The city of Fairhope AL is looking for more energy saving ideas with a recent project that will involve replacing traffic lights.  With some federal stimulus grants, Fairhope will replace traffic lights and road lighting with energy-efficient technology.  The new energy-saving light fixtures are a light-emitting diode technology, or LED for short, and will use less energy than the incandescent lights as well as last longer.  The city is estimated to save about $12,000 a year with these new changes.  Also in store for Fairhope are improvements in traffic flow, involving the improved synchronizing of traffic signals.

For more on Fairhope AL news visit Baldwincountynow.com.

And for all your real estate endeavors in Alabama’s Gulf Coast including Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Daphne and Mobile AL, contact your friendly local agent, Barbara Reeves today.

Baldwin County AL Libraries Rank Highest in Country

In a new study conducted by the Library Journal, Baldwin County AL’s beaches have some of the best libraries nationwide.  Orange Beach library has earned its place at the top of the list with the magazine’s highest grade on record; just below Orange Beach is Gulf Shore AL’s Thomas B. Norton Public Library which appeared one notch under the highest rating.  The magazine features a brief write up on why these libraries scored so high with their study’s criteria including visits, circulation, program attendance, and public internet use.  The director of the Gulf Shores library, Wendy Congiardo reported that the draw of tourists to the beach areas also draws them to public libraries.  It can also be considered that the focus on community in these areas makes them top libraries for residents.

For more on what makes Baldwin County AL libraries top in the country, visit AL.com.

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

The economy is improving locally in Baldwin County AL, as Foley’s recent monthly report reveals.  For the month of October, the Building/Inspections Department issued 126 permits at a total evaluation of over $3.2 million, a new commercial permit was issued for Coastal Investment Medical Properties for a reported $980,000, and 381 inspections were performed.  Also adding to these developments were twelve single-family residences which received permits last month at a total construction valuation of over $1.6 million.  All of these permits are a sign of continued growth and economic stimulation for Baldwin County AL.

For more information on news in Baldwin County AL visit baldwincountynews.com.

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

In an effort to bolster tourism and business on the Gulf Coast, the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and the Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center combined forces to see the development of the Nature Tourism Initiative take root.

The initial project which began in 2007 was designed to evaluate nature-type businesses in Baldwin and Mobile counties and offer the resources necessary for each business to run smoothly.  Currently, the Nature Tourism Initiative has announced the new Coastal Nature Guide Certification Program; a day-long workshop is now scheduled to detail the program on February 22, 2010.

Already it has been reported that nature tourism in the area has been on the rise, with nearly 100,000 overnight guests this past spring in Baldwin County AL that had plans to observe wildlife.  The current count of nature tourism related business is 42, with most of these being related to dolphin cruises.

For more information on buying or selling your home in the Gulf Coast AL area, including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.

Going green

Fairhope AL is continuing to go “green” with the latest Windmill Market wind turbine project.  At the end of September, Fairhope residents watched as a 170-pound Skystream 3.7 wind turbine was revealed.  This wind turbine sits on top of a 35-foot tower and was created to generate energy for the Windmill Market.  A representative from Gulf Coast Green Power reported that these turbine units run from $15,000-$18,000 and will more than make up for their initial cost by generating as many as 900 kilowatt hours per month.  Also included in Fairhope’s Windmill Market are solar panels, cisterns to collect rainwater for use in restrooms and an outdoor herb garden, a cell phone charger that is powered by people via a bicycle, and an electric car charging station.  This market is an educational experience for all involved, giving Fairhope AL visitors and residents a taste of the ‘green’ future.

For more information on real estate in beautiful Fairhope AL, as well as Mobile, West Mobile, Daphne, and Spanish Fort AL, contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

The Gulf  Shores may be home to a new Hybrid car plant, as reported last Thursday, September 24th, when Hybrid Kinetic Motors announced locating to Bay Minette in Baldwin County AL.  Their plans are to construct a $1.5 billion plant and employ more than 5,000 people as well as making an estimated 300,000 cars in their first year of production; the ‘megasite’ is 3,000 acres south of Interstate 65.  If all goes as planned, the new hybrid car plant will be operational in three to five years.  For more on Hybrid Kinetic Motors bringing a new location to Baldwin County AL on the Gulf Coast, visit Baldwincountynow.com.

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

image credit: sxc.hu

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

The latest report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service field office is that Alabama farmers’ crop yields well be above the 10 year average.  These predictions are calculated on the amount produced per acre for such crops as corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans.  This is a more positive outlook than what was expected with the obstacles to growers this year as heavy spring rains caused many to wait to plant while forcing others to re-plant.  The crop yield expectations are based on conditions on the first of August and project a bountiful harvest this year as long as rain continues to fall on a steady basis.

With the economy on the rise, now is the time to buy Alabama real estate.  Contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today for more information on Gulf Coast AL homes including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne Alabama.

The first stage of clearing the land by Mobile Bay that runs along the edge of Bayside Academy’s campus is underway; this will make way for the construction of a new Bayside arts center.  The Performing Arts Center is planned to be 12,488 square feet and include an auditorium with a seating capacity of 400.  The area by Mobile Bay near the campus where the arts center will be is currently being cleared of trees and other debris to begin the 14 month process of building.  Hitherto, Bayside Drama students had to make do with the athletic gymnasium which presented many technical and logistical problems, as reported by the Press Register.

The new arts center is last on the list of many improvements done to this Daphne AL school over the past two years.

For more information on real estate in Daphne AL contact your local Gulf Coast Homes realtor Barbara Reeves today.

image credit: sxc.hu

The planned ecological park in Foley AL is on its way to completion.  Although this Gulf Coast AL Graham Creek Preserve may be a few years from being the park that was envisioned in the multi-million dollar land purchase, a canoe launch has been finished.  The canoe launch is on the 483-acre tract and is tentatively scheduled to be opened by October; this launch is decked in benches on both sides of the landing area and the part that enters the water is a type of plastic material, according to a recent report from Baldwin County Now online.   The city had anticipated the opening of this canoe launch to be by January 2010, but if a road and a parking lot are completed it can open up as soon as October of this year.  Other developments for the Graham Creek Nature Preserve include roads, a pavilion, and hiking trails.

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