Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Bridge Street is considered a destination center , people will travel from out of town to visit and are doing so. Will some of the stores not make it.. of course, but that is especially true in any major retail center in the country right now.
Just because the majority of posters here don't have a need for Kate Spade purse or a massage at the Westin doesn't mean there aren't a large number of people who will and do.
I'm waiting for someone to open a naysayers mall, all the stores are closed
but the naysayers can come by and look inside, it would be packed but nobody would buy anything. Better yet Family Dollar could locate all of their closed stores in it.

It's easy to predict failure because the risk is not by the ones predicting it.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

a 70 room Sleep Inn & Suites will be constructed in front of the just finished
Comfort Inn on University Dr. next to Hooters.
The third Dolce restaurant, Rare 120 at Bridge St, will be on the second level
overlooking the east lake. It will have(has) a large outdoor patio. Should open this summer.

La Quinta Inn and Suites at Huntsville International Airport is completely framed up now. The wing of rooms addition to the Hampton Inn across the street is probably 50 % complete.
Warehouse construction is also continuing along the new Loop Rd at the entrance ramps to the airport from I-565.

[HSVTiger]

Like BBQ? Some of the best around will be in downtown Huntsville this weekend for the Whistlestop Festival BBQ competition.
http://www.rocketcitybbq.com/

[bestdeception]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

a 70 room Sleep Inn & Suites will be constructed in front of the just finished
Comfort Inn on University Dr. next to Hooters.
The third Dolce restaurant, Rare 120 at Bridge St, will be on the second level
overlooking the east lake. It will have(has) a large outdoor patio. Should open this summer.

Rare 120 will be on the bottom floor facing the waterfall, not the 2nd floor. Should open early fallish.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by bestdeception

Rare 120 will be on the bottom floor facing the waterfall, not the 2nd floor. Should open early fallish.

yeah the ground floor for Rare 120 and another restaurant planned for the second level, nothing is final yet. Sorry for that error.
People here really don't see how bad the economy is in other areas of the country. We have been very fortunate so far.

[BKOTH97]

Originally Posted by Jacknah

Bridge Street is doomed. It's a terrible location. One might think that it's a good location due to the intersection of highways there and near Research Park, and that's probably what the planners were thinking, but nearly everyone driving by is a male engineer on his way back and forth to work. A high end retail mall like this would work much better in the inner city, perhaps where Constellation is going to be. The population is too sparse out there and few people want to drive out there from, say, Southeast huntsville (which is where most of the people with money are).

I don't think it is a good location. It is a GREAT location. My family and I have already eaten at Dolce, Red Robin, PF Changs and Connors. We have had Chocolate from the Chocolate Crocodile and I will never drive to the Rave for a movie again. The majority of the growth in Madison County is happening in the Madison, West Huntsville, West Madison County area. The Research Park is booming...and contrary to what you say, there are many female engineers and project managers who like to stop by and shop at Bridge Street after work.

As far as Southeast Huntsville being where all the money is, well, I can tell you that the citizens of Madison would have to disagree with you. In 2000 the median family income was $75,000...and I would bet that it is pushing $95,000 now (just pure inflation would put it at $94,500).

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by BKOTH97

I don't think it is a good location. It is a GREAT location. My family and I have already eaten at Dolce, Red Robin, PF Changs and Connors. We have had Chocolate from the Chocolate Crocodile and I will never drive to the Rave for a movie again. The majority of the growth in Madison County is happening in the Madison, West Huntsville, West Madison County area. The Research Park is booming...and contrary to what you say, there are many female engineers and project managers who like to stop by and shop at Bridge Street after work.

As far as Southeast Huntsville being where all the money is, well, I can tell you that the citizens of Madison would have to disagree with you. In 2000 the median family income was $75,000...and I would bet that it is pushing $90,000 now.

The majority of the growth in Huntsville isn't in West Huntsville a lot of it is, but not the majority.. all areas of town are growing far north, northeast, and east/southeast (Hampton Cove/Jones valley). I think BridgeStreet is in a good location though not necessarily a GREAT one until more high end residential is built directly around it but I think for the most part it will do fine, to say it is completely doomed is a little ridiculous. All of the money isn't in southeast Huntsville or Madison it's split, there are now two really wealthy sides of town. Thats why theres high end stuff on two sides of town now. Bridgestreet was built for the growing high end western side of town. I think the wealthiest of the wealthy still live in Southeast though (Monte Sano, Green Mountain, Jones Valley, Hampton cove etc.) But west Huntsville certainly has a sizable high income population to support upscale retail.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Some pics of the Madison project, looks similar to Constellation, parts of it anyway.

Some comments from WAAY TV by the Mayor which makes me believe this project will happen unless the economy totally tanks. Plus to directly access Huntsville International from this property I guess would require an overpass over I-565 unless they are planning to use the existing Highway 20(Madison Blvd) entrance further east which would be difficult. Or will this project encompass all the existing industrial businessses already there to become part of the research/business park aspect of this development.
James Record Rd which used to be the main entrance to the airport(now dead ends at the ROW) before the interstate was built if extended north would go directly to this property and would require an overpass and possibly an interchange at Highway 20. This road would probably have to improved across the airport property as it serves some large businesses (LG Electronics, golf course, warehouses)

"Madison Mayor Sandy Kirkindall said the development will be a cross between Bridge Street Town Center, the Village of Providence and Research Park. The project has been in the works for the last 18 months, and comes just weeks after the unveiling of the billion-dollar Sweetwater project that will be built a few exits away.

Kirkindall said with all the new announcements, the latest shows there is still a need for more retail and residential developments for Madison residents.

"The people we're working with are very serious businessmen and women and they don't make an investment like this on a whim," Kirkindall said. "They've done their homework. We have worked with them on well over a year on this."

Developers said they hope to break ground by summer. They said they also hope to connect the complex to a road to that connects directly to the airport."

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Huntsville's downtown arts festival is this weekend..Panoply

Consistently voted one of the Top Twenty Regional Events by the Southeastern Tourism Society, 2007 saw another feather added to its cap when Gov. Bob Riley announced the outdoor phenomenon as one of the state’s Top Ten Tourism Events for the year!

http://www.panoply.org/

Great time at Panoply

"Even with the threat of rain for much of the weekend, record crowds attended Panoply downtown. By the estimate of Broad and David Todd, the executive director of the Arts Council, attendance for the weekend was a record 150,000. The previous record was last year's attendance of 140,000, he said."

[HSVTiger]

A permit was issued for the new GAP store at Bridge Street 3 doors south of bebe and Apple. The front of the Apple store is starting to take shape and the
cutout for the Apple logo is plainly visible. The front may be the the trademark
brushed stainless steel as the framing structure is very heavy duty and looks to be able to hold some serious weight.
Something similar to this


The new waterfall that cascades down from the Westin down to the east lake
is very nice and will be a very popular photo op for proms , weddings etc I bet.

[jmanhsv]

I'll probably not go to Bridge Street (by myself) again until Barnes and Noble and/or Apple Store opens. I was hoping for more stores like those, given the proximity to UAH. Being a 19-year old male, I really don't have a need to shop at Kate Spade or Juicy Couture... haha.

I think Bridge Street will screw themselves over if they go along with the plan to bring Circuit City and Linens n' Things as their "major anchors."

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

...another restaurant planned for the second level, nothing is final yet.

You sure that isn't where the Melting Pot is going in? I really don't know where in Bridge Street they're going but they're expected to open this fall.

[BKOTH97]

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

I think Bridge Street will screw themselves over if they go along with the plan to bring Circuit City and Linens n' Things as their "major anchors."

I didn't see that info. Circuit City and LnT would be a huge mistake. Circuit City will probably be completely out of business in two years.

Where did you see this?

thanks,

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

I'll probably not go to Bridge Street (by myself) again until Barnes and Noble and/or Apple Store opens. I was hoping for more stores like those, given the proximity to UAH. Being a 19-year old male, I really don't have a need to shop at Kate Spade or Juicy Couture... haha.

I think Bridge Street will screw themselves over if they go along with the plan to bring Circuit City and Linens n' Things as their "major anchors."


You sure that isn't where the Melting Pot is going in? I really don't know where in Bridge Street they're going but they're expected to open this fall.

Probably,(Melting Pot) the outdoor seating for Rare 120 and the other restaurant on the second level will have the best views in the place especially on a nice day or evening. At least CC and the others won't be in the main complex but across the street, it will really be separate strip center all together. I would hope the apartment aspect of the center will be next. A lot of housing is going in all around Research Park and Bridge Street has the best location. The Planning Commission recently reviewed a 267 unit
development called Bridge Street Apartments, location south of Old Madison Pike and WEST of Slaughter. Either that is a typo and should be east or the developer is trying to capitalize of the Bridge Street name. Plus that would be in Madison city limits I think.

[gkcooper]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Like BBQ? Some of the best around will be in downtown Huntsville this weekend for the Whistlestop Festival BBQ competition.
http://www.rocketcitybbq.com/

I attended last year, brought my appetite, and was totally disappointed that the competitors were NOT ALLOWED TO SELL ANY BBQ!

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by gkcooper

I attended last year, brought my appetite, and was totally disappointed that the competitors were NOT ALLOWED TO SELL ANY BBQ!

They will this year according to the web site at least from somebody. Yeah that would be cruel punishment .

[jmanhsv]

Originally Posted by BKOTH97

I didn't see that info. Circuit City and LnT would be a huge mistake. Circuit City will probably be completely out of business in two years.

Where did you see this?

thanks,

Hate to toot my own horn, but since I've had problems with the certain real estate company's website I found it on, here's a link to the blog article I wrote on it:
http://huntsvilledevelopment.blogspot.com/2007/12/linens-n-things-circuit-city-to-bridge.html

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville's biggest white elephant, blunder, money pit, the under construction
1600 bed downtown City/ County Metro jail (largest in the state) was toured today.
The original contractor/architect are being sued by the city for major design flaws in the structure that has beautiful views of downtown Huntsville and the surrounding mountains

"City and county officials finally heard some good news Monday about the new municipal jail project that has been bleeding money and causing lawsuits. It may be finished sooner than thought.

A tour of the jail today included promises it will exceed all expectations. The construction problems that caused city leaders to stop the project have been rectified, officials were told."
HSV Times

[Huntsville_secede]

Sites vie for possible Volkswagen plant, including northern Alabama
Posted by Associated Press April 27, 2008 6:32 PM

NASHVILLE -- Automotive analysts and experts expect Volkswagen to consider sites in Chattanooga, the Clarksville area and northern Alabama for a possible new U.S. assembly plant.

The three sites have been certified as automotive manufacturing megasites by the Tennessee Valley Authority's site-selection consulting firm, McCallum Sweeney of Greenville, S.C.

Commerce Park, northeast of Clarksville, Enterprise South, the site of the former Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant in Chattanooga, and the Limestone County Megasite, off Interstate 65 southeast of Athens, Ala., are all viable candidates for the plant, site-selection experts say.

Local officials connected with all three of the sites refused to say whether they are in talks with Volkswagen and declined to talk about the properties in general, The Tennessean reports.

[jonnie256]

Back to the building height issues...I think it is ridiculous that huntsville has one period! I mean look at Mobile(nice city),they have a 34 story RSA building.34 stories! And they are I thought to be slightly smaller of a city than Huntsville? And Huntsville has a problem of going over 10 stories?! Huntsville needs to get in with the in group of cities and start building more taller buildings to make it more attractive. I meam even Montgomery has a taller building than huntsville! Is there a height limit out in research park? I know the new Westin hotel is 12 stories tall,and the Adtran building is pretty tall its self. I guess they should just start building the Sky(I mean hill)skrapers there!

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by jonnie256

Back to the building height issues...I think it is ridiculous that huntsville has one period! I mean look at Mobile(nice city),they have a 34 story RSA building.34 stories! And they are I thought to be slightly smaller of a city than Huntsville? And Huntsville has a problem of going over 10 stories?! Huntsville needs to get in with the in group of cities and start building more taller buildings to make it more attractive. I meam even Montgomery has a taller building than huntsville! Is there a height limit out in research park? I know the new Westin hotel is 12 stories tall,and the Adtran building is pretty tall its self. I guess they should just start building the Sky(I mean hill)skrapers there!

there's no height limit in research park