The Real Deal

By Sharman Egan Lagniappe columnist

Things are a-hopping in Midtown these days. Back in October, I wrote about the goings-on in Oakleigh, including rumors circulating the neighborhood that a local shipbuilding company was purchasing an apartment complex to house immigrant workers. Seems some of the neighbors didn’t think much of this idea and were trying to put a stop to it.

In the same column, I mentioned an apartment complex on Church Street within spitting distance of my front porch that was under contract to be sold. The owner told me it was closing the next week, but he wouldn’t give me any details. Lo and behold, it turns out these two stories were one and the same. The apartment complex has been sold to Bender Shipbuilding. Bender also owns another complex in Oakleigh where they currently house workers. According to a company representative, they plan to start moving workers into the second complex in mid-December.

Now I know some of my neighbors are concerned, but after talking with several Bender employees who are working on the project, I’m thinking this turn of events could be a positive thing for the neighborhood. Before the sale, the property was rented under the Section 8 program. It was such an eyesore the president of the Oakleigh Garden District Society had sent a letter to the mayor and other city officials.

Back in the summer, there were rumors the property had been sold and would be converted to condos. So the sale to Bender was a disappointment. But the company is making significant improvements to the building, and the manager assured me any problems would be handled promptly. So I’m polishing my Spanish and looking forward to meeting our new neighbors. I may even take them a lemon pound cake.

Café falls through

There’s also news about the New Orleans-style café and gourmet market in Oakleigh I wrote about last July. My husband and I were high-fiving when we got wind of this because the location on Government Street in front of StorageMax was within a block or so of our house. We were looking forward to stumbling there for our first cup of coffee in the morning.

Looks like we’re back to brewing our own joe. The deal is off and the just-under-a-half-acre lot is back on the market for $175,000. According to Matt Cummings, the agent representing the developer, he is now looking at a location in the loop area.

Expanding history

You may have heard the city is planning to expand the boundary of the Midtown Historic District west almost to Florida Street. According to Devereaux Bemis, director of the Mobile Historic Development Commission, this idea is so early in the planning stages, there isn’t even a plan yet. But apparently there’s a lot of interest among residents. I’m told when word got around the commission had voted to ask the city to expand the district, William Carroll (the city council representative for the area and a new father) received so many phone calls from constituents, he had to disconnect his phone.

And what about “Bring Back Broad,” the city’s plan to transform Broad Street between the GM&O Building and Brookley into a bike- and pedestrian-friendly road with pocket parks, bike trails and new sidewalks? It’s been almost a year since the city held the official public hearings with great fanfare. At that time, city officials said construction was expected to begin in the fall and take about six months to complete. Since then, nada.

It turns out the city has been making progress, albeit a little slower than expected. But, if you’ve ever done any type of construction project, you know they always take twice as long as you expect.

According to Barbara Drummond, executive director of administrative services for the city, the engineering design work has been completed. Officials are assessing the design to determine which portion of it will be sent out to bid in the first phase. She expects it will be 2008 before work on the project actually begins, and the construction will then take 90 to 120 days to complete.

Fat pads

With all this activity in Midtown, maybe you’re thinking you’d like to live there. If so, there are some exceptional houses on the market right now, particularly if you’ve got north of $1 million to spend. With several recent new listings, there’s a glut of mansions for sale, particularly along Government Street.

The fabulous Paterson/Dean Estate at 1673 Government St. is still on the market after it failed to sell at an auction on Nov. 10. The 8,000-square-foot mansion on two acres is listed at $1.5 million. But owner Tony Dean says he and his wife have found a house they want to buy in Heron Lakes and, “We’re ready to move. I might take $1 million for it today.” If you’re interested, you can reach him at 251-422-5251.

Looking for a fixer-upper that will set you back a bit less? The property at 1114 Government St., the Bellingrath Carriage House, can be purchased for a mere $115,000. The building was moved several years ago from its original location on S. Ann Street and then was damaged by a hurricane. It’s now nothing more than a shell. John Sledge of the Mobile Historic Development Commission says it is “the last tangible link with the Bellingrath family in the city of Mobile proper” and hopes the building can be saved.

Sharman Egan is Lagniappe lagniappe columnist. Contact her at Sharman@SharmanEgan.com.

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