Mobile's Waterfront: A Vision for a Better Future

Mobile's waterfront is not just about ships and cargo anymore. It's a place where people can enjoy themselves, with museums, parks, and even a cruise terminal. The new mayor wants to make it even better. He dreams of a waterfront filled with restaurants, shops, and bars, where people can relax and watch the ships come in. To make this happen, the mayor wants to change Water Street. Right now, it's a busy road with lots of traffic. But the mayor wants to make it safer and more pleasant for pedestrians. He's even talking about a special kind of intersection called a diverging diamond, which is rare in Alabama. The mayor believes that if Water Street is more pedestrian-friendly, it will attract more private investment. He points to the River Walk Plaza project, which will include a luxury hotel, condos, and entertainment options. The mayor wants to support this project and make Water Street a place where people can walk and enjoy the view. The mayor also plans to create a waterfront task force. This group will discuss ideas and help shape a master plan for the waterfront. They will look at underutilized properties and companies that don't need the waterfront, with the goal of making the area more accessible and attractive. The timing of this vision aligns with ALDOT's $3. 5 billion I-10 Mobile Bridge and Bayway project. This project will remove on-ramps from the existing I-10 to Water Street, opening up more area for development. The mayor believes that better access to the water will make it easier to attract more people to live in Mobile. In addition to the waterfront task force, the mayor will also announce a gun violence task force. This group will focus on intervening with young men engaged in gun violence by connecting them with faith-based non-profits. The mayor wants to pay proper attention to each task force and not create too many at once. Overall, the mayor's vision for the waterfront is ambitious. He wants to make Mobile a city on the water, where people can enjoy the view and the amenities. It's a vision that could change the city forever.