Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

photos at the Westin construction site, this was about a month ago,
the 8th floor is underway now

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Apple has job listings for Huntsville

http://jobsearch.monster.com/Search.aspx?q=apple&fn=&lid=326&re=130&cy=us&JSNONREG=1
and on the Apple site

http://jobs.apple.com/index.ajs?BID=2&method=mHvexternal.showPositionLocations

May have to go to Apple site, link may not work

more
"Apple may have given up on locating a store in Spanish Fort (Alabama), but they will open a store at the Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville this fall, reports ifo AppleStore, a web site with “news and information about Apple’s retail store. It will be the company’s first retail store in the state.
The Bridge Street Town Centre mall is part of a US$300 million development that includes residential and office space, scattered around 10 acres of lakes and open spaces. Now Apple has signed a lease and will start fit-out of the store in time for a late summer opening of the new mall, notes ifo AppleStore."

[HSVTiger]

picture of Bridge Street progress taken in February
photo from Huntsville Chamber of Commerce
This view is looking roughly northwest, Research Park Blvd is the highway
seen alongside.
The building in front right will be a Barnes & Noble,Wild Oats may be across the street. The bridge in bridge street is about in the middle where the tin roof is being placed
Monaco theaters behind the Westin and you can see the outlines of the large lakes.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

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.

This could get ugly, de annex land in Madison to be annexed into Huntsville.
If it goes through, there is a lot of opposition to it.

By WENDY REEVESand JOHN PECK Times Staff [email protected]@htimes.com
Barron's plan for retail site called 'back room' deal

MADISON - Madison city leaders are furious over state Sen. Lowell Barron's proposed legislation to deannex more than 250 acres that's being considered for a major retail development.

"This is not just coming at us through the back door, this is the back room," said Madison City Council President Tommy Overcash.

Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, who said he will do whatever it takes to ensure the development is built, regardless of the host city. Griffith said Breland certainly wouldn't pursue a deannexation that would be contrary to the property's development potential.

"The way I view it, it's a win-win for Huntsville or Madison if they put a $200 million development on that corner. That whole strip along Alabama 20 will then be golden."

Griffith said he's heard conflicting reports on whether Madison can provide the incentives for the massive project. Butler said he met with Kirkindall and bond officials and is convinced Madison can afford competitive incentives.

Madison's financial consultants say "there's no question" that Madison can legally and financially support a major retail development.

"They have a AA rating by Standard & Poor and a Moody's A1 rating, so they are fully capable and certainly have the wherewithal to do what they want to do," Jim Birchall, the city's bond attorney with Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, said by phone Friday. "Madison has excellent credit in the State of Alabama."

Birchall, who represents cities all over the state, said until the 1990s cities were prohibited from lending aid or credit to private corporations.
Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, who said he will do whatever it takes to ensure the development is built, regardless of the host city. Griffith said Breland certainly wouldn't pursue a deannexation that would be contrary to the property's development potential.

"The way I view it, it's a win-win for Huntsville or Madison if they put a $200 million development on that corner. That whole strip along Alabama 20 will then be golden."

Griffith said he's heard conflicting reports on whether Madison can provide the incentives for the massive project. Butler said he met with Kirkindall and bond officials and is convinced Madison can afford competitive incentives.

Madison's financial consultants say "there's no question" that Madison can legally and financially support a major retail development.

"They have a AA rating by Standard & Poor and a Moody's A1 rating, so they are fully capable and certainly have the wherewithal to do what they want to do," Jim Birchall, the city's bond attorney with Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, said by phone Friday. "Madison has excellent credit in the State of Alabama."

Birchall, who represents cities all over the state, said until the 1990s cities were prohibited from lending aid or credit to private corporations.

Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, who said he will do whatever it takes to ensure the development is built, regardless of the host city. Griffith said Breland certainly wouldn't pursue a deannexation that would be contrary to the property's development potential.

"The way I view it, it's a win-win for Huntsville or Madison if they put a $200 million development on that corner. That whole strip along Alabama 20 will then be golden."

Griffith said he's heard conflicting reports on whether Madison can provide the incentives for the massive project. Butler said he met with Kirkindall and bond officials and is convinced Madison can afford competitive incentives.

Madison's financial consultants say "there's no question" that Madison can legally and financially support a major retail development.

"They have a AA rating by Standard & Poor and a Moody's A1 rating, so they are fully capable and certainly have the wherewithal to do what they want to do," Jim Birchall, the city's bond attorney with Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, said by phone Friday. "Madison has excellent credit in the State of Alabama."

Birchall, who represents cities all over the state, said until the 1990s cities were prohibited from lending aid or credit to private corporations.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/117412292468730.xml&coll=1

[neilson]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

This could get ugly, de annex land in Madison to be annexed into Huntsville.
If it goes through, there is a lot of opposition to it.

By WENDY REEVESand JOHN PECK Times Staff [email protected]@htimes.com
Barron's plan for retail site called 'back room' deal

MADISON - Madison city leaders are furious over state Sen. Lowell Barron's proposed legislation to deannex more than 250 acres that's being considered for a major retail development.

"This is not just coming at us through the back door, this is the back room," said Madison City Council President Tommy Overcash.

Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, who said he will do whatever it takes to ensure the development is built, regardless of the host city. Griffith said Breland certainly wouldn't pursue a deannexation that would be contrary to the property's development potential.

"The way I view it, it's a win-win for Huntsville or Madison if they put a $200 million development on that corner. That whole strip along Alabama 20 will then be golden."

Griffith said he's heard conflicting reports on whether Madison can provide the incentives for the massive project. Butler said he met with Kirkindall and bond officials and is convinced Madison can afford competitive incentives.

Madison's financial consultants say "there's no question" that Madison can legally and financially support a major retail development.

"They have a AA rating by Standard & Poor and a Moody's A1 rating, so they are fully capable and certainly have the wherewithal to do what they want to do," Jim Birchall, the city's bond attorney with Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, said by phone Friday. "Madison has excellent credit in the State of Alabama."

Birchall, who represents cities all over the state, said until the 1990s cities were prohibited from lending aid or credit to private corporations.

My question is why the hell does a Senator from Dekalb County like Lowell "Robber" Barron want deannexation in Madison? What does he possibly have to gain from this(besides a boatload of cash from Breland and helping to keep the City of Huntsville Gov't officals' hands clean in all this)?

Lowell "Robber" Barron is a scumsucker of a politician and I consider him to be on the lowest end of Alabama's present day political/PAC totem pole(along with Senator Roger Bedford of Russellville and AEA President Paul Hubbert).

[HSVTiger]

Test stands at Marshall Space Flight Center will get heavy workout in the coming years for preparation to return to the moon. This photo from 1978, at one time this was the tallest structure in Alabama 40 stories.



By SHELBY G. SPIRESTimes Aerospace Writer [email protected]
Clustered across a three-mile-wide circle at Marshall Space Flight Center are what many rocket engineers see as a booster step for America's return to the moon: test stands.

Marshall has 11 active test stands, many with a history that goes back to NASA's Saturn rocket development. Built more than 40 years ago under the supervision of Wernher von Braun to test the many variations of Saturn engines and stages, the test stands are being used again for NASA's new moon rocket engines.

"These are truly national assets," said George Schmidt, Marshall's Test Laboratory deputy manager. "Even though they were built in the early 1960s for Apollo, the stands are still very useful. We've been using them on and off ever since the Saturn program."

In the 1960s, the rumble of Saturn engines echoed across Huntsville, and when all five F-1 engines for the Saturn's first stage were fired, windows rattled downtown.

"We aren't going to rattle any windows with these tests," Schmidt said. "I know there are a lot of people who would probably like to hear that, but what we are going to do is a lot more engine testing than we've done at this center, and across NASA, for a long time."

The tests still should be audible to anyone living near Redstone Arsenal.

Marshall managers plan to use the stands to put the Ares rockets through stringent tests to evaluate the new design's safety before crews use them to fly to the International Space Station or the moon. The Ares I rocket would take crews mainly to the space station, and the Ares V will be designed for trips to the moon and possibly Mars.

"There will be a lot of test work for the Ares and other NASA exploration programs," said Dan Dumbacher, deputy manager of exploration launch projects office at Marshall, "but the two major test areas will be to verify all our analyses on the vehicles through ground vibration tests and through propulsion systems tests where we check all the plumbing and valves and wiring."

Major tests between now and 2015 include a new engine, the J-2X, for the Ares I and Ares V rockets, escape rockets to jet Orion crews aboard Ares away from danger, and extensive testing of the Pratt & Whitney RS-68 engine.

[HSVTiger]

Market Square demolition to begin, the last old mall site from the 60's to be razed soon. It it's place new hotels, entertainment and restaurants downtown

"The demolition began with the mall's two outbuildings - the former locations of the Sears Automotive Center and a branch of Henderson National Bank, later known as First Banc Group of Alabama and subsequently sold to AmSouth Bank.

The rest of the demolition, McLain said, should be completed around the end of the month. After that, he hopes to build two hotels on the site.

"We're going to have a soft start'' to the demolition, McLain said. "We'll start chipping away on the back before the grand demolition.''

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1174209598121300.xml&coll=1

[Rail Claimore]

I'll have to do some exploring next week when I'm back for spring break.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

This could get ugly, de annex land in Madison to be annexed into Huntsville.
If it goes through, there is a lot of opposition to it.

By WENDY REEVESand JOHN PECK Times Staff [email protected]@htimes.com
Barron's plan for retail site called 'back room' deal

MADISON - Madison city leaders are furious over state Sen. Lowell Barron's proposed legislation to deannex more than 250 acres that's being considered for a major retail development.

"This is not just coming at us through the back door, this is the back room," said Madison City Council President Tommy Overcash.

Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, who said he will do whatever it takes to ensure the development is built, regardless of the host city. Griffith said Breland certainly wouldn't pursue a deannexation that would be contrary to the property's development potential.

"The way I view it, it's a win-win for Huntsville or Madison if they put a $200 million development on that corner. That whole strip along Alabama 20 will then be golden."

Griffith said he's heard conflicting reports on whether Madison can provide the incentives for the massive project. Butler said he met with Kirkindall and bond officials and is convinced Madison can afford competitive incentives.

Madison's financial consultants say "there's no question" that Madison can legally and financially support a major retail development.

"They have a AA rating by Standard & Poor and a Moody's A1 rating, so they are fully capable and certainly have the wherewithal to do what they want to do," Jim Birchall, the city's bond attorney with Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, said by phone Friday. "Madison has excellent credit in the State of Alabama."

Birchall, who represents cities all over the state, said until the 1990s cities were prohibited from lending aid or credit to private corporations.
Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, who said he will do whatever it takes to ensure the development is built, regardless of the host city. Griffith said Breland certainly wouldn't pursue a deannexation that would be contrary to the property's development potential.

"The way I view it, it's a win-win for Huntsville or Madison if they put a $200 million development on that corner. That whole strip along Alabama 20 will then be golden."

Griffith said he's heard conflicting reports on whether Madison can provide the incentives for the massive project. Butler said he met with Kirkindall and bond officials and is convinced Madison can afford competitive incentives.

Madison's financial consultants say "there's no question" that Madison can legally and financially support a major retail development.

"They have a AA rating by Standard & Poor and a Moody's A1 rating, so they are fully capable and certainly have the wherewithal to do what they want to do," Jim Birchall, the city's bond attorney with Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, said by phone Friday. "Madison has excellent credit in the State of Alabama."

Birchall, who represents cities all over the state, said until the 1990s cities were prohibited from lending aid or credit to private corporations.

Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, who said he will do whatever it takes to ensure the development is built, regardless of the host city. Griffith said Breland certainly wouldn't pursue a deannexation that would be contrary to the property's development potential.

"The way I view it, it's a win-win for Huntsville or Madison if they put a $200 million development on that corner. That whole strip along Alabama 20 will then be golden."

Griffith said he's heard conflicting reports on whether Madison can provide the incentives for the massive project. Butler said he met with Kirkindall and bond officials and is convinced Madison can afford competitive incentives.

Madison's financial consultants say "there's no question" that Madison can legally and financially support a major retail development.

"They have a AA rating by Standard & Poor and a Moody's A1 rating, so they are fully capable and certainly have the wherewithal to do what they want to do," Jim Birchall, the city's bond attorney with Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, said by phone Friday. "Madison has excellent credit in the State of Alabama."

Birchall, who represents cities all over the state, said until the 1990s cities were prohibited from lending aid or credit to private corporations.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/117412292468730.xml&coll=1

Looks like the developer for whatever reason is jerking Madison's strings,
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1174468535190100.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

"The Madison City Council called a special meeting tonight to approve a resolution denouncing a proposed bill to deannex the property from the city and declaring the city's ability to pay for $20 million to $40 million in infrastructure for the development.

Kirkindall said Breland told him Tuesday he would contact the city with a list of specific needs for the project, but Breland didn't say he would withdraw his deannexation request, Kirkindall said.

Kirkindall said Breland told him "he's afraid we just can't do it."

"I told him again what we've told him all along - that we can provide whatever is needed with no problem," Kirkindall said. "You're talking about a council loaded with engineers and a mayor who is an engineer and, if nothing else, we're a bunch of hard-headed financial analysts.

"If we thought we could not afford this, we would walk away from it and say 'Louis, knock yourself out.' "

Kirkindall said to make "absolutely sure" there would be no financial glitches on the city's part, they consulted with Joe Jolly & Co., the city's financial consultants and Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, its bonding attorneys.

"We got a letter from Walston, Wells & Birchall today stating we have in excess of $30 million available on our constitutional debt limit," Kirkindall said."

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Space center gets money for tramway to Botanical Garden
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center learned today it will receive nearly $227,000 in federal money toward a proposed tramway to connect the Space Center with the Huntsville Botanical Garden.

U.S. Sen. Richard Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, announced this morning that the money is being released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration.

By KENNETH KESNER
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
The steel skeleton of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's new visitors complex, which includes an "intermodal" transport terminal and the exhibition hall for the restored Saturn V rocket, can be seen rising next to the museum.



Invisible, for now, is a system of trams that will carry visitors from the new building to parking lots, the museum and other areas of the center. The U.S. Department of Transportation last week provided $226,710 for the project as the second installment of $1 million for the trams to be awarded over four years, said Space Center CEO Larry Capps.

The Space Center plans to buy two trams initially and have them running when the visitors center opens in November or December, Capps said. Manufacturers are still submitting proposals for the project, but it is expected each tram will have a van-like front car pulling open-sided cars, carrying 50 or 60 passengers when fully loaded.

[HSVTiger]

more homes

428-lot subdivision planned near Cummings Research Park
A city planning subcommittee gave layout approval today for a 428-lot subdivision bordering the northwest side of Cummings Research Park.

The measure will go before the full planning commission Tuesday.

Plans for the proposed Midtowne on the Park subdivision call for 203 town homes and 225 single family homes. The first phase calls for 31 single-family attached and 62 single-family detached houses.

Enfinger-Steele Development Co. will build the homes on a 158-acre tract of land at the end of Rime Village Road and north of the Lakeshore Crossing Apartments office. The property is zoned R-2A, which could allow for future apartments on the undeveloped land.
Source HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

Final land parcels readied for downtown development

By JOHN PECKTimes Staff Writer [email protected]
Site is being redeveloped into twin hotels

The Huntsville City Council authorized a small "land swap" Thursday night with the developer of the Market Square Mall site.

Scott McLain's Constellation Co. would get a sliver of Williams Avenue where it connects to Memorial Parkway, and the city would get the portion of Williams along Pinhook Creek/Huntsville Spring Branch.


The site is being redeveloped into twin hotels and other unnamed retail.

The council approved the action in a conveyance of right of way agreement. City Planner Marie Bostick explained that usually when vacating a right of way (in this case Williams Avenue), adjacent land owners would split the property down the middle of the road. The action approved Thursday night bisects the road perpendicularly.

The developer will get the lower west segment that intersects Memorial Parkway. The city will get the stretch along the creek that runs roughly from St. Clair Avenue to the bend in Heart of Huntsville Drive.

That stretch of Williams Avenue, which is being vacated as a public road, formerly ran alongside the LBJ auto store, which has been razed.

Huntsville is working with the Army Corps of Engineers to improve drainage in Pinhook/Huntsville Spring Branch and beautify the creekbank with a walkway, landscaping and other improvements.

[HSVTiger]

Population surge

From staff, wire reportsHuntsville Times
More money is needed to take care of roads, schools

Madison County is the state's third-fastest growing county since 2000, according to new U.S. Census figures, and that brings its own set of challenges, local leaders say.

Shelby, Baldwin and Madison counties were the fastest growing among Alabama counties since 2000, according to U.S. Census figures released Thursday.

Shelby County grew the fastest, at 24 percent, as it added 34,889 residents since 2000 to reach 178,182. Baldwin grew by 20 percent, adding 28,747 residents to raise the coastal county's population in 2006 to 169,162. Madison, up by 10 percent, has grown by 27,607 to 304,307.


That growth brings with it opportunities and challenges, Gillespie said. Without significant state help, the county is not going to be able to keep up with demands for road improvements, traffic flow and the influx of new pupils into the county schools, said.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, have provided federal money to the state to help with roads and transportation, Gillespie said.

"The problem that Madison County has, and I think it's true for a number of other counties that are growing so rapidly, is that the state doesn't help us with any matching funds to get that federal money," he said. "It usually comes in at an 80-20 match or a 90-10 match, and we are talking about millions of dollars for road work. The county is not able to come up with that significant amount of matching revenue."

Limestone County's population of 72,446 is a 3 percent increase; Marshall County's population increased 2 percent to 87,185; Morgan County has 115,237 people for a 1 percent increase; while Jackson County's population of 53,745, did not change.

[Exodus]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

more homes

428-lot subdivision planned near Cummings Research Park
A city planning subcommittee gave layout approval today for a 428-lot subdivision bordering the northwest side of Cummings Research Park.

The measure will go before the full planning commission Tuesday.

Plans for the proposed Midtowne on the Park subdivision call for 203 town homes and 225 single family homes. The first phase calls for 31 single-family attached and 62 single-family detached houses.

Enfinger-Steele Development Co. will build the homes on a 158-acre tract of land at the end of Rime Village Road and north of the Lakeshore Crossing Apartments office. The property is zoned R-2A, which could allow for future apartments on the undeveloped land.
Source HSV Times

What I would like to see is more townhomes that are similar to the ones on Rideout Rd. and Madison Pike.

[HSVTiger]

A few things, Tweeter will be closing it's HSV and Hoover store. Best Buy and Circuit City was too much and cheaper

"Besides leaving Alabama, Tweeter Home Entertainment Group (NASDAQ: TWTR) is closing all its stores in California, Tennessee, New York and most of Georgia in the next two to three months and laying off about 20 percent of company personnel."

Marriott TownPlace Suites opens in a couple of months behind SuperTarget
on University. No word yet when Panera Bread or Jason's Deli will open or where. A sign is up in Madison, (Madison Blvd across from the Holiday Inn) announcing two new hotels and office complex. This could go either way,
something nice or a complex of cheap hotel leftovers. That stretch of road
between Sullivan St and the on ramp to the airport has been seeing more activity lately so hopefully it will be a nice development.

The new Rosie's Mexican Cantina under construction across from Super Target on University will probably be the most elaborate and best TexMex restaurant in the southeast. It will be spectacular in any case.

And since local malls have implemented the policy of no teens without adults, Youth Escort Policy ;
"Our sales have been steadily increasing since we implemented it," said Madison Square manager Joe Black, pointing to a 16 percent increase in January sales, compared to last year.

Lucinda Hartshorne, manager of Parkway Place, said January sales were up 22 percent at her mall.

"The stores have been real positive," Hartshorne said. "And it cut down on shoplifting right off the bat here."

[neilson]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

A few things, Tweeter will be closing it's HSV and Hoover store. Best Buy and Circuit City was too much and cheaper

"Besides leaving Alabama, Tweeter Home Entertainment Group (NASDAQ: TWTR) is closing all its stores in California, Tennessee, New York and most of Georgia in the next two to three months and laying off about 20 percent of company personnel."

Marriott TownPlace Suites opens in a couple of months behind SuperTarget
on University. No word yet when Panera Bread or Jason's Deli will open or where. A sign is up in Madison, (Madison Blvd across from the Holiday Inn) announcing two new hotels and office complex. This could go either way,
something nice or a complex of cheap hotel leftovers. That stretch of road
between Sullivan St and the on ramp to the airport has been seeing more activity lately so hopefully it will be a nice development.

The new Rosie's Mexican Cantina under construction across from Super Target on University will probably be the most elaborate and best TexMex restaurant in the southeast. It will be spectacular in any case.

And since local malls have implemented the policy of no teens without adults, Youth Escort Policy ;
"Our sales have been steadily increasing since we implemented it," said Madison Square manager Joe Black, pointing to a 16 percent increase in January sales, compared to last year.

Lucinda Hartshorne, manager of Parkway Place, said January sales were up 22 percent at her mall.

"The stores have been real positive," Hartshorne said. "And it cut down on shoplifting right off the bat here."

Any idea if Madison Square Mall is on the rebound? I know a lot of leases weren't renewed earlier this year and left a lot of empty spaces throughout the mall.

[HSVTiger]

Another Downtown public housing set to be demolished, along with Councill Court, about a mile away, The Searcy Housing projects are set to be removed in the coming months as soon as HUD oks the plan. Residents will be relocated to better residences.
This area will then be redeveloped as part of the greenway plan along the same creek that is being developed at Market Square (they will be connected). It was also mentioned in passing that this will also allow expansion of the VBC. So I think we have some long range plans on the list that haven't been let out yet. Basically this area is between Holmes and Church St.
From the article,
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1175084279123850.xml&coll=1

"The creekbank work, to be paid for mostly with federal flood mitigation money, will be an extension of long-range city plans to convert unsightly drainage ditches into more effective, natural waterways lined with greenways and landscaping. The land could also be a natural place for expansion of the Von Braun Center some day.

Michael Lundy, executive director of the Housing Authority, told the housing board Tuesday that 12 Searcy apartment buildings with a combined 22 units will be demolished. Searcy Homes has about 100 apartment units.

Lundy said the housing authority applied for the relocation authorization two years ago and just received word from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development that it was approved.

Lundy said he met with residents March 15 to assure them the authority would assign each resident a caseworker to help them find new housing. All of the residents who attended expressed interest in vouchers over moving into another public housing unit, he said.

Fanning said Searcy Homes was built before the federal flood elevations were adopted. Today, federal floodway and flood plain regulations impose stiff rules on public spending in those areas, even if it's to improve the public housing units."

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Looks like the developer for whatever reason is jerking Madison's strings,
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1174468535190100.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

"The Madison City Council called a special meeting tonight to approve a resolution denouncing a proposed bill to deannex the property from the city and declaring the city's ability to pay for $20 million to $40 million in infrastructure for the development.

Kirkindall said Breland told him Tuesday he would contact the city with a list of specific needs for the project, but Breland didn't say he would withdraw his deannexation request, Kirkindall said.

Kirkindall said Breland told him "he's afraid we just can't do it."

"I told him again what we've told him all along - that we can provide whatever is needed with no problem," Kirkindall said. "You're talking about a council loaded with engineers and a mayor who is an engineer and, if nothing else, we're a bunch of hard-headed financial analysts.

"If we thought we could not afford this, we would walk away from it and say 'Louis, knock yourself out.' "

Kirkindall said to make "absolutely sure" there would be no financial glitches on the city's part, they consulted with Joe Jolly & Co., the city's financial consultants and Walston, Wells & Birchall in Birmingham, its bonding attorneys.

"We got a letter from Walston, Wells & Birchall today stating we have in excess of $30 million available on our constitutional debt limit," Kirkindall said."

this whole thing sounds iffy
I say the developer needs to pony up and quit playing games with Madison.
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1175159827228120.xml&coll=1
By WENDY REEVES
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
MADISON - Local developer Louis Breland said Wednesday his attempt to deannex 263 acres of his property from Madison is not an attack on the city but an attempt to find the best opportunity for a new retail development.

Breland asked state Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, to draft and advertise legislation to deannex his property on Zierdt Road, just south of Interstate 565 from the Madison city limits. Madison city leaders have been upset about the move because of a proposed retail development on the site that will generate millions in sales tax revenue.

"The question is not whether this will be built in Madison city limits, but whether it will be built at all," Breland said.
Kirkindall said the potential revenue stream from Breland's project would allow the city to borrow what it needs for the project. He said the entire development will take about five years to complete and, if construction started tomorrow, it would be about 18 months before the first store would open.

However, he said the city has options it can use to make the payments on the borrowed money until the development is up and running full steam.

"Before we can make a decision on what options will be best for the city, we need to know how much they need and when they need it," Kirkindall said. "That's all the information we need."

Breland said he's asked his company lawyers and bond counsel to meet with city officials on the project. He described it as a $500 million development that will generate 1,500 jobs, construct an interstate ramp and create economic activity for the county, Madison and Huntsville.

In a written statement Wednesday, Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer refuted speculation that Huntsville encouraged Breland to deannex from Madison.

Last week, Huntsville City Council President Glenn Watson said it would be hard for Huntsville to come up with the estimated $40 million for the infrastructure to support such a large development.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Another Downtown public housing set to be demolished, along with Councill Court, about a mile away, The Searcy Housing projects are set to be removed in the coming months as soon as HUD oks the plan. Residents will be relocated to better residences.
This area will then be redeveloped as part of the greenway plan along the same creek that is being developed at Market Square (they will be connected). It was also mentioned in passing that this will also allow expansion of the VBC. So I think we have some long range plans on the list that haven't been let out yet. Basically this area is between Holmes and Church St.
From the article,
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1175084279123850.xml&coll=1

"The creekbank work, to be paid for mostly with federal flood mitigation money, will be an extension of long-range city plans to convert unsightly drainage ditches into more effective, natural waterways lined with greenways and landscaping. The land could also be a natural place for expansion of the Von Braun Center some day.

Michael Lundy, executive director of the Housing Authority, told the housing board Tuesday that 12 Searcy apartment buildings with a combined 22 units will be demolished. Searcy Homes has about 100 apartment units.

Lundy said the housing authority applied for the relocation authorization two years ago and just received word from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development that it was approved.

Lundy said he met with residents March 15 to assure them the authority would assign each resident a caseworker to help them find new housing. All of the residents who attended expressed interest in vouchers over moving into another public housing unit, he said.

Fanning said Searcy Homes was built before the federal flood elevations were adopted. Today, federal floodway and flood plain regulations impose stiff rules on public spending in those areas, even if it's to improve the public housing units."

When's Mason Court and those projects off University west of Toys R' Us gonna be destroyed?

[neilson]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

this whole thing sounds iffy
I say the developer needs to pony up and quit playing games with Madison.
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1175159827228120.xml&coll=1
By WENDY REEVES
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
MADISON - Local developer Louis Breland said Wednesday his attempt to deannex 263 acres of his property from Madison is not an attack on the city but an attempt to find the best opportunity for a new retail development.

Breland asked state Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, to draft and advertise legislation to deannex his property on Zierdt Road, just south of Interstate 565 from the Madison city limits. Madison city leaders have been upset about the move because of a proposed retail development on the site that will generate millions in sales tax revenue.

"The question is not whether this will be built in Madison city limits, but whether it will be built at all," Breland said.
Kirkindall said the potential revenue stream from Breland's project would allow the city to borrow what it needs for the project. He said the entire development will take about five years to complete and, if construction started tomorrow, it would be about 18 months before the first store would open.

However, he said the city has options it can use to make the payments on the borrowed money until the development is up and running full steam.

"Before we can make a decision on what options will be best for the city, we need to know how much they need and when they need it," Kirkindall said. "That's all the information we need."

Breland said he's asked his company lawyers and bond counsel to meet with city officials on the project. He described it as a $500 million development that will generate 1,500 jobs, construct an interstate ramp and create economic activity for the county, Madison and Huntsville.

In a written statement Wednesday, Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer refuted speculation that Huntsville encouraged Breland to deannex from Madison.

Last week, Huntsville City Council President Glenn Watson said it would be hard for Huntsville to come up with the estimated $40 million for the infrastructure to support such a large development.

Actually it reminds me of this project in Auburn:

Retail Center Could Generate Millions for Auburn

A new retail development could be in Auburn's future. The developer says the finished product will be a place to shop and dine in luxury and hopes it will create millions of dollars for local schools.

The new development will be built just off Interstate 85, at exit 51. The plot of land may soon be home to the largest retail development the city of Auburn has ever seen.


For the first time, developer Tom Hayley of Hayley and Redd development is speaking publicly about the project. His company purchased 215 acres along the interstate and Shell Toomer Road. This is the site where they will construct a multi-million dollar retail and restaurant shopping center called West Pace's Crossing. The center will have about a dozen new restaurants, five major department store anchors and dozens of smaller retailers.

"I know for sure some people will be shopping by 2008, we are going to turn over pads in September of 07 and they will begin to build there. Tight now 20-percent of the project is development, planed and talked about," Hayley said.

Hayley and Redd is working to annex the land into the city of Auburn. If that's done he expects the lifestyle center could generate about 5 hundred million dollars a year, which would mean about 15-million dollars a year would go to the Auburn City School System. Hayley says West-Paces will be one of the largest and nicest retail projects between Mobile and Atlanta.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2617686&postcount=1275

War Eagle.