Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by neilson

I heard local financial issues with the franchisee. Almost Boston Market or TJ Cinnamons like.

Got an email from the corporate office. They said the franchisee closed
the restaurant but they will be open in Huntsville in the near future, either at that location or a new one.

[BKOTH97]

HSVTiger Said:
"Backyard Burger closed it's University drive location, and the Athens location
closed earlier this year."

This really stinks! I eat there a few times a month...especially with my family on Thursday nights.

[BKOTH97]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Northrop Grumman plans to begin construction on the second building in it's Research Park campus. They employ 1200 in Huntsville.

HSVTiger,

Do you know which one will be the 2nd building to go up? Will it be next to the existing building or across the retention pond?

Thanks,

[DruidCity]

No great surprise here, but Madison County's growth over the last year pretty much kills the rest of the state :
http://www2.dir.state.al.us/LAUS/LAUSCNTY.aspx

158,508 were employed in Madison County in January 2007, and 163,259 in January 2008. This increase was more than in any other two Alabama counties combined over the same period.

[Rail Claimore]

And we haven't even seen most of the BRAC relocations yet.

[DruidCity]

That's true + I know one professor who left T-town for industry in Huntsville last year, and another who plans to this year. It's rockin' in the Rocket City !

[HSVTiger]

By MARIAN ACCARDI
Times Business Writer [email protected]
97,350 passengers used facility in February

Huntsville International Airport reported a record in passenger traffic for February, with 97,350 travelers using the airport.

That exceeds by 5.6 percent the previous record for the month set three years ago and exceeds the number of passengers last February by 17.4 percent.



"Across the board, we saw really good increases for our activities," said Rick Tucker, executive director of the Port of Huntsville, which includes the airport, International Intermodal Center and Jetplex Industrial Park.

Airport officials also told the Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority on Tuesday that rail cargo volume at the Intermodal Center set a record for the month. The center performed 3,985 rail lifts last month, a 21 percent increase over a year earlier.

The Huntsville airport in 2007 served 1.24 million passengers, up 7.5 percent over 2006, according to airport figures.

In other news, United Airlines has added a second daily flight to Denver and a third daily flight to Dulles near Washington, D.C., for the next two weeks during the spring break/holiday season, said Barbie Peek, the airport's director of marketing.

United started direct flights to Denver International Airport in February 2007 and nonstop service to Washington Dulles International Airport last April

[HSVTiger]

The Concert Hall at the the Von Braun Center is scheduled for some work.
It seats 2153 and sees heavy use.


It is the home of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra as well as many Broadway Shows, concerts, Blue Man group, Gallagher etc. The city is entering an agreement with
Matheny Goldmon Architects, AIA, LLC for architectural services for the refurbishment of the Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Got an email from the corporate office. They said the franchisee closed
the restaurant but they will be open in Huntsville in the near future, either at that location or a new one.

Somebody needs to tell the Huntsville Times why they closed because according to this article they have no idea...

From Huntsville Times

Restaurant closings

Phones began ringing several weeks ago with the closing of Back Yard Burgers on U.S. 72 West at Paramount Drive. The Nashville-based chain restaurant suddenly had gone dark with a sign announcing it had closed.

Attempts to contact franchisee Walter Jones have been unsuccessful. Apparently, his other restaurant in Athens is closed, too.

[HSVTiger]

By JOHN PECK
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Huntsville hopes to expand system'scapacity by 2015

Huntsville Utilities is taking a giant leap to build a water treatment plant in Marshall County on the Tennessee River.

The City Council will consider a request tonight to purchase a site for the plant near Guntersville Dam.

The 267-acre tract, owned by Cecil Ashburn of Huntsville, is at U.S. 431 and Guntersville Dam Road. Records list the purchase price at $1.2 million.

The estimated cost of the plant would be $60 million to $80 million. The purchase authorization follows a $14 million contract Huntsville Utilities awarded to expand the capacity of its South Huntsville treatment plant near the Whitesburg Bridge.

"We believe, with present growth, we can safely have enough water capacity for Huntsville for seven to eight years," utilities President Bill Pippin said in a recent interview. "If we start construction in 2012 (on the new plant), it will be finished in 2015, about the time we would start being unable to meet the demand."

The Tennessee River supplies roughly 80 percent of Huntsville Utilities' water. Wells supply the rest, although groundwater levels have dropped sharply because of prolonged drought. Two city wells were recently shut down because of contamination caused by low flow. The Lincoln-Dallas well is the only one still being used.

Huntsville Utilities' other riverside water treatment plant is near Triana south of Huntsville International Airport.

The Marshall County land purchase comes as annexations in east Huntsville continue to push city boundaries closer to Marshall County.

[HSVTiger]

This time it will probably happen..Bass Pro. The location is probably
the I-566/I-65 interchange or possibly further north toward the new
Tanner/Huntsville interchange under construction. If it comes about
Bass Pro will have this state saturated.But it could take 5 years if the others are any indication.

By Karen Middleton
[email protected]

A major project, possibly a shopping center that could include a Bass Pro Shop, is in the works for Decatur-annexed portions of south Limestone County, but officials are remaining mum—until Monday.


Decatur attorney Barney Lovelace, who represents the landowner, said Thursday a confidentiality agreement prevented him from discussing the project before Monday.

Athens Electric Department Manager Gary Scroggins spent Wednesday afternoon meeting with Decatur officials to discuss energy needs in Decatur-annexed areas.

“We actually met on several subjects having to do with our capacity and serving that area,” Scroggins said. “I don’t believe they are ready to announce the project.”

“It’s pretty big and we have to consider the whole area if we need to build a new substation—we have to know if we can carry the power load,” said Athens City Councilman Ronnie Marks.

One Athens city official, who asked to remain anonymous, said he heard that Bass Pro Shops was among those considering the site. The company bills itself as the “world’s leading supplier of premium outdoor gear” for fishing, hunting, camping, golfing and marine activities. It also sells electronics, apparel, footwear, gifts and home items.

There are Bass Pro Shops in 26 states, including Prattville and a location announced for Spanish Fort in December. There is also a store in Toronto, Canada.

Decatur Mayor Don Kyle did not return multiple telephone messages Thursday.

One Decatur city councilman said, “Everyone connected with the city had to sign a confidentiality agreement.”

John Seymour, president and chief executive officer of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, said there is “no kind of agreement.”

“I know we’ve had conversations with a lot of different retailers, but there’s nothing official,” Seymour said. “There’s just nothing to comment on.”

Exactly four years ago, developer Michael Belew pulled the plug on a proposed retail center in the Alabama 20 corridor because he couldn’t get infrastructure funding. Plans were for a $450 million shopping center that was projected to generate 5,000 jobs and $9 million in annual sales-tax revenue and another $2.2 million in property tax revenue.

[ExpatBaman]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

This is a surprise since they seemed to be doing a great business

Backyard Burger closed it's University drive location, and the Athens location
closed earlier this year. They were both owned by the same person I think.
Sounds like it may be something other than customers. I ate there just last week, good as usual.

They also closed their Florence and Muscle Shoals stores.

The Montgomery location closed recently as well, despite the fact that it was in an East Montgomery development that includes the city's most popular movie theater complex. I don't get it. IMHO Back Yard Burger is the best fast food/drive-thru burger chain on the planet. Maybe it's just bad management...

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by ExpatBaman

The Montgomery location closed recently as well, despite the fact that it was in an East Montgomery development that includes the city's most popular movie theater complex. I don't get it. IMHO Back Yard Burger is the best fast food/drive-thru burger chain on the planet. Maybe it's just bad management...

this was the explanation from the coorporate office, I sort of misplaced it in a previous post..bad management or money issues are probably the cause.
Good news is it sounds like they will be back.

"Got an email from the corporate office. They said the franchisee closed
the restaurant but they will be open in Huntsville in the near future, either at that location or a new one."

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

The Concert Hall at the the Von Braun Center is scheduled for some work.
It seats 2153 and sees heavy use.


It is the home of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra as well as many Broadway Shows, concerts, Blue Man group, Gallagher etc. The city is entering an agreement with
Matheny Goldmon Architects, AIA, LLC for architectural services for the refurbishment of the Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center.

The council awarded a $230,500 contract to Matheny Goldmon Architects of Huntsville for architectural designs for major improvements to the Von Braun Center Concert Hall. The construction tab will be around $3 million, with about $800,000 from the city and the rest from a private donor. Work will include items like heating and air system improvements, better acoustics and lighting, improved concessions and restrooms

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Five Points/Downtown Streetscape plan ready to begin?

hopefully it is, this will be the 1st phase of extensive makeover of this historic
district streets. Pratt Ave to beyond Russell will see extensive landscaping,
with new stamped colored concrete cobblestone sidewalks, trees, benches, underground utilities and decorative lighting. It will create/re-establish a very walkable, pedestrian friendly environment. This is all along Star Market/Sazio/
Hardees etc . There will be some removal of Dogwood trees on Pratt but they will be relocated to nearby Coleman St.
At one time the old trolley rails that are under the street were going to be re-established but tripping hazards and basic costs prevented this.

The council also authorized a $554,059 contract with Greenscape Contracting of Huntsville for a major makeover of the Five Points historic business district. Work includes sidewalk, landscaping, lighting, irrigation and benches. The council also authorized Huntsville Utilities to move some overhead electrical lines in the business district underground.
HSV Times

[| BRAVO |]

How 'bout it Huntsville? Would you guys like for me to post this chart every month?

Economic Indicator Chart - "Business Alabama Magazine" - March 2008

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by hallman02

How 'bout it Huntsville? Would you guys like for me to post this chart every month?

Economic Indicator Chart - "Business Alabama Magazine" - March 2008

absolutely, thanks hallman02

[HSVTiger]

Constellation update..
Yeah it is taking FOREVER but right now they have nearly completed removing
all of the old parking surface (18 acres maybe) and a press anouncement should be coming soon with more details on the project and the official groundbreaking for the two new downtown hotels. Heart of Huntsville Drive
(which runs along the east side of the property)is nearly complete and will make easy access to the Embassy Suite, Holiday Inn and Big Spring Park.
Lets hope it won't be much longer before the steel starts rising.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Constellation update..
Yeah it is taking FOREVER but right now they have nearly completed removing
all of the old parking surface (18 acres maybe) and a press anouncement should be coming soon with more details on the project and the official groundbreaking for the two new downtown hotels. Heart of Huntsville Drive
(which runs along the east side of the property)is nearly complete and will make easy access to the Embassy Suite, Holiday Inn and Big Spring Park.
Lets hope it won't be much longer before the steel starts rising.

Heard anything new about the other big project Harris Hills?

[HSVTiger]

This will probably create tremendous development between Decatur/Athens/Huntsville. I-565 is already seeing residential growth
especially around Greenbrier, and now with the proposed extension of the interstate to Decatur there will be great potential. I would bet that this is at
least a 2-3 year development construction project, Monday will be the day we find out.

Decatur officials on Monday will announce a "billion dollar mixed use development," rumored to be anchored by the wildly popular Bass Pro Shops.
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau sent out a news release today announcing news conference Monday at the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.

Published reports quoting sources close to the deal have said the development would be in south Limestone County in the Decatur city limits and would be anchored by Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro Shops are massive outdoors specialty stores, much coveted by economic developers because they draw customers from hundreds of miles.

Mayor Don Kyle and other local officials have declined to comment on what the announcement will be, citing confidentiality agreements