Monday, December 17, 2007
Celebrate Alabama: Frequently Asked Questions
November 21, 2007
Celebrate Alabama - Frequently Asked Questions
Source: Silver Companies
What features make Celebrate Alabama unique?
Celebrate Alabama can best be described as a retail resort and entertainment destination, encompassing shopping and a range of restaurant types and amenities, including live entertainment. The development would span more than 535 acres and include numerous hotels, including an indoor water park hotel, and a large Expo Center for hosting trade and consumer shows and other large-scale business or cultural events. Unlike typical shopping plazas, Celebrate Alabama would incorporate many acres of green space, ample walking/hiking trails and other pedestrian areas, a variety of attractions and unique commemorations of Alabama’s heritage. Finally, Celebrate Alabama is custom-designed to reflect and celebrate the best that Alabama and Opelika have to offer.
What are some of the benefits Celebrate Alabama would bring to the community?
Celebrate Alabama would generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for the City of Opelika. It would directly create thousands of new jobs. It would also serve as enticement for corporations looking to relocate in Central Alabama, since Opelika would be able to offer state-of-the-art training and meeting facilities. The residents of Opelika would have access to shopping, dining and entertainment on par with larger cities. Perhaps most importantly, Celebrate Alabama would offer residents an additional source of pride in their state and in their history.
How would Celebrate Alabama help businesses in Opelika?
Celebrate Alabama has been carefully designed to complement existing local businesses and to help drive visitors to the downtown area by creating more reasons for people to come and stay longer. We expect the majority of guests would be first-time visitors to Opelika who otherwise might not be aware of the city’s beautiful downtown or vibrant local businesses. As a new gateway to the City, Celebrate Alabama would further offer new opportunities to promote Opelika’s landmarks and historic areas. Business owners who are interested in being part of Celebrate Alabama should contact Denny Weiss, executive vice president, Silver Capital Commercial Investments at (561) 981-5252 or .
What stores, restaurants or hotels would be part of Celebrate Alabama?
We have already started negotiating with major national and regional retailers and hotels. While it is too early to name specific businesses, we do expect an array of large stores and hotels, well-known restaurants, and multiple entertainment venues.
Exactly where would the retail resort and entertainment destination be located?
Celebrate Alabama would lie directly parallel to I-85 and would span between exits 64 (Highway 29) and 66 (Andrews Road). The development would be located entirely within the city limits of Opelika.
When would you break ground?
The project would get underway the first quarter of 2008.
Is there a Celebrate Alabama Web site?
The Web site for this project is still under development. We hope to have it ready soon.
Who is Silver Companies?
Silver Companies is a Metro Washington, D.C.- and Boca Raton, Fla.-based master developer of large commercial and residential land tracts and a diversified real estate investment firm. Since 1941 Silver Companies has built a private enterprise with commercial development approaching 11 million-square-feet, residential site development totaling more than 60,000 units, apartment community fund assets under management in excess of $200 million, and a hotel division that boasts Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites and Hyatt Place franchises. In addition, the company’s private equity division has provided more than $1 billion in capital to builders and developers during the last six years. Silver Companies is led by CEO Larry D. Silver and is backed by teams of division presidents, engineers, contractors, project managers, lending, leasing and acquisitions professionals and nationally-recognized strategic partners.
For more information, visit http://www.silvercompanies.com.
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