The Real Deal

By Sharman Egan Lagniappe columnist

Yes, it’s that time of year again. I haven’t even thought about getting a tree yet, there are cards to address and they’ve already announced the Mardi Gras parade schedules.

Who has time to research the latest real estate and biz doings in Mobile? So I figured I’d do a little pontificating in my last Real Deal of the year.

Let’ start with Thanksgiving. Here are a few of the things I’m thankful for over the past year…

• People who answer the phone (or return calls promptly) when I call. So why is it the busier they are, the easier they are to reach when I’m on deadline? For example: Johnny Roberts, Greg Saad, Jimmy Lyons, Bay Haas, William Carroll, Barbara Drummond and others. Thanks for finding the time for little ol’ me.

• The Center for Real Estate Studies at USA. If you read my column, you know I love statistics. The Center’s stats help us understand what’s going on in the local real estate market and to make better decisions. That’s a good thing.

• Community groups. I’ve written about several of them in the last year: The Village of Spring Hill, Oakleigh Garden District Society, Downtown Mobile Alliance, Mobile Area Young Professional Alliance and others. Where would we be without these groups that make a difference in our community, and the volunteers (Linda St. Clair, Tim Parker, Stoney Chavers and many others) who spend untold unpaid hours making it happen?

• Other people who dare to dream big dreams for Mobile. Max Morey and John Switzer (Crescent Theatre). David Calametti (Arts! Alive and the Gulf Coast Antiques, Food and Wine Festival). David Johnson (Hillsdale). The good doctor. Tilmon Brown, Todd Drummond and other downtown developers. There are many more of you but they only give me so much space. Just know that we know who you are and appreciate your efforts on behalf of the rest of us.

• Readers. Even the ones who think I’m an idiot and don’t hesitate to send a letter or e-mail to my editor saying so. At least you care enough to read, pay attention and take the time to respond.

OK, enough with the thanks already. What do I want Santa Baby to bring me this year?

• A renovated Winn-Dixie on Catherine Street at Government. The pooh-bahs at W-D Central keep telling me it’s gonna happen. If downtown is going to be a great place to live, we need a really good supermarket within a reasonable distance. The Dixie in MiMo is our best hope of that.

• A second cruise ship. Or at least a larger ship. When Kevin and I cruised on the Carnival Holiday last summer, it was a great vacation at a great price and we’ll no doubt go again. But it would be fun to go on a different ship next time. Not to mention the boost it would give the local tourist trade which, in spite of all the excitement about the new hotels, still has a ways to go.

• Progress on some of the projects that seem to be going nowhere. Bring Back Broad, Arlington Park, Water Street Landing. You’re probably as tired of reading about them as I am writing about them. Let’s see some progress.

• Agreement on the critical projects that need to be completed to keep Mobile moving forward. The I-10 bridge (or the alternative route over the Cochrane- Africatown Bridge). Development on the site of the old county courthouse. The Highway 98 debacle.

• For the people who are holding on to derelict or vacant properties downtown to ** or get off the pot. Now I understand it may seem to be in your best financial interest to sit on these crappy properties (pun intended) but, hey, you’re holding things back (also intended). Just let it go so other good things can come into your life, OK?

Resolutions for 2008. Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course I’m going to lose weight and get organized like everyone else. But what am I going to do for Mobile?

• Just say no to Wally World, chain restaurants and the Mall. Let’s face it – it takes more than the World’s Largest moonpie falling out of the sky on New Year’s Eve and going splat on Water Street to Keep Mobile Funky. I resolve to go to the Market on the Square, take in a movie at Crescent Theatre on a regular basis, shop in downtown Fairhope and support the home team whenever I can.

• Spend more time enjoying the things that make Mobile so funky in the first place. I resolve to read more books by local authors, take an airboat ride from the Causeway, visit the Mardi Gras museum, kayak at the 5 Rivers Delta Center and make regular trips to the Gulf. Heck, I may even learn to fish.

• Never utter the words “Hysterical Commission” again. Our charming historic districts are one of the things that make Mobile so special, and someone has to keep tacky people like me in line. It’s a thankless job, and I’m grateful to them for what they do.

• Do my part to help the local real estate market and mortgage business by purchasing a condo downtown with a beautiful view of the Bay. OK, maybe that one’s not going to happen, but I can dream.

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

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