Huntsville updates - Page 163

ThatGuy · #**3241** Posted **Nov 19, 2008, 9:30 PM**

The design looks great. I just wish they had included some commercial space along the ground floor they could have leased out. If the space didn't lease right away, they could always put in a satellite campus bookstore or something. Of course I haven't actually been IN it, so they may have some space that I don't know about.

jmanhsv · #**3242** Posted **Nov 19, 2008, 10:11 PM**

^Nope, no commercial space. However, the bottom level does house the UAH Department of Public Safety/Police headquarters, seen in the last photo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

University Alabama Huntsville parking deck..very nice

Yeah, it's nice, I went there last week. Too bad it's useless until the university becomes more pedestrian-friendly and/or has some buses that loop around campus. The only academic building that is even close to there is Shelby Center, and they just ripped up the sidewalks leading to it.

HSVTiger · #**3243** Posted **Nov 20, 2008, 7:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

The owner is relocating this restaurant to the eastside near Moores Mill Rd And Winchester. He cited high lease cost at the current location as the reason.

In addition the old Backyard Burger on University/Paramount Dr. is now Frizzle's second location.

HSVTiger · #**3244** Posted **Nov 20, 2008, 7:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

^Nope, no commercial space. However, the bottom level does house the UAH Department of Public Safety/Police headquarters, seen in the last photo.

Yeah, it's nice, I went there last week. Too bad it's useless until the university becomes more pedestrian-friendly and/or has some buses that loop around campus. The only academic building that is even close to there is Shelby Center, and they just ripped up the sidewalks leading to it.

They want to do big things
http://www.uah.edu/president/blog/tenthfull.php

HSVTiger · #**3245** Posted **Nov 26, 2008, 1:23 PM**

Bridge Street update.
Really they should scrap the boring second phase 2 strip mall idea and go
ahead and add a second hotel as they mention.

By MARIAN ACCARDI
Times Business Writer [email protected]
O&S focuses on growth, rejects unsolicited offer

O&S Holdings continues to focus on the second and third phases of its Bridge Street Town Centre, said a spokeswoman with the California-based developer, and has never marketed the project for sale.

Spokeswoman Rachel Forman said an unsolicited offer to buy Bridge Street was made in the late summer from an institutional investor who owns and manages shopping centers across the country.

"We went through a few months of due diligence and decided we didn't want to sell the center," Forman said.

The mixed-use Bridge Street, which now has about 50 shops and restaurants, was "never for sale," she said. "We're focused on maximizing the potential of Bridge Street and working with the city on phase two and phase three.

"We're committed to Huntsville."

The only announced tenant for the second phase at Bridge Street is Sports Authority. The 42,000-square-foot store is scheduled to open in fall 2009. It will be Sports Authority's first store in Huntsville.

Bridge Street's second phase will include more than 150,000 square feet of big-box and specialty stores and 790 additional parking spaces, according to O&S Holdings. Forman said the company is close to announcing two additional tenants.

"We have no plans for phase three," Forman said. "It's extremely preliminary, but we're evaluating additional retail, possibly another hotel. Again, it's extremely preliminary."

Bridge Street also has a 14-screen Monaco Pictures cinema, the Westin Huntsville that will include 35 condominiums and a 144,000-square-foot office building.

HSVTiger · #**3246** Posted **Nov 26, 2008, 1:30 PM**

Interesting comments from the mayor

By STEVE CAMPBELL
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Slump may stall growth, young professionals told

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle wants a downtown neighborhood of young professionals, retail shops and a nice, tall building that you can't miss from Interstate 565.

[B]"I hope we come up with a very tall building, something that's a signature of the city," (Well a better plan than that, how about several for a downtown research park?)

But downtown won't be revitalized soon, the mayor said. He told about 100 young professionals at Merrimack Hall on Tuesday that a slumping economy may stall economic growth in Huntsville for two years.
(Then do something to encourage growth)

Battle reported interest by the Huntsville Housing Authority in building townhouses and lofts downtown for moderate wage earners who work nearby. He said the homes should lease for $600-$1,000 a month.

Once a young population is established downtown, Battle envisioned shops would follow. He said the Housing Authority's interest in downtown development is promising.

"That's one of the more exciting things that I see starting to happen right now," Battle said.

Battle called for a smooth transition in the coming years as military jobs relocate to Redstone Arsenal along with contractors to the area. Battle said about 3,300 more military jobs and 5,000 new contractors are slated for Huntsville by 2012.

Along with adding green space, Battle said handling the job relocation process well is key to attracting young professionals to Huntsville.

Good schools and improved roads also were mentioned as vital to Huntsville's growth. Battle said he's approached state and federal lawmakers about getting more road money to accommodate the city's expected population boom.

In downtown, Battle advocated buffer zones between residential and commercial areas to maintain property values. He expressed less support for height restrictions on downtown buildings.

gkcooper · #**3247** Posted **Nov 26, 2008, 5:02 PM**

According to anonymous sources, the Harris Hills project has been curtailed by the host retailers pulling out of the project.

neilson · #**3248** Posted **Nov 26, 2008, 6:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkcooper

According to anonymous sources, the Harris Hills project has been curtailed by the host retailers pulling out of the project.

I believe it. Frankly, I expect 1 year from now to see Madison Square Mall to be on hospice. I have a lot of confidence in CBL but what I've been reading about entire store chains going under in early 2009 has me at pause:

http://www.tomslatin.com/2008/11/24/store-closings-2008-2009

Huntsville_secede · #**3249** Posted **Nov 27, 2008, 3:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkcooper

According to anonymous sources, the Harris Hills project has been curtailed by the host retailers pulling out of the project.

I don't see why they are so scared to invest in that development. What would they have to compete against them? It's almost a certainty that this development would succeed. There is hardly no retail on 72 east from Moores Mill to Scottsboro. This development isn't the same as the multiple projects that have been proposed recently (right down the street from each other) like the Decatur mega project, the Madison Zierdt road, and county line projects, etc. I can understand why developers are hesitant to invest in such massive projects in areas that necessarily don't have the demographics to support it yet, but they can at least use some restaurants out in 72 east though. Plus bad economy or not the Northeast Madison county area is greatly undeserved in retail and restaurants so I just think this project's success is much less dependent on a thriving economy than the other ones which are in areas (or close to) that already have good retail options and restaraunts (Constellation, Madison Mega projects, Decatur Sweetwater, etc.)

David1502 · #**3250** Posted **Nov 28, 2008, 2:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

I don't see why they are so scared to invest in that development. What would they have to compete against them? It's almost a certainty that this development would succeed. There is hardly no retail on 72 east from Moores Mill to Scottsboro. This development isn't the same as the multiple projects that have been proposed recently (right down the street from each other) like the Decatur mega project, the Madison Zierdt road, and county line projects, etc. I can understand why developers are hesitant to invest in such massive projects in areas that necessarily don't have the demographics to support it yet, but they can at least use some restaurants out in 72 east though. Plus bad economy or not the Northeast Madison county area is greatly undeserved in retail and restaurants so I just think this project's success is much less dependent on a thriving economy than the other ones which are in areas (or close to) that already have good retail options and restaraunts (Constellation, Madison Mega projects, Decatur Sweetwater, etc.)

I would definitely agree with you that this is an area which is seriously underserved and includes many mid range neighborhoods as well as several higher end neighborhoods(e.g. Hawks Ridge). Also, there is a substantial wokforce in the Chase Industrial Park which has only McDonalds, Wendy's and Subway to choose from. A Cracker Barrel, Logan's Roadhouse and a Rosie's could do very well at this location. A Hampton Inn (or similar) could do good business since there is a lot of highway traffic as this is the east entrance for Huntsville for travelers coming from Chattanooga, Atlanta, etc. and there are plenty of businesses, PPG, Vintage Pharmaceuticls, Cinram, etc. which have visitors needing a hotel nearby for an overnight stay.

HSVTiger · #**3251** Posted **Dec 1, 2008, 4:45 PM**

New downtown combined police/firestation set to open in a few weeks

chris21718 · #**3252** Posted **Dec 1, 2008, 9:48 PM**

Will the fire station on Church Street close after this new one opens? There was talk about elevating Church Street so that there would be walkways under the street so that people could walk from one part of the park to another without crossing a busy street (like was done with Monroe Street). Has this idea been abandoned or is it still in the works?

HSVTiger · #**3253** Posted **Dec 2, 2008, 2:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris21718

Will the fire station on Church Street close after this new one opens? There was talk about elevating Church Street so that there would be walkways under the street so that people could walk from one part of the park to another without crossing a busy street (like was done with Monroe Street). Has this idea been abandoned or is it still in the works?

Yes this station will replace the Church street station. Since we have a new mayor all previous planned projects will be reviewed. I don't think this project was very far along but it would be a good one to do, hopefully Mayor Battle will push it through. What to do with the City hall building is a problem, structural issues (marble panels coming lose) and now the empty fire station.

ThatGuy · #**3254** Posted **Dec 3, 2008, 12:02 AM**

It would be nice to convert the old station into a firestation museum.

I'm also fine with them tearing that whole building down and building a tall, affordable condo building in its place.

Jacknah · #**3255** Posted **Dec 10, 2008, 4:47 AM**

If anyone wants to make some money, open a pizza restaurant downtown near the clubs and keep it open until 3:30 AM. Sell by the slice. You'll get tons of business as the clubs close from drunk hungry people. I've seen this in other cities.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**3256** Posted **Dec 10, 2008, 5:29 AM**

Haha, it's like Lakeside Diner at UA at night. You wouldn't believe the lines that form after people leave the parties drunk.

HSVTiger · #**3257** Posted **Dec 10, 2008, 1:31 PM**

Rick Tucker, the airport's executive director, told the Huntsville-Madison County Authority on Tuesday that passenger traffic at the airport in November was down 13.4 percent compared to the previous November.

In November, 92,981 people flew in and out of the airport, compared to 107,380 in November 2007.

It was the fourth straight month that passenger traffic has declined from the same month in 2007 after seven months of increases to start the year.

But total passenger traffic for the year was about 1.16 million through November, which is a 1.5 percent increase from 1.14 million passengers during the same period in 2007.
HSV Times

marvingardns · #**3258** Posted **Dec 10, 2008, 4:05 PM**

Ugh. Judge deals blow to city's case on the jail...

jonnie256 · #**3259** Posted **Dec 11, 2008, 1:52 AM**

Huntsville is dead......but Thank gawd I will be moving to either Franklin or Chattanooga,Tn nxt summer!!!!!

Shawn35816 · #**3260** Posted **Dec 11, 2008, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnie256

Huntsville is dead......but Thank gawd I will be moving to either Franklin or Chattanooga,Tn nxt summer!!!!!

Hey, Franklin is not better. I've been there. If that's what makes you happy though, you do that. What's makes Huntsville dead in your eyes? You know there are a lot of changes going on right now, so people have to get settled and in place for things to start happening. It's like that everywhere.