New Convention Center In Orange Beach?

Alabama Economy Local developer wants to build 170 million dollar luxury hotel and convention center...a plan that could jumpstart South Baldwin County's sluggish economy

by Pat Peterson

Published: Tue, August 04, 2009 - 4:13 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, August 04, 2009 - 6:47 pm CST

Business could be better at the Dippin' Dots ice cream shop in Orange Beach.

"We're still trying to recover from Hurricane Ivan," says owner Carmie Carr.

Carr says a new luxury resort that could be built across the street would be a gold mine of economic activity.

"That's really exciting because that could increase sales year-round for us here. Most of us either go to skeleton hours and totally shut down in the winter months, but if we have a convention center that's bringing in business, that's great for us."

A local developer wants to build a nine-acre, four-state hotel and convention center near Gulf State Park. The 170 million dollar beachfront complex would have a bowling alley, dinner theatre, two hotels and a state-of-the-art conference center. City leaders say the Winfield would rival the Beau Rivage as the Gulf Coast's premier properties and would create more than a thousand new jobs.

"It will bring in 800 temporary construction jobs for two years and 300 full-time positions," says Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon. "They should be fairly well-paid jobs, we're talking about a four-star convention center."

The city council is prepared to sign a letter of intent with the developer. If approved, construction on the Winfield could begin in early 2010. The project could be completed by 2012.

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