Huntsville updates - Page 150

BKOTH97 · #**2981** Posted **Aug 26, 2008, 1:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSMadison

What's ugly is the Gawdawful electrical substation sitting there right in front of the Embassy and VBC and right next to the new development. Is that really the first impression Huntsville wants to make? It's even worse than the new jail.

Completely agree PSMadison. I am hoping that Constellation will somehow mask it from the Parkway. It is a horrible first view when coming from 565 to south parkway.

HSVTiger · #**2982** Posted **Aug 26, 2008, 6:35 PM**

Well Huntsville's Tennessee Valley Vipers are the champs in arena 2 football,
beating Spokane in an overtime thriller 56-55 in Spokane.
Mayoral elections today, all the candidates spoke on the need for a new VBC
arena. Maybe this championship will push an arena to the forefront.
I would say in three years Huntsville should strive to have a totally revamped Von Braun Center complex. Take it to the next level mayor ???
In conjuction with Constellation would be ideal.

HSVTiger · #**2983** Posted **Aug 26, 2008, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKOTH97

Completely agree PSMadison. I am hoping that Constellation will somehow mask it from the Parkway. It is a horrible first view when coming from 565 to south parkway.

remember that TVA substation was moved as far as they could at a tremendous cost and the creek was moved and submerged as well to make room for the hotel. They could make it into some type of exhibit with an info kiosk showing how power is generated from Browns Ferry or Guntersville
and TVA /Huntsville Utilities could expand on it with interactive displays
and tour information. Obviously not in the high voltage fenced in area but in an adjacent building.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**2984** Posted **Aug 26, 2008, 7:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Well Huntsville's Tennessee Valley Vipers are the champs in arena 2 football,
beating Spokane in an overtime thriller 56-55 in Spokane.
Mayoral elections today, all the candidates spoke on the need for a new VBC
arena. Maybe this championship will push an arena to the forefront.
I would say in three years Huntsville should strive to have a totally revamped Von Braun Center complex. Take it to the next level mayor ???
In conjuction with Constellation would be ideal.

.......... Yea..., I'm watching that game right now... I guess I'm not anymore.... grrrrrrrrrr.

jmanhsv · #**2985** Posted **Aug 26, 2008, 7:44 PM**

Speaking of mayoral elections, the Times was saying this morning that there was very low turnout at some of the Northwest precincts. That could spell trouble for Battle because the whole northside is very anti-Spencer. Just drive up Meridian Street or 72 East (between the Parkway and 565) and you'll understand why. So much for "Huntsville's Mayor."

JuanHunt · #**2986** Posted **Aug 26, 2008, 9:42 PM**

Moving the substation was $2.2 mil. I dont think it matters from an aesthetic standpoint as the most dominating feature of the area is the 20 story power towers going to the station. I never used to notice them until a visitor to Huntsville commented on the nature of them. Now, i notice them every time i go by on the Parkway.

The property the Holiday Inn is on is owned by some private group headed by Mary Jane Caylor I believe.

HSVTiger · #**2987** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 12:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuanHunt

Moving the substation was $2.2 mil. I dont think it matters from an aesthetic standpoint as the most dominating feature of the area is the 20 story power towers going to the station. I never used to notice them until a visitor to Huntsville commented on the nature of them. Now, i notice them every time i go by on the Parkway.

The property the Holiday Inn is on is owned by some private group headed by Mary Jane Caylor I believe.

She is part of Big Spring Partners which has helped with,
the canal by the Embassy, the roundabout and clock and the fountain by the VBC, They also are involved with the Holiday Inn property. It is a similar thing that Chattanooga did when they were re-developing their downtown, private investment type stuff.

-=skywalker=- · #**2988** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 3:26 AM**

So it's a runoff between Battle and Spencer...I swear if Spencer get's elected again, I'm out of here like last year. Another 4 years of Spencer as mayor will run this city into the ground. What's really ashame is most of the other cities in the valley elected fresh blood, new mayors in Madison, Decatur, Athens, Scottsboro to name a few.

jmanhsv · #**2989** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 4:42 AM**

^Amen to that! I'll be graduating college about the time the next election cycle comes around. And if Spencer's still in office then, I'm afraid there will be no place in this city for someone like me. This city will only serve the rich and old, and our chance to become a great city might have passed us by then. The election results show that Huntsville has become a deeply divided city, and that whoever wins the runoff really needs to listen to what the other side wants.

So, what was so wrong about Sandy Kirkindall (Madison's mayor) and Don Kyle (Decatur's mayor) that made them lose by such large margins? Did I miss something? Too bad we don't have any Scottsboro people on here; I'd ask them the same thing.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**2990** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 4:59 AM**

I'm scared of what's going to come of Decatur with Don Stanford as mayor. Don Kyle and his administration were starting to develop a great vision, but now it's just gonna crap into crap. If you wanna read a longer rant, just go to the development blog....

BLETCH!!!

HSVTiger · #**2991** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 12:25 PM**

As echoed above, new mayors all around
Will this lead to better development opportunities?
Decatur, what will happen to Sweetwater now/
Madison, will this city finally do something? Changes with the Waterstone project?

Huntsville, will the runoff get Battle in office? Huntsville's future depends on it.
He should hammer Spencer on what she hasn't done, she will be harping on what she has done but it could have been so much more.
Spencer has to be a bit surprised by her lack of support.

mp7123 · #**2992** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 1:03 PM**

First off, I am a recent grad from UAH. I'm not originally from here (south al) but moved here 5 years ago for school and because I had always heard that it was a good place to start a career. Being a college aged person, I hear a lot from friends about how there is nothing to do here compared to Atlanta, Nashville, etc. While I agree with them, I tell them to put things in perspective. Compare Huntsville with any other city of <200k people that is not a major college town or part of a larger metro area and you will find that Huntsville has as much, if not more, to offer than any comparable city its size (especially in the south). I've always said that Huntsville is the perfect sized city, not to big but not to small. Huntsville's economy is much better than most. Some say that will change with a new administration and defense budget cuts, but I think BRAC will help offset whatever jobs are lost. I bet you can't find another city our size that has a development as nice as Bridge Street. Huntsville's roads are better than most, although there is always room for improvement. Huntsviille does have a decent nightlife scene with a few nice bars downtown that are always crowded on weekends, again perspective is key. Take Montgomery for example (which is larger), They don't have a hockey or Arena Football team and they just got a baseball team a few years ago. They don't have the outdoor activities like Monte Sano offers. Their crime is probably double what ours is. Their airport is a dump and I bet you can't fly (non-stop) to half the cities that you can from Hsv. Chattanooga might give Hsv a run for it's money when you compare the two (other than economy), but that is the only comparable city that I could think of (again, that isn't a major college town or part of a larger metro).

I do think Loretta Spencer has done a good job, but it may be a good time to get someone with new ideas in office. I live outside the city limits, so what I think doesn't matter.

BKOTH97 · #**2993** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 1:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

remember that TVA substation was moved as far as they could at a tremendous cost and the creek was moved and submerged as well to make room for the hotel. They could make it into some type of exhibit with an info kiosk showing how power is generated from Browns Ferry or Guntersville
and TVA /Huntsville Utilities could expand on it with interactive displays
and tour information. Obviously not in the high voltage fenced in area but in an adjacent building.

Actually, I didn't realize that. Regardless of what it cost to move, it is ugly and a blight on what is slowly turning into a revitalized area.

OCA REP · #**2994** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 1:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp7123

Their airport is a dump and I bet you can't fly (non-stop) to half the cities that you can from Hsv.

I will agree wholeheartedly about the lack of direct non-stop service from MGM, but it is VERY OBVIOUS that you have not been to Montgomery Regional Airport in several years. There is nothing dumpy about it. Several stages of terminal additions and inprovements have produced an airport all of our residents can be very proud of.

I suggest you get your facts straight before going on a rant in the future!

super_adam · #**2995** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

I will agree wholeheartedly about the lack of direct non-stop service from MGM, but it is VERY OBVIOUS that you have not been to Montgomery Regional Airport in several years. There is nothing dumpy about it. Several stages of terminal additions and inprovements have produced an airport all of our residents can be very proud of.

I suggest you get your facts straight before going on a rant in the future!

I agree with his rant and would say Monkeytown still sucks, despite the new "inprovements" at the airport

OCA REP · #**2996** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 6:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by super_adam

I agree with his rant and would say Monkeytown still sucks, despite the new "inprovements" at the airport

That is certainly your prerogative, but I would prefer to take the high road and not berate other cities in my state. Sorry adam, you come across a little bitter and immature!

mp7123 · #**2997** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 9:05 PM**

Okay, so you're right, I haven't been to the Montgomery airport in several years and didn't know they have improved it. I have nothing against Montgomery, I was just making a comparison since it is similar in size. I don't think you would disagree with any of the other comparisons though.

super_adam · #**2998** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 9:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCA REP

That is certainly your prerogative, but I would prefer to take the high road and not berate other cities in my state. Sorry adam, you come across a little bitter and immature!

Well that could be your prerogative, but I would say it is wrong and you don't have a sense of humor and was so easily offended because you know its true.

Thanks for taking the high road and berating me instead of other cities in the state.

OCA REP · #**2999** Posted **Aug 27, 2008, 9:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp7123

Okay, so you're right, I haven't been to the Montgomery airport in several years and didn't know they have improved it. I have nothing against Montgomery, I was just making a comparison since it is similar in size. I don't think you would disagree with any of the other comparisons though.

Most of your post made sense to me... that is why I only replied to your comments about the airport in Montgomery. You seem to like Huntsville and enjoy living there. Maybe your enthusiasm can rub off on some of the Huntsville complainers on the board.

JuanHunt · #**3000** Posted **Aug 28, 2008, 1:47 AM**

I had forgot about Big Spring Partners, the private corporation that bought the Holiday Inn property downtown for $8mil, then sold it to the city for $6mil, with the understanding that the corporation would get the $200k per year lease payments on the buildings for 15 years. The city gets 50k per year in rent. So I guess that property is tied up until 2020.