Spanish Fort Town Center adding major office space

Stirling Properties recently announced pre-leasing availability for new office space within a proposed two-story, 44,000-square-foot office complex under construction at Spanish Fort Town Center.

The offices will be situated along Bass Pro Drive on the east side of the center. Stirling Properties handles leasing for the entirety of the Spanish Fort Town Center, and the proposed office development would be owned and managed by the Covington, Louisiana-based firm.

 The new site will include substantial parking space surrounding the site. Adjacent land is also available for additional office growth phases to meet potential expansion demands, according to a news release.

 “The new offices at Spanish Fort Town Center will be a great addition to the area. It will be located within walking distance of amenities that already exist as part of the overall Spanish Fort Town Center mixed-use development,” Jeff Barnes, broker with Stirling Properties, said.

Spanish Fort Town Center is anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Urban Air, Fairfield Inn and Courtyard by Marriott. It is a 230-acre development at the intersection of Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 98 and includes 450,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, an apartment community, hotels, banks and entertainment venues.

• Boston-based UC Funds, a vertically integrated commercial real estate specialty finance firm, recently announced the transition of multifamily property — Emerald Greens in Gulf Shores — to One Club Gulf Shores. UC Funds purchased the asset in 2016 to conduct an extensive capital improvement program for the 490 condo and apartment complex, which offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units. 

UC Funds has financed extensive renovations to the property, per a news release, including upgrades on a nine-hole golf course, two new pools and cabanas, a fitness center, tennis court, and pickleball and basketball courts. Resident amenities will also be upgraded, which include the addition of extended living spaces and new dining options. Renovations are expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

More information about the property and its upgrades can be found on the UC Funds website.

• Roughly $3 million was recently paid for a former sports bar site located at 3673 Airport Blvd. in West Mobile by a Baton Rouge-based Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar franchise owner.

Plans are in place for the new eatery to open early next summer. Raymond Faircloth of Delaney Land Realty represented the seller. Tim Harrington with Harrington Realty worked for the buyer.

Per Harrington, another 32,000-square-foot site on 1.5 acres is available to be acquired directly behind the property.

• Sam Marston Jr. with Marston Real Estate LLC recently signed a lease with Garda World to occupy a 6,000-square-foot office/warehouse space at 2610 Halls Mill Road at the former Foster’s TV & Appliance Repair office. Marston Real Estate LLC represented both parties in the transaction.

• Per Stacy Ryals with Hosteeva Realty, some 10 acres of property situated near the Lowe’s Home Improvement Center at 3101 S. McKenzie Highway 59 in Foley was acquired for roughly $1 million by a Texas-based speculator. Steven Harrison with RE/MAX of Gulf Shores represented the buyer. Ryals worked for the seller.

City of Mobile rolls out recycling app
The city of Mobile launched a new recycling app on America Recycles Day. The free app, Recycle Coach, is now available for download from the iTunes Store, Google Play and can also be accessed online.
 
The app provides information on both recycling and garbage including: local-area trash and garbage collection schedules; the What Goes Where search tool; real-time news updates; and a Report-A-Problem feature.

Users can set up reminders on trash and garbage pickups and receive notifications on holiday collection changes. The app also provides articles on recycling, how to reuse materials and other related topics.
 
 “In the past, the city has simply not devoted enough resources or attention to recycling, but that is no longer the case,” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. “Our goal is to create a more robust recycling program. When recycling is more convenient and less confusing, more people recycle and people who recycle are less tolerant of litter.”

The “green” tech rollout is the latest in a series of local efforts to improve recycling in the city of Mobile. Last month, city government launched a new curbside recycling program for LoDa businesses and, to date, 29 business are participating.

Last April the city transitioned to single-stream recycling and opened two new recycling locations, near the Mobile Museum of Art and behind Mobile Police headquarters in midtown.

“I am thankful for the local business leadership as we create a cleaner, greener community. This support will help us reach our goal to exponentially increase the rate of recycling in Mobile,” Stimpson said.
 
White-Spunner Realty hires Weir, expands into Baldwin
White-Spunner Realty recently announced Bowen Weir joined the firm in October as managing director of its Eastern Shore Realty division.  

A licensed real estate agent, Weir previously worked for a national oil and gas company. He and his family have called Baldwin County home for more than four years. 

“We welcome the addition of Bowen Weir to the Baldwin county team,” Matt White, president of White-Spunner Realty said. “His background and personality make him an ideal fit for our firm. White-Spunner looks forward to the continued expansion of our staff to serve clients along the Gulf Coast.”

Weir earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Mississippi and a master’s degree in business from the University of Memphis. A member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, he is a Certified Commercial Investment Member candidate, a member of the Baldwin County Board of Realtors and the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.

“I really like the culture at White-Spunner Realty,” Weir said. “With the new bridge coming to allow greater access between Mobile and Baldwin County, it’s really going to open up the market even more.” 

Weir and his wife, Maggie, have one son, also named Bowen.