New renderings of future Mobile Civic Center released, city prepares for final vote on demolition

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — While the City of Mobile released updated renderings of the new Civic Center to replace the current structure, the city council prepares for the final vote on demolition.

The city released three updated renderings. The first rendering showed the Northwest corner of the arena from the outside. The last two renderings showed the expected design of the Grand Hall.

“The Western elevation is extremely nice,” District 2 Councilman William Carroll said.

Pending a vote to amend a contract with Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood the city could be one step closer to reaching 100% design of the new Civic Center. Carroll said the design would be reviewed by the city’s Architectural Review Board following the council’s vote.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen after it goes back to the ARB for final approval, and what they’re going to accept, what they’re not, and what they may ask the consultants to change,” Carroll said.

Before a new Civic Center can be built, the current, 400,000 square foot structure must be torn down. That issue would also need a vote from the city council.

“Demolition is the first step,” District 6 Councilman Josh Woods said. “Mobile has waited a long time for a new venue like this, and I’m looking forward to seeing that take place and move forward.”

The demolition, if approved, would cost $4.5 million. The budget allotted $2.5 million for the demolition itself, $1 million is for the removal of mosaics and sculptures and $1 million for unexpected costs.

“The actual cost of the contract, if completed correctly, with no contingencies or change orders found would be basically $1 million less than what actually the contract is for,” Carroll said.

The demolition would be done by New York-based Sabre Demolition Corporation.

Due to the Civic Center not being named after anyone and not being registered as a historic structure, the demolition shouldn’t bear friction among the council.

Demolition would include leveling the 60-year-old arena, theater, and Expo Hall.

“We’re at the point where we have to make the decision to move forward, and that decision was made,” Woods said.

The council will vote on the design and demolition in its July 30 meeting.

Carroll said the timing could push the expected demolition day from August 1 to August 15.

“We have worked diligently with our partners to ensure the planning and design phases of this project stay on time and on budget,” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said in a statement.

The total price tag for the entire Civic Center project, demolition included, is $300 million.

The new center, according to previous reporting, would be able to hold small acts and acts with audiences of over 10,000 people in size.

Bradley Byrne, President and CEO of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce previously said the city has lost $18 million in the past decade for the upkeep of the current Civic Center.

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