New Plan Coming For Old Hardware Building

Posted by Publisher on

Fairhope, Alabama thefairhopetimes.blogspot.com 

 


 301 FAIRHOPE AVENUE

Mayor Sullivan said recently the owners have hired a new architect to come up with a new plan for the former Fairhope Hardware/Peoples Coop building in downtown Fairhope.

The new design will still incorporate some space for a hotel; a demolition permit to tear down the old building has already been issued, she added.

The city's planning department will still have to sign-off on any new plans before actual construction could begin.

The previous design for a 26-room hotel, restaurant, and other businesses was too intense according to city planners -- and ran into parking requirement issues.

The crumbling old building is now considered an "eyesore"  -- and possibly dangerous by many residents. The roof collapsed allowing rainwater in years ago.

 


Previous plan shelved.



Location: Fairhope, AL 36532, USA

Comments

Anonymous said…
Definitely is a eye sore now.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Anonymous said…
I certainly hope it works out for the owners this time. They are trying to beautify the corner and it seems the city leaders just put up obstacles. Good luck owners!!
Friday, June 20, 2025
Anonymous said…
Nobody put up obstacles. Just enforcing ordinances on books. Parking shortage a prob. there.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Anonymous said…
The City should never use parking shortage as a reason to deny a new building. We came into town to have dinner last night (Friday) and could not find a single parking space because there were weddings/events going on at the Fairhope Inn, Apiary Event Venue and Tamara’s Event Venue. My guess is there were several hundred people at these events in downtown and every parking space was taken up. So, when a person wants to invest in a building downtown and put in 10 or so hotel rooms please tell me how 10 cars will really affect the current parking issue when these event centers are accommodating hundreds of people and multiple vehicles? The City should have never approved the event venues if they were worried about parking.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Anonymous said…
27 rooms were proposed for the new hotel there. shoulda woulda does not matter -- only what the zoning ordinance says. It requires one parking space per hotel room because overnight stays are required. No spaces are required for all those other businesses --where folks stay only for an hour or two.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Anonymous said…
The post above is inaccurate in my opinion. The people at the event centers stay much longer than 1-2 hours. The event venues are not rented for 1 hour, they are rented for the entire evening or day. I’ve driven by on my golf cart and bands are playing at 11 pm. Numerous cars parked on city street. The venues in my opinion take up valuable and limited downtown space that could be utilized for restaurants and other amenities fairhope tax payers could utilize. My idea of a “charming” fairhope is not numerous event venues in downtown Fairhope. At least the hardware store owners are attempting to do something that will benefit Fairhope. They said they want to put a restaurant in on the bottom floor.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Anonymous said…
Just send them to the parking garage. always half full!
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Anonymous said…
Good job city, now we have a building that will collapse on the sidewalk and hurt someone. Love all these people petrified of a new hotel. Maybe it’s the hotel owners downtown scared of the competition? Sounds fishy to me
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Anonymous said…
I hope the new design has adequate on site parking this time.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Anonymous said…
Owner notified by Mayor that Historic rules would be put in place for that block. Urgency was in order. Owner did not move until after. The 3 story structure requested was of a modern theme. When you build into an established area some level of respect to the community is needed. If it falls down the owner better have good insurance. It is privately owned.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Anonymous said…
Seems absurd and dangerous (with blame to be shared by owners and city) that the existing building has been allowed to reach its current level of decay.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Anonymous said…
The City doesn’t have “Historic Rules” as stated above that would preclude someone from constructing a building. The City allowed the new modern 3 story office building on Magnolia in downtown to be built so the argument that a building has to be designed to fit a certain Fairhope building style is not accurate either. The building is being redesigned and will be approved no matter the design if it meets the parking requirements. I hope the building is a modern design like the new office building on Magnolia next to the Hampton Inn. That building looks great.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Anonymous said…
A historical commission was established last year but no enforcement authority was ever given to it by the city council Hence it is useless.
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Anonymous said…
They make advisory report. It is part of the record for council.
Thursday, June 26, 2025
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