This French Quarter comes with a twist

Monday, November 05, 2007

By WENDY REEVES

Times Staff Writer wendy.reeves@htimes.com

Project will offer residents five-star hotel amenities

MADISON - If you've never shopped in the French Quarter in New Orleans, David Baker wants to give you a chance to do something like that in Madison.

Baker is setting up a project that would offer Madison residents a central place to shop and dine and the opportunity to live like the rich and famous.

"The Streets of Madison" started out as a concept by local developers John and Donna Blue. Baker has taken the idea of a New Orleans French Quarter look and added his own twist to create the proposed "economic ecosystem" with the emerging "5-Star Living" trend.

The proposed development would be located on 57 acres between Hughes Road and Wall Triana Highway with the project's businesses near the Madison Public Library on Plaza Drive.

Baker's plans involve a commercial/residential development that would offer residents amenities similar to those of a five-star hotel.

Residents who live in The Streets of Madison would pay an annual fee for a concierge service they can use for things such as travel arrangements, dinner reservations, in-home top-rated chefs, child day care drop-off and pickup, yard maintenance, pet services, maid service, delivery and local drop-off service, dry cleaning, grocery shopping service and in-home massage therapy.

"One call and everything you need will be taken care of," Baker said.

Baker, 37, lives in Guntersville and Madison County. He said he has renovated and sold houses in Huntsville's Five Points and he's flipped some commercial sites. But The Streets of Madison is a project he plans to keep, he said.

"This is my dream," he said

He and partner Michael Braun, founder of the recently formed Guardian Group, along with Amy Chavers of Guardian Realty, have been working on the deal since early this year. Baker said he's looking for construction to be under way on the 93,000-square-foot town center by June.

"That will be the mecca of the development, where everyone gathers or the focal point of it," Baker said.

In addition to upscale boutiques and restaurants, there are plans for third-floor lofts in the town center. Later phases of the development would include townhomes and a gated residential estates site.

The "5-Star Living" trend is what will set the development apart from others, Baker said.

He said the development will become an economic ecosystem because the amenities would be provided by businesses within The Streets of Madison. But anyone would be able to shop and enjoy the stores, restaurants and services of the commercial development.

Madison Planning Director Bob Atallo said some changes will have to be made to the city's zoning regulation for such a mixed-used development.

"It's a great project and I'd like to see it happen," Atallo said.

Mayor Sandy Kirkindall said it would be a boost to the city's revenue potential, and that's always welcome. The city hasn't agreed to any incentives for the project, he said.

Baker is projecting an estimated $2.5 million in annual sales tax revenue for the city from the development.

Lori Severin, a landscape architect with Foresight, said she's excited about working on the project.

"When we moved to the area three years ago, I was talking with my son about this school called Bob Jones High School," she said. "When I came for a visit I wanted to check out Madison. I called my husband and told him I couldn't find Madison. He asked where I was and I told him on a street called Hughes Road and he told me I was there."

The Severins moved to the area from the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area.

"It's not what I expected to find," Severin said. "It wasn't a city or doesn't have a city space that really gives it a sense of community."

She eventually found the historic downtown Main Street area.

"The people are so wonderful there," Severin said. "But a historic district does not a town make."



This French Quarter comes with a twist Monday, November 05, 2007 By WENDY REEVES Times Staff Writer wendy.reeves@htimes.com Project will offer residents five-star hotel amenities MADISON - If you've never shopped in the French Quarter in New Orleans, David Baker wants to give you a chance to do something like that in Madison. Baker is setting up a project that would offer Madison residents a central place to shop and dine and the opportunity to live like the rich and famous. "The Streets of Madison" started out as a concept by local developers John and Donna Blue. Baker has taken the idea of a New Orleans French Quarter look and added his own twist to create the proposed "economic ecosystem" with the emerging "5-Star Living" trend. The proposed development would be located on 57 acres between Hughes Road and Wall Triana Highway with the project's businesses near the Madison Public Library on Plaza Drive. Baker's plans involve a commercial/residential development that would offer residents amenities similar to those of a five-star hotel. Residents who live in The Streets of Madison would pay an annual fee for a concierge service they can use for things such as travel arrangements, dinner reservations, in-home top-rated chefs, child day care drop-off and pickup, yard maintenance, pet services, maid service, delivery and local drop-off service, dry cleaning, grocery shopping service and in-home massage therapy. "One call and everything you need will be taken care of," Baker said. Baker, 37, lives in Guntersville and Madison County. He said he has renovated and sold houses in Huntsville's Five Points and he's flipped some commercial sites. But The Streets of Madison is a project he plans to keep, he said. "This is my dream," he said He and partner Michael Braun, founder of the recently formed Guardian Group, along with Amy Chavers of Guardian Realty, have been working on the deal since early this year. Baker said he's looking for construction to be under way on the 93,000-square-foot town center by June. "That will be the mecca of the development, where everyone gathers or the focal point of it," Baker said. In addition to upscale boutiques and restaurants, there are plans for third-floor lofts in the town center. Later phases of the development would include townhomes and a gated residential estates site. The "5-Star Living" trend is what will set the development apart from others, Baker said. He said the development will become an economic ecosystem because the amenities would be provided by businesses within The Streets of Madison. But anyone would be able to shop and enjoy the stores, restaurants and services of the commercial development. Madison Planning Director Bob Atallo said some changes will have to be made to the city's zoning regulation for such a mixed-used development. "It's a great project and I'd like to see it happen," Atallo said. Mayor Sandy Kirkindall said it would be a boost to the city's revenue potential, and that's always welcome. The city hasn't agreed to any incentives for the project, he said. Baker is projecting an estimated $2.5 million in annual sales tax revenue for the city from the development. Lori Severin, a landscape architect with Foresight, said she's excited about working on the project. "When we moved to the area three years ago, I was talking with my son about this school called Bob Jones High School," she said. "When I came for a visit I wanted to check out Madison. I called my husband and told him I couldn't find Madison. He asked where I was and I told him on a street called Hughes Road and he told me I was there." The Severins moved to the area from the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area. "It's not what I expected to find," Severin said. "It wasn't a city or doesn't have a city space that really gives it a sense of community." She eventually found the historic downtown Main Street area. "The people are so wonderful there," Severin said. "But a historic district does not a town make." © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.