[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6256988,"mediaKeyId","3155149-42453881057f5628edbb04e073fe7e00","parentId",3155149,"title","Mobile County approves development deal with Porchlight, including $500,000 forgivable loan for Ace Theater renovation","audioSeconds",83,"startMs",1652000,"endMs",1735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155149-42453881057f5628edbb04e073fe7e00&start=1652&end=1735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155149-42453881057f5628edbb04e073fe7e00/thumbnail_1652000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6256988/Mobile-County/Alabama/Mobile-County-approves-development-deal-with-Porchlight-including-500000-forgivable-loan-for-Ace-Theater-renovation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256988-725ea886c5a1a68736261ebc3f64164f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093530&Signature=BZTWyCqWsg~soOl0VpeDcDjajd4uJHJ5XSJLApS4k9pg93VsPQ47KfmbIguG4sTfpBWGz3BJ9Nvok5xIY8oy8IacUbt7xpPnlgKKwrV67wGRMqet6rgGVXhxI8iT2SHZPHgZUnC3K~-womWO6rxoBPBbo9jQER9oyHAGbHMnHZswbi-xXT1GA5Iiqo3Ybk-tWvy6O7NtFEA2FziHjiyX1gDQ6mtFm~FeftqoonjAfEuIRdPuHfJyj6cYK9Utyu7HcNU1apo3LmVj54VzNPpsdLHVXy8wajxjNfXH6sUEoxAt4kXyLsY~p9ukhjenM884HnCuq6swso3iq0wMUcD49g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mobile County, Alabama","date","2025-04-30T08:12:51.777Z","article","Mobile County Commissioners on April 28 approved a project development agreement with Porchlight that transfers multiple downtown properties to the developer, provides a 19-year, 11-month county lease for a renovated Ace Theater and commits the county to a $500,000 forgivable loan once the lease is executed. The vote was moved and seconded during the regular commission meeting.

The agreement calls for Porchlight to acquire the properties at 503 and 505 Concord Street and for the county to convey property at 501 and 507 Conquer Street to Porchlight. Porchlight will renovate the historic Ace Theater and, when renovations are finished, the county will lease the theater from Porchlight for use as a community theater, cultural arts and event space for 19 years and 11 months. Upon execution of the lease the county will provide a $500,000 forgivable loan as an incentive payment.

Why it matters: The deal is designed to use federal historic tax-credit financing to support a private rehabilitation of a historic downtown theater and to secure long-term public use of the venue. Under the agreement the county has a purchase option beginning in year six; if exercised the county would buy the property for an amount equal to the project debt plus an exit fee. Commission discussion made clear the amount of that exit fee and some related documents were still pending.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the transaction remains subject to final legal review and receipt of outstanding documents. The commission record shows a public notice was published on April 16, 2025. Staff said additional financial figures, including the exit fee tied to tax-credit financing, will be provided to the commissioners before final signatures are executed.

Discussion and remaining issues included the structure of the sale after historic tax-credit allocation and the unspecified “exit fee.” Commissioners asked staff to provide the fee figure prior to final execution. County staff said final documents were still arriving and that counsel would review them this week.

The commission moved the item with the requirement that the agreement remain subject to final legal review and the sharing of outstanding financial numbers with all three commissioners prior to signing. No vote tally was read into the record; the motion was moved and seconded and carried as part of the meeting’s consent agenda of approved items.

Next steps: County attorneys and staff will complete final legal review and circulate the outstanding figures to commissioners before the county signs the final agreements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mobile County Commission Meeting - April 28,, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mobile County Commissioners on April 28 approved a project development agreement with Porchlight that transfers several downtown properties to the developer, obligates the county to lease the renovated Ace Theater for nearly 20 years and commits the county to a $500,000 forgivable loan upon execution of the lease.","taxTitle","taxId",2536,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6256978,"Mobile County Commission approves consent agenda including cybersecurity contracts, park projects and program grants",459,983000,1442000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155149-42453881057f5628edbb04e073fe7e00&start=983&end=1442","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155149-42453881057f5628edbb04e073fe7e00/thumbnail_983000.jpg","/articles/6256978/Mobile-County/Alabama/Mobile-County-Commission-approves-consent-agenda-including-cybersecurity-contracts-park-projects-and-program-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256978-2ab7c7183f3e09732a60d3ca6161038c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093530&Signature=YoteJexKtje3r5fUHCTJ4zbNgW3FeuibPyPV0~7sAaU0sq235QV2dxxlmRyw8nP~hyy94RClszQ~3qNuXxbJ8fVUlBDY8OCKojlzxyB5O0VbkO5MC5UqRY5twpJLOGWX~bdZW0qSChXi5aDm1afCRIklObaiOpxFIu0V3MDN~WN39ro9yLnRn-D2doEftRJBmEOV93eD4ExSIgzxHOd9fzqFvNEIqIgYD9qE8DRH1e323kbXxYjQcG2uJR8YnIp62ZepsUCmjMWzrAg7KZOeZmbfVlNQRA616Zz8Wetw~MT6Qa0t3YZc7P6nnvEKrhjitE6RhR7RRz2uwHLlNi4Z1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mobile County Commission approved a broad consent agenda on April 28 that included contract awards, appropriations to nonprofit and educational programs, technology and security service agreements, park projects and routine procurement items. Most items were moved and seconded with no public comment and no extended debate.

Notable approvals included: an amendment to the Content Fresh contract to add a Mobile County community calendar for compensation of up to $2,500 per month; a master services agreement and a one-year statement of work with Modern Cyber for ongoing cybersecurity managed services (the statement of work cited a contract amount of $102,000 for one year) pending legal review; the Workday tenants migration to the public cloud at no cost to the county; and a service order with Unity Fiber to build new fiber to Chickasabug Park for $206,500 under the state contract plus managed Ethernet at $585 per month for 36 months.

Appropriations and grants approved included $5,000 to Youth on Winning Side (district 1 education funds) for a youth music workshop and scholarship program; $9,200 from district 3 education funds to the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners for paving walkways at Catherine H. Hankins School; $3,000 for Distinguished Young Women of Mobile County’s college scholarship program; $5,000 sponsorship for Dolphin Island Sea Lab Foundation’s marine education fundraiser; and $25,000 for Court Appointed Special Advocates for program expenses (subject to submission of appropriation packets and legal review).

The commission also approved engineering and construction items, including a contract with Krebs Engineering for Bayou Bantry North Sewer Improvements, award of a low bid to Harris Contracting Services for Lewis Landing ($811,578), change orders to ongoing contracts (for example, Chickasabug Park Campground improvements increased by $955 and mobile county Golf Course project increased by $94,778), and authorization to advertise and receive bids for John Archer Arena project work. The commission authorized the termination of a planning/design contract with McAnally Land Design for the Mobile County Blue Way Trail development and directed staff to consult the granting agency on procurement requirements for a new contract.

Most items were presented by a staff member identified as Mitchell and were approved by motion and second; several items were explicitly noted as pending legal review before final execution. No roll-call vote tallies were read into the record for the listed consent items.

Next steps: Items marked pending legal review will return for final signatures after county attorneys complete contract reviews. Projects requiring competitive procurement will proceed through advertised bid processes.","At its April 28 meeting the Mobile County Commission approved a broad consent agenda that included infrastructure bids, contract renewals for cybersecurity services, appropriations for local nonprofits and schools, and project change orders; many items were approved with little discussion and several are subject to legal review.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6256983,"Mobile County amends capital plan to buy 9450 Moffett Road for county garage, allocates $2.5 million",37,1307000,1344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3155149-42453881057f5628edbb04e073fe7e00&start=1307&end=1344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3155149-42453881057f5628edbb04e073fe7e00/thumbnail_1307000.jpg","/articles/6256983/Mobile-County/Alabama/Mobile-County-amends-capital-plan-to-buy-9450-Moffett-Road-for-county-garage-allocates-25-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256983-0a5ee8fc5421ca4a37d889fcf4e48703/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093530&Signature=JwfwcQKgDUNLZWVHYDO-5Xf6oUyQW3WP2QAAUZswYxUbche4CJhAGNs8lDIAJT218RrH9texietIWkUdKZ6jvpyFeiU-sfSawqk9-LoASvEitQRpTtxMFGDBewa-OtRhveX5uCEA2WtJv4sY9hAhOkNUzvzJ0aE7XSF6UzDhOQ0yWjbcyQUG7jl5fehQjWcfWroNb1R~8LscjWU~c4Lc59DA-OSJseJzmBoItu8T7u90eLp7dW8bimECaJgx-oY-nvE6xXGAa083N3qurg-Zh6UJGzRqupa3iSDfeI-sPttDKtr4ZYKmv2Cc125XoroqimuAysg3~WySIL37bdqqpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mobile County Commission voted April 28 to amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Plan to create a new project for the purchase of real property at 9450 Moffett Road in Sims for use as a county garage and maintenance facility and allocated an estimated $2.5 million for the purchase.

Commission staff told the commissioners the $2.5 million figure represents the purchase price. A commissioner asked whether that sum included renovations; a staff member identified as Ricky replied that the figure was the purchase price only and that renovation costs had not been finalized. Ricky said, \"I'm assuming somewhere in the 200. That'd be an estimate,\" when asked for a ballpark figure; staff characterized that as an informal estimate, not a firm budget. The commission also noted that if all went well they were scheduled to close on the property the following day.

Why it matters: The purchase creates a county-owned garage and maintenance facility project with immediate budgetary implications. Commissioners asked for clarification on renovation costs and on utilities and sewer connections, which staff said still had to be tied into project estimates.

The motion to amend the capital plan and allocate funds was moved and seconded during the meeting; commissioners indicated the closing was expected to occur the next day. The commission did not provide a detailed renovation budget at the time of the vote.

Next steps: Staff must finalize renovation cost estimates (including sewer tie-in and restroom/office build-outs) and present those figures in follow-up procurement and capital project reports prior to construction.","The commission created a new capital project to purchase property at 9450 Moffett Road for use as a county garage and maintenance facility and allocated an estimated $2.5 million from the 2024 capital improvement plan; closing was reported as scheduled for the following day.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mobile County approves development deal with Porchlight, including $500,000 forgivable loan for Ace Theater renovation

Mobile County Commission approves consent agenda including cybersecurity contracts, park projects and program grants

Mobile County amends capital plan to buy 9450 Moffett Road for county garage, allocates $2.5 million