The state project to widen part of U.S. 31 is expected to be under way later this year; in addition to the widening of the road, other improvements to Spanish Fort AL will also take place.

The City Council adopted a resolution that will allow the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation, and the city will pay the highway department $800,000 for the improvements including sidewalks and closed drainage.  City Attorney, David Conner, reported that the city has been setting aside money for these improvements for years now in anticipation of the road widening project.
Bidding for the project is scheduled to commence July 30th and construction is slated for September 30th, with an estimated 18 months for completion.

For more on this and other Spanish Fort AL community news, visit AL.com.

And for information on buying and selling Spanish Fort AL real estate, contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

City officials of Spanish Fort AL will have a better idea of the proposed city complex on April 27 when seven architectural firms will present their renderings and presentations.  The working budget for the project is $7.5 million and each architectural firm finalist will contend with their designs that should cover the desired specifications of the city.  The area for development is an 18-acre site which is at the intersection of highways 72 and 31 in Spanish Fort AL and is intended for multipurpose building in the short term and a myriad of other services and amenities in the long term projection as the city continues to grow.

For more on the latest developments in Spanish Fort AL, visit Baldwincountynow.com.

For more on real estate in Spanish Fort AL and other Gulf Coast AL cities including Mobile and West Mobile, contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

The 22nd annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup project saw another successful turn out this year.  This annual cleanup activity invites volunteers from all over the region to take part in collecting trash to keep the gulf coast looking pristine and inviting.  Not only is this event important for the appearance of the coast, but it also prevents local marine life from being negatively affected and helps residents to be more aware of their duty in keeping the gulf coast a place of beauty.  Organizers reported about 900 lbs of trash were collected at the May Day Park in Daphne AL alone, with enough volunteers present to finish the area in about an hour.

For more information on Gulf Coast homes including Fairhope, Mobile, West Mobile, Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL contact Barbara Reeves.

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City Council members in Spanish Fort AL will decide on September 8th whether to rezone land on the Causeway in order to allow for the construction of a new cell tower.  The sites under consideration include a patch of land near the WLVV-AM 1410 radio station or behind the R&R Seafood restaurant near the Causeway property which formerly housed the Ramada Inn and Las Brisas hotel; the Planning Commission has already presented its recommendations for the cell tower to be located at the WLVV station site.  Although everyone would agree that a new cell tower is needed on the Causeway, there have been considerable difficulties in approving a location for the cell tower as last December the Exxon gas station location failed to pass the approval of the Council.

For more on the Spanish Fort AL cell tower issue or other Baldwin or Mobile County AL news visit the Press Register online.

For more information on real estate in Spanish Fort AL or other Gulf Coast Homes contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

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Gulf Shores Alabama was filled with athletes and tourists gathered to participate and watch the Wave Loch Flowrider National Championship.  This three day event last weekend concluded the Flow Tour which covered 16 sights nationwide.  Usually held in California, this relatively new sporting championship involves competitions for just about every age group and awards cash prizes to winners in expert standup and body board division.  The Gulf Coast of Alabama was deemed the perfect place to hold the last events of the Flow Tour due to the ideal coastal conditions and arena style atmosphere.

For information on buying or selling homes, condos or other properties in the beautiful Gulf Coast AL area including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

image credit: sxc.hu hot air balloon

The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is here from June 18th to the 21st.  This is the fifth year for this Annual event where families can enjoy entertainment and activities with an exciting four day schedule.  The central attraction is, of course, the hot air balloons themselves where you can go for a ride or just watch the colorful balloons in flight.  Other activities include arts and crafts, the world famous Frisbee dogs, train rides, and a souvenir booth.  Check out the full schedule of events at gulfcoastballoonfestival.com for more information.  Take the opportunity to spend some time in Alabama’s Gulf Coast for this free event and get to know why so many love this area.

For more information on real estate in the Baldwin and Mobile County area including Mobile, West Mobile, Daphne, Spanish Fort, and Fairhope AL, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

image credit: sxc.hu beach in the morning

According to a recent report issued last week, Baldwin County is the top travel destination in Alabama for 2008.  Baldwin county is known for its pristine sandy beaches and inviting Gulf waters and about a third of the workforce in the county is employed in the tourism industry.  State officials cited that more than 4.53 million people visited Baldwin county last year which is about a quarter of all the people who visited the whole state of Alabama.  Mobile county ranked number 4 on the list with 2,670,000 visitors in 2008.

Although the Gulf coast is facing competition from other resort and vacation spots across the country who have decreased rates to attract more business, Alabama’s Gulf coast remains a great place to vacation with family and friends.

For information on real estate in Baldwin County AL including Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves.

image credit: sxc.hu magnifying glass stock photo

According to a recent article in the Press Register, Foley AL’s crime rates have decreased over 2008.  Recorded data for Foley revealed that 2008 crime was nearly half the percentage totals from 2007 for some offenses.  City statistics include a 48 percent decrease in burglary, 52 percent decline in car theft, and a 20 to 34 percent drop in other offenses including robberies, thefts, sexual offenses, and simple assaults.  Officials contribute the decline in crime rates to a concentration of manpower for the city.  In July of 2007, Foley discontinued providing law enforcement in the police jurisdiction outside the city limits which is now patrolled by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s office; this has helped Foley AL police forces to keep a better eye on crime and thus contribute to reducing it and making the area safer.

For information on real estate in the Baldwin County AL area including Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne, contact real estate agent Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking the “Talk Now” button on this page.

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Foreclosure notices have become more common now than in former times, so if you are looking for a foreclosure, now is the time to get the facts.  Baldwin County Now news online are featuring a three day series that explores what it means to foreclose, what to consider if you are buying a foreclosure, and how to buy your foreclosed home back.
Currently, a mortgage company or bank is more likely to work with an owner than in the past, which could work to the advantage of the owner facing foreclosure.  When a payment is missed for three months, a bank or mortgage company can start the foreclosure process.  In Baldwin County, foreclosure announcements are required to be published in Gulf Coast Newspapers and the owner is notified each time the ad runs.  For more information on what a foreclosure is visit baldwincountynow.com.

For information on Baldwin County AL real estate including Fairhope, Daphne, Spanish Fort, and Mobile and West Mobile areas contact your local agent Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking the “Talk Now” feature of this page.

In most locations of the country, winter has set in; but in Alabama’s Gulf Coast seasonal visitors have been coming out for the warmer climate.  “Snowbirds,” as winter visitors are referred to, have flocked to the Baldwin county beaches for some recreation and to get away from the harsh weather conditions in other parts of the country.  Dauphin Island is also showing signs of winter visitors for brief periods of time here and there for family vacations.

But with golf courses, dining options, and the fresh coast air, ‘snowbirds’ know how to spend their time on the Gulf Coast.  The local economies also benefit considerably from the business, and the seasonal visitors are happy to have a place to be home away from home.

For more information on real estate in the Baldwin County AL area, including Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne Alabama, contact local agent Barbara Reeves via email or by clicking the ‘talk now’ button on this page.