Huntsville updates

[neilson]

I think if you're black and live in Huntsville, there's more to do when you're in that college age range simply because of A&M, Oakwood, and the history that those schools have. UAH is nowhere near that stature and is only now beginning to transition from commuter school status. Realistically, it's mainly UAH students and/or white kids that move to Huntsville that are in their 20s that complain there's so little to do. I'm just putting it out there, feel free to discuss.

[JuanHunt]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

.

Hudson Alpha would have been a great addition downtown, level the slum loard eyesores south of the train station and put op a gleaming 20 story building with smaller
midrises for parking and labs. Create a water canal linear park to link Big Spring and use the train station as a lite rail link to Research Park and Huntsville International.
Now that would create a change, is it feasible? about as possible as VW building a plant in Chattanooga.

What train station? The old depot at the museum? There is not enough land there to do much. The prime land is where the jail is which the city paid a premium for, eve though its all fill.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by neilson

I think if you're black and live in Huntsville, there's more to do when you're in that college age range simply because of A&M, Oakwood, and the history that those schools have. UAH is nowhere near that stature and is only now beginning to transition from commuter school status. Realistically, it's mainly UAH students and/or white kids that move to Huntsville that are in their 20s that complain there's so little to do. I'm just putting it out there, feel free to discuss.

Not really its only better for black college kids. I hear the same complaints from blacks its only better if you attend A&M/Oakwood and are still in school. Once you graduate and work you are going to be in the same boat especially if you are a young single black professional that moved here to work and have no connection to A&M. You will feel disconnected to the city because most of the events that go on for blacks here are associated with A&M/A&M Alumni so in a way its even worse for you especially if you care nothing about A&M.

[-=skywalker=-]

Originally Posted by Shawn35816

Most of the frustration seems to be stemming from the loss of the VW plant. I know if we had won it everyone would be singing a different tune. I'm not saying some of the comments are not right, I'm just saying that the lid seems to have come off after that decision. We now see the faults that we otherwise might have looked over in our elected officials, and throw blame on them. Well, pretty soon you will be able to take part in electing new officials.

It just seems like a lot of frustration to me.

Huntsville will be all right. It's a leader in the state, and in the nation. Everything won't go our way everytime but we will get our share.

I disagree with that statement, win or lose I still think Huntsville lacks character and a vibrant downtown. The VW decision one way or the other wouldn't have effected my preception of this area; it's depressing here if you're a young professional. The city has so much potential but the current leadership has taken this city as far as it will go; Mayor Spencer and city officials have done a fine job getting us to this point, however it's becoming clear they suffer from a case of tunnel vision and that I'm afraid will not enable Huntsville to compete in the future if it continues down it's current path. The biggest fault with the city is the lack of foresight in developing a vibrant downtown, when compared to Chattanooga's it's no wonder we lost the bid for the VW plant...

Don't get me wrong, this area has a lot to offer especially if you love the outdoors...the Tennessee River, Lake Guntersville, various greenways and parks...however, not enough is done to add to and promote those perks. There is so much potential here, but the elected officials just can't seem to get it...for example, how about improving/expanding Ditto Landing by maybe even adding a resort and river walk? There is just so much left to be desired here and it's really unfortunate that those in power can't see it.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by -=skywalker=-

Don't get me wrong, this area has a lot to offer especially if you love the outdoors...the Tennessee River, Lake Guntersville, various greenways and parks...however, not enough is done to add to and promote those perks. There is so much potential here, but the elected officials just can't seem to get it...for example, how about improving/expanding Ditto Landing by maybe even adding a resort and river walk? There is just so much left to be desired here and it's really unfortunate that those in power can't see it.

Exactly thats what bothers me the most look what Chattanooga does with Lookout Mountain, the river, ruby falls, aquarium, downtown, etc. Huntsville has a lot of the same wonderful natural features that Chattanooga has but Huntsville does little to promote its own. The area has the largest river system in Alabama (TN River) where's a river boat ride or any kind of nice public place to enjoy the river for people who don't own boats? (Ditto Landing doesn't count) We have Monte Sano and Green Mountain which aren't quite as high as Lookout Mountain but its really hard to enjoy the best scenic views above unless you own property on it. I drove around Green Mountain a few weeks ago the views up there could be spectacular too bad you can't see anything unless you pull up in someone's yard. There are even caves here (national speleological society headquartered here :-0) but most people would hardly know that unless they did their research especially people who don't live here. I just feel like the city wastes some of its best assets. And they seriously need to get over this height issue or develop downtown in a different direction (preferably just tear down the housing projects across the parkway) because the HSV city limits are approaching 170-180K, Hsv/Decatur metro area is over 500K, the region is 600-700K, we are becoming to populated to have a downtown of a small city. But the city is too busy patting themselves on the back for the new government contract jobs it has been getting to realize how much potential it is wasting.

[-=skywalker=-]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

There are even caves here (national speleological society headquartered here :-0) but most people would hardly know that unless they did their research especially people who don't live here.

Oh yeah, I actually spent one afternoon this week exploring Cave Mountain TVA Wilderness Area near the Guntersville Dam, I went about 800' back into the cave...I've also hiked the Natural Well trail on Monte Sano, would love to explore the cave but that would require rock climbing which I haven't learned how to do yet. This area (especially Jackson County) has some of the most extensive cave systems in the country, hence why the National Speleological Society is headquartered here.

But on a tourist note, Cathedral Caverns is a hidden Alabama gem a lot of people don't know about, even many locals...I can tell you right now none of the caves in the Chattanooga area can match it as far as beauty goes, but the difference is Chattanooga does an exceptional job of advertising itself as a tourist destination.

[HSVTiger]

Reflecting what's happening across the country, although everyone sees this as just temporary and will pick up. It's actually a good thing as there was some overbuilding done and this will help reduce the inventory of homes.

Existing home sales fall 13.6% in first half of year

Housing starts in Madison County plunged 37 percent in June from a year ago, while existing home sales in the metro area dropped nearly 19 percent over the same period.

According to Southern Exposure Information, 165 residential building permits were issued in Huntsville, Madison and Madison County last month, compared with 262 in June 2007. Year to date, permits have declined 34 percent.

[marvingardns]

I disagree with that statement, win or lose I still think Huntsville lacks character and a vibrant downtown. The VW decision one way or the other wouldn't have effected my preception of this area; it's depressing here if you're a young professional. The city has so much potential but the current leadership has taken this city as far as it will go; Mayor Spencer and city officials have done a fine job getting us to this point, however it's becoming clear they suffer from a case of tunnel vision and that I'm afraid will not enable Huntsville to compete in the future if it continues down it's current path. The biggest fault with the city is the lack of foresight in developing a vibrant downtown, when compared to Chattanooga's it's no wonder we lost the bid for the VW plant...

I tend to agree. I really think it is time for fresh leadership with clear direction. The jail fiasco is one thing, but all this freshly annexed land that Huntsville BOUNDED out to grab in anticipation of the VW plant? We've got to provide utilities out there. We've got to build a school and a fire station for that place, and there's not crap out there but soybeans and hushpuppies (and fine hushpuppies, I might add).

And then there is the well-known animosity that Loretta Spencer holds against Parker Griffith. Who says she does not hold grudges? What kind of team will that be if Parker Griffith is elected to Congress?

Loretta cannot participate in public debates because she's what... too busy meeting with VW officials?

[Huntsville_secede]

List of 600 Starbucks that are closing was released only one in Huntsville will be closed Madison Square Mall.

[HSVTiger]

No kidding, I think the guy is just trying to cover his blown prediction but for what its worth.

But, before that phone call, many believed Huntsville was the choice. "Yes, most if not all of the sources predicted that Alabama...the talk was that US VW officials were gonna recommend Alabama," recalled SouthernAutoCorridor.com's Michael Randel. "And that was true all the way up to sometime last week."

In fact, as early as May 19th, his publication made the call that Huntsville would get the auto plant. Later, he predicted Chattanooga would end up with the consolation prize: an engine or drive-train factory. That turned out to be wrong. Volkswagen officials tell Eyewitness News, engines for the Tennessee cars will come from an existing facility in Mexico.

How? Randle says the Volunteer State made a big, late surge. The I-Team has uncovered Alabama's final offer to VW was the state's largest ever: $205 million in cash, $181 million in tax breaks, job training and more...an offer bested by Tennessee.

"Something happened after that last week," said Randel, "and, you know, we can only speculate, but we believe that the incentive package, once it's revealed, is going to be close to $500 million which would be the largest package given out to any automaker in the US."

Add that to the millions already pumped into Enterprise South and that is a huge cost to the taxpayer. But, most politicians, industry and economic experts say, with an automaker like Volkswagen and a new production plant, the return is almost guaranteed.

"This just shows that those investments were certainly worth it," said Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, "and they payoff in real dollars and real jobs."

That remains to be seen. But, Randle is not backing off his prediction, completely. He says, if the company hits its goal of manufacturing 800-thousand to 1-million cars in the US by 2018, more plants may be in the works and Huntsville may already be on the short list.
WRCB TV

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by marvingardns

I tend to agree. I really think it is time for fresh leadership with clear direction. The jail fiasco is one thing, but all this freshly annexed land that Huntsville BOUNDED out to grab in anticipation of the VW plant? We've got to provide utilities out there. We've got to build a school and a fire station for that place, and there's not crap out there but soybeans and hushpuppies (and fine hushpuppies, I might add).

And then there is the well-known animosity that Loretta Spencer holds against Parker Griffith. Who says she does not hold grudges? What kind of team will that be if Parker Griffith is elected to Congress?

Loretta cannot participate in public debates because she's what... too busy meeting with VW officials?

As far as the land annexed that is a good thing, no schools have to built, no one lives out there. The land will be for an auto/industrial plant and then it will be decided what services are required.
So we have to provide services, that's ok and worth it to have that huge amount of available land.

Tommy Battle Mayor
http://tommybattle.com/

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by -=skywalker=-

Oh yeah, I actually spent one afternoon this week exploring Cave Mountain TVA Wilderness Area near the Guntersville Dam, I went about 800' back into the cave...I've also hiked the Natural Well trail on Monte Sano, would love to explore the cave but that would require rock climbing which I haven't learned how to do yet. This area (especially Jackson County) has some of the most extensive cave systems in the country, hence why the National Speleological Society is headquartered here.

But on a tourist note, Cathedral Caverns is a hidden Alabama gem a lot of people don't know about, even many locals...I can tell you right now none of the caves in the Chattanooga area can match it as far as beauty goes, but the difference is Chattanooga does an exceptional job of advertising itself as a tourist destination.

Oh yea, Cathedral is one of the most beautiful caves I've EVER been in. It's unbelievable how much they've done with it. It's definitely a world class attraction.

[marvingardns]

Tommy Battle Mayor
http://tommybattle.com/

I'm already there... It is time for Loretta to go. I think Loretta has done well in her years, but I just don't believe she can do the best job anymore. Her incumbancy has evolved into stale entrenchment.

[Bamabull1978]

Originally Posted by marvingardns

I tend to agree. I really think it is time for fresh leadership with clear direction. The jail fiasco is one thing, but all this freshly annexed land that Huntsville BOUNDED out to grab in anticipation of the VW plant? We've got to provide utilities out there. We've got to build a school and a fire station for that place, and there's not crap out there but soybeans and hushpuppies (and fine hushpuppies, I might add).

And then there is the well-known animosity that Loretta Spencer holds against Parker Griffith. Who says she does not hold grudges? What kind of team will that be if Parker Griffith is elected to Congress?

Loretta cannot participate in public debates because she's what... too busy meeting with VW officials?

First all just because ur in hunstville city limits doesn't mean huntsville Utilitlies has anything to do with the power grid out in limestone county. the only thing hsv can offer is sewage. Out there is athens power not huntsville. So basically all huntsville has to do right now is cover fields of cotton and hey and couple of wreck calls on 565.

[Bamabull1978]

Originally Posted by marvingardns

I tend to agree. I really think it is time for fresh leadership with clear direction. The jail fiasco is one thing, but all this freshly annexed land that Huntsville BOUNDED out to grab in anticipation of the VW plant? We've got to provide utilities out there. We've got to build a school and a fire station for that place, and there's not crap out there but soybeans and hushpuppies (and fine hushpuppies, I might add).

And then there is the well-known animosity that Loretta Spencer holds against Parker Griffith. Who says she does not hold grudges? What kind of team will that be if Parker Griffith is elected to Congress?

Loretta cannot participate in public debates because she's what... too busy meeting with VW officials?

First all just because ur in hunstville city limits doesn't mean huntsville Utilitlies has anything to do with the power grid out in limestone county. the only thing hsv can offer is sewage. Out there is athens power not huntsville. So basically all huntsville has to do right now is cover fields of cotton and hey and couple of wreck calls on 565.

[HSVTiger]

Site prep to continue on past VW site

By STEVE DOYLETimes Staff Writer [email protected]


Despite losing Volkswagen to Chattanooga, Huntsville leaders are steaming ahead with a multimillion-dollar plan to improve roads and other key infrastructure in the newly annexed Greenbrier area of Limestone County.

"It doesn't change our plans at all," Huntsville Planning Director Dallas Fanning said last week.

"That may be the finest industrial site in North Alabama, and it's now had a substantial amount of exposure to the economic development community. There's still great prospects for that whole area to grow."


Fanning said city officials committed to upgrading roads and sewer lines in that part of Limestone long before VW showed interest in Greenbrier. The city's capital plan calls for spending about $22 million starting in 2012 to widen Greenbrier Road, Swancott Road and Old Alabama 20.

Other improvements are on a faster track.

Twelve newly hired police officers will begin patrolling the area in August. An Atlanta-based contractor soon will start installing a major sewer line along Beaver Dam Creek. And in 2009, Huntsville Fire & Rescue hopes to break ground on a $3.5 million fire station near Greenbrier.

"We've got existing neighborhoods out there that need additional coverage," said Rex Reynolds, the city's public safety director. "If VW had become a reality, we probably would have had a two-engine company out there. Now, we might just need a one-engine company."


For now, the 22 square miles of Huntsville in Limestone has more cotton plants than people. The area's 2007 population was 1,125, according to the U.S. Census.

The state's roughly $400 million incentives package for VW included rebuilding the Greenbrier Road exit on I-565 as a cloverleaf design to eliminate left turns. Johnny Harris, a division engineer with the state Transportation Department, said that's probably off the table for now.

"I don't think there will be a need for any immediate improvements," he said.

"Of course, I understand the site is still going to be offered for development, and I'm sure the state and the department will be involved in any future improvements in that area."

[HSVTiger]

By BRIAN LAWSONTimes Business Writer [email protected]
Biotech companies expected to fill out mile-long campus

The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, which officially opened this spring, is already growing with construction of a conference center and plans for a "mile-long campus."

The campus on the drawing board would be filled by companies and educational institutions recruited to build on the HudsonAlpha site.

Today, the institute is housed in a 270,000-square-foot building in Cummings Research Park that provides space to 12 biotech companies and a nonprofit research center.
http://www.al.com/business/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/business/1216545386183340.xml&coll=1

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by mp7123

someone said a while back that it was going to be a Thompson Caterpiller dealership. Don't know about next to landry's

Huntsville Times
Caterpillar dealer building facility on Governors Drive

A Birmingham-based tractor company is expanding to Huntsville at the site of a former driving range on Governors Drive.

Thompson Tractor is building a 39,000-square-foot facility on 10 acres of a 16-acre parcel, across from a post office and near Governors' intersection with Interstate 565. It should open for business by March 1, said Mike Reuter, the company's facility-development manager.

http://www.al.com/business/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/business/1216631726248120.xml&coll=1

[Huntsville_secede]

Biscuits and Blues Cafe in BridgeStreet to close......

[Shawn35816]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Biscuits and Blues Cafe in BridgeStreet to close......

Wow. I guess I thought that would be one of the last restaurant to close, but I guess people in Huntsville are not attracted to that type of environment. I guess they should keep that type of stuff around Memphis, or larger cities. Are we seeing the first of more to come?