ORANGE BEACH – Contrary to worries that the Alabama Gulf Coast economy is sagging, Brett/Robinson, a real estate development and sales firm based in Orange Beach, celebrated the completion of the last floor, the towering 27th, of its mega-condominium Phoenix West on Friday.  

Gov. Bob Riley and several hundred guests gathered in what will be the lobby - now a concrete shell - of the massive building, the 5th tallest in Alabama and just shy of the tallest, the 35-story Retirement Systems of Alabama Battle House Tower in Mobile.  

With a completion date set about a year from now, Phoenix West will amass nearly $200 million in construction spending, and currently 1,540 workers are on the payroll, according to a presentation by Brett/Robinson.  

Friday’s affair was held for the building’s construction workers, a celebration called a “topping out” party since concrete was recently poured for the final floor.    

And with $57.6 million in construction wages paid to the Phoenix West crew, an estimated $1.1 million per year in property taxes that will be collected from the building, $735,000 in annual lodging tax, and an anticipated $2 billion in economic impact for Baldwin County, Gov. Riley assured guests that the Gulf Coast economy will continue to thrive.  

“As long as we continue to build, you don’t have to worry about the economic impact,” Riley said.  “Baldwin County, these beaches, these units, sell Alabama to the rest of the world.”

The 1.3 million square foot structure will contain 225 units, ranging in cost from $749,000 (3 bedroom / 3 bath, 1,958 square feet) to $995,000 (4 bedroom / 4.5 bath, 2,560 square feet).  

An estimated 28,000 annual visitors are expected to be drawn to the building, pouring nearly $6 million into the tourism economy.  

“The tourism industry in Alabama becomes an economic catalyst for everything else in the state,” Riley said, and Brett/Robinson pointed out that the industry offers 39,000 jobs annually.  

Marie Curren, director of marketing for Brett/Robinson, said that sales have been steady with an average of one to two units sold per day.  

“This is another step upwards in improving the quality of rental and sales in the area,” she said. “As we improve, we try to improve on the quality.”

Curren also noted that the condominium exceeded wind regulations.  

“When the hurricane comes (Phoenix West) is going to do what it is designed to do,” Riley said.  “When you see two feet (wide) concrete walls, you see how far we’ve come in the debate.”