The city of Mobile, founded in 1702, sits at the head of Mobile Bay on the Gulf Coast and serves as the regional hub for much of southwest Alabama.
A wave of new apartment construction is transforming two historic blocks of downtown Mobile, as developers convert century-old commercial buildings along St. Francis and St.
Mobile has a population of roughly 188,000 residents and is the seat of Mobile County, one of the largest counties in the state by population.
Louis streets into loft-style residences aimed at young professionals and empty nesters drawn to the city’s growing Central Business District. The two projects, Temple Lodge and Lofts at 558 St.
The Port of Mobile, operated by the Alabama State Port Authority, is one of the largest seaports in the country by tonnage, handling containers, coal, steel and forest products.
Francis St. and Wheeler Lofts at 450 St.
Downtown Mobile has been the focus of significant redevelopment in recent years, with new apartments, restaurants and event venues reshaping the Central Business District.
Louis St., will together add more than 50 apartments to a downtown corridor that has increasingly become a hub for entertainment, technology firms and street-level retail. Both sites sit within walking distance of established downtown landmarks and the emerging LoDa technology corridor, and both lean heavily on Alabama’s historic tax credit program to make the renovations financially viable.
The University of South Alabama, Spring Hill College and the University of Mobile anchor the city’s higher education landscape.
Background and Context
At Temple Lodge and Lofts, brothers John and William Peebles of NAI Mobile recently hosted a preview open house for the property, a renovation project nearing 90 percent completion at the corner of St. Francis and North Warren streets.
Mobile’s Mardi Gras season, the oldest in the United States, draws visitors from across the country and provides a significant boost to the local economy each year.
The building dates to roughly 1850 and later served for 120 years, from 1890 to 2010, as the home of an African-American Masonic lodge — a history the Peebles brothers say is reflected directly in the project’s name. “The space was the home for an African-American Masonic lodge dating from 1890 to 2010, and the naming of the mixed-use property is in reference to this 120-year occupancy,” said John Peebles, managing partner with NAI Mobile.
The city’s healthcare sector is anchored by USA Health, Infirmary Health and Springhill Medical Center, which together employ thousands of residents.
NAI Mobile worked exclusively with local investment partners, a first for the firm, who put roughly $2.5 million into repurposing the building over the past two years. The finished apartments will feature high ceilings, exposed brick and timber intended to preserve what William Peebles described as an authentic 19th-century feel.
Mobile’s manufacturing base includes shipbuilding at Austal USA and Huntington Ingalls Industries, as well as aviation manufacturing at the Airbus final assembly line in Brookley.
Of the property’s 10 studio units, eight already have lease agreements in progress ahead of the official opening. Douglas Kearley served as the local architect on the project, and ServisFirst Bank provided the loan capital.
Local schools include Mobile County Public Schools, the city’s largest public system, along with a network of private and parochial schools.
Local Reaction
The ground floor of the main building includes about 5,000 square feet of commercial space. A Dallas-based coffee shop is expected to take the highly visible corner space at St.
Mobile’s history as a port city means that issues affecting the waterfront often take on outsized importance.
Francis and Warren streets, with the remaining commercial square footage reportedly under discussion with an out-of-town advertising agency. Across the street, five newly built Temple Lodge Townhomes are about 80 percent finished.
The Mobile area is home to several historic neighborhoods, including Oakleigh Garden District, DeTonti Square and the Village of Spring Hill.
Each three-level townhome includes a ground-floor parking garage, a second-floor kitchen and living area, and third-floor bedrooms, with roughly 500 square feet per level. Covered parking adjacent to the townhome lot will also be available to tenants of the main Temple Lodge building across the street.
Sports are a major part of life in Mobile, with the Senior Bowl each January and a thriving high school and college football scene.
Three blocks east, at the corner anchoring the city’s LoDa technology corridor, the Wheeler Lofts project is bringing a similarly historic property back into active use. The roughly 53,000-square-foot complex has been in the same family for generations.
Local media outlets covering Mobile include several television stations, daily and weekly newspapers, and a robust digital news ecosystem.
The Bigger Picture
Bestor Ward’s great-uncle purchased the main section of the block in 1933, and Ward has since acquired the surrounding parcels, most recently an 1800s-era horse stable situated perpendicular to the main building. The Wheeler name traces back to the Wheeler Motor Co., which briefly operated on the site from 1927 to 1932.
Mobile County’s population includes a significant African-American community whose history is tied to the founding of Africatown.
Construction crews are currently active on the site, with Rob Middleton of Mobile-based Rob Middleton Construction handling parking lot work and David Middleton of Point Clear-based SCC Group overseeing project management. Ward said he expects the complex to open by January 2019, with leasing set to begin in September 2018 if construction stays on schedule.
Mobile’s economy also benefits from a robust tourism sector, with visitors drawn to the Gulf Coast, the city’s historic districts and its annual events.
Ward traced the idea for converting his family’s commercial property into mixed-use apartments back roughly a dozen years, to a trip to New Orleans he took with Downtown Mobile Alliance President and CEO Elizabeth Stevens. The project broke ground two years ago.
The Mobile Bay region supports significant commercial and recreational fishing, with seafood harvested from local waters serving restaurants and markets across the South.
Ward credited Alabama’s state and federal historic tax credit programs with making the renovation financially possible, saying the credits contributed more than $1 million toward defraying construction costs. “It would not have happened without the Alabama historic tax credits existing,” Ward said.
Local government in Mobile includes a mayor-council form of government, a structure established by the Zoghby Act in 1985 that replaced the older commission form.
What Comes Next
When finished, Wheeler Lofts will include 38 apartments, each with a window view, along with four parking lots capable of holding up to 75 vehicles combined. The main Wheeler Building footprint covers about 45,500 square feet, split between roughly 6,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 39,500 square feet of residential space, housing 34 one- and two-bedroom units divided evenly between the two layouts.
Local officials have stressed the importance of community engagement as the situation continues to develop.
The adjacent 1800s-era horse stable adds another 7,500 square feet, with 4,000 square feet set aside for offices and 3,500 square feet split among four loft-style apartments. Three of those lofts will be one-bedroom units, while the fourth — a 1,400-square-foot, three-bedroom unit on the second floor — has already been leased.
Residents with questions or concerns have been encouraged to reach out to their elected representatives.
Because of requirements tied to the historic tax credits, none of the Wheeler Lofts units will be available for purchase; all will be offered as rentals. Ward said pricing will run about $1.60 per square foot across the property, translating to roughly $1,400 a month for one-bedroom units and more than $1,700 a month for two-bedroom units.
The story is one of several similar situations playing out across the region in recent months.
Both projects reflect a broader push by downtown Mobile developers and city boosters to add rental housing stock near the urban core, betting that continued growth in downtown dining, entertainment and technology jobs will keep drawing residents who want to live within walking distance of where they work and socialize. For prospective tenants interested in either property, additional details are available through each development’s leasing office or through the Downtown Mobile Alliance.
Anyone following local news will recognize many of the names and places involved.
Local civic organizations have begun organizing meetings to discuss the implications.
Business owners and residents alike say they will be watching closely.
The situation underscores how decisions made at the local level can have far-reaching consequences.
Community leaders have called for patience and for a commitment to working through the issues in a transparent manner.
Several local churches and faith groups have offered to host discussions about the topic in the coming weeks.
Public comments at recent meetings have reflected a wide range of opinions.
Local reporters will continue to follow the story and to update readers.
Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to attend upcoming public meetings.
The outcome of the situation could shape similar discussions in other communities for years to come.
Local historians note that similar issues have surfaced in the past.
Area nonprofits and volunteer groups have stepped up to help residents navigate the changes.
Local businesses have begun adjusting their operations in anticipation of what may come next.
Looking Ahead
The story continues to develop, and residents across the region will be watching for additional updates in the coming weeks. Local reporters and community organizations will continue to track the situation as it unfolds, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available. Anyone with a direct stake in the outcome is encouraged to stay engaged with the public conversation through meetings, news coverage and direct outreach to local officials.