Huntsville updates

[Shawn35816]

Originally Posted by g-man435

Hard Rock Park went bankrupt. Have fun with that second bolded part during this economy.

What?!! Wow! I just went on vacation to Myrtle Beach in the Spring and they had just opened not to long before that. You mean to tell me that they shut down a new amusement park? It was small but at least it had, two roller costers, I think. Alabama Adventures,near Bessemer, started with a wooden roller coaster and a water park and has survived for years in a non-touristy area.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by g-man435

Hard Rock Park went bankrupt. Have fun with that second bolded part during this economy.

Hard Rock Park was a bad idea to start with. The only people it was gonna attract were r&r music fans. The Space & Rocket Center is a national tourist location but with that we should add to it to expand our horizons. When I say "theme park" I don't neccessarly mean like HR Park. I'm talking on the lines of something that ties in with NASA and the space center. There's plenty of acres of undeveloped land along 565 to build a nice 200 acre space-themed park with coasters and dark rides, a hotel resort etc. That's what Huntsville should be pushing for the most. It would create many new jobs and revenue would skyrocket for this town.

But a world class zoo would be ideal for this city and cheaper to develope and maintane as it would bring out both local and out of towners such as families and of course the kids.

And as for the economy, it's not near as bad as it seems. Gas prices are starting to go down, the stock market on Wall Street is raising back up and projects around the country and locally including Constellation are about to start work. If it were as bad as some think then projects like Constellation would be canceled or put on hold.

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

Hard Rock Park was a bad idea to start with. The only people it was gonna attract were r&r music fans. The Space & Rocket Center is a national tourist location but with that we should add to it to expand our horizons. When I say "theme park" I don't neccessarly mean like HR Park. I'm talking on the lines of something that ties in with NASA and the space center. There's plenty of acres of undeveloped land along 565 to build a nice 200 acre space-themed park with coasters and dark rides, a hotel resort etc. That's what Huntsville should be pushing for the most. It would create many new jobs and revenue would skyrocket for this town.

But a world class zoo would be ideal for this city and cheaper to develope and maintane as it would bring out both local and out of towners such as families and of course the kids.

And as for the economy, it's not near as bad as it seems. Gas prices are starting to go down, the stock market on Wall Street is raising back up and projects around the country and locally including Constellation are about to start work. If it were as bad as some think then projects like Constellation would be canceled or put on hold.

That's a great idea. An educational space-themed theme park would be wonderful for this town. Especially if it is done right. I'm talking Disney quality and attention to detail.

It seems like a good time as well, as the interest in space travel is starting to percolate. Even contact Paramount and having a ride or area that is Star Trek themed. The Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas just closed recently after many years of operation. Just think if HSV could get a piece of that franchise. Yearly Star Trek conventions alone would be a boon for this city.

Let's go take out a loan and do it.

[mlog]

I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but the Country Vittles on University close a couple of months ago.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by stewdog1

That's a great idea. An educational space-themed theme park would be wonderful for this town. Especially if it is done right. I'm talking Disney quality and attention to detail.

It seems like a good time as well, as the interest in space travel is starting to percolate. Even contact Paramount and having a ride or area that is Star Trek themed. The Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas just closed recently after many years of operation. Just think if HSV could get a piece of that franchise. Yearly Star Trek conventions alone would be a boon for this city.

Let's go take out a loan and do it.

I totally agree! A Star Trek, Star Wars, and other famous outerspace classics could have their own section like at Universal Studios.

[-=skywalker=-]

Originally Posted by neilson

I'm talking straight up sporting goods stores(and no, I won't count Hibbett Sports Superstore on University at Sparkman).

In that rhelm, you have Dick's, Sports Authority, Academy, and Modell's.

Gander Mtn. goes up against Bass Pro Shop and Cabela's, and Edwin Watts goes up against Golfsmith.

I beg to differ, Outdoor Sporting Goods and the Golf Pro Shop together make up almost half Dick's inventory. I take it you don't shop there often? Anyways, you're a fool if you don't think Edwin Watts and Gander Mtn. isn't competition for Dick's in this area. To bring up Bass Pro Shop, Cabela's or Golfsmith is ridiculous since the nearest of any of the mention stores is in Nashville. We are talking about the local market and competition, which Gander Mtn., Edwin Watts, and even Hibbett Sports compete with Dick's for consumer dollars in the local market.

Example, I shop at both Dick's and Edwin Watts for golf clubs, balls, and apparel...I usually price shop both places before making a purchase, and I know I'm not alone.

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville International Airport parking deck expansion construction continues




Parker photos

[HSVTiger]

New Mayor..high expectations

"Loretta Spencer, who has led the city for the past 12 years, was defeated by businessman Tommy Battle, 56 percent to 44 percent. The unofficial vote count was 21,123 for Battle and 16,821 for Spencer."

Thanks Mayor Spencer you did an outstanding job, you were right for Huntsville during this time. Now Mayor Battle take what Spencer did and make it better and do things that have great vision and progress.

"After the city's 54 voting precincts reported their results about 9 p.m., Battle told hundreds of his supporters to take off their campaign stickers: "It's time for us to just be Huntsvillians.

"We owe Mayor Spencer a great deal of respect and honor for the 12 years she's put into this job," Battle said. "I don't think we've seen the last of her service."

The new mayor, who will be sworn into office on Nov. 3, said he's got to get to work on budgets "and just on the future in general."

[jmanhsv]

Yes!!! Good job, Huntsville! It's a new day for the city. Let's just hope he delivers on his campaign promises (aka the Battle Plan).

I'm surprised Battle won by as much as he did. I was expecting a 51/49 vote favoring Spencer. Thank goodness that didn't happen.

[Huntsvillenative]

Let the party begin! I'm excited to have a fresh new start to our growing city. I think this will finally be the beginning of raising the height restrictions and we'll finally see 20-30 story high rise buildings in downtown within the next decade. Maybe sooner depending how fast the economy bounces back which is expected to within the next year with the new bailout bill passed.

[g-man435]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

Let the party begin! I'm excited to have a fresh new start to our growing city. I think this will finally be the beginning of raising the height restrictions and we'll finally see 20-30 story high rise buildings in downtown within the next decade. Maybe sooner depending how fast the economy bounces back which is expected to within the next year with the new bailout bill passed.

I didn't know highrises defined a city's metro size. I thought population statistics from Census did. I also didn't know it was only the mayor who approves of things like changing height restrictions. I thought that was done by city council.

[Port_of_Bama]

Have you guys seen the new Alabama tags I like them and I want your opinion on them it`s in the Mobile thread ?

[HSV79]

Yes maybe finally we can see some more progress but in a slightly different direction than before. While Spencer did a good job getting the city back on track she is more of a park lover (which there is nothing wrong with that) and added parks and things like that plus many shopping centers and so on. Battle has already said that he didn't like that the new metro jail was one of the tallest buildings in downtown and said we need a signature building. While Spencer has never opened her mouth about trying to raise the height limit downtown. Of course the city council has the final say but the mayor has some push. Battle has a business background so one can only hope for a new and better downtown. That's just one changing point...there are many other things that need to change and be done.

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

Maybe sooner depending how fast the economy bounces back which is expected to within the next year with the new bailout bill passed.

Maybe it will; maybe it won't. I am just glad that you enjoyed the bailout bill kool-aid you obviously gulped down!

[10101000]

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

Yes!!! Good job, Huntsville! It's a new day for the city. Let's just hope he delivers on his campaign promises (aka the Battle Plan).

I'm surprised Battle won by as much as he did. I was expecting a 51/49 vote favoring Spencer. Thank goodness that didn't happen.

It will be interesting to see if there is in an increase/decrease in the type of developments that will occur. I'm sure Mayors Spencer's style may have kept some away(VW) while it probably helped in others(BRAC). Also a new working relationship with a new Governor is on the horizon. It will be hard to match Governor Riley, he has done a lot of positive things for this state/Huntsville and he seemed to have a good relationship with Mayor Spencer. We have 2 more years with Governor Riley so Mayor Battle needs to spend as much time as possible in his ear.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by (Tim)

There were periods after Sweet.Home. are they still on it?
why it has to be tied in with a redneck song is the question, but the image is okay. Sales from Montgomery north may not be that great, just like the Saturn V plates probably don't go too far south of the Tennessee River.

[10101000]

This will replace stars fell on Alabama the regular plate, it is not a specialty plate. The new plate will go in to play in January.

[HSVTiger]

I guess it could be Lake Guntersville and the clouds are really mountains.

[Port_of_Bama]

lol, no ! thats the Gulf Coast(beach) a lake doesn`t come to mind when I see that a beach does but anyway it`s a heck of a lot better than the previous boring tags this state had.