Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Firehouse Subs opening it's 4th Huntsville area location next to Joe Davis Stadium.
Panera Bread taking job applications for it's first HSV location Whitesburg maybe ?.

The intersection of Whitesburg and Airport Rd probably has the highest concentration of restaurants in the smallest area than anywhere in the city.

[mlog]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Downtown Brewery, Old Towne Brewing Company
currently the only micro-brewery in the state of Alabama
available in bottles and draft in Huntsville, Madison, Decatur,
Tuscaloosa and Birmingham

slow load on dialup

http://www.oldetownebeer.com/

Is the Madison Station Brewing Company ever going to open? It seems like they've been talking about opening for a few years now. Their web page says they're going to open this summer.

Here's what the place looks like now.



http://www.madisonstationbrewing.com/

[HSV79]

City does restrict height of buildings
Wednesday, June 06, 2007Huntsville Times
Q. Is there a height limit on buildings in downtown Huntsville?

A. A spokeswoman with the Huntsville Planning Department said there is a 10-story and 150-foot height restriction on buildings within the General Business (C-3) District in downtown Huntsville, except where a C-3 zoned property abuts a residential zoning district. Then the building can be no more than two stories or 30 feet tall.

However, an amendment scheduled for the June 28 City Council meeting would change the latter part of the residential/business restriction to a maximum of 50 feet, depending on the location of the building on the property and the property size. In other words, the two-story, 30-foot height limit can increase one foot in height for every 4-foot increase in distance from the required setback line, up to a maximum height of 50 feet.

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The spokeswoman said several reasons for the restrictions, which are listed in the Downtown Master Plan, include:

1. Keeping downtown pedestrian-friendly at a comfortable scale with light, air circulation and open spaces.

2. Historic precedence (there is an unwritten rule that no downtown building will be taller than the old Times' building); plus, protecting and preserving the character of historic downtown Huntsville and its buildings, including many listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

3. A larger multistory building could absorb all office space downtown.

4. Providing convenient parking could be a problem unless a parking garage is constructed as part of the building.

Got a question? Submit it to [email protected] or phone it in to 536-8255. Include your name, hometown and phone number.



© 2007 The Huntsville Times. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Of course I do believe the Am South tower is in the Central Business District cause it is 11 storeys not including penthouse and 170 feet tall. And the Russell Erskine building is 155 with penthouse if I'm not mistaken. But the rest of the buildings downtown are around 150 and under. So yes some parts of downtown do have a height limit.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSV79

City does restrict height of buildings
Wednesday, June 06, 2007Huntsville Times
Q. Is there a height limit on buildings in downtown Huntsville?

A. A spokeswoman with the Huntsville Planning Department said there is a 10-story and 150-foot height restriction on buildings within the General Business (C-3) District in downtown Huntsville, except where a C-3 zoned property abuts a residential zoning district. Then the building can be no more than two stories or 30 feet tall.

However, an amendment scheduled for the June 28 City Council meeting would change the latter part of the residential/business restriction to a maximum of 50 feet, depending on the location of the building on the property and the property size. In other words, the two-story, 30-foot height limit can increase one foot in height for every 4-foot increase in distance from the required setback line, up to a maximum height of 50 feet.


The spokeswoman said several reasons for the restrictions, which are listed in the Downtown Master Plan, include:

1. Keeping downtown pedestrian-friendly at a comfortable scale with light, air circulation and open spaces.

2. Historic precedence (there is an unwritten rule that no downtown building will be taller than the old Times' building); plus, protecting and preserving the character of historic downtown Huntsville and its buildings, including many listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

3. A larger multistory building could absorb all office space downtown.

4. Providing convenient parking could be a problem unless a parking garage is constructed as part of the building.


Of course I do believe the Am South tower is in the Central Business District cause it is 11 storeys not including penthouse and 170 feet tall. And the Russell Erskine building is 155 with penthouse if I'm not mistaken. But the rest of the buildings downtown are around 150 and under. So yes some parts of downtown do have a height limit.

yeah the key words, some parts, which is mostly the blocks directly around the courthouse square. I don't believe this includes the Medical District
or areas west of Monroe. I don't really agree with all the reasoning, new modern buildings can co exist with historic structures, it's just in HSV
good architecture is few and far between. I guess point #3 example would be like the RSA Battlehouse Tower in Mobile. #4 what? The city is currently planning a new garage, most projects would include a parking deck so what is the problem?
In any case if a developer wanted to build a twenty story tower in this C-3
district I would imagine variances would be worked out to allow it. Wonder
what project is prompting the change in the last section?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Westin Huntsville beginning to top out. With various height roof lines the first
ones are now beginning to show up.

"Steve Ragsdale, general manager of the Westin Hotel that will anchor the Bridge Street project, described a chic shopping venue with a movie theater where patrons can sip cocktails. He told of the condos that will take up the top floors of the hotel, going for up to $410 a square foot.

"Whew, I don't think many of us retirees are going to be able to buy one of those," said Joyce Green, 79, who retired from the Huntsville Symphony. "But that's OK. We might get to know someone who lives there, and that enriches lives.

"The more Huntsville progresses, the more interesting it is for all of us, even if we don't live in the condos or shop in the upscale stores."

Most of the Bridge Street stores are scheduled to open in early October. The hotel will open early next year."

[HSVTiger]

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Red Robin
Gourmet Burgers, Inc., (Red Robin), will open its third Alabama restaurant
in Huntsville on Monday, June 11 at 11 a.m. The Huntsville Red Robin(R)
restaurant is located at 2720 Carl T. Jones Drive, south of Garth Road. Red
Robin is a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving an innovative
selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere.
As part of its grand opening celebrations, Red Robin will host a
Burgers With A Heart(R) fundraiser to benefit Huntsville Fire and Rescue.
Through the event, Red Robin will donate 50 cents from every gourmet burger
sold during grand opening week, June 11 to 17, to Huntsville Fire and
Rescue. The money raised will help the fire department purchase new
extrication equipment.
"On behalf of Huntsville Fire and Rescue, I would like to thank Red
Robin for choosing to support us during its opening week celebration," said
Michael Sublett, Deputy Fire Chief of Huntsville Fire and Rescue. "This
donation will help us purchase new and improved rescue materials."
"Supporting the local communities where our restaurants are located is
an important part of the Red Robin culture," said Eric Houseman, Red Robin
president and chief operating officer. "We invite everyone to come out and
enjoy one of our 22 gourmet burgers and support Huntsville Fire and Rescue
during Burgers With A Heart(R)."
The 6,330 square foot Huntsville Red Robin(R) restaurant will seat 208
guests, and will be 100 percent smoke-free. Red Robin has two additional
restaurants in Alabama including locations in Trussville and Montgomery.

[TimCity2000]

that's interesting about the building heights... but surely, as was already mentioned, amsouth is over 150'.

i hope we'll see something really tall downtown finally break through this "unspoken" barrier.

[HSVTiger]

Madison school receives honor, I think it is also the largest high school in Alabama..

By GREGG L. PARKER
For the Madison Spirit [email protected]
Principal Parker says Newsweek honor is 'validation'

Newsweek magazine has honored Madison's high school with national distinction.

The esteemed publication named Bob Jones High School in the top 5 percent of all high schools in the nation.

"This week, our school district received a very prestigious accolade," Dr. Dee Fowler, superintendent of Madison City Schools, said in his districtwide e-mail to faculties and parent subscribers.

"Knowing that education is a team effort, we are celebrating this great accomplishment at the elementary, middle and high schools. Hopefully, you too will share in our pride and enjoy this award as parents," Fowler said.

Newsweek's Jay Mathews devised a ratio to rank public schools. The ratio divides the total number of students taking advanced placement, international baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests in 2006 by the number of graduating seniors. Visit www.msnbc.msn.com and select Newsweek.

Robby Parker, principal at Bob Jones, said the honor gives students "validation. It's exciting ... when a national magazine like Newsweek recognizes you as one of the top schools in America. We've known for years that we're a gem."

Parker cited decades of work for the school to build programs that enrich both students and the community of Madison. "In academia, the rigor of course offerings is (well known). Also, we have opportunities for students to be successful in the fine arts to athletics to extracurricular clubs and activities."

To teachers, the Newsweek recognition "says they are doing the right thing. (In my work) as principal and assistant principal (at Discovery Middle School), I knew we were doing the right things," Parker said. Bob Jones has other credentials to document excellence: standardized testing, ACT and SAT scores and "our children's success in college."

"It's good to have Newsweek let everyone know, even people involved with the Base Realignment and Closure or BRAC," Parker said.

Even community residents who do not have a child in Madison City Schools can take pride. "It's Madison's high school," Parker said. "From a financial standpoint, the recognition is an economic windfall. It's a tremendous thing.

"When people move to North Alabama, they will realize that Bob Jones is the place to be."

[HSVTiger]

like pulling teeth with a rubber band

I-565 Interchange work tortures forward

To accommodate rapid growth in Madison in 2007 and thousands of new residents expected to move into the city by 2011 as a result of BRAC, Mayor Sandy Kirkindall said getting the city's roads in shape is a top priority.

"We are working with the Alabama Department of Transportation to get an interchange at the Zierdt Road and I-565 area and are asking for our Federal delegation for earmarked funds for an interchange at County Line Road and I-565," Kirkindall said. "The Zierdt Road/I-565 interchange proposal is still under review in the Interchange Justification Study process, which must be approved by ALDOT and the Federal HighwayAdministration."
(the can't use our money agency, I mean really how long does it take to "justify" something like this?)
Kirkindall said the Interchange Justification Study for County Line Road and I-565 has been approved by both agencies, and the city has signed a contract with ALDOT to start the engineering design of the interchange.

"The design process is expected to take a year," Kirkindall said. "Construction would not begin before 2009 since right of way acquisition and surveying could take almost a year.(read delay tactics used by ALDOT,
these are not some multilevel complicated interchanges)

"The city only has about $12 million in uncommitted capital funds to meet about $25 million in road needs alone," Kirkindall said. "To take care of this, we need additional sales taxrevenue to fund it."

[HSVTiger]

yum

By GREGG L. PARKER
For the Madison Spirit [email protected]
A popular Huntsville eatery has opened a new restaurant to satisfy Madison diners' cravings for Thai food.

Manager Sushil Thapa said loyal customers from Madison pleaded with him to open a restaurant similar to Surin of Thailand on Huntsville's Airport Road. Surin of Madison occupies the property formerly housing Silver Point.

Thapa, after completing college more than 20 years ago, started working with owner Surin Techarukpong, who founded his restaurant business in Atlanta. Along with Madison and Huntsville sites, Surin West is a popular destination in Birmingham's trendy Five Points district.

[MDL]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

"Steve Ragsdale, general manager of the Westin Hotel that will anchor the Bridge Street project, described a chic shopping venue with a movie theater where patrons can sip cocktails. He told of the condos that will take up the top floors of the hotel, going for up to $410 a square foot.

My inquiry to their web site last week yielded a lowest remaining price of $410K.

[HSVTiger]

this activity should result in welcome and needed changes, I wouldn't call it the front door as Councilman Kling does maybe the garage or carport door.
In any case it is a major entrance to the Arsenal.

By JOHN PECK
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
BRAC moves likely reason for renewed interest

The influx of defense jobs to Huntsville may also be fueling a rush on apartment investments along Patton Road, one of the gateways into Redstone Arsenal.

Reports that investors are eyeing some of the aging units comes as welcome news to city officials, who hope the new owners are planning to spruce them up.

"With that being the front door to the arsenal, I hope something will be done," said City Councilman Bill Kling, whose district includes southwest Huntsville.

"That would be good news if they fixed them up," agreed Community Development Director Jerry Galloway.

David Wilson, president of a real estate firm that specializes in the Huntsville-area apartment market, confirmed Thursday that several investment groups are looking at apartment properties along Patton Road. Wilson said the interest is not isolated to Patton Road with its easy access to gates 8 and 10 of Redstone.

"It's all over town," he said. "It's all sizes and ages of property."

But the Patton Road stretch, he said, features many of the smaller, older apartment complexes that are attractive to some investment sectors. Wilson said the market is ripe for renovating the buildings and reaping higher profits from rent increases.

David Frederick, a Huntsville apartment real estate expert, attributed the apartment boom to the BRAC moves, Huntsville's high per capita income and a healthy jobs outlook in general. Frederick echoed Wilson's belief that new ownership won't necessarily translate into a bulldoze-and-start-over makeover but, rather, cosmetic changes that should make the properties more attractive.

"I don't think you'll see anything dramatic like someone investing $20 million to fix up Patton Road," he said. Frederick said some ownership turnovers have already occurred.

[HSVTiger]

Shelby County leads the state

By BOB LOWRY
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Madison also growingslower than 7 othersin state, data show

MONTGOMERY - Madison County ranks a distant second to Shelby County in median household income and trails seven other counties in population growth over the past four years, according to a new state demographic report.

Madison County's median household income for the reporting period of 2004 was $49,441, compared with Shelby County's $61,972. No. 3 was Autauga County, across the Alabama River from Montgomery, at $45,379.

The state median was $37,062, while the U.S. median was $44,334.

The figures were contained in the new Alabama Population Data Sheet compiled from U.S. Census data by Donald Bogie, who was the director of the Center for Demographic Research at Auburn University at Montgomery.

Bogie, who recently retired after directing the center for 36 years, gathered statistics on more than two dozens subjects on all of Alabama's 67 counties.

"Overall life looks good in Madison County. The indications are very good," he said. "The same is very true in Limestone County, and as we went across the board, Morgan County is not bad."

But he said DeKalb and Jackson counties are not faring as well as their North Alabama neighbors. As for Marshall County, Bogie said, "I don't know where to put Marshall - it's different in some ways."

The report showed Madison County has passed Montgomery County as the state's third largest county with 304,307 residents compared with Montgomery County's 223,571.

Alabama's population grew by 3.4 percent to total 4.44 million.
Madison County grew at a 9.9 percent pace from 2000 to 2006, while growth in Montgomery County was flat.

The other counties ahead of Madison in population growth, as a percentage, included Baldwin (20.5 percent), St. Clair (16.2 percent), Elmore (14.9 percent), Autauga (13.9 percent), Limestone (10.3 percent) and Blount (10.6 percent).

DeKalb County grew by 5.5 percent; Jackson County lost 0.3 percent; Marshall picked up 6 percent, and Morgan grew by only 3.8 percent.

[HSVTiger]

Downtown pub is open

Mason's Pub opened Wednesday at 115 Clinton Ave. The classy pub is on the third floor of the old Mason's Furniture building, above the Crossroads nightclub, and features 1920s-'30s decor.

It stays open until midnight during the week with a full menu. On Friday and Saturday, it's open from 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Starting Monday, Mason's will be open for lunch at 11:30 a.m., says Kevin Hassler, general manager. It will offer a full menu until 1 a.m. There will be no live music, but the pub will pipe in XM Radio. There will never be a cover charge because it's more of a pub/eatery than a club, Hassler said.

[HSVTiger]

One of the most elaborate and best food Tex Mex eatery opens soon.

[email protected]

Four years of planning and waiting are coming together on University Drive West in the form of a new Rosie's Cantina.

The Huntsville-born, Tex-Mex concept that started a block away in 1995 will move into an elaborate new building later this month or in July, according to owner David Martin. He was the first to buy a lot on this sprawling corner of Enterprise Way and University Drive four years ago, and he is the last to build.

Since then, a Logan's Road House has opened next door and two hotels just behind the new Rosie's.

"We're not known for speed when it comes to construction," Martin said. "We're way over what we thought it would cost us, but we're not cutting any corners."

The design is intriguing: intricate brick work with arches and porticos, an old-fashioned wooden water tower, rusty corrugated tin roof and terra cotta awnings. Martin buys much of the timber, doors, windows and antiques in central Mexico and transports them to Huntsville.

The 10,000-square-foot restaurant is about the same size as the Rosie's Cantina on South Memorial Parkway, which opened in 2000 with a similar decor. Martin also has built one in Florence near the entrance to the University of North Alabama.

The original Rosie's on University Drive will operate until the new one opens with a day at the most for moving the tortilla machine and a few other fixtures, Martin said.

Meanwhile, Martin has plans for a new concept next to Target on Enterprise Way that will be similar to his Little Rosie's Tacqueria on Whitesburg Drive. This one, though, will be slightly more upscale.

At the present time, the proposed restaurant is billed as Mama Pajama's Burgers & Tacos. Martin said that could change, though, as the concept takes shape.

[HSVTiger]

In Madison (pop est. 38,000), Huntsville's suburban neighbor,

from WAFF
by: Elizabeth Gentle
WAFF 48 News Reporter
[email protected]

Rapid growth in Madison is leading to an explosion of new roads and highways.

That's causing driving headaches for some, but more business for others.

As detour signs reroute traffic, business booms for the Bandito Burrito Cantina in Madison.

"Its brought a lot of traffic down here to people who didn't know downtown area was here," says owner Walt Anderson.

Normally drivers bypass Church Street and take Sullivan instead.

That road is closed and a detour in place.

Drivers have no choice but to go downtown. Businesses owners are taking full advantage of all the traffic.

"Now that they are here, I have regular customers every week," says Anderson.

Some first timers are drawn in by this large sign posted on a second story balcony.

Directing hungry customers to "detour" specials and "train" time drinks.

Sterling Harris, head cook at the Bandito Burrito says they have more business now than ever, compliments of road construction.

"Its overwhelming," says Harris.

Back in the kitchen.

Employees scramble, preparing for a lunch crowd rush.

Sterling works the assembly line.

Loading floured tortillas with meat and cheese.

"We do triple the prep work we used too," says Sterling.

A sign of progress, a boost to revenue.

Restaurant owner, Walt Anderson, says road work around the city of Madison may be an inconvenience but its turning into a goldmine for businesses that are normally slow.

"Its one of the things we are glad to be doing. Bring downtown Madison back to live bring businesses back down here," says Anderson.

Work is going on all over Madison.

It could take several months to years to complete.

[HSVTiger]

Glad to see the developer do the right thing, something doesn't have to be destroyed to build something nice
story from WHNT

The development is off Green Cove Road, west of Memorial Parkway. It lies across the road from a baseball park and the Sandhurst subdivision.

However, something already lives there -- an endangered species.




"See that rock down there, and that hole? That's one of the cave entrances there," said Dick Holloway, the subdivision's developer.

It turns out that Alabama cave shrimp live there. They're tiny, in fact, they're smaller than a penny.

"They're very small and translucent and they're blind," said Holloway.

Holloway has owned the land for 11 years. Four months ago, he and his employees discovered a huge cave on the property.

"That's when people started getting involved," said Holloway. "We found it was a mud cave."

Then, they found the shrimp. So the city required Holloway to keep his new subdivision 25 feet away from the cave, but he decided to do more.

"We're about 80 feet away from the entrance and then the Fish and Wildlife and other environmental groups are making sure we're taking care of the shrimp and protecting them," said Holloway.

Holloway plans to make the development a nice area people can enjoy.

"We're going to preserve this whole area," said Holloway. "It will remain natural. It will be a nice camping area or park area. We'll have to put some kind of fencing or security around the entrances of the cave."

For now, bulldozers will be preparing the land for all the species that will live here.

Alabama cave shrimp were federally-listed as endangered species in 1988. The cave shrimp is found in just two cave systems in Madison County, one of which is within the boundaries of Redstone Arsenal.

[daveyp]

^^^^^this is so great to hear!^^^^^

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

like pulling teeth with a rubber band

I-565 Interchange work tortures forward

To accommodate rapid growth in Madison in 2007 and thousands of new residents expected to move into the city by 2011 as a result of BRAC, Mayor Sandy Kirkindall said getting the city's roads in shape is a top priority.

"We are working with the Alabama Department of Transportation to get an interchange at the Zierdt Road and I-565 area and are asking for our Federal delegation for earmarked funds for an interchange at County Line Road and I-565," Kirkindall said. "The Zierdt Road/I-565 interchange proposal is still under review in the Interchange Justification Study process, which must be approved by ALDOT and the Federal HighwayAdministration."
(the can't use our money agency, I mean really how long does it take to "justify" something like this?)
Kirkindall said the Interchange Justification Study for County Line Road and I-565 has been approved by both agencies, and the city has signed a contract with ALDOT to start the engineering design of the interchange.

"The design process is expected to take a year," Kirkindall said. "Construction would not begin before 2009 since right of way acquisition and surveying could take almost a year.(read delay tactics used by ALDOT,
these are not some multilevel complicated interchanges)

"The city only has about $12 million in uncommitted capital funds to meet about $25 million in road needs alone," Kirkindall said. "To take care of this, we need additional sales taxrevenue to fund it."

It's ridiculous that there are only two interchanges between the endpoints of Madison Blvd, and one of them doesn't even have ramps to Madison Blvd!

They're also going to have to widen 565 8 lanes to Wall Triana and 6 the rest of the way to I-65, where are the plans for that?

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Shelby County leads the state

By BOB LOWRY
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Madison also growingslower than 7 othersin state, data show

MONTGOMERY - Madison County ranks a distant second to Shelby County in median household income and trails seven other counties in population growth over the past four years, according to a new state demographic report.

Madison County's median household income for the reporting period of 2004 was $49,441, compared with Shelby County's $61,972. No. 3 was Autauga County, across the Alabama River from Montgomery, at $45,379.

The state median was $37,062, while the U.S. median was $44,334.

The figures were contained in the new Alabama Population Data Sheet compiled from U.S. Census data by Donald Bogie, who was the director of the Center for Demographic Research at Auburn University at Montgomery.

Bogie, who recently retired after directing the center for 36 years, gathered statistics on more than two dozens subjects on all of Alabama's 67 counties.

"Overall life looks good in Madison County. The indications are very good," he said. "The same is very true in Limestone County, and as we went across the board, Morgan County is not bad."

But he said DeKalb and Jackson counties are not faring as well as their North Alabama neighbors. As for Marshall County, Bogie said, "I don't know where to put Marshall - it's different in some ways."

The report showed Madison County has passed Montgomery County as the state's third largest county with 304,307 residents compared with Montgomery County's 223,571.

Alabama's population grew by 3.4 percent to total 4.44 million.
Madison County grew at a 9.9 percent pace from 2000 to 2006, while growth in Montgomery County was flat.

The other counties ahead of Madison in population growth, as a percentage, included Baldwin (20.5 percent), St. Clair (16.2 percent), Elmore (14.9 percent), Autauga (13.9 percent), Limestone (10.3 percent) and Blount (10.6 percent).

DeKalb County grew by 5.5 percent; Jackson County lost 0.3 percent; Marshall picked up 6 percent, and Morgan grew by only 3.8 percent.

Considering that the counties ahead of us in both categories are only the result of suburban growth from larger counties, I say we're doing quite well. And Madison County has been larger than Montgomery County since at least the 80's. That's not recent news...

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

It's ridiculous that there are only two interchanges between the endpoints of Madison Blvd, and one of them doesn't even have ramps to Madison Blvd!

They're also going to have to widen 565 8 lanes to Wall Triana and 6 the rest of the way to I-65, where are the plans for that?



Considering that the counties ahead of us in both categories are only the result of suburban growth from larger counties, I say we're doing quite well. And Madison County has been larger than Montgomery County since at least the 80's. That's not recent news...

Figures like this are alway a bit misleading, I agree about the widening, also across Chapman Mountain but if they started now it would be a 30 year project.It's taken 20 just to get simple interchanges on the Parkway and they haven't even started on those yet. I thought the Madison/MGM county line was a bit odd as well. Seems like it was in the early 80's when the change happened. Hopefully HSV can be up at least another county in the metro.