s population grows from its current level of some 182,265 to more than 300,000 by 2040. Most of that growth, according to the study, will take place along the Eastern Shore near Daphne and from Foley southward to the beaches.

The study forecasts solid tourism gains for Baldwin in "day-trippers" — visitors who live close enough to drive to the area for a day and return home. That group will increase by 36 percent over the next 30 years while overnight visitors should increase in number to the tune of 158 percent, the study suggests.

The county has about 20,880 condominium units and motel rooms — almost double the number available in 2002, according to the study. These lodgings draw tourists from a corridor northward from Montgomery to the Great Lakes region. The forecast predicts a 107 percent increase in visitors using I-65 to reach the county over three decades. Currently, about 909,600 visitors use the interstate each year while traveling to Baldwin. By 2040, that could grow to 1.88 million.

The study urges not only road development, but also an increase in available lodging as the tourism industry continues to "grow briskly," the report states.

Consultants will start a detailed analysis examining funding possibilities for the road construction in June. The report should be done by Oct. 30, officials said.

In other action, commissioners:

•Voted to execute a memorandum of understanding with Mobile County so that the counties’ emergency management agencies can benefit from a grant to upgrade radio communications systems.
•Tabled a vote on a resolution in support of the Stockton Landmark District proposed legislation. County Attorney David Conner said the proposed legislation would not only prevent outside municipalities from annexing the community, but also bans Stockton from annexing territory by legislative act if the community ever re-incorporates. Legislative delegation spokesman Stephen Pryor said he would relay the information to officials for a possible rewording and bring the matter back to the county.
•Voted to award low bidder James H. Adams & Son Construction Co. the contract to build the Lillian Boat Launch at a cost of $756,147.03. The project will be paid for with money reallocated from BP PLC oil spill response grant money with another $243,852 allocated for work at a boat launch at Hance Lane on Wolf Bay.

Coastal insurance bills pass Senate committee after unusual procedure | al.com

2011-04-22T12:46:00.000-05:00

Coastal insurance bills pass Senate committee after unusual procedure | al.com: "Coastal insurance bills pass Senate committee after unusual procedure"

Originally published by the Mobile Press register

A handful of coastal insurance bills passed a state Senate committee Thursday afternoon but only after most of them were voted down by the same committee in a morning meeting and then resurrected to get a rare second chance to advance.

The unusual process drew criticism from a member of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and also indicated that insurance overhauls may again encounter difficulty getting through the full Legislature.

Moreover, the bills considered Thursday were among the least controversial ones suggested by Sen. Ben Brooks, R-Mobile.

Proposals that have run into strong industry resistance — forcing insurers to disclose data on their premium rates and losses by ZIP code, for example — have yet to see any action.

"If I sound a little emotional, I am. I’ve been on this for five years," Brooks said during the morning hearing. "My citizens are weary and frustrated, and they’re hurting on this issue."

The bills approved and forwarded to the full Senate are as follows, with the first two passed in the morning meeting and the following three approved in the afternoon after unsuccessful morning votes:

•Senate Bill 7, which would require insurers to notify their customers about premium discounts available if they retrofit their homes to make them more hurricane-resistant.
•SB 389, which would create a state fund that could accept money from federal or private grants, as well as potential oil spill fines, and then dole it out to homeowners seeking to retrofit their homes.
•SB 395, which would give homeowners who retrofit their property an income tax deduction.
•SB 396, which would provide tax breaks to companies that insure homeowners currently covered by the state insurer of last resort, the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association.
•SB 400, which would provide tax benefits for property owners who open special disaster savings accounts to pay for storm damage.
After Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina in 2004 and 2005, property insurance rates in coastal Alabama have jumped, while the availability of private insurance decreased.

Hopes dampened at morning meeting

Gov. Robert Bentley has championed the issue, vowing to call a special legislative session dedicated to coastal insurance overhauls and creating a commission to study the matter in advance of that session.

But the specter of a special session dampened hopes for the Brooks bills during the morning committee hearing.

"None of the bills before you today ... should move because they need to be considered in conjunction with all other types of initiatives that you may want to consider," Liz Reynolds, of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, told the committee. "The governor has called for a study commission. That commission needs to be free to look at all aspects of the issue."

She made an exception for SB 389, which she said was more time-sensitive.

Brooks described the calls for a comprehensive approach as a "pathetic" negotiating ploy on the part of insurers.

"What the lobbyists are really saying in the hallways, and let’s be candid, is, ‘We don’t want the bills to pass right now because we want to get to the special (session) in the fall and have something to give,'" Brooks told fellow committee members.

Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Gulf Shores, concurred, blaming the defeat of similar bills in a separate House committee hearing on Wednesday on the desire of insurers to save "gimme bills" for the special session to avoid having to pass "the serious stuff."

After the morning hearing, Brooks said, he and other top Senate leaders "had a vigorous discussion" with the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee chairman, Slade Blackwell, R-Mountain Brook.

"The committee chairman reconsidered his position based on that discussion," Brooks said.

Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Opelika, expressed concern that the repeat vote in the afternoon set a bad precedent.

"I don’t know if that’s going to be the M.O. for the rest of the session: We don’t get our way in committee, we go and do it in another committee meeting," Whatley said.

BP money helps top off mega-project | Fox10tv.com

2011-04-13T15:10:00.001-05:00

BP money helps top off mega-project | FoUpdated: Wednesday, 13 Apr 2011, 2:18 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 13 Apr 2011, 10:29 AM CDT

Originally Published by FOXTV 10

Link: http://ht.ly/1car9A

Matt Barrentine
Photojournalist: Franz Barraza
Orange Beach, Ala. (WALA) - TOPPED OUT

A mega-project in Orange Beach passed a milestone Wednesday. The 358-unit Phoenix West condo tower was “topped out” as the concrete core of the building was finished. This is a project that was nearly put on hold by the oil spill.

It took more than 37 million dollars from BP to put the largest construction project in Alabama back on track. But here it is… the Phoenix West two condo in Orange Beach Wednesday afternoon it was “topped out” an expression that means the concrete core of the building has been completed.

Developer, Gene Brett, from Brett Robinson, said, ”Just never give up. That’s what were doing. That’s what we’ve done. The completion is in sight.”

Brett is excited the money negotiated from BP has the building back in the red. Last year, during the oil spill, pre-sales of the units nearly ground to a halt.

”Construction never stopped, “ Brett said, ”but it was a much lower pace than we needed to complete the building in a timely fashion.”

60 PERCENT SOLD

Brett said now 60 percent of the 358 units have been pre-sold and he’s hopeful the property will continue to draw more investors.

”The first quarter… first few months of this year have been great,” Brett told us.

A MASSIVE PROPERTY

By square footage Phoenix West II will be the largest building in Alabama and only the RSA tower in Mobile will be taller. It will be constructed at a total cost of 245 million dollars. Architect John Senkarik told us the building is built to withstand the worst, with 34 miles of concrete piles anchoring it to the ground.

”If you lined them up end to end they would go from downtown Orange beach to Mobile,” Senkarik said.

Turning the massive concrete skeleton into a fully functioning condo tower will take another two years. Hopefully long enough for developers to put the oil-plagued summer of 2010 well behind them.

BP GAG-ORDER

The developers can’t talk about specifics of the financial arrangement with BP. Like many others, they’ve had to sign a legal release with the oil giant.

x10tv.com: "BP money helps top off mega-project"

Alabama's coastal insurer of last resort passes 20,000 policies | al.com#incart_mce

2011-04-12T14:50:00.000-05:00

Alabama's coastal insurer of last resort passes 20,000 policies | al.com#incart_mce: "Alabama's coastal insurer of last resort passes 20,000 policies"

Developers seek BP settlement for failed commercial project | al.com

2011-04-12T13:58:00.000-05:00

Developers seek BP settlement for failed commercial project | al.com: "Developers seek BP settlement for failed commercial project"

‘Project White Beach’—Coca-Cola and Circle K Team up to Attract Tourists to Alabama Beaches | Business Wire

2011-04-04T13:56:00.000-05:00

‘Project White Beach’—Coca-Cola and Circle K Team up to Attract Tourists to Alabama Beaches Business Wire: "‘Project White Beach’—Coca-Cola and Circle K Team up to Attract Tourists to Alabama Beaches"

‘Project White Beach’—Coca-Cola and Circle K Team up to Attract Tourists to Alabama Beaches

•Program to target visitors from Southeastern States

•Consumers can win free vacation package grand prizes

•100,000 discount coupon books distributed in Circle K stores

•Alabama Gulf Coast is open for business!

GULF SHORES, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alabama’s white sand beaches are as beautiful as ever—and Coca-Cola, Circle K and Gulf Coast & Orange Beach Tourism are launching a program today to make sure tourists across the Southeast know that the Alabama Gulf Coast is open for business!

“Coca-Cola is extremely proud to sponsor Project White Beach”

.‘Project White Beach’ is a massive consumer promotion in markets across the Southeast to attract tourists back to the Alabama Gulf Coast. More than 100,000 discount booklets will be distributed in Circle K stores throughout Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama giving significant discounts from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach accommodations, restaurants and attractions.

In addition, a number of lucky families will win a fantastic all-expenses paid vacation package to the Alabama Gulf Coast as part of the ‘Enjoy the Gulf Coast’ sweepstakes. Eight grand prize winners will be awarded with a five-night stay on the beach, golf, beach portrait session, charter fishing trip, gift certificates to local restaurants and tickets to area attractions like the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, USS Alabama and much more!

No purchase is necessary to win and consumers can enter by going to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism’s website, www.EnjoytheGulfCoast.com. The promotion is expected to run for two months to help jumpstart the 2011 summer tourist season.

“The 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill devastated the entire Gulf region’s tourism industry. Over the past several months, however, thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands, our beaches have returned to their natural pristine condition and we need to let everyone know that the Gulf is back and open for business,” said Herb Malone, President/CEO of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism.

“The Gulf Coast area is known around the country and world for its beautiful white sandy beaches and its delicious seafood. Our mission now is to communicate to families, spring-breakers and sport fishermen that the beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have recovered. Many thanks to Coca-Cola and Circle K for helping spread this important message throughout the Southeast,” said Linda Whitlock, President of the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Coca-Cola is extremely proud to sponsor Project White Beach,” said Lauren Steele, VP Corporate Affairs, Coca-Cola Consolidated. “The oil spill was bad, but the national media coverage was perhaps worse, leaving a negative impression of Alabama beaches. We know the beaches are as beautiful as ever—and tourism is a vital part of the region’s economy, so we are excited about working with Circle K and Gulf Coast businesses to spread the word throughout the Southeast that the Alabama Gulf Coast is open for business!”

Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the US and is a leader in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of refreshment beverages.

--Enjoy Coca-Cola and Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast!--

Contacts

Coca-Cola Consolidated

Lauren C. Steele, 704-905-7073

Beachfront battle looms over Gulf Coast convention center (Talbot) | al.com

2011-03-30T14:08:00.000-05:00

Beachfront battle looms over Gulf Coast convention center (Talbot) al.com: "Beachfront battle looms over Gulf Coast convention center (Talbot)"

Alabama coastal convention center a 'top priority,' Gov. Robert Bentley says | al.com

2011-03-19T14:26:00.000-05:00

Alabama coastal convention center a 'top priority,' Gov. Robert Bentley says al.com: "Alabama coastal convention center a 'top priority,' Gov. Robert Bentley says"

Oil-spill vessel captains say damages still haven't been paid | al.com

2011-03-17T14:30:00.002-05:00

Originally Published by the Mobile Press Register

Oil-spill vessel captains say damages still haven't been paid al.com: "Oil-spill vessel captains say damages still haven't been paid"

ORANGE BEACH — Bryan Watts, captain of Undertaker Charters, has already turned down about a dozen fishing trips this year because of the damage his boat sustained during BP’s Vessels of Opportunity program last year.

More than five months ago, he sent the oil giant a $20,000 claim for his 42-foot boat, which was damaged by pressure washers and a steel barge.

Watts has yet to receive a response.

"It’s been a nightmare," he said.

Watts was among more than 100 boat captains and concerned residents inside the Orange Beach Community Center today.

No one from BP was present at the meeting. A company spokesman, Justin Saia, said "it would not be appropriate" for the company to reveal individual claim information in public.

"We have committed to evaluating each case," Saia wrote in an e-mail to the Press-Register this week. "Our claims team works with each captain to understand their situation. Our goal is to treat each claimant equally and our process has been designed to do that."

Orange Beach resident Mark Mead, who organized the meeting, filed a $10,000 claim about eight months ago for his 19-foot boat that was damaged during a decontamination process in Mississippi.

He said he’s made hundreds of phone calls, desperate for a response, but BP representatives will only tell him that his claim is under review.

"BP is trying to wear us down," Mead said. "The longer they take the more resolve I have, and I’m not done with this."

According to a "Master Vessel Charter Agreement," BP stated that reimbursements would not be paid for repairs needed "as a result of normal wear or aging of the vessel, its engines and attached equipment or trailers."

The agreement also states, however, that the company would pay for damage that resulted from a "specific incident" that occurred during the cleanup.

Several of the captains at today’s meeting, including Watts and Mead, said their boats sustained more than "normal wear and tear."

Al Keahl, who runs Fish Trap Charters in Orange Beach, had three boats in the Vessels of Opportunity Program.

All three were damaged, he said, and he filed a $72,000 claim with BP. The company offered him $2,000, he said.

In order to ensure that he could run fishing trips this spring, he spent $12,000 of his money to fix one of his boats. He said he exhausted his private savings just to survive the winter.

Like Mead, the claims Keahl filed with BP are still "under review," he said.

"I’m not going to give up on this," Keahl said. "I’ll follow them to the grave."

Mayor Tony Kennon, who helped facilitate the event, expressed his ongoing frustration with BP and its claims process.

"It is exactly how they function — delay, deflect, hide, drag you out — because a certain percent of you will get tired, get caught up in the season and go away," Kennon told the crowd. "And another certain percentage of you will take a bone if they offer it to you because you’re in a desperate situation."

He encouraged the captains to continue to pressure BP to make the payments that were promised.

"It’s a war," he said. "And it’s not going to be over for several years."

Tracy Redding, who owns AAA Charters in Bon Secour, said she cannot book fishing trips and dolphin-spotting excursions. She’s an agent for about 100 different boats, and the captains haven’t had their vessels repaired because they are tied up in the claims process.

"Even though I’m finally getting phone calls," she said, "I don’t know where to put them.

"Most of my fleet can’t go back to work, and they’re nowhere near close to going back to work. I’m really stumped."

Beach Express fee could take a toll on tourism, officials say | al.com

2011-03-13T14:36:00.000-05:00

Beach Express fee could take a toll on tourism, officials say al.com: "Beach Express fee could take a toll on tourism, officials say"

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — A road construction deal announced by Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper last week didn’t please tourist town officials, but County Commission Chairman Frank Burt called the offer "a win."

Debate about three projects listed by the county as priority roadwork started in December when Burt told commissioners he had negotiated a deal with state transportation officials.

At countywide meetings years ago, officials agreed that the number one priority was the extension of Baldwin County 83 to link the Foley Beach Express with Interstate 10 and ultimately I-65 with the new roadway dubbed the "Baldwin Beach Express." Next on the list was the widening of Ala. 181 and last was an I-10 interchange at Baldwin County 13.

Work on the Express and Ala. 181 began in 2008 and 2009, respectively, and the Baldwin 13 interchange was in the engineering phase last year when controversy erupted over renewed efforts to build a service road. In November, the new County Commission reversed the previous administration’s decision and revived the project, which would link to the proposed interchange. Officials said last month that the service road was "off the table" due to public opposition and lack of local funding though no official commission vote has happened.

Burt said in December that he became aware state funding would be drastically reduced and negotiated a deal with state officials to "lock in" money for continued work on the Baldwin Beach Express. Part of the deal, however, was moving money from the two other projects on the list.

Commissioners voted to take the deal in January before the new state administration took over, but a letter from the Alabama Department of Transportation finalizing the agreement never arrived. Cooper told local officials in a meeting in February he would honor the agreement if they could agree on the priority work. He told them the state did not have the money to pay for all the planned roadwork.

In fact, initial estimates indicated that all the money available for the three projects in Baldwin would fall about $12 million short of paying for the expressway project alone.

In the meeting last week, Cooper told Burt he would agree to "find" state money to cover the shortfall and work would continue on the Beach Express as a state priority. But, he told officials, charging a toll for motorists using the roadway would be an option given the dire funding situation in the state.

That would mean motorists using the route from I-10 southward could pay two tolls — one for the road and another for the bridge at the Intracoastal Waterway. County officials are currently studying the feasibility of building a northern extension linking to I-65 funded by a toll as well.

Local officials had expressed anger when the state’s estimated cost of the expressway drastically increased without explanation after U.S. congressmen had secured millions to pay for the construction.

Cooper acknowledged the discrepancy in estimating, calling it "our mystery."

Cooper left open the possibility of modifying plans if other funding becomes available — such as any payment from BP PLC to the state. But, he said, he would not budget dependent on money that may not be available for general use.

"The president has made a bold transportation proposal," Cooper said, "but there is no specified funding. We are looking at federal transportation funding next year at about 75 percent of what we have been getting. New lanes, new roads in our state will be getting more scarce." He said Alabama would be forced to use tolls as a way to pay for construction.

If tolling is part of the funding for the expressway in Baldwin, he said, the state would take on maintenance of the roadway. He didn’t rule out possible public-private partnerships in some road construction in the future.

When Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon and Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft balked at the toll idea last week, Cooper quickly told them, "if you don’t want us to build the road, we won’t build it."

For people in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the mayors said, a toll would all but negate the benefits of a new north-south route.

"If you are putting an additional toll on (the Baldwin Beach Express) where there is already an issue with the $3.50 bridge toll, it is an issue we need to explore," Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon said Friday. "I wasn’t saying in the meeting it was a deal killer — just that we need to assess the amount of any toll and consider our options."

Burt told Cooper the county wants the road built, but would like to be able to avoid tolling if possible. Burt said local leaders would try to come up with more money if it becomes apparent tolling is more likely.

According to state plans, work on the Beach Express section from Baldwin County 32 to U.S. 90 is expected to start in October, according to state plans.

The expressway I-10 interchange would be done by September 2012 about two to three months after the 32-to-90 section is completed, officials said.

2010 Census: Baldwin growth uneven across county | al.com

2011-03-10T15:55:00.000-06:00

2010 Census: Baldwin growth uneven across county al.com: "2010 Census: Baldwin growth uneven across county"

Baldwin County ranked No. 6 for corporate expansions among micropolitan areas | al.com

2011-03-10T12:17:00.000-06:00

Baldwin County ranked No. 6 for corporate expansions among micropolitan areas al.com: "Baldwin County ranked No. 6 for corporate expansions among micropolitan areas"