Huntsville updates

[HSV79]

Kinda old news.... Not to knock anyone...I had announced this like 6 months ago to a year ago. Lets just say you might be seeing double and it might not just be engines.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSV79

Kinda old news.... Not to knock anyone...I had announced this like 6 months ago to a year ago. Lets just say you might be seeing double and it might not just be engines.

well the site locations are a little more firm, hopefully you will be correct.
What else would be built, transmissions maybe?

[HSV79]

Hey HSVTIGER, I mentioned the Huntsville expansions some time ago. And yes read that sentence again no typo there. I also wanted to mention that it seems Toyota is now the number 1 automaker in the world..Impressive. Now if only we could talk someone into building a signature tower downtown.

[HSVTiger]

not too exciting now but this long rumored project will transform downtown in a big way. Demolition and hopefully renderings by this summer.

From WHNT
New light is about to shine on Market Square.

Businesses have called the shopping center home since the 1960s, but it's obvious time has passed the building by.

"It needs to be redeveloped," said developer Scott McLain.

That's the plan for 2007. McLain wants to make it a jewel for the downtown area.

"It will be very exciting," said McLain. "We expect it to be a used mixture development with hotels, offices, and retail, and restaurants and entertainment venues and places to live. As of right now none of that is planned specifically."
But the work is underway. Workers have removed asbestos from the main building, and they've torn down the L.B.J. Auto facility. Demolition on the mall won't start until the lease expires on the only business that remains in Market Square, the Sand Dollar Tanning Salon.

"We won't be doing any demolition till we complete our discussions with that tenant," said McLain. "We will move forward as it makes sense."

McLain says the new development will be a high rise mixture of two- and three-story buildings, with some eight-story buildings.

"100,000 people drive up and down the Parkway everyday," said McLain. "When they're driving by they'll say 'oh that's downtown.' It's right there on the Parkway as opposed to saying downtown it's over there somewhere with those buildings, and sort of out of mind."

McLain's plans are another sign of the revitalization of downtown Huntsville. Just in time for the thousands of new workers coming to town because of the Pentagon's Base Realignment and Closure process.

The BRAC of 2005 moved new several new commands to Redstone Arsenal. The city's expected to get more than 5,000 new jobs.

Scott McLain won't say exactly when construction will start on his new facility.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSV79

Hey HSVTIGER, I mentioned the Huntsville expansions some time ago. And yes read that sentence again no typo there. I also wanted to mention that it seems Toyota is now the number 1 automaker in the world..Impressive. Now if only we could talk someone into building a signature tower downtown.

Toyota needs to make HSV it's Southeastern HQ, centrally located among it's facilities.
A 25 story building would be nice, call it Solara Tower.

[HSVTiger]

Athens and Huntsville getting closer and closer

By STEVE CAMPBELL
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Home-building boom brings need for more services

Every time the Limestone County Commission meets, the same subject comes up: growth and how to prepare for it.

For Commission Chairman David Seibert, it starts with approving phases of subdivision development every two weeks.

Seibert said the commission approved 31 new subdivisions in 2005 and another 40 in 2006, many of them near the Madison County line.

The anticipation of thousands of new jobs at Redstone Arsenal by 2011 likely means more home development in 2007, he said.

Plus, the area is already growing fast. According to a 2005 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau, Limestone County's population was 70,469, up from the official 65,676 in 2000.

"I guess we can't mess it up bad enough to keep them from coming," Seibert said, joking.

His tone became more serious when describing the challenges new homes bring, including the need for better roads and new sewer lines. He said the commission will try everything possible to prepare for the new arrivals.

"We've been doing everything we can to get ready for the large push from BRAC and the phenomenal growth we're expecting," Seibert said.
Officials also expect more retail jobs in east Limestone County and industrial jobs in Athens.

Tom Hill, president of Limestone County Economic Development Association, said grocery stores, banks and other retail developments are needed in the east to support the surge in new homes.

He said new jobs in Athens will be in the "600 range" and come mostly from existing companies. The organization takes credit for helping create an average of 317 jobs per year in Athens since 2001

[HSVTiger]

new downtown garage moves closer,

New parking garage

The details have not been worked out, but the city plans to build another parking garage downtown.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization recently amended the transportation improvement plan to include $1.2 million for the proposed garage, said Steve Dinges, an assistant director in the Huntsville Planning Department. The organization is a group of local leaders who set transportation priorities for projects that get federal money.

U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, got the $1.2 million appropriation for the city, Dinges said.

"It's going to cost more than that, so we're going to have to get some more money" from Congress, Dinges said.

The number of parking spaces and the location of the garage have not been decided, but it will be in the downtown area, Dinges said.

"We have some possibilities," he said of locations.

The $1.2 million will let the city get started with designing the garage while it awaits more money to build it, Dinges said. There could be some costs to buy land for the garage, he said.

Dinges said there's a possibility that the city might get a private developer for a joint venture to build the garage. That's something the city did when it built the Colonial Bank building parking garage a few years ago, he said

[HSVTiger]

a little more info about the new type of theaters being built at Bridge Street.

The design of Monaco Pictures will differ greatly from a traditional movie theater. At Monaco, you won?t find any neon lights. The exterior will have an old world, classic feel. Carpet, lighting and other finishes will be stylish, hip and modern. The design is being done by Long Beach, California-based Perkowitz + Ruth, the same firm that designed top lifestyle centers like The Grove in Los Angeles.

Entering Monaco will be more like entering an upscale boutique hotel in New York than a movie theater in Huntsville, says Safady. ?We like to say that we?re the Four Seasons of movie theaters.



theaters will feature a lounge for VIP guests on the second level.



When entering Monaco Pictures, guests will be greeted in a large, sleek modern lobby. The box office, located in the lobby, is set up more like a concierge desk than a ticket booth. The lounge will be open to the lobby, and there will be a private lounge for VIP guests on the second level. VIP status will be an up sell for those wishing to have larger seats and a more intimate experience at the theater. Valet parking will also be available.

The Huntsville theater will have 14 screens. Seating will be more accommodating than most theaters, with 23-inch wide, high-back rocking seats. Patrons will be able to reserve seats ahead of time, even for opening night. Several theaters will also have upper level, VIP balcony areas that have wider seats covered in leather. The largest of the theaters at the Huntsville Monaco will seat 335 people.

We gave up seat count to create a more comfortable experience, says Tickner. But we felt that it was critical for us to do that.?

Concessions at Monaco Pictures will be appetizing and enjoyable. Alcohol, including signature cocktails, will be available in the lounge. In the concession areas, along with signature popcorn and candies, appetizers like sushi, hummus and gourmet pizzas will be available. The lounge will have more appetizer food versus sit-down meals. A coffee bar will serve up espresso and coffee drinks. O&S has four white tablecloth restaurants at Bridge Street and it doesn?t want Monaco Pictures to compete with them for the dinner dollar. Where Monaco Pictures will shine is in the lounge and concessions area. As where the average theater receives $3.50 per capita on concessions, Monaco Pictures expects that it will receive $15 to $20 per capita in concessions. Visitors to Monaco Pictures won't need to buy a ticket to the movies to visit the lounge.

Because we are designing Monaco Pictures as a cool place to hang out, we expect that people will want to spend more time at the theater, says Safady. We are going to see a little higher revenue growth from our concessions than from a typical box movie theater.?

Similar to the design, the theaters themselves are especially created so that sound does not carry outside their walls; they are the most technologically up-to-date theaters in the country, featuring 100 percent digital with Real D/3D technology.

It is a similar analogy to going to two different hotels, says Tickner. If you go to your average everyday hotel, you then must go somewhere else to eat; if you go to the Four Seasons, you are there to stay and be served.

Monaco Pictures will show first run mainstream movies as well as specialty films. The company has hired the former head of programming from Regal Entertainment to secure its films. In addition to movies, Monaco also expects to program its theaters with music and entertainment, corporate functions and private parties on a regular basis, and will represent a large part of its revenue base.

The second Monaco Pictures will open in McKinney, Texas, in 2008. Showing that its money is where its mouth is, both of the first two theaters are in O&S Holdings projects. For future developments, Monaco Pictures is looking at other projects in upscale markets. Monaco Pictures wants to have upscale co-tenants (at Bridge Street in Huntsville, tenants include Anthropologie, J.Crew, P.F. Chang's and Barnes & Noble). Monaco Pictures wants to locate in town centers and lifestyle centers. It will also be looking at freestanding, urban locations. Since the Monaco Pictures build-out costs more than a typical movie theater, the company prefers to own its real estate. Monaco Pictures does not plan to locate in power centers and it will not take over existing theater real estate.

[HSV79]

Well I like the idea about the new tower being called Solara but that car is being phased out and will be replaced by some new tall wagon type car. Now that new parking garage is what Randy Shrimsher was wanting before he would build the Holmes Avenue condo tower. Maybe this is the project for that or maybe some bank wants to build a new tower I hope. Maybe with Bellsouth and AT&T mergering we can get a new tower to replace that little dinky Bellsouth building next to the Am South Tower.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by HSV79

Well I like the idea about the new tower being called Solara but that car is being phased out and will be replaced by some new tall wagon type car. Now that new parking garage is what Randy Shrimsher was wanting before he would build the Holmes Avenue condo tower. Maybe this is the project for that or maybe some bank wants to build a new tower I hope. Maybe with Bellsouth and AT&T mergering we can get a new tower to replace that little dinky Bellsouth building next to the Am South Tower.

We also need a Wachovia Tower too.

[Evo5Boise]

Hey guys!! I just found this thread. I am not from Huntsville, however, I worked there some years ago. I was doing some contract work for Adtran. I really enjoyed my time there. You guys have a great city!! How is Huntsville these days?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Evo5Boise

Hey guys!! I just found this thread. I am not from Huntsville, however, I worked there some years ago. I was doing some contract work for Adtran. I really enjoyed my time there. You guys have a great city!! How is Huntsville these days?

Welcome to the forum. If you scan back through this thread, you can see progress is being made. Seems the pace is slower than we like, especially in the road department. The state gets the blame for that. Otherwise things
are moving along.

[HSVTiger]

By MARIAN ACCARDI
Times Business Writer [email protected]
Belk plans two-story addition and renovation ahead of name change

A two-story, 20,000-square-foot expansion of the Parisian at Parkway Place mall and a renovation of the existing store is scheduled to be completed in September.

A new home store will be located on the second floor of the addition, said Glenn Sellers, vice president regional manager of Belk Inc.'s Western Division, Tennessee Region. Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk last year purchased Parisian department stores in nine states - including those at Parkway Place and Madison Square malls.

The children's department is now on the store's second floor and will move to the first floor. On the first floor - in addition to the children's department relocation - Belk will expand its cosmetic lines and better jewelry department, Sellers said. He said he couldn't announce the new cosmetic lines yet.

Big and tall men's clothing also will be added to the men's department on the first floor. Belk also will expand its better women's wear departments, according to Sellers.

Parisian stores will take the Belk name later this year.

Rentenbach Constructors Inc. is the construction manager for the renovation and expansion.

The renovation should begin in June shortly after the expansion is complete, Sellers said. The Parkway Place store now has about 167,000 square feet.

[HSVTiger]

By JOHN PECK
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Prices would start at $150,000 for 'inner area' project

A large farm field in southwest Huntsville may begin sprouting a new commodity this spring - rooftops.

A local developer wants to turn 140 acres near Drake Avenue and Triana Boulevard into a 364-lot subdivision. The property abuts McDonnell Elementary School, with Redstone Arsenal forming its southern boundary and Triana Boulevard its east.

City officials believe the proposed Griffis Glen may be the largest subdivision approved in old west Huntsville in decades.

"It's a great investment in the inner area of the city," City Councilman Bill Kling said.

Sandra Steele, president of Enfinger-Steele Development in Huntsville, said homes will be about 2,000 square feet with an asking price starting at $150,000. Construction could begin by spring on the 39-lot first phase. The entire project could take about five years.

"I'm impressed someone is going to build there,'' said Ed Starnes, chairman of the city planning subdivision committee. "We need more affordable housing. Not everyone can afford a half-million-dollar house."

The subdivision panel forwarded the proposal to the city Planning Commission, which meets Tuesday. Plans call for 364 single-family, detached homes on most of the site and commercial development on land fronting Triana.

Kling said the development will be a good shot in the arm for the southwest, which is home to the city's garbage incinerator, aging apartment complexes, halfway houses and a rescue mission.

Steele said the area has seen a "rebirth" lately with a new soccer complex, a planned renovation of Merrimack Mall and other improvements.

[HSVTiger]

By GINA HANNAH
Times Business Writer [email protected]
November figure takes big drop, still tops month in '05

Home sales in the Huntsville market dropped nearly 20 percent in November, but remain ahead for the year, according to a University of Alabama study released Wednesday.

During November, 728 existing homes were sold in the Huntsville market, down from 900 in October and up slightly from 721 in November 2005, according to a report from the Alabama Real Estate Research and Education Center at the university. Despite month-over-month decline, sales for the year in 2006 are still ahead of 2005.

For the period January through November, 9,922 homes were sold in the Huntsville market, up 17 percent.

Statewide, sales of existing homes dropped, to 4,234 in November from 4,676 in October and 4,634 for the same month last year.

[HSVTiger]

A big if on this one, but interesting

By WENDY REEVES
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Former NFL owner eyes Summit-like plan for Madison

MADISON - A major retail development similar to The Summit in Birmingham is being considered for 450 acres at Zierdt Road and Madison Boulevard.

Mayor Sandy Kirkindall said a development company linked to Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., former owner of the San Francisco 49ers, is looking at the site for a large, upscale retail development.

Kirkindall said the company has drawn a concept sketch for the property so it can make initial contacts with potential tenants, but he doesn't know how many or which stores might be included.

"We don't even know for sure this will happen," Kirkindall said Wednesday. "They have not submitted a plan." Kirkindall first mentioned the plan publicly Tuesday at a hearing to determine whether nonprofit Huntsville Hospital or private Crestwood Medical Center should build a new hospital in Madison.

Huntsville Hospital lawyers asked him about the proposed development, inferring that sales taxes from such a big project could negate the city's need for taxes from a private hospital. Huntsville Hospital would not pay taxes, while Crestwood, whose plan is supported by city officials, would.

Kirkindall testified that the retail development may hinge on the state's allowing a new Interstate 565 interchange at Zierdt, making it easier for shoppers to get to the project.

"DeBartolo asked me not to share any information about it, and I really don't know anything more than what I said in the hearing," Kirkindall said Wednesday.

Huntsville Planning Director Dallas Fanning said Thursday that no one has approached his office about a potential site for the proposed development, which would be close to the boundary between the cities.

Ed Kobel, president and chief operating officer of DeBartolo Development, couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday or Thursday.

DeBartolo Development, based in Tampa, Fla., develops upscale retail and mixed-use real-estate projects nationwide. Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. founded the company in the 1950s and pioneered the mall concept. His son is the company's chairman.

DeBartolo Jr. bought the 49ers NFL franchise in 1977. In 2000, he turned over his half-interest in the team to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, with York assuming possession of the 49ers, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle. The 49ers' ownership had been uncertain since DeBartolo was involved in a federal corruption probe in New Orleans.

DeBartolo pleaded guilty in 1998 to a felony charge of failing to report that former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards allegedly extorted $400,000 from him to win a casino license. DeBartolo avoided prison but agreed to pay $1 million in penalties, serve two years of probation and testify in future trials against Edwards and his son, Stephen, key targets in a federal probe into Louisiana's gambling industry.

[TimCity2000]

^yikes, that's not good news for madison square mall. isn't that somewhat close?

[neilson]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

^yikes, that's not good news for madison square mall. isn't that somewhat close?

No this is down by the Publix at Highway 20/Madison Blvd. and Shelton/Zierdt Road. Over by Wyle Labs.

[nick1982]

That project might not make it to fruition, if retailers favor Bridge Street and Parkway Place.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by nick1982

That project might not make it to fruition, if retailers favor Bridge Street and Parkway Place.

More on this, doubt the name will stay as is but this is a large project

The Shoppes at River Bend will be the premier shopping destination for the entire Madison/Huntsville area. It will feature of 2,000,000 SF of GLA, comprised of national (5)anchor tenants, specialty retailers, restaurants, (2)hotels and a 16 screen movie theater. It is strategically located at Highway 565 at Zierdt Road. (New Interchange Planned). Madison/Huntsville is rapidly growing with 15,000 new jobs being created over the next few years.