How the Mobile Airport Authority’s new purchase will impact the area

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — After the nearly $21-million purchase by the Mobile Airport Authority that was announced Wednesday, questions arise about how this may impact the community.

“There’s abandoned houses just in this block right here. They need to make these people take them down. There’s so many of them,” said Mobile Resident, Mary Howell.

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The 272 acres that were purchased include the following areas: Michigan Avenue, Interstate 10, and R.V. Taylor Plaza. Those areas once known for their high crime rate, are now expected to rise in property values.

CEO of Mobile’s Chamber of Commerce, Bradley Byrne, believes the development will attract light industrial business.

“Whether it’s a plant or a new big warehouse facility, people are going to want to live near it if they work there. Right,” said Byrne. “And so, the idea that we could have new housing or renovated housing for people who are going to be working at Berkeley or at this particular site, it just makes that residential area become a lot more attractive.”

The Mobile Airport Authority hopes this property will serve the MAA’s mission to help fund future operations.

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Angelia Crosby, a Mobile Resident, said, “At the end of the day it’s business. And if that type of business brings to the community the revenue, more jobs to the area. I am so good with that.”

Crosby added that she hopes the city keeps some structures that were already implemented, to stay in place.

“You know, just keep the community things intact as well and see if there’s a balance between keeping it community and also running the business and making the area more attractive to tourists,” she said.

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