THE “NEW” UNDERPASS

After years of joint planning and months of traffic detouring, the construction phase of the Underpass Project is nearly complete!  If you’ve happened to drive, walk or bike through the Midtown area of Old Shell Road lately, you’ve hopefully noticed, and enjoyed, the look and feel of the “new” Underpass.  While the landscaping and lighting elements will remain a work-in-progress through September, the restored site already brings a fresh, friendly and inviting appeal to one of Mobile’s most heavily traveled and highly visible corridors.  

A JOINT EFFORT

In 2021, our non-profit entity, Community of Mobile, Inc., was formed to pursue a transformation of the underpass site.   A shared vision for the site drew together the City of Mobile, the Alabama Export Railroad Co. and Community of Mobile, Inc.  With that vision, “The Underpass Project” began.  It took shape as a public/private partnership, and since then, scores of dedicated individuals, both public and private, have collaborated to bring this project to fruition.

PHASE I  -  CONSTRUCTION ($545,000)

Community of Mobile, Inc. assumed responsibility for raising the funds necessary to complete the project as well as the role of "project owner" for the purposes of engaging the contractors.  The success of the construction phase was ensured when, in 2023, an original group of 9 very generous Underwriting Sponsors, consisting of individuals, Foundations, Corporations and City of Mobile, committed to advance major gifts of $478,000, slightly exceeding our original construction budget of $467,000.   Recently however, the cost of all hard and soft costs for this phase morphed to $545,000.   Fortunately, subsequent additional donations recently made by three of our original Sponsors plus one new anonymous Underwriting Sponsor brought our total contributions from all Underwriting Sponsors to $545,000, equaling the new budget.   Of this $545,000, the City of Mobile generously contributed $275,000.

In addition to the extensive scope of revitalization work being performed by our non-profit, the City of Mobile used the temporary detour as an opportunity to make other meaningful City authorized improvements of their own accord.  These improvements include replacing the broken curbing with all new curbing on both sides of the street, milling and resurfacing the asphalt roadway, painting the trestle and applying a uniform coating to the recently power washed concrete support columns.   We are indebted to both Mayor Stimpson and Kate Luce Bourgeois of Alabama Export Railroad for facilitating and gaining approval of CN Railroad for the City to perform the sorely needed trestle painting and concrete coating. 

Finally, while the much more extensive down-stream drainage and flooding issues are far beyond the scope and reach of this revitalization project, the City has taken this opportunity to clean-out the onsite storm drains and apply an interior liner coating to the aging drainage pipes.   In so many respects, this project has indeed been a public / private endeavor.

PHASE II -  ENDOWMENT FUND ($150,000):

With the initial construction phase coming to an end, we are now focused on the equally important phase of ongoing annual maintenance, future enhancements and recurring administrative expenses necessary to keep the restored site physically attractive and vibrant.  Our non-profit (which is 100% volunteer with zero salary expense or independent fundraising fees) has assumed responsibility for this important and ongoing task, estimated to cost upwards of $7,500 annually.  To help fund and defray that obligation, Community of Mobile, Inc. is in process of establishing a separate endowment account with a goal of $150,000.   It will be overseen by our board of directors, and it will be administered by a professional local asset management firm.   To date, $88,500 of advance major gifts have been contributed for this purpose by yet another generous group of 27 civic minded Underwriting Sponsors.   In addition, another $14,285 in general donations have been received by our non-profit from 65 individuals and businesses.  

That said, we now need an additional $47,215 of general community contributions to ensure the success of this very important phase. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP 

Your contribution of $25 - $50 - $100 - $250 - $500 or any amount to our non-profit (by mail or online) will be a welcomed step toward the achievement this important goal of $150,000.  Your support will help ensure that, once restored, this highly visible site continues to be a fresh and appealing aspect of Mobile's landscape for all who live, work and visit in our City. 

MOBILE’S MOMENTUM!

Under the leadership of Mayor Stimpson and the support of our City Council, Mobile has witnessed incredible progress, both tangible and intangible, over the past decade.  That kind of leadership continues to spark new initiatives and motivate private investment in our City’s well-being.  The combined result is an ongoing parade of progress that we can now see and feel rolling all across our City.

THANK YOU!!

On behalf of our non-profit board, the City of Mobile, the Alabama Export Railroad Co. and so many others who made this project happen, thank you for considering this appeal for your donation.  With community support, The Underpass Project will be yet another example of how public/private partnerships can help shape our City in new, innovative and transformative ways.

UNDERWRITING SPONSORS:

We are indebted to the following group of 37 civic-minded Underwriting Sponsors for their commitment to the construction and endowment phases of this endeavor by way of their very generous advance major gifts to Community of Mobile, Inc.  These donors largely represent the financial fuel and community support that has gotten us thus far.  Collectively, this group of major donors have contributed $633,000, with $275,000 of that coming from the City of Mobile and $358,000 from the other 36 Underwriting Sponsors.

Construction Phase: 

 City of Mobile

 J. L. Bedsole Foundation

 Lewis and Karen Anne Beville

 Hearin-Chandler Foundation

 Great Southern Wood Preserving (Yella Wood)

 A.S. Mitchell Foundation

 Ben May Charitable Trust

 Nan H. Altmayer Charitable Trust

 Anonymous (1)

 David J. Cooper Family Charitable Foundation

Endowment Phase:

 Ty and Johannah Bullard

 Burton Family Holdings

 China Doll Rice and Beans, Inc.

 David J. Cooper Family Charitable Foundation

 Chris and Sonya Gomel

 Autry Greer and Sons, Inc. (Greer’s Grocery Stores)

 Hancock Whitney Bank

 Hydro Technologies

 Mitchell McLeod Pugh and Williams

 Andy and Margaret Newton

 John and Allison Peebles

 Thames Batre Insurance

 Alabama Export Railroad

 Trustmark Bank

 Beard Equipment Company

 Allan and Cele Cameron

 Joy and James Grodnick Charitable Foundation

 LLB & B Real Estate Company

 Carter and Amelia Thomas

 Merrill and Carolyn Thomas

 Fred and Alicia Stimpson

 Preston and Sage Bolt

 Inge and Associates Real Estate

 Elliot and Nell Maisel

 Allen and Kimi Oaks

 William S. Stimpson

 Mark and Augusta Tapia

FUNDRAISING SUMMARY

The total fundraising requirement for The Underpass Project is $695,000, which consists of $545,000 for Phase I Construction plus $150,000 for the Phase II Endowment goal.  Of that total, our non-profit has gladly received total contributions of $647,785 as of 9/24/24 from 102 generous donors, including $275,000 from the City of Mobile.  Consequently, we still need an additional $47,215 in general community donations.

When this remaining goal is attainted, our Endowment account will then be fully funded, and the lasting vibrancy of the Underpass site will be assured for years to come.