Main Street Awards
Apr 10th, 2003
2003 MAIN STREET AWARDS DURING ANNUAL MEETING
Mobile, Alabama, April 8, 2002 - The Board of Directors of Main Street Mobile, Incorporated will hold our Annual Meeting on Thursday evening, April 10, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Larkins Music Center, 257 Dauphin Street.
Guest speaker for the event will be David M. Feehan, President of the International Downtown Association. Feehan will share current trends in downtown development. International Downtown Association is a world leader and champion for vital and livable urban centers. Through its network of committed individuals, IDA is a guiding force in creating healthy and dynamic centers that anchor the well being of towns, cities and regions throughout the world.
Following Feehan will be the presentation of the 2003 Main Street Awards. The Main Street Award Program was developed in 1995 to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made a positive contribution to the revitalization of downtown Mobile. Awards will be given in six categories - Leadership Achievement, Outstanding Citizen, Downtown Innovation, The Bienville Award, Volunteer of the Year, and The President's Award.
The Leadership Achievement Award is presented each year to an individual, organization, or business that has made an outstanding contribution to the vitality of downtown Mobile. This year's award will be given to the Mobile Opera and Mobile Symphony for their development of the Larkins Music Center, 257 Dauphin Street. Through their vision and hard work, the Mobile Opera and Mobile Symphony were able to join together to create a music center and office complex in the heart of downtown's Arts District. The Larkins Music Center is filled day and night with student classes, performance rehearsals, and events. The building now houses 11 employees of the two organizations in the restored and reconfigured historic 10,000 square foot building. To date 75 events have been held in the Katherine Willson Rehearsal Hall, drawing people to downtown during the afternoon, evenings and weekends.
The Outstanding Citizen Award is given to an individual who through unselfish activity has contributed to the redevelopment and growth of downtown Mobile. This year Main Street Mobile recognizes Mr. Jaime Betbeze. Betbeze practices law at the downtown law firm Hand Arendall, and lives in the DeTonti Square Historic District with his family in a restored Victorian home he rescued from demolition during the Calloway-Smith Middle School development. Betbeze has also moved and restored a second house in DeTonti Square that was slated for demolition at its previous location on Springhill Avenue. His commitment to the growth of downtown spills over into his civic activities as well. Betbeze has served for the past few years as President of the Mobile Revolving Fund for Historic Properties and worked tirelessly on the restoration of the Masonic Building. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Mobile Christmas Parade, Inc. and served as the President in 2001.
The Downtown Innovation Award is presented each year in recognition of an individual, organization, or business that has exhibited great foresight in undertaking a successful project in downtown Mobile. Three recipients will be honored for their contributions - Mobile Register, Centre for the Living Arts and posthumously to Elizabeth Austin.
The Mobile Register was selected for a 2003 award for the construction of the new state-of-the-art building at 401 North Water Street. Several years ago the Mobile Register recognized that they had outgrown their longtime home on Government Street. When they began looking for property to build a new state-of-the-art plant, they found it on the north side of downtown in the DeTonti Square area. This past summer, Mobile Register opened their new 235,000 square foot facility and moved over 500 employees into the new building. The Mobile Register has been operating in Mobile since 1813 and serves as Alabama's oldest newspaper.
Centre for the Living Arts will be honored for their unique concept Art Off Centre. Using the empty Saenger Theatre display windows on Jackson Street, Centre for the Living Arts has created a wonderful concept for rotating storefront art exhibitions featuring local and regional artists. Art Off Centre began in the fall of 2001 and has successfully brought contemporary art to the average "person on the street." Through the window displays we have seen delightful installations of regional folk art, African art, masks, glass pieces, quilts, and metal work. The art exhibits create an interesting and appealing environment for pedestrians and show how a small contribution can make a big impact on everyday life downtown.
For many years the future of the trio of Victorian houses at the west-end of Dauphin Street near Broad looked grim as one building after another was demolished. Last year renovations of the three properties began by Greg Luce who was handling the property for his aunt Elizabeth Austin. After a sensitive renovation coordinated by local architect Douglas Kearley, the houses at 808, 850, and 852 Dauphin Street have become some of the most eye catching in the Lower Dauphin Street Historic District. The three houses have been converted into seven living units, increasing the residential base of downtown. Sadly, Elizabeth Austin, who lived at 850 Dauphin Street for much of her life, died before the renovations could be completed. Main Street Mobile proudly presents the Downtown Innovation Award posthumously to Elizabeth Austin for these restorations.
The Bienville Award is presented annually to an individual, organization, or business that positively affects the lives of the people in downtown Mobile. The 2003 award is given to The Downtown Rotary Club and to Herbert H. "Mannie" Pair.
The Downtown Rotary Club is honored for the replication and reinstallation of the Rotary Clock that stands on the corner of Royal Street and Dauphin Street. The Rotary Club raised the money to pay for the clock, organized the clock's reconstruction, and paid for part of its installation along with the City of Mobile. The new clock replaces the old Rotary Clock that stood near this location for decades until it was finally removed in the late 19th century. The Rotary Clock is enjoyed daily by downtown employees, residents and visitors to our city.
In 1994 local artist Herbert H. "Mannie" Pair and his mother purchased a Victorian cottage in DeTonti Square that was in need of repair. This restored cottage now serves as home to the family's printing business and the Victorian Teal Art Gallery, a local gallery specializing in African-American art. Pair is an active member of the DeTonti Square neighborhood and the downtown community. He consistently participates in downtown marketing efforts and promotional campaigns. He tirelessly works to promote historic preservation and the visual arts, especially works by African-American artists, and is always generous with his time. Pair is considered one of the finest contemporary artists in Mobile. His contributions to downtown and his enthusiasm earned him this honor.
The Volunteer of the Year Award began in 2001 to honor a person or organization that has made a significant voluntary contribution at our Main Street Mobile events. This year William A. Barfield earned the award for the time he donates to Main Street during the holiday season to stand in as Santa Claus. Barfield portrays Santa each year in November during the annual Lighting of the Trees in Bienville and again in December for the Mobile Christmas Parade. Barfield, a child therapist by vocation and a professional Santa Claus impersonator, generously gives his time and talents entertaining the children of Mobile during these events. He consistently represents Main Street Mobile and Santa to the highest of standards. His kindness and gentle presence always delight children attending both events each year.
The President's Award was established to recognize special projects. This year three projects were selected to receive this award. The first award will be given to the Art Patrons League for the public art piece Portals that was installed in February 2002 in Cooper Riverside Park. Portals is a stainless steel sculpture commissioned by the Art Patrons League and created by Mobile artist Casey Downing. The sculpture was presented as a gift to the people of Mobile in celebration of the City's founding three hundred years ago.
The second award will be presented to Government Street Presbyterian Church for their outstanding renovation of the congregation's National Historic Landmark building at 300 Government Street and the installation of a new Rieger-Kloss Pipe Organ. Government Street Presbyterian Church was designed by architect Charles Dakin and built in 1837. The renovation of the church shows the continued dedication that the 675-member congregation has to the betterment of the lives of the people of our community. From this location members operate a Meals on Wheels program catering to downtown residents, the Coffee Club for homeless people, a Mother's Day Out program and the Thursday Noon Luncheon speaker's series. With the installation of the new organ, a new Music & Fine Arts Program was established this year as a community outreach project. Government Street Presbyterian Church also serves as co-sponsor of the Mobile Community Chorus.
The Archdiocese of Mobile has been selected to receive the third President's Award for the massive restoration and renovation of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Cathedral, whose cornerstone was laid in 1835 and consecrated in 1850, has been acknowledged as one of Mobile's major architectural achievements. Last year the exterior of the building was cleaned and renovated. This included the re-gilding of the two domes and their crosses that dominate downtown's western skyline. In January the Cathedral closed for the interior restoration by renowned Conrad Schmidt Studios of New Berlin, Wisconsin. Among the interior projects will be the upgrades on the mechanical systems and a rebuilding of the pipe organ. The care of this landmark structure stands as an example of the Archdiocese of Mobile's leadership in our community.
The 2003 Main Street Awards represent over $85 million in monetary investment in downtown Mobile. From the restoration of Victorian cottages to the construction of a new corporate headquarters, and from the establishment of a new music center to art exhibits in storefront windows, the Main Street Awards celebrates the impact that people have on downtown and our quality of life.
Mr. Bo Perry served as chairman of the 2003 Awards Committee. Ideas for the 2003-2004 awards may be submitted in writing to the Main Street Mobile office at anytime during the year.
Past award winners include:
LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
1995 - Mrs. Ann Delchamps and Mr. Irvin Grodsky - First Night Mobile
1996 - Regions Bank
1998 - Bank of Mobile
1998 - Virginia & Emile Naman
1998 - Mary Margaret & Bill Monahan
1998 - Leanne & David Naman
1998 - Monica & Randy Setterstrom
1999 - All America City Competition Committee
1999 - AmSouth Bank
2000 - Councilman Thomas Sullivan
2000 - Mr. Etsie Formam
2001 - America's Junior Miss Program
2001 - Mr. Robert S. Wilbanks
2002 - Museum of Mobile and City of Mobile - Museum of Mobile in Old City Hall - & Southern Market
2002 - Metcalfe & Associates and Federal Bureau of Investigation - New FBI Building at 200 North Royal Street
2002 - Hayley Maulsby - Dauphin Street International Beer Festival
OUTSTANDING CITIZEN AWARD
1995 - Dr. Sam Eichold
1996 - Mr. Andrew Saunders
1998 - Most Reverend Oscar H. Lipscomb, Archbishop of Mobile
1999 - Mrs. Marian Pfeiffer
2002 - Mrs. Deborah DeGuire
DOWNTOWN INNOVATION AWARD
1995 - Port City Brewery
1996 - Mr. & Mrs. Tilmon
1996 - Mr. & Mrs. Gordan Moulton
1998 - Bienville Bistro - Mr. Chakli Diggs
1998 - Drayton Place - Sonya & Eric Buckner
1998 - Cathedral Square Art Gallery
1999 - Thomas Roofing Company, Inc.
1999 - Jefferys Steel Company, Inc.
2000 - Mr. Ted Pitsios
2001 - Mobile Bar Association
2001 - W. T. Neal Trust
2001 - Mr. Jacque W. Pate, Jr.
2001 - Janet and Larry Thomas
2001 - St. Joseph Street Project, L.L.C.
2002 - Café 615 - Wendell Quimby
2002 - Bert Lyles - Tower on Ryan Park Rehabilitation
2002 - Voice Stream
2002 - Breland Properties - St. Francis Place Condominiums
BIENVILLE AWARD
1995 - University of South Alabama Archives & Saenger Theatre
1996 - Mr. Wendell Quimby
1996 - Mr. Clarence H. Oswell
1998 - Mobile Arts and Sports Association
1998 - Bayfest, Inc.
1999 - Gulf Coast Exploreum
2000 - J. L. Bedsole Foundation
2001 - Mr. Arthur R. Outlaw
2002 - Sergeant Craig Richards
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
2001 - McGill Toolen High School Key Club
2002 - Mr. Leon Barkan
THE PRESIDENTS AWARD
2002 - Mr. Gil Branton
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For more information contact Rhonda Davis (251) 208-7443