THE “NEW” UNDERPASS

After years of joint planning and months of traffic detouring, the construction phase of the Underpass Project is now 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.   The restored site now 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 made possible by a group of 10 very generous Underwriting Sponsors (listed below).   Altogether, their gifts of $545,000 fully covered our construction budget.

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 behind us, 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 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 (2/18/25), we have received total gifts of $114,660 designated to our Endowment account.   Of that total, $98,000 was provided by an additional group of 29 Underwriting Sponsors  (listed below) who each contributed $1,000 or more and by general donations of $16,660 provided by an additional 80 civic-minded members of our community.

That said, we now need an additional $35,340 of contributions to achieve our goal of $150,000.

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 39 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.

UNDERWRITING SPONSOR LIST:

Construction Phase: 

 Nan H. Altmayer Charitable Trust

 Anonymous (1)

 J. L. Bedsole Foundation

 Lewis and Karen Anne Beville

 David J. Cooper Family Charitable Foundation

 Great Southern Wood Preserving

 Hearin-Chandler Foundation

 Ben May Charitable Trust

 A.S. Mitchell Foundation

 City of Mobile

Endowment Phase: 

 Alabama Export Railroad Co.

 Beard Equipment Company

 Preston and Sage Bolt

 Ty and Johannah Bullard

 Burton Family Holdings 

 Allan and Cele Cameron

 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)

 Joy and James Grodnick Charitable Foundation

 Hancock Whitney Bank

 Hydro Technologies

 Inge and Associates Real Estate

 LLB & B Real Estate Company

 Elliot and Nell Maisel

 A. S. Mitchell Foundation

 Mitchell McLeod Pugh and Williams

 Andy and Margaret Newton

 Allen and Kimi Oaks

 Overseas Hardwood Company

 John and Allison Peebles

 Fred and Alicia Stimpson

 William S. and Jean Stimpson

 Mark and Augusta Tapia

 Thames Batre Insurance

 Carter and Amelia Thomas

 Merrill and Carolyn Thomas

 Trustmark Bank

CONCLUSION 

We are grateful for each one of the 39 Underwriting Sponsors and 80 general donors who have generously helped make both the construction and endowment phases of the Underpass Project a success.   Our remaining challenge now is to receive additional donations in the amount of $35,340 to fully fund our Endowment account goal of $150,000.   When this is achieved, the lasting vibrancy of the Underpass site will be assured for years to come.

PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO HELP US FULLY FUND THE REMAINING NEED OF $35,340.

THANK YOU!