Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

A Q&A in the paper this morning. I imagine the layout is probably more accurate than the developer is letting on. The cat is kind of out of the bag.
There may be different tenants but everything seems to going toward the layout that is out there.

"Q. I recently saw a site plan for the Harris Hill development near the intersection of Moore's Mill Road and U.S. 72. Do you know how much of this site plan is concept and how much is actually going to happen?

A. Cole Walker, a partner in Walker Family Properties, the developer of the planned mixed-use development at U.S. 72 East at the Moores Mill Road extension, said that the preliminary site plan by an Atlanta-based architecture firm that has circulated recently is "a concept only" and "doesn't represent the site plan of the owner. That's not my site plan." The plan was prepared for a Texas developer "interested in a joint venture" with the developers, Walker said. Asked about prospective retailers, Walker said, "There's been dialogue with a number of tenants."

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

A Q&A in the paper this morning. I imagine the layout is probably more accurate than the developer is letting on. The cat is kind of out of the bag.
There may be different tenants but everything seems to going toward the layout that is out there.

"Q. I recently saw a site plan for the Harris Hill development near the intersection of Moore's Mill Road and U.S. 72. Do you know how much of this site plan is concept and how much is actually going to happen?

A. Cole Walker, a partner in Walker Family Properties, the developer of the planned mixed-use development at U.S. 72 East at the Moores Mill Road extension, said that the preliminary site plan by an Atlanta-based architecture firm that has circulated recently is "a concept only" and "doesn't represent the site plan of the owner. That's not my site plan." The plan was prepared for a Texas developer "interested in a joint venture" with the developers, Walker said. Asked about prospective retailers, Walker said, "There's been dialogue with a number of tenants."

It doesn't have to be exactly the same. As long as we keep the Target, Best Buy, Barnes and Nobles, Jcpenney, and numerous restaraunts and other retails shops i'm ok with it.

[HSVTiger]

One of the coolest storefronts at Bridge Street would have to be Anthropologie.
It is a fairly large store with some odd angles and some of the walls are covered with plants, vertically. A complete carpet of living ferns, moss, small flowers and other interesting plants. all the way up to the second story. They are drip watered it looks like, kind of a rain forest looking effect. Should really
be impressive after they all take root.

[marvingardns]

They are finally marketing condos to the right market: $100k - $150k is perfect for young professionals. A banker I know could not understand why developers are shooting for 350k -450k condo projects. There is even skepticism that Constellation will ever get off the ground the way we have hoped until the current condos are turned over and Bridge Street performs to expectations. Bankers are watching closely especially since all markets appear to be softening. In one banker's opinion, housing in the $150k - $250k is the healthiest (but softening), $250 - $500 the worst (excessive supply, little turnover). Housing in the $500 + range remains healthy, but they are almost always custom builds anyhow. With the mid-range housing showing excessive supply, that means the same for condos.

All interesting news, and while not promising for some developments and projects, it does indicate that the Lincoln Mill announcement is the best and most promising yet provided the financing and deposits can come through. Unfortunately, the $100k - $150k condo market will not prompt deposits and requires more upfront capital and comes with more stringent financing.

[HSVTiger]

opening Saturday



http://www.heavenlyspahuntsville.com/

[HSVTiger]

a little bit different experience for movie goers at Monaco theaters.








Blalock photos

[HSVTiger]

Digiums new HQ building


Huntsville-based Digium, creator and primary developer of Asterisk®, the telecommunications industry's first open source telephony platform, recently celebrated a ribbon cutting and grand opening at its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Cummings Research Park.

[HSVTiger]

The new Shelby Center building at UAH (University of Alabama Huntsville)
Grand Opening.






UAH photos

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville airport news

By MARIAN ACCARDI
Times Business Writer [email protected]
Decatur company involved in project set at $7.5 million

Huntsville airport officials are starting final talks with Decatur-based Fite Building Co. Inc. for a new 84,000-square-foot air cargo building at the International Intermodal Center.

The Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority on Tuesday directed Rick Tucker, executive director of Huntsville International Airport, to start final negotiations with Fite over a design/build contract price that's within the approved budget for the air cargo facility. The building will have office and warehouse space.



The authority also gave the go-ahead for Tucker to enter into a ground lease agreement with McLean, Va.-based Aviation Facilities Co. Inc. for property at the intermodal center. Yates Construction Co., based in Philadelphia, Miss., and RW Armstrong, based in Indianapolis, will build a facility for WestWind Technologies Inc. to maintain, repair and overhaul aircraft and aircraft parts. WestWind is a Huntsville-based defense contractor.

The 63,000-square-foot hangar will be large enough to accommodate two Air Force C-130 aircraft and additional helicopters, said Brooks Kracke, the director of Jetplex Industrial Park.

Aviation Facilities will own the hangar and lease it to WestWind, Kracke said.

In other business, Tucker reported there were 107,390 airport passengers in November, up 12.9 percent from the same month last year. The passenger count through November was nearly 1.14 million, a 7.3 percent increase over the same period last year, according to airport figures.

"We anticipate (the traffic count) to be up about 7 percent for the year," Tucker said.

[HSVTiger]

New downtown fire/police station breaks ground

"The 33,094 square-foot police-fire hall on Clinton will sport a historic look to blend in with the neighborhood and retain the aura of a downtown fire hall. No firm plans have been made for the space freed by the Church Street fire hall relocation. Matheny Goldmon Architects of Huntsville did the design. Completion is expected in about a year.

City Councilman Bill Kling said the Clinton project will have the twin benefit of combining efficiencies and promoting cooperation within the police and fire departments and rejuvenating west Huntsville.

Monday also marked the 185th anniversary of the Huntsville Fire Department. The Church Street fire headquarters moved there in the 1960s when the municipal complex was built. One of the earliest known city fire stations was at Madison and Franklin streets, according to fire spokesman Jay Gates."

The $5.25 million facility is being built on Clinton Avenue just west of Memorial Parkway. Tenants will include the west precinct police headquarters, now in a leased building on Triana Boulevard, and the downtown fire station on Church Street across from the duck pond.

Spencer said the combined facilities will be more efficient and accommodate the departments' growth.

"It was a natural move to join these two together. Having the services jointly under one roof is a standard we want to set for other parts of the city," she said.

City Councilman Richard Showers revealed the city's next possible joint police/fire operation - a facility combining the north precinct, now on Mastin Lake Road near Memorial Parkway, and the fire station along Memorial Parkway near Alabama A&M University.

"Just as soon as you get this building built, let's get started on the north," he said.

[HSVTiger]

At Alabama A&M

A city planning subcommittee signed off Wednesday on a proposed intermodal bus terminal at Alabama A&M University for its developing campus bus system.

The complex will be built west of the George Washington Carver complex facing the university's Quadrangle. Cort Heller of SKT Architects said construction should begin early next year and be completed by late summer.



Plans shown to the Planning Commission's subdivision subcommittee depict a red-brick complex with restrooms, an office for dispatch, rest area for drivers, and shelter for about 200 students with a vending area.

University officials estimate the project will cost about $250,000. The university's transit system, now in its third year, averages 2,500 to 3,000 passengers a day.

[marvingardns]

I didn't even know the new Voodoo Lounge opened up on the square. Anyone checked it out?

[daveyp]

Originally Posted by marvingardns

I didn't even know the new Voodoo Lounge opened up on the square. Anyone checked it out?

it's just judge crater's tavern with a new name. never been a fan of that place.

[HSVTiger]

Time for a new city hall, this problem was supposedly fixed years ago.

"City General Services Director Jeff Easter said the security measures may be in place for up to a year while a firm specializing in marble exteriors conducts an in-depth analysis of the building's exterior. The nine story, marble-sided building was built in 1962 with a smaller north addition constructed in 1986.

The assessment will guide officials in fashioning a fix.

Remedies could include repairs, marble panel replacement or even a new City Hall. Easter said nothing is off the table at this point. "

[jmanhsv]

Found this on Bidclerk:

"Est. Start Date: April 2008
Site work and new construction of a multi-residential development in Huntsville. Design plans call for the construction of a 15-story apartment complex.
A firm construction schedule has not been established pending municipal approval. No inquiries are requested at this time."

Could this be the Scrimsher project? If it went on top of the 6-level parking garage proposed at Holmes and Greene, it would be the 21-story building he proposed five years ago. Or it may be another project that we haven't heard about yet....

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

Found this on Bidclerk:

"Est. Start Date: April 2008
Site work and new construction of a multi-residential development in Huntsville. Design plans call for the construction of a 15-story apartment complex.
A firm construction schedule has not been established pending municipal approval. No inquiries are requested at this time."

Could this be the Scrimsher project? If it went on top of the 6-level parking garage proposed at Holmes and Greene, it would be the 21-story building he proposed five years ago. Or it may be another project that we haven't heard about yet....

sounds promising, the garage you mention is a separate project. The Schrimsher project was mentioned as being at the corner of Holmes and Washington I think, and did include a 6 level garage but maybe the plans changed. Maybe a revised Randolph building?
The new YMCA downtown (the utility building across from Big Spring Summit)
had it's groundbreaking today. This will be a build out of that space and will be a great addition downtown. Hopefully 2008 will see downtown grow upward.

[HSVTiger]

Early Christmas presents for some city projects

Posted by John Peck December 21, 2007 12:58 PM
A ladder truck for the fire department, new carpeting for the main library, and major improvements to the city iceplex are in store for Huntsville, thanks to a healthy budget surplus from the city's $220 million 2006-2007 general fund budget.

The City Council approved an amendment to the 2007-08 budget Thursday night committing some $2.5 million of the $12.3 million in leftover money. The council previously approved nearly $2 million worth of expenditures from the surplus, including $700,000 for new police cars.

City Finance Director Randy Taylor said Friday administration officials will review other capital needs to decide whether to spend more of the surplus.

"We've got a number of building issues we've talked about for two years," Taylor said.

Examples: a replacement roof for the natatorium, a new building for the city's fleet management and landscape management division; extensive repairs to failing wall panels at City Hall. "We're putting the rest (balance) on hold until we know what we want to do," he said.

[HSVTiger]

Good to see more business setting up shop downtown. This in the historic
art deco Times building

"The Driscoll Rucker Group is establishing offices on the eighth floor of the old Huntsville Times Building downtown, where Driscoll, 50, has been operating his Driscoll Communications for nearly four years. He launched his own firm after working for another advertising firm. "

[jmanhsv]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

sounds promising, the garage you mention is a separate project. The Schrimsher project was mentioned as being at the corner of Holmes and Washington I think, and did include a 6 level garage but maybe the plans changed. Maybe a revised Randolph building?
The new YMCA downtown (the utility building across from Big Spring Summit)
had it's groundbreaking today. This will be a build out of that space and will be a great addition downtown. Hopefully 2008 will see downtown grow upward.

Checked back on Bidclerk, and the map says the project is on the Oakwood College campus. However, I don't think the map is accurate. Why would there be a 15-story apartment building on a college campus with lots of land and only 2,000 students? And it would be a bit out of place outside of downtown and Research Park. So, I still think it's a downtown project. You're right, it may very well be a revised Randolph building. Or it might be something completely different. Who knows?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

Checked back on Bidclerk, and the map says the project is on the Oakwood College campus. However, I don't think the map is accurate. Why would there be a 15-story apartment building on a college campus with lots of land and only 2,000 students? And it would be a bit out of place outside of downtown and Research Park. So, I still think it's a downtown project. You're right, it may very well be a revised Randolph building. Or it might be something completely different. Who knows?

well that would really be a mistake. Sometimes they give wrong maps anybody registered with BidClerk,? I'm too cheap.

Meanwhile info on the YMCA

"Local officials announced today that the Heart of the Valley YMCA will open a 14,378-square-foot fitness center on the first floor of the Huntsville Utiliites building on Spragins Street. The Downtown Express Center will include weight machines, an aerobics studio and a state-of-the-art cardio theater.

Other amenities planned for the $850,000 project, which is expected to open in May, include aerobics and spinning studios, a whirlpool, women's and men's locker rooms and a child watch area. Cardio machines such as treadmills and stationary bicycles will be equipped with individual audio feed and video screens.

Exercisers may choose a music or TV station or plug in their own MP3 player, YMCA CEO Scott Mounts said. Yoga, Pilates and other exercise classes will be offered, he said."