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Projects

The Marx Foundation in its endeavors to carry out Julien’s legacy and commitment to good works, has funded and continues to fund several projects that are intended to contribute to the betterment of our community and the nation as a whole . Those projects include :

University of South Alabama - Marx Library

The Marx Foundation has pledged a total of Three Million Dollars to the University of South Alabama in order to renovate the third floor of its existing library building and turn that floor into an archive facility. As of January 2021 , two thirds of that pledge has been paid , with the remainder to be paid in 2021. The renovation is completed and the facility is operational housing a plethora of valuable historical documents . In appreciation of the Foundation’s generosity , the University has renamed the library as the Marx Library . We are more than pleased to have Julien’s name upon this campus landmark.

University of South Alabama - The Marx Scholarship

The Marx Foundation has pledged a total of Three Million Dollars to the University of South Alabama in order to renovate the third floor of its existing library building and turn that floor into an archive facility. As of January 2021 , two thirds of that pledge has been paid , with the remainder to be paid in 2021. The renovation is completed and the facility is operational housing a plethora of valuable historical documents . In appreciation of the Foundation’s generosity , the University has renamed the library as the Marx Library . We are more than pleased to have Julien’s name upon this campus landmark.

University of South Alabama - The Histatek Peptide

Julien was constantly learning about scientific projects that had as their goal the betterment and welfare of mankind. It was this mindset that motivated him to invest in a start up biotech company , named Histatek . Histatek underwrote research on a peptide which it sought to reach FDA approval as a drug approved to be used as a non- steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment for respiratory disorders. When Histatek filed its petition for relief in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix , Arizona , Julien and his long time friend , the late Robert J. Williams , partnered with another group of investors from Wyoming to form a new company named Mowycal Lending ,LLC and acquire in the name of that new company the Histatek technology. With the Foundation’s relationship with the University of South Alabama providing the bridge to the school’s research capabilities , Mowycal is presently funding a study being performed by USA’s medical school personnel to determine whether the Histatek peptide has therapeutic value as a treatment for an incurable childhood disease of the autoimmune system known as HIEG. The first stage of the study is complete with the researchers convinced that the drug shows promise for the intended use. Mowycal is in the process of applying for grant to fund the next stage of the study. The Trustees of the Foundation are optimistic about a successful result going forward.

FarmScape

Julien was always interested in cutting edge technology , especially when it promised to lend itself to the benefit of his fellow man and especially when it was herbal and / or organic in nature. So , it seemed to be no stretch for the Foundation to explore the newly legalized field of cannabinoid products intended to provide pain relief without prescription strength ingredients or traditional analgesic blends. With the passage of the Farm Bill and the issuance of licenses by the state of Alabama for the growth and processing of hemp flower,. The Foundation teamed with an Auburn educated agronomist , Jayme Oates , whose labor of love was in providing scientific assistance to Alabama farmers , to form FarmScape Ventures ,LLC. The start up company , which is owned jointly by a wholly owned affiliate of the Foundation and by Ms. Oates , obtained one of the first growing and processing licenses issued by the state. License in hand , and financing provided by the Foundation , the new company built a processing plant in a rented industrial facility in Mobile . Its plant containing state of the art equipment , including proprietary method and procedures , is one of only three such plants now operating in Alabama. While it was the original intent of the owners to limit the plant’s operations to the tolling ( processing ) of hemp flower , the impact of the pandemic on the overall economy , marked by plummeting prices in the hemp crude oil market , necessitated a mid course correction resulting in FarmScape bottling full spectrum hemp oil , under its own label and offering the same for consumer sale. FarmScape has now created its own web site and underwritten a digital advertising campaign to kick off its entry into the retail market.

Real Estate Rehabilitations

Commerce Building

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Pinebrook Shopping Center

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The Tower on Ryan Park

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Northcross Shopping Center

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Cottage Crest Village

Parkway Shopping Center

The commerce building

Julien’s next major acquisition was the Commerce building , an eleven story office building in downtown which was not able to service the existing debt which encumbered the facility.  Julien acquired the building from Jay Altmayer by assuming the mortgage and putting his heart and soul into renovations and leasing .  After a number of years , Julien got the building into positive cash flow and then sold the project to a group of New York investors  that included Harry Helmsley’s real estate lawyer and Helmsley’ accountant.  Fast forward a few years and the building ,suffering from poor local management , was once again not able to service its debt. The New York based owners , realizing that without Julien’s management their investment was of marginal value , gave Julien a 25% interest in the building in return for his agreement ot manage it. Following Julien’s death and as a direct result of his efforts to turn the project around , the Foundation and its co-owners were able to sell the building for 1.1 million.

PINEBROOK SHOPPING CENTER

Perhaps the most ambitious undertaking of all for Julien was the acquisition and development of Pinebrook Shopping Center on Airport Boulevard in Mobile .  Julien with  the participation of two minority partners , his mother and Bill Youngblood , purchased the Pinebrook shopping center from John Cochrane and then acquired the land immediately west of it.  After negotiating the termination of leases from an existing  tenant , or two ,  Julien converted the center into a big box unit , remodeling existing space and building new structures for additional tenants. When the time came to sell the center , Julien was able to negotiate an $18,400,000 sales price which by use of section 1031 tax free exchanges he was able to reinvest in multiple investment properties.

THE CREIGHTON TOWERS / Tower on Ryan Park

One of Julien’s first major project was the 134 unit midrise apartment building located in downtown Mobile , then known as the Creighton Towers.  Julien first changed the name to The Tower on Ryan Park .  He then over saw multiple interior renovations to upgrade the property , with only minor disruptions to the tenants , most of whom were senior citizens , so as to maintain the occupancy of the building with only minor rent increases in rent.  His tenant retention helped give the project its reputation as safe housing for seniors in the downtown area . When time came for a major overhaul , which was going to require moving existing tenants out of their apartments and increasing rents , Julien chose rather to sell the complex as he just did not have the heart to do it himself. 

NORTHCROSS SHOPPING CENTER

Of the properties acquired with the exchange proceeds of the Pinebrook sale , the Northcross Shopping Center became the most serious focus of Julien’s attention. This center  , located on North Davis Highway in Pensacola presented an ambitious undertaking which Julien had only begun at the time of his death.  After his demise , the Marx Trustees , with the able assistance of the McAleer Tunstall Company were able to complete the updating and leasing of the center resulting in a productive asset that is the North Star of the Marital Trust.