Huntsville updates

[BKOTH97]

Originally Posted by daveyp

does anyone know what the plans are for the area west of rave, wellness center, bww, etc. in jones farm? it looks as though they are digging a lake there.

They are building a lake...2 in fact. It is going to be part of the new greenway / walking path. It was in the Huntsville Times this morning.

[HSVTiger]

The Metro Jail under construction downtown. Way over budget , many lawsuits, and past due.Construction errors, poor design have all added to the misery. In any case the inmates will have a nice view and top notch accomodations. Who said crime doesn't pay? Just imagine all of the money saved if people would do the right thing.


HSV Times Photo

[Jacknah]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

The Metro Jail under construction downtown. Way over budget , many lawsuits, and past due.Construction errors, poor design have all added to the misery. In any case the inmates will have a nice view and top notch accomodations. Who said crime doesn't pay? Just imagine all of the money saved if people would do the right thing.


HSV Times Photo

And this ugly monstrosity is strategically placed right off Memorial Parkway to make sure everyone can see it.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I read in the Daily today that there are some development plans for the GE riverfront property that was just auctioned off. Supposed to be a retail center, office space, and possibly a hotel. Nice to see some development inside the main part of the city.

[mp7123]

http://http://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/06/24/high-tech-and-happening-in-huntsville/

[mlog]

Originally Posted by mp7123

http://http://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/06/24/high-tech-and-happening-in-huntsville/

This link should work.

http://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/06/24/high-tech-and-happening-in-huntsville

[HSVTiger]

Shaq in town, maybe he will become a big player in Huntsville development.

"NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal could be the city's most famous property owner.

O'Neal, now the center with the Phoenix Suns, visited Huntsville this week and, at a
press conference this afternoon, he said he was checking out real estate opportunities.

He also said the city could expect to see more of him and his family.

"If a rocket goes off at the Space Center, it will probably be my son," said O'Neal, 36.

The press conference was held at UAI - a public safety software solutions company - on Wynn Drive, where O'Neal's friend, S.K. Chauhan, is chairman and chief executive officer.

Chauhan declined to say how they know each other: "We have been good friends a long time."
HSV Times

[The 251]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

"If a rocket goes off at the Space Center, it will probably be my son," said O'Neal

hahaa. man you gotta love Shaq..hes hilarious

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Shaq in town, maybe he will become a big player in Huntsville development.

"NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal could be the city's most famous property owner.

O'Neal, now the center with the Phoenix Suns, visited Huntsville this week and, at a
press conference this afternoon, he said he was checking out real estate opportunities.

He also said the city could expect to see more of him and his family.

"If a rocket goes off at the Space Center, it will probably be my son," said O'Neal, 36.

The press conference was held at UAI - a public safety software solutions company - on Wynn Drive, where O'Neal's friend, S.K. Chauhan, is chairman and chief executive officer.

Chauhan declined to say how they know each other: "We have been good friends a long time."
HSV Times

I haven't heard anything about Shaq being here in Huntsville today. In fact on a website called Concrete Loop he was in NYC today. Are you sure about this? I didn't even see it on the news.

[mlog]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

I haven't heard anything about Shaq being here in Huntsville today. In fact on a website called Concrete Loop he was in NYC today. Are you sure about this? I didn't even see it on the news.

He's probably looking to get a Madison Country Deputy badge.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

I haven't heard anything about Shaq being here in Huntsville today. In fact on a website called Concrete Loop he was in NYC today. Are you sure about this? I didn't even see it on the news.

Huntsville Times
By PATRICIA C. McCARTER
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
NBA superstar here for 2 days, plans to return

One of the NBA's biggest stars could soon be the city's most famous property owner.

Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal, a 14-time NBA All-Star, was in Huntsville for two days, "checking out real estate opportunities" and promising that he would be back within a couple of weeks with his family.


The basketball star, dressed in gray pinstriped pants and vest, spoke at a Wednesday afternoon news conference at UAI - a public safety software solutions company on Wynn Drive - where O'Neal's friend, S.K. Chauhan, is chairman and chief executive officer. Chauhan declined to say how they know each other, only that, "We have been good friends a long time."

O'Neal - who attended high school in San Antonio and college at Louisiana State University - spoke to the media for just a few minutes before he got into a limousine and headed to the airport. During his visit this week, he was spotted Tuesday night at the Dolce restaurant at Bridge Street and in the Embassy Suites hotel downtown Wednesday morning.

Neither O'Neal nor Chauhan would say if the property he was looking at was residential or commercial. The 7-foot-1, 325-pound superstar said he planned to buy something, "but I won't say where."

Ducking through doorways and dwarfing anyone near him, O'Neal mingled with employees and chatted with some of their children. He autographed basketballs and shook hands.

"I think he could squoosh just about anybody here," said Luke Campbell, 7, son of UAI marketing executive Chery Campbell. "He's got a really big hand. I know I've never seen anything like it."

A fire engine from next door's Station No. 12 parked in the front lot of UAI just before O'Neal left, and the basketball star grinned and posed for pictures. The firemen gave him a T-shirt, and he said he'd "see you guys later."

Even though he didn't give many details about his plans, the basketball player said he was happy to do the brief news conference so he could "say hello to the beautiful people of Huntsville."

Video and pics
http://www.waaytv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8554782

[TimCity2000]

hopefully this will be more successful than the time the backstreet boys were in town... weren't they going to invest in a hotel and/or entertainment district downtown?

[neilson]

Well, guess that means we won't be seeing Kobe around here ever.

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville has the third-highest concentration of private-sector technology industry workers nationally, according to a new survey based on 2006 data.

Of every 1,000 private-sector workers in the city two years ago, 188 worked for high-tech companies. San Jose/Silicon Valley in Northern California topped the report with 286 high-tech workers per 1,000. Boulder, Colo., was second with 230 per 1,000.

The city added 5,700 high-tech jobs between 2001 and 2006.

The top five metro areas ranked by high-tech employment in 2006 were New York (316,500 jobs); Washington, D.C. (295,800); San Jose/Silicon Valley (225,300); Boston (191,700); and Dallas-Fort Worth (176,000).

Huntsville ranked 40th nationally in high-tech employment in the report - with 28,806 jobs in 2006 - but No. 4 in the Southeast.

The study noted that Huntsville had 835 high-tech establishments, with a payroll of $1.9 billion, as of 2006.
HSV Times

[neilson]

I was driving on Highway 72 this afternoon and saw wood stakes in the median of the road from Indian Creek to Nance Road. Anyone know if a road widening is in the cards in the near term?

[HSVTiger]

Nice pic of plane practicing for the air show at Huntsville International


HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by neilson

I was driving on Highway 72 this afternoon and saw wood stakes in the median of the road from Indian Creek to Nance Road. Anyone know if a road widening is in the cards in the near term?

Looks like a resurfacing project, a similar deal is planned on the east side as well (a few miles longer) on US 72 from the Flint River to Jackson County.
Depending on when they do it that will be a traffic nightmare between Nance and Indian Creek. University Dr. (US 72) needs to be eight lanes to I-65.
But lets wait till we have another US 280 situation and no easy answers.

info from ALDOT
for constructing the Planing, Resurfacing and Traffic Stripe on SR-2 (US-72) from just east of CR-27 (Nance Road) to near Indian Creek in Madison. Length 1.700 mni.

for constructing the Planing, Resurfacing and Traffic Stripe on SR-2 (US-72) from near the Flint river (MP 108.6) to the Jackson county line (MP 114.2). Length 5.600 mi.

[HSVTiger]

the cities big 4th of July fireworks display has been moved this year from downtown to Bridge Street.

http://www.bridgestreethuntsville.com/events.html

[HSVTiger]

Updated concept plan of the WannSprings development across from Huntsville International Airport. This is planned to be a 7-10 year project.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by neilson

Well, guess that means we won't be seeing Kobe around here ever.

But maybe Sir Charles.