Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Interesting article on the desired I-14 and I-85 extension.
I'm all for any economic infrastucture the Black Belt can get and deserves.
It's probably Alabama's secret jewel, but not at the expense of other areas
of the state. The Federal Gov should create something to focus on this area's funding needs.
http://www.oanow.com/servlet/Satellite?p...e&cid=1173350785134&path=!news!localnews

"Alabama Gov. Bob Riley has been concerned with the underdeveloped nature of Alabama’s Black Belt region for several years, Harris said, adding that $116 million in state and federal funding has been approved to study the environmental impact and tentative routes of the I-85 extension.
Hadden estimates that it could be as many as 10 to 15 years before I-14 is operable - and that’s not including the development of any unexpected delays in planning or funding. Completion time and project costs could be minimized, Hadden said, by maximizing existing infrastructure and “piggybacking” the new sections of highway onto existing ones where possible."
"Harris, the ALDOT official, said that no matter the route, funding will remain the “major issue” when dealing with road projects.

“We’ve got a five-year plan that we’re already so stretched for funding (for) that we are having to move projects around simply because of what costs are doing,” he said. “Even with combined state and federal revenue, we’re doing good to meet our needs with that.

“With new projects like these of a very grand scale, it’s hard to imagine where the funding will come from for those.”

[HSVTiger]

An article from October 2005, sounds positive, is this really the case?
Recently McInnes said they shift money around as they see fit.

MONTGOMERY -- The state's renewed emphasis on road construction in the economically depressed Black Belt shouldn't hurt the Shoals' effort to complete three major projects, state Transportation Director Joe McInnes said.

Three projects are of particular interest to the Shoals:

- The Memphis-to-Atlanta highway from Colbert County in the west to DeKalb and Cherokee counties in the east.

- Completion of the Patton Island bridge corridor.

- The four-laning of U.S. 43 from the Shoals south to Mobile.

All three projects have been in the works for several years and will need heavy federal funding to continue on schedule.

Unless Congress shifts federal spending to hurricane relief, state transportation officials expect progress to continue on each.

The multibillion-dollar Memphis-to-Atlanta highway remains a federally funded project and is in the design stage, now that the route has been approved.

The Patton Island bridge began as a federally funded project. The project stalled until the state Department of Transportation began spending state money after state and federal officials figured out the right financing mix.

The bridge is open to traffic but a connecting interchange to just south of Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals is not complete. Construction on the second phase in Lauderdale County, which will connect Huntsville Road with Florence Boulevard at the Helton Drive intersection, hasn't started.

"Memphis to Atlanta will be completed,'' McInnes said last week. "That's sorely needed up there.''

U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, said completing the Memphis-to-Atlanta highway is one of his priorities.

"I believe this and other projects, like the Patton Island bridge corridor in the Shoals, will go a long way toward increasing economic development opportunities in north Alabama,'' Cramer said. "The Alabama federal delegation has done an excellent job of bringing additional transportation dollars to the state each year and I will continue to work with my colleagues on projects of importance to north Alabama and throughout the state.''

McInnes said upgrading U.S. 43 from the Shoals to Mobile is getting under way in phases, with a stretch from Thomasville north to U.S. 80 going first.

McInnes said the Shoals won't have to compete with a recent $100 million appropriation in the new federal highway bill that is to be used to start design of the Interstate 85 extension from Montgomery to Mississippi.

"The Patton Island bridge extension is formula money and we got a contract on it,'' McInnes said. "Patton Island is going to happen regardless of any economic activity and plans are going through to put the interchange in.

"The same thing with U.S. 43, we've got to do those regardless of I-85, which came later,'' he said.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., included the $100 million for the I-85 extension in the recent highway bill. But that was before Hurricane Katrina demolished New Orleans and the Alabama and Mississippi coasts. Shelby has suggested a review of federal spending in favor of hurricane relief, including his own spending.

"These different earmarks are part of a large budget,'' said Shelby spokeswoman Virginia Davis. "Congress will have to make a decision.''

The prospect of a new automobile manufacturing plant on the Alabama-Mississippi state line is boosting highway development in Alabama's Black Belt, a neglected region starved for jobs.

The Department of Transportation is on a fast track to four-lane U.S. 80 between Demopolis to Mississippi, partly because of the possibility of a Kia automobile plant being built near Meridian, Miss.

"The Black Belt area needs infrastructure,'' McInnes said.

[HSVTiger]

over in Guntersville, a short drive from Huntsville, some very good eats coming.

MOBILE — A south Alabama institution will soon be available to north Alabama residents with a taste for seafood. Wintzell’s Oyster House, which was founded in 1938 as a six-stool Mobile oyster bar, will open its first franchise location this fall on Lake Guntersville.

Dana Price, Wintzell’s franchisee, will build a Wintzell’s on the property next to the Hampton Inn on Lake Guntersville. Construction is scheduled to be completed by this fall, with an opening soon after. Price said, “We are very excited to be a part of this new venture with Wintzell’s Restaurants. They have a great tradition of serving fresh seafood and the name recognition that will ensure the same consistent quality food and service.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

ALDOT positives, yeah ALDOT gets bashed for ineptness at the management level and well they should, but recently they have been upgrading and replacing signs around the Huntsville area and most I've seen look good.
Still wrong or useless in some areas(I-565/US 72 issues Chapman Mountain,
Downtown, other city signs , BHM, Nash, Chattanooga need to be added)
even added road name signs on I-565 overpasses(Jordan Ln).
Airport area need Air Cargo signs on I-565.
Thanks ALDOT.
(Of course this may have originally been scheduled in 1985)

This might explain it, A big highway conference is being held in Huntsville this coming week (SASHTO) so ALDOT is trying to spruce things up. You may notice this impossible to read logo on some interstate signs, I guess they are intended to be directional, but you can't tell what they are going 70mph because they are too small, I guess they are temporary.


Hopefully ALDOT will take notes

The SASHTO 2007 Conference provides a forum for transportation officials to learn more about new or improved technologies, products, policies and procedures in the Transportation industry.

[HSVTiger]

more road comments from Madison County Commission Chairman
Mike Gillespie,

"With an estimated 10,000 Army and defense contractor jobs being transferred here from the Washington, D.C., area, Madison County has a "desperate need" for more and better roads, Gillespie said. The Pentagon's decision to relocate several major military commands to Redstone Arsenal by 2011 "is probably the single largest economic development project in our state's history," he said, but it hasn't led to new state road construction dollars.

Outside Huntsville, the top priorities are widening Winchester Road, Alabama 53 and Hobbs Island Road, Gillespie said.

He asked state legislators in the audience to push Alabama Department of Transportation officials and Gov. Bob Riley to free more money for county road projects.

"We're going to redouble our efforts" in Montgomery, he said.

When Gillespie was first elected in 1980, the areas surrounding Huntsville and Madison were small communities dominated by farming. But after years of nonstop home construction, unincorporated Madison County now feels more urban than rural, he said.

Roughly 100,000 of the county's 304,000 residents live outside the Huntsville and Madison city limits. If that area was incorporated, he said, it would be the fifth-biggest city in Alabama, trailing only Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and Montgomery.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Huntsville is "definitely on the radar and being discussed" for other destinations, said Fenyes. "It's obvious from the support of the community that this is the kind of market we're looking for."

"We're proud that you found us," said Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer. Being able to travel to and from Huntsville "in an expedited way is important to us."

"Allegiant has just improved (the community's) quality of life greatly," said Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. New air service helps make economic development much easier, he said.

Allegiant Air, founded in 1997, operates a fleet of 29 MD-80 series aircraft and provides nonstop scheduled service from 41 U.S. cities to Las Vegas, 26 cities to Orlando and 14 to the Tampa Bay area.

Allegiant has launched service in about a dozen markets this year, said Fenyes.

Once Allegiant Air starts service here, Huntsville International will have 14 nonstop destinations: Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Memphis, Chicago, Detroit, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C. (Dulles and National), New York (LaGuardia) and Las Vegas. Delta Air Lines last week announced it will start weekday nonstop, round-trip service between Huntsville and LaGuardia Airport, beginning Sept. 6.

Will Huntsville be one of the new nonstop destinations from Ft. Lauderdale?
maybe

By INA PAIVA CORDLE
[email protected]
Low-cost carrier Allegiant Air is creating a mini-hub at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this fall, with service to 12 destinations in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast.

The fast-growing Las Vegas-based airline, which links small cities to popular leisure destinations, says it will fly to locations not yet served from South Florida. It will also make Fort Lauderdale its fifth crew base, hiring as many as 50 local employees, Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said.

The airline -- now led by some of the founders of ValuJet Airlines -- today will be announcing Fort Lauderdale service beginning Nov. 14. The carrier will not start naming the cities it will serve from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood until Aug. 9, but Squyres said Las Vegas will not be among them. The 12 destinations will be phased in by the end of the year.

''Most people who live there aren't from there, and we fly to those hometowns where everyone is from,'' Squyres said. Besides Las Vegas, Allegiant already has hubs in Orlando/Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater and will soon add Phoenix. The airline has no plans to fly internationally or to Miami, she said.

Among the 53 cities Allegiant flies to: Allentown, Pa; Bangor, Maine; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Des Moines, Iowa; Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.; Peoria, Ill.; and Toledo, Ohio.

''We go where no one else goes,'' Squyres said.

The airline's research shows that South Florida is in high demand for low-cost leisure service from those cities.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood spokesman Greg Meyer called Allegiant's plans ``outstanding.''

''There are lots of domestic destinations throughout various areas of the country that aren't currently being served, and this is excellent for the airport and for the people who fly out of here,'' Meyer said.

Allegiant will be flying out of Terminal 2, Concourse D, he said.

Founded in 1997, Allegiant has grown from 14 destinations to more than 50 during the past three years.

The airline has a fleet of 150-seat, MD-80 series aircraft.

The airline's majority owner is Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., one of the founders of ValuJet Airlines. Allegiant has added to its board two other former directors of ValuJet, including Robert L. Priddy, who was ValuJet's former chairman and chief executive.

Allegiant, which went public in December, earned $9.7 million on $84.3 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2007.

''The primary focus in 2007 will be developing Florida markets,'' Parker wrote, ``which represent 27 percent of revenue currently and 67 percent of projected 2007 revenue growth.''

[HSVTiger]

The huge Han Dynasty horse statues that stand guard at PF Changs have arrived at Bridge Street. They are currently watching over the parking deck construction awaiting their final placement.
The horses are produced by one artist, for $40,000 apiece specifically for the Chinese restaurant. The statue is a replica from China’s Han Dynasty and with the exception of one location, can be found, - often in pairs- at each of the chain’s 200 nationwide properties.
This pic from another location

[Exodus]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

The huge Han Dynasty horse statues that stand guard at PF Changs have arrived at Bridge Street. They are currently watching over the parking deck construction awaiting their final placement.
The horses are produced by one artist, for $40,000 apiece specifically for the Chinese restaurant. The statue is a replica from China’s Han Dynasty and with the exception of one location, can be found, - often in pairs- at each of the chain’s 200 nationwide properties.
This pic from another location

Pretty neat novelty. They will make nice landmarks

[HSVTiger]

Aloft hotel looking?

Some rumblings of an Aloft hotel possibly locating in Huntsville.
This is a Starwood brand so with the new Westin Huntsville and 4 Points Sheraton at the airport, Huntsville is not a stranger to them.
Hopefully this will happen.

[HSVTiger]

Kate Spade/New York opening, hiring

kate spade is pleased to announce a new store opening at the bridge st. town centre, huntsville, alabama in october 2007. we are seeking experienced managers and sales associates with experience in a luxury retail environment. management candidates must have 4+ years experience and strong analytical skills. sales associates must have 1+ years experience with strong clientelling and customer service skills. all candidates must be polished, professional, and polite. please e-mail all resumes to [email protected].

http://www.katespade.com/home/index.jsp

[Shawn35816]

Kate Spade? Wow that seems really upscale. I see they only a few stores around so that will be a nice addition to Huntsville as well as the Alabama market.

[Rail Claimore]

I was wondering what those signs were. They're posted all the way out as far west as I-65. I slowed down to about 50 on an exit ramp earlier tonight to try and read them, and I could have sworn the top part of the seal said "DeSoto."

[HSVTiger]

Building height limitations to be ammended. This was supposed to not allow tall buildings adjacent to residential areas downtown. It is being revised

The building height ordinance may need amending to correct a provision in a height restriction approved this year.

City planning officials discovered the new height ordinance unwittingly hampered the planned $150 million Constellation development on the old Market Square site because of a limit imposed on developments abutting residential neighborhoods.

Without a fix, Constellation developers would have to limit the proposed office/retail/twin hotel conglomerate to 30 feet high because of the public housing development on the other side of Memorial Parkway.

Also the old Darryl's 1817 restaurant on University Dr. is being torn down to make room for a new hotel. Which brand has not been revealed. Darryl's was one of the first and original restaurants on the old "restaurant row" in HSV back in the 80's

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

This might explain it, A big highway conference is being held in Huntsville this coming week (SASHTO) so ALDOT is trying to spruce things up. You may notice this impossible to read logo on some interstate signs, I guess they are intended to be directional, but you can't tell what they are going 70mph because they are too small, I guess they are temporary.


Hopefully ALDOT will take notes

The SASHTO 2007 Conference provides a forum for transportation officials to learn more about new or improved technologies, products, policies and procedures in the Transportation industry.

I imagine bridges will be a hot topic, prayers to those in Minnesota affected by the I-35 collapse. I would bet salt corrosion from ice and snow will enter the picture.

[Huntsville_secede]

From the Huntsville times reader writes...

Narrow look

Columns and letters have recently appeared in The Times critical of Gov. Bob Riley for the below-average return in road money to Huntsville and Madison County.

These writers are only taking a narrow look at state money provided.

Recently, Riley provided $50 million to start the Hudson Alpha Institute. And Riley's administration has always been generous in supporting Huntsville as a space exploration center.

The state through ADECA gave $100,000 toward the Saturn V Restoration effort. Visitors now can see a genuine Saturn V as they enter Huntsville on Interstate 565.

Additionally, the state gives the U.S. Space & Rocket Center about $325,000 annually.

The local BRAC commission has received about $100,000 from the state to help attract defense and missile commands personnel to the Huntsville area.

The state, under the Riley administration, contributed to the development of the General Officer houses on Redstone.

These homes have drawn high accolades from major commanders and help in influencing the location of major commands to Redstone.

And, concerning roadwork, the recent Governors Drive project that went from the Parkway through our medical district to Madison Street cost $5.8 million and will be $11 million when the planned work is completed at California Street. Ninety percent of that project is state-funded.

The governor's staff follows the development of supported projects to see that such state contributions are getting results and progressing Alabama.

When the Katrina disaster struck, every other Gulf state and federal agencies involved were in chaos, except Alabama.

Aloysius I. Reisz,

Toney, 35773


--I wasn't aware that Governors project was 90% state funded? I thought the city was paying for anyway its a US route so its supposed to be 100% state funded not at all city funded. And these little tidbits of money 100,000, and 200,000 dont have anything to do with the amount we are being shortchanged with road money. We'll never get anything if the inadequency of the state is always defended

[HSVTiger]

This has been talked about for a while, seems it may actually happen
and may be taller, at least a 21 story tower.

Developer Randy Schrimsher agreed that downtown residents shouldn't have imposing buildings looming over their neighborhoods. The city, however, should rethink setting a 10-story cap. Schrimsher told the council that he's been planning a 15-story building (mostly residential) atop a six-story garage at Jefferson Street and Holmes Avenue. He said he'd like to go higher if the downtown living trend picks up in Huntsville as predicted.

Schrimsher noted that there are only a few available sites in the downtown C-3 business zones that would be subject to the height limits.

[HSVTiger]

more from the height discussion, HSV's downtown has major historic districts
adjacent to certain areas which has prompted this as well as the planned, proposed developments that are beginning to come forward. The Constellation
project in particular but it is separated from any residential areas by a ten lane freeway.

"Council members asked for the work session to discuss a provision in the building height ordinance that imposes a two-story, 30-foot height limit for buildings in downtown C-3 zones if the property abuts or is across the street from residential districts. The secondary provision was viewed as a way to protect adjoining neighborhoods from the light pollution, shadows and "canyon" effect of a skyscraper next door.

Officials discovered later that the exception would block the planned $150 million Constellation development on the old Market Square Mall site at Memorial Parkway and Clinton Avenue. So they proposed lifting the "across the street" provision but keeping the abut requirement.

That led to a lengthy debate at the work session about how far to go with the residential protections. Language in the amendment would allow one extra foot of height for every four feet horizontal distance the structure would be built beyond the required setback line"

[daveyp]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

"Council members asked for the work session to discuss a provision in the building height ordinance that imposes a two-story, 30-foot height limit for buildings in downtown C-3 zones if the property abuts or is across the street from residential districts. The secondary provision was viewed as a way to protect adjoining neighborhoods from the light pollution, shadows and "canyon" effect of a skyscraper next door."

this is funny to me. we're talking about a building less than 300 feet tall, when any shadow it casts at sunrise is going to be far overcast by the shadow of monte sano, which is around 1000 ft above downtown.

most neighborhoods in huntsville have shadows and a canyon effect, because they are actually surrounded by steep hills. i get their point, i just can't believe that's an issue they are discussing.

[HSVTiger]

Bridge Street parking deck progress



side of theater complex, notice the nice light fixtures



the front will look like this

[HSVTiger]

San Francisco restaurateur Chris Yeo has hired a nightlife and restaurant veteran to rapidly expand his restaurant empire, with the goal of being ready to sell the company or take it public within four years.

The hire comes as the company eyes expansion deals with Host Hotels & Resorts, real estate developer O&S Holdings and three separate partners in Las Vegas.


Chief Operating Officer Parnell Delcham came on board in June to groom the company for eventual sale, either to another firm or on the stock market. Delcham has helped manage restaurants in New York for restaurateurs Anthony Bourdain and Jeffrey Chodorow, food and nightlife at hotels like the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and Noble House Hotels of Seattle.

Locally, Delcham was general manager of Nice Ventures, which includes Rose Pistola and Rose's Café.

Delcham's immediate goal is to create orderly systems for tasks now completed on an ad-hoc basis by Yeo. With operations running more smoothly, the company would be better poised to expand into new markets.

"The offers are coming in now," Delcham said.

Straits is close to a lease at Town Square Center in Las Vegas, a $600 million-plus shopping center under construction on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, near the Mandalay Bay hotel. It is also in discussions for two other Las Vegas projects.

Straits is also considering a deal with Host Hotels to operate a restaurant at a hotel in Newport Beach, a deal the company believes could lead to other deals with Host, even an acquisition down the line.

With O&S holdings, a real estate developer co-founded by Kinko's founder Paul Orfalea, Straits is exploring going into "Bridge Street Town Centre" shopping centers in places like suburban Chicago and Huntsville, Ala.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/07/30/story10.html?b=1185768000%5E1497326