Non-profit issues report on downtown

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A national non-profit group that helps analyze the effect of transit on business development has issued a report on Mobile. 

That report was delivered Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Downtown Mobile Alliance just days before one of Mobile’s largest events, BayFest. .

There was a packed house to hear John Robert Smith, the director of a group called Reconnecting America.

The group examined more than 360 metropolitan areas, including Mobile. They look at strengths and weaknesses in developing what Smith called opportunity areas, like downtown Mobile, to boost the economy.

 He said downtown Mobile had several strengths.

 Smith said, "You have a good number of households that have access to these opportunity areas, but, also, in working, you have a good percentage of jobs in these opportunity areas."

Some jobs downtown are new opportunities, like the ones at T.P. Crockmiers, a restaurant that re-opened Tuesday in a new location in downtown Mobile.

 Bill Monahan, the owner of Crockmiers, said he hired 70 people.

 Smith said downtown Mobile still has some hurdles to overcome as well.  

Hesaid, "Public transit, public transportation, connectivity to other cities in the region, possibly with passenger rail service coming back to the coastal south.  So, those are areas that need to be focused on in the future. Another would be access to good fresh food in neighborhoods." 

And, Smith said it’s important for community leaders to realize that when an industry looks for a home, it looks at questions about quality of life. In his words, "Do you present a city that your children and grandchildren believe they can find their future in? I think you have the bones and the possibility to build on that and answer that question 'yes.' "