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MUMBLINGS June 30, 2005
Growth in Baldwin and Mobile Counties is an exciting
conversation topic-some are in favor of continued growth, some, a minority, are
content with what we have. For the first time in 16 years, the city of Mobile
will be electing a new mayor and one of the top issues is the expansion of the
city limits to the west. If this were accomplished, Mobile could become the
largest city in Alabama, over night.
However, this effort has been made before and west
Mobilians have objected and may continue to do so. There are four candidates
for mayor and they are all in favor of growth.
Growth is already a factor in Baldwin
County and will continue to be so. As already stated here, if our growth
continues as it has, Baldwin will have a bigger population than Mobile within
30- 40 years. This, assuming that Mobile's growth will continue to be what it
has been, which is very low.
We all continue to be astounded at the
rapid economic growth in big beautiful Baldwin County although the building and
development is largely in south Baldwin. But the entire county is booming. If
you don't believe so, ride out into the rural areas and see the number of new
houses being built everywhere.
Compared to Fairhope, Spanish Fort,
Daphne, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Robertsdale and Loxley areas, Bay
Minette is considered to be way behind in growth. The hundreds of millions of
dollars for new buildings and developments in the areas mentioned above would
be astounding.
Of course, the city and county permits
could be ascertained but it would take more time than this writer has to spare.
Word has it that 7,000 condo units are under construction or have already been
permitted. When will all of this end? No one knows, but it is easy to speculate
that the expansions, even though at a slower rate, would continue for years to
come because so many families are retiring and moving south. It has been
estimated that over 20 million will retire in the next few years, and 20% of
them will want to move to the southeast.
Bay Minette, the county seat of the
largest county, geographically in the state was, for over 100 years, the
largest city in the county. This was true until the 1980's and Fairhope jumped
ahead. Even so, there is over $60 million of construction… new buildings
and other improvements going on in Bay Minette at this time.
Read on: new hospital, $25 million; new middle school, $12
million; airport, $4.5 million; D'Olive Street extension, $4 million; new
dormitories and softball field on local community college campus, $12 million;
also, Baldwin County Archives, $3 million; Bay Minette Recreation Center, $2
million; plus other buildings, which is peanuts compared to the rest of the
county.
Gradually, the county's growth and development is easing
north. Bay Minette has more industrial prospects than it has had in a long
time. None are huge but some are substantial and if located here, would add to
the economy.
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