Huntsville updates - Page 95

HSVTiger · #**1881** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 6:58 PM**

Property sold to DLC Management, so hopefully it will pump new life into this
shopping center, mainly the 44,000 sq ft former Winn Dixie.

"Shields Plaza (79,240 SF) is a community shopping center located at the intersection of Winchester Road and Shields Road in Huntsville, AL"

HSVTiger · #**1882** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 7:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

Found this on Bidclerk:

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

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

Or could this be a revised Ovation condo/apartment project? Ovation has given all the other condo projects a bad impression due to poor marketing skills. You would think Triad, a big time developer would have handled this much better. In any case I hope it is a totally new project that will bring more affordable living options to downtown.

TimCity2000 · #**1883** Posted **Dec 27, 2007, 2:38 PM**

What is up with all the recent murders in Huntsville? Seems like every time I go to al.com, there's a new one in the headlines. 22 for the year?

pboo74 · #**1884** Posted **Dec 27, 2007, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

What is up with all the recent murders in Huntsville? Seems like every time I go to al.com, there's a new one in the headlines. 22 for the year?

yeah since i been here in 1995 this is the most it's ever been?

Bama_Bull78 · #**1885** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 2:16 AM**

Usually during the holidays and when it gets cold outside. People are mor eon the edge due to bills or stayin with somebody int he same house so long it is a sad stat. though

Rail Claimore · #**1886** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 12:57 PM**

Huntsville's murder rate in recent years is alarming. Not to long ago, the city only had 5 for a year (2002 I believe), which was a rate a bit below the national average. But the next year, it spiked up.

Still though, you're probably safer in H-town than in any of Alabama's other 3 major cities.

marvingardns · #**1887** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 1:45 PM**

There are a combination of factors affecting the murder rate. The rising demand in crystal meth combined with rising prices (thinner supply) of other drugs (crack cocaine) is resulting in increased crime of all sorts... turf fighting, gang building, copper theft, break-ins, hold-ups, etc.

Unfortunately, violent crime can be a self-perpetuating cycle (eye for an eye) without strong intervention by outside forces (police presence, community programs, etc.).

We're not the only city in the South experiencing this...

pboo74 · #**1888** Posted **Dec 29, 2007, 5:54 AM**

Has anyone heard the timetable of the constellation project.

nimsjus · #**1889** Posted **Dec 29, 2007, 2:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

Huntsville's murder rate in recent years is alarming. Not to long ago, the city only had 5 for a year (2002 I believe), which was a rate a bit below the national average. But the next year, it spiked up.

Still though, you're probably safer in H-town than in any of Alabama's other 3 major cities.

In the recent rankings that ranked Bham the 6th most dangerous city in America, Mobile was the safest of the Big 4. In order from most dangerous to least it was Bham, MGM, Hville, and Mobile. Mobile gets a little help in that regard though because Prichard is a seperate city, and therefore does not count into Mobile's crime stats.

pboo74 · #**1890** Posted **Dec 29, 2007, 2:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimsjus

In the recent rankings that ranked Bham the 6th most dangerous city in America, Mobile was the safest of the Big 4. In order from most dangerous to least it was Bham, MGM, Hville, and Mobile. Mobile gets a little help in that regard though because Prichard is a seperate city, and therefore does not count into Mobile's crime stats.

And that being from mobile,and knowing what goes on down there that is hard for me to believe because mobile is very crime infested,I don't know where or how they came up with that report,But that's wrong. I stayed in orange grove and there's no way in hell mobile is the safest of the big 4.'Crime is very bad down there.....{nimsjus}I remember when that report came out,and I was shocked.

TimCity2000 · #**1891** Posted **Dec 29, 2007, 3:39 PM**

Quote:

Has anyone heard the timetable of the constellation project.

I'd like to know as well. When I was home over the holidays, it looked like the major demolition was complete, so hopefully it's soon. Any announcements on which restaurants are being courted?

nimsjus · #**1892** Posted **Dec 29, 2007, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pboo74

And that being from mobile,and knowing what goes on down there that is hard for me to believe because mobile is very crime infested,I don't know where or how they came up with that report,But that's wrong. I stayed in orange grove and there's no way in hell mobile is the safest of the big 4.'Crime is very bad down there.....{nimsjus}I remember when that report came out,and I was shocked.

I'm not disagreeing with your hunch. I would have assumed Huntsville would be by far the safest, followed by Mobile then MGM and BHam being the worst. The report however did not bear out those results. Maybe because Huntsville is much bigger from a size perspective. Crime in the Mobile area is not always technically within the Mobile limits. I'm not sure, but those were the rankings. Bham was 6th worst in the nation. All three of the other cities were outside of the top 100 most dangerous. It wasn't a huge difference between the three.

HSVTiger · #**1893** Posted **Dec 30, 2007, 2:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pboo74

Has anyone heard the timetable of the constellation project.

The only definite timetable that has been announced is the construction of the two hotels that is supposed to begin in January. That should speed up the rest of the project once they see steel going up.

At Bridge Street the Westin opens in April, construction is still underway on Dolce, Ketchup restautrants with PF Changs and Connors Seafood set to open soon, (within 4 weeks). Red Robin is hiring 100 people for it's location there as well.

HSVTiger · #**1894** Posted **Dec 30, 2007, 2:24 AM**

The other lifestyle center is also still in the works

MADISON - Local developer Louis Breland says he's still planning to create a retail "lifestyle center" on property he tried to deannex this year.
hopes the Alabama Department of Transportation will sign off on an interchange at Interstate 565 at Zierdt Road, said Steve Raby, Breland's spokesman. "We're hoping to get a decision from them by the end of the year or first of the new year."

Breland has a contract with DeBartolo Development, a Florida-based company that pioneered the mall concept.

In October, DeBartolo promoted the 1.6 million-square-foot project at a retail conference in Atlanta. The proposed name is The Peaks at South Chase.

Bama_Bull78 · #**1895** Posted **Dec 30, 2007, 4:18 PM**

They don't list any retailers but it does say at least 2 hotels and a movie theater which would madison out since it doesnt have any maybe we could get a rave. But the paper listed as a 1.6 million lifestyle business center plus res. the website list as 2million sq foot life style center that is double the size of anything in or close to huntsville.

http://www.debartolodevelopment.com/the_peaks_and_southcase.pdf

Huntsville_secede · #**1896** Posted **Dec 30, 2007, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bama_Bull78

They don't list any retailers but it does say at least 2 hotels and a movie theater which would madison out since it doesnt have any maybe we could get a rave. But the paper listed as a 1.6 million lifestyle business center plus res. the website list as 2million sq foot life style center that is double the size of anything in or close to huntsville.

http://www.debartolodevelopment.com/the_peaks_and_southcase.pdf

2 million sq feet is too big for Huntsville unless they plan on shutting down Madison Square mall. And madison has plenty of movie theatres close by it. Monaco, Carmike, Madison Square 12.. and the movie theatre in the Walmart complex at 72 and balch when it is built. They may not be in the Madison city limits but they are close enough. I do like the location off of Zierdt road, I never understood why that part of Madison right off of 565 wasn't being promoted more for retail its a prime and covenient location much more than the 72 portion of Madison. You never really heard about anything significant being built near Zierdt until after they heard it was planning on being de-annexed into Huntsville.

marvingardns · #**1897** Posted **Jan 1, 2008, 3:11 PM**

House of Brews closes. Disappointing. The beer was the most expensive in town though.

HSVTiger · #**1898** Posted **Jan 1, 2008, 10:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvingardns

House of Brews closes. Disappointing. The beer was the most expensive in town though.

It wasn't for lack of business..

Thursday, December 20, 2007
Special Sections
Bad news for those who enjoyed the quaint bar House of Brews downtown on the Courthouse Square.

Owner Donna Poston on Saturday officially closed the bar that had found a nice little niche among Huntsvillians for the last year and a half. Poston had put the bar up for sale a few weeks ago when her daughter, Brandy Cole - who had been managing the bar - left for California. But she never found a buyer and lately it just overwhelmed her.

"It's taken over my life and I was just tired," Poston said. "It was just too much."

Poston said she "learned a lot running the bar" and doesn't regret it one bit.

"I met a lot of nice people," she said.

She hopes somebody will take over the bar and keep it going, but the fate of the place is now in the hands of her landlord.

"I would love it if somebody would take it back up, even if they changed the name," Poston said. "

HSV Times

bodagetta · #**1899** Posted **Jan 2, 2008, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

What is up with all the recent murders in Huntsville? Seems like every time I go to al.com, there's a new one in the headlines. 22 for the year?

I have several friends in the DA's office. They attribute the rise in murders to drug activity.

I stumbled across this forum a while back looking for information on Bridge Street and check it regularly. I'm amazed at how much information ya'll can dig up on developments in Huntsville. It's way better than al.com or the local news to find out what's really going on.

HSVTiger · #**1900** Posted **Jan 4, 2008, 2:00 PM**

Not too exciting but you have to take care of what you got..

By STEVE CAMPBELL
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Board also OKsfunds to updateMilton Frank

The Huntsville city school board Thursday started its first meeting of 2008 the way it will likely begin most meetings this year - by approving millions for school repairs and renovations.

Butler High School's new roof was the meeting's most expensive item at $1.35 million. The board also accepted a $743,000 bid from Standard Roofing to replace the roof at Jones Valley Elementary School.

The board voted to spend another $600,000 for heating and air-conditioning units for practice gyms at Huntsville, Grissom and Butler high schools. The gyms are also used for phys ed classes at the schools.

The money was part of an $800,000 surplus in sales tax revenue the Huntsville City Council earmarked for practice gyms in October.

Superintendent Ann Roy Moore thanked the council at that meeting but asked that future earmarks be considered for the school system's capital improvement plan, which lists millions in repairs and renovations.

After Thursday's meeting, Moore said all high schools will now have heating and air-conditioning units in their practice gyms. The remaining $200,000 will go in the school's general fund and probably used for more fixes, Moore said.

Continuing with the system's improvement plan, the board approved $900,000 for upgrades at Milton Frank Stadium.

Citing natural wear and tear, schools' operations director John Brown said many structural improvements are needed for the stadium, which was built in 1962 and still used heavily.

"We don't want it falling on us," Brown said of the stadium.