Huntsville updates

[Y1wbahk]

Whatever happened to the idea that VW was going to build two plants: one in Chattanooga (originally posted as an engine plant) and the other in Huntsville?

Is the idea of two plants gone? I've not heard anything about it for a couple of weeks.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Y1wbahk

Whatever happened to the idea that VW was going to build two plants: one in Chattanooga (originally posted as an engine plant) and the other in Huntsville?

Is the idea of two plants gone? I've not heard anything about it for a couple of weeks.

That came from the mis-information campaign that was started by certain media outlets. There will not be two plants, and there never was, the engines will come from the VW plant in Mexico. It's interesting to see now how TN officials had inside info and tips on what to do to win the plant. Of course they had to respond and they did in a big way. Alabama was at a disadvantage from the beginning and did all they could but it was not going to happen unless TN completely dropped the ball. It will be interesting to see if any suppliers locate in AL.

[marvingardns]

Anyone been over Chapman Mtn. lately? How is the Harris Hills site prep and US72 access road moving along?

[ThatGuy]

I drove by there a day or two ago. I didn't really see any site prep for Harris Hills. The access road looked to be nearly done to me though.

[HSVTiger]

Mayoral elections coming up, a debate between candidates last night. Not much really came out of it. Things that I see are hurting the city and keeping full potential from happening.

1. A pathetic vintage 1950's road/highway system. Not completely the cities fault, ALDOT won't/can't do 30 years worth of work required. Problem is no progress is being made at all.

2. No vision downtown, sure there have been some good developments but nothing to create energy and excitement or quality. Potential is there , so what's the deal? A hodgepodge of stupid rules,zoning and red tape.
Downtown has to be the vibrant center of the city for it to move forward.
There should be ideas and projects flowing all over the place downtown, maybe there is but who would know? everything is secret.

3. Stale leadership.. the current leaders have done a good job but it's time for fresh energy, vision and ideas.

4. All of Huntsville's wonderful high tech/defense companies create great jobs and opportunities but they also create a negative..boring, secret, and exclusive results. The general public doesn't see anything being produced so the overall image to the everyday citizen is ho hum.

5. No goals, give Birmingham's mayor credit for throwing ideas (some of them far fetched) out there. It at least gets people to interact and involved.
Huntsville should have ten pages of ideas, projects to look at or at least think about. Some of those have been discussed in this thread.

6. Grand plans announced but nothing ever happens. What a wet blanket for the community. Everyone gets excited about a project until they read the fine print.. 7-10 year timeline depending on economic and unforseen events.

7. High ranking on lists.. yeah you would think this is good and on the surface it is. Huntsville has been ranked high on just about every list there is at one time or another, but where is the benefit? Has anything ever come of it? Seems cities that never get ranked or doing just as well if not better.
Do these rankings keep developments away? The perception is that the city is doing well so they don't need anything.

Huntsville has reached a plateau, what will be the next thing to get us off of it and go higher? The city is in a lull it seems, anyone have other thoughts?

[marvingardns]

Tiger! I thought you were the eternal optimist! What gives?

The city is in a lull. The mood at the SMDC today is cautionary. Everyone knows missile defense cuts are coming down the road, and the program's political goals itself are being DIRECTLY challenged by Russian bullets and bombs as we speak. I knew this when the war in Georgia started on Friday.

What can we do but diversify in order to overcome the looming challenges? Economic diversification is what I DIDN'T hear last night... except with regards to grocery stores filling up empty strip malls. When you see booming defense & engineering companies getting the axe tomorrow (and you see this all the time), what makes anyone think entire programs getting the axe won't do the same to a city?

Biotech, automotive tech, energy & materials research & civilian aerospace is where we've got to stretch our intellectual capital and economic incentives. That's what made me burn about losing VW. We lost out on economic diversification. We lost out in securing this city's future.

Who is going to give us that? Who has got the acumen to understand that risk management, education and diversification is survival, that it transcends the natural life cycle of all things (including government programs)... that it overcomes attrition and entropy in the economy?

Personally I think Tommy Battle has got the better resume for these kinds of challenges.

[jmanhsv]

Can't vote in either Huntsville or Madison elections, but here's some more ideas, in no particular order...

* Put a moratorium on all annexations outside of Madison County, and let's improve on what we've got. It's just stupid for the city to keep expanding when we have so much to fix.

* We need a better transit system. Enough said.

* We should get our name out there. How about an ad campaign about the city? I'm not talking a tourist campaign like Chattanooga's, more like a "Come live in Huntsville" ad.

* Make Huntsville "the place to be"; make it attractive to young professionals while keeping the family friendly image. In other words, make me want to live here after I graduate from college. Spencer seems out of touch with the under-30 crowd; an ideal mayor should be able to connect with everyone, not just their campaign donors. Affordable, safe urban neighborhoods; more restaurants/clubs/concert venues would be a good start.

* I've heard complaints about this lately... our "main drags" (University, the Parkway) look like crap. These are the gateways to our city; the first things people see when they come here. There needs to be stricter zoning standards on these roads, with incentives for redevelopment and beautification.

* We need more unique neighborhoods. I'm talking ethnic neighborhoods, quirky neighborhoods, walk to the grocery store neighborhoods. Maybe Huntsville grew way too fast to have these; this would involve a complete redo of the central city. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening with this mayor, looking at how "hard" they've worked on revitalization/gentrification... How long did it take to get that small portion of the Five Points project going?? What happened to the North Downtown idea?

* Speaking of the central city, the Spencer administration has done little to improve the downtown area as a whole. Yes, they've put a nice sidewalk here, a bagel shop there, but that's not enough. Provide incentives for REAL businesses (CRP companies, retail) and residents to come downtown. A good first start would be to raise that height limit to 25-30 stories, which Spencer and the council have done absolutely NOTHING about. The ideas are here, developers are lined up, but the city won't approve the projects, while on the other hand they give the green light to a thousand cookie-cutter homes on the fringes.

* Move towards a Metro-style government by consolidating city/county services. First things should be garbage, fire and police, then schools, transit, etc. Unfortunately, I don't think Huntsville will ever have a full-blown Metro government because we are so embedded in Limestone now. Thank the current administration for that.

* Related to the last point- We have gotten to the point where more regional cooperation is needed. Huntsville can't go it alone anymore, especially (for example) when we're demanding the state for more highway money. The region as a whole should go to Montgomery and tell them our problems. Maybe the needs of over 500,000 will be more influential on the state than the needs of 170,000.

Tiger mentioned the "high rankings" from magazines... anyone else ever notice that we are NEVER #1 on these lists? That should be a sign that there is always room to improve.

[HSV79]

I do believe now that we, Huntsville need a new mayor with new ideas. Not that Spencer is horrible but she hasn't really said much about the height limit and really making downtown the place to be. I like Tommy Battle more and more as the days go on. Maybe Spencer will open her eyes and realize that we need a vibrant downtown. Here is a quote from Battle's website.."I do not agree with the ten - story height restriction placed on Downtown development. My vision is that the Heart of Huntsville, or “Constellation” as it is now called, will one day boast a “signature” building, one that you see when you drive into our City on I-565. I want your attention drawn south to a beautiful building, not north to an unsightly jail! The Battle administration will do better."

[luvinhsv]

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

Can't vote in either Huntsville or Madison elections, but here's some more ideas, in no particular order...

* Make Huntsville "the place to be"; make it attractive to young professionals while keeping the family friendly image. In other words, make me want to live here after I graduate from college. Spencer seems out of touch with the under-30 crowd; an ideal mayor should be able to connect with everyone, not just their campaign donors. Affordable, safe urban neighborhoods; more restaurants/clubs/concert venues would be a good start.
* .

A good friend of mine, Rebecca Ryan, is considered an expert on attracting and retaining YOUNG TALENT. She speaks nationwide to city councils of mid-size to large cities and consults on attracting Gen X'ers. She has written a book called "Live First, Work Second" She is founder and CEO of Next Generation Consulting. www.nextgenerationconsulting.com

Anyway, she recently sent a signed copy of her book for me to deliver to Mayor Spencer, because I have told her about Huntsville's desire to attract talented, young workers and college grads. I brought it to the mayor's office a few weeks ago and never heard a word...

HHHMMMM...

[HSVTiger]

Now this is a good thing, getting technology on a personal level

Free lecture series to explain uses of DNA research

Huntsville's HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is offering a series of free talks next month to help the public better understand what the center's researchers do.

The monthlong series, called "Biotech 101: Foundations and Applications," will explain how DNA research is being used to diagnose and treat diseases, improve food production and identify alternative energy sources.

Scheduled for four consecutive Tuesday nights starting Sept. 9, the talks will be led by HudsonAlpha scientists, educators and representatives from biotech companies based at the institute.

The series is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Register at 327-0400 or hudsonalpha.org/biotech101.

HudsonAlpha, which opened in November, is home to 12 biotech firms and recently lured renowned Stanford University genetics professor Richard Myers to become its first scientific director. The center is in Cummings Research Park.

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville International Airport updates
WestWind Technologies in Huntsville plans to add a hangar for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.
At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority directed Rick Tucker, the airport's executive director, to enter into a ground lease with Hangar Properties 1 for an industrial site on the east side of the airfield. Hangar Properties will develop the 64,000-square-foot hangar and lease it to a WestWind partnership.

Hangar Properties plans to rent 4.7 acres, with an option on another 4.9 acres, for 30 years with two additional five-year renewal options.

Hangar Properties' members are Carlton O'Neal III and Peter Lowe. O'Neal estimates the project's total investment at $12.5 million. "We'd love to start (construction) in October," he said.

The Airport Authority hopes to obtain federal money to pay for a ramp extension to the WestWind facility for runway access.

Passenger traffic

In other business Tuesday, Tucker reported that the number of airport passengers increased 1 percent in June and 2.9 percent in July year over year. Year to date, passenger traffic at Huntsville is 754,049, or 7.1 percent higher than the same seven-month period last year.

Airport marketing chief Barbie Peek said officials are awaiting confirmation from American Airlines and Continental Airlines on their October schedules, but "we should fare quite well with our capacity."

American, the nation's largest airline, has direct flights from Huntsville to Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago. The airline has said it will cut capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent after the peak summer travel season. Continental, which flies nonstop from Huntsville to Houston, has said it will reduce its capacity by 11 percent this fall.

In other business Tuesday, Butch Roberts, the airport's deputy director, said bids are in for the next phase of the parking deck expansion, which includes road improvements. Reed Construction had the low bid at more than $4.3 million, and the airport also bid two alternates, totaling $559,125, to replace original streetlights south of James Record Road and upgrade signs in the same area.
http://www.al.com/business/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/business/121861899991490.xml&coll=1

[TimCity2000]

you guys have some great ideas... i hope they don't fall on deaf ears. i would seriously consider copying and pasting what you've written and e-mailing it to the candidates. hell, even send them a link to this thread so they'll see first-hand what people are saying.

[Y1wbahk]

Good thoughts and what is needed in Huntsville.

The one, most visible element is having a vibrant downtown. This means NO height limits to buildings. It means doing everything possible to get people downtown (not just to the VBC). People need to live and work downtown. Right now Huntsville looks like a podunk, blah, city--despite all the great ratings from everywhere. Without a visible downtown, the ratings are for little or nothing.

Let's get an administration that will focus on downtown. I'm fairly new to HSV. Who will do that and what makes you think they'll do it?

[neilson]

Originally Posted by Y1wbahk

Good thoughts and what is needed in Huntsville.

The one, most visible element is having a vibrant downtown. This means NO height limits to buildings. It means doing everything possible to get people downtown (not just to the VBC). People need to live and work downtown. Right now Huntsville looks like a podunk, blah, city--despite all the great ratings from everywhere. Without a visible downtown, the ratings are for little or nothing.

Let's get an administration that will focus on downtown. I'm fairly new to HSV. Who will do that and what makes you think they'll do it?

Tommy Battle. The man means business and has the broad support of those in all the areas of HSV.

[Huntsville_secede]

I'm afraid Loretta has a backing of a lot of the older people who have been running things around here for a while and while her administration has done a decent job they have shown little interest in development of downtown.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by luvinhsv

A good friend of mine, Rebecca Ryan, is considered an expert on attracting and retaining YOUNG TALENT. She speaks nationwide to city councils of mid-size to large cities and consults on attracting Gen X'ers. She has written a book called "Live First, Work Second" She is founder and CEO of Next Generation Consulting. www.nextgenerationconsulting.com

Anyway, she recently sent a signed copy of her book for me to deliver to Mayor Spencer, because I have told her about Huntsville's desire to attract talented, young workers and college grads. I brought it to the mayor's office a few weeks ago and never heard a word...

HHHMMMM...

That's because they aren't serious about attracting young professionals, its just a political game they try to play.

[marvingardns]

Tommy clearly has the backing of young professionals, most notably with those on the YP Committee of 100. One clear concern is if Parker Griffith is elected to Congress. Loretta has a renowned disliking for Parker Griffith and has flashed her vindictive sentiment for him in public before. What kind of team will that be if Loretta has to eat out of Parker's hand for transportation money, a committee position he has voiced keen interest in?

Tommy and either "Parker" will make a great team for this city. Loretta and Parker Griffith would definitely NOT be.

[HSVTiger]

well it sounds promising

Developer Scott McLain says the first hotel to be built at his Constellation mixed-use project downtown will break ground Wednesday.

The Spring Hill Suites will have 130 rooms and be six stories tall, as will the Marriott Courtyard, which should begin construction within the next couple of months, McLain said. Soon after that, McLain said, he expects to begin construction on condominiums, and announce some retail tenants.

Constellation is a $150 million development at Memorial Parkway and Clinton Avenue that will include office, hotel, residential and retail venues. McLain said he expects the project to take about three years to complete.

[jmanhsv]

Ok.... well, now I'm confused. Back in May, the Times reported that McLain had changed the hotel brand to Residence Inn from Courtyard, and that he was going to build a 160-unit apartment building due to a "perceived demand." Hmmm... either the developers need to make up their minds, or the newspaper needs to get their facts straight.

[Bamabull1978]

MADISON - The Wann Springs Development Group announced Friday that the proposed $1 billion development for County Line Road will be called WaterStone.

A ground-breaking ceremony for the retail/office/residential development has been delayed for a few months so the project can obtain final approvals from federal environmental protection agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to a statement issued by Jessica Bradley, aide to Mayor Sandy Kirkindall.

The development group so far has invested more than $1.6 million on planning, design and engineering costs for the WaterStone project, the statement said. The project will include nearly three miles of streets, two bridges, an 18-acre lake with a pedestrian bridge, landscaping and pedestrian pathways.

Engineering designs are near completion for the expansion of the interchange at Interstate 565 at County Line Road, with the city and state accelerating the project. Utility relocation and right-of-way acquisition is expected within the next 18 months.

Project details, including a full site plan for WaterStone, are available online at www.wannsprings.com.
..
The way there talking and sweetwater is havin issues getting a hotel who do think might get to break ground first and do ya'll might think the Companies might be looking who can get us in there first.