Huntsville updates

[jmanhsv]

Originally Posted by Jugernagt

Goody's is closing the store in Muscle Shoals but not Huntsville and Decatur.

Actually, no. Every store is closing. As neilson said above, all Goody's locations are liquidating. By the end of March, Goody's will be no more.

[Huntsvillenative]

IMO Bridge Street 's growth will be the death of the Madison Square Mall. It's already become basically a teenager, or gangmember's hangout while the stores are slowly evacuating, some going to BS.

Bridge Street's got incredible potential to be one of if not the best open air outdoor mall in America one day. That's why they need to think of family-friendly first and business executives second and bring in more fun entertainment, both live and interactive to lure in kids, adults and families. I still think a ferris wheel hovering over the lake all lit up at night would be ideal and excellent. Make it like the Chicago pier. Why the BS developers don't see that potential for one is beyond me. All ages would love to ride that and would keep visitors coming. I also would like to see some unique eateries like a blues club or live country western music. Stuff like that.

I am constantly meeting new people who are not from here and are amazed at the lack of family entertainment in Huntsville. This city's on the verge of something big. But to make it happen we gotta have a vision for a better and more exciting Huntsville.

I love Mayor Battle's vision. Especially lifting the height limits in the city. I can understand the old home subdivision not wanting towering buildings over that part of town. But north of the courthouse would be ideal to build a new expanded downtown of 20-30 story tower buildings.

I am stoked to see the new arena look when it's completed. It'll be exciting to go to the new look arena just to take in all the changes.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by jmanhsv

Actually, no. Every store is closing. As neilson said above, all Goody's locations are liquidating. By the end of March, Goody's will be no more.

True. It was on NBC News the other night that Goodys is going out of business and shutting down all of their stores nationwide. Over 285.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

IMO Bridge Street 's growth will be the death of the Madison Square Mall. It's already become basically a teenager, or gangmember's hangout while the stores are slowly evacuating, some going to BS.

Bridge Street's got incredible potential to be one of if not the best open air outdoor mall in America one day. That's why they need to think of family-friendly first and business executives second and bring in more fun entertainment, both live and interactive to lure in kids, adults and families. I still think a ferris wheel hovering over the lake all lit up at night would be ideal and excellent. Make it like the Chicago pier. Why the BS developers don't see that potential for one is beyond me. All ages would love to ride that and would keep visitors coming. I also would like to see some unique eateries like a blues club or live country western music. Stuff like that.

I am constantly meeting new people who are not from here and are amazed at the lack of family entertainment in Huntsville. This city's on the verge of something big. But to make it happen we gotta have a vision for a better and more exciting Huntsville.

I love Mayor Battle's vision. Especially lifting the height limits in the city. I can understand the old home subdivision not wanting towering buildings over that part of town. But north of the courthouse would be ideal to build a new expanded downtown of 20-30 story tower buildings.

I am stoked to see the new arena look when it's completed. It'll be exciting to go to the new look arena just to take in all the changes.

So what then should be done for the plot of land that Madison Square Mall is currently on?

We can't just let it rot and be an empty eyesore. Something has to be done(either Constellation type tear down/rebuild from scratch or The Mall turns into The Fountain type redevelopment). Thing is, there really are no easy answers about Madison Square Mall's future.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I think that with the population growth in the area, stores that aren't in the area will eventually take up the space in the mall. We're fortunate that we're still seeing pretty good growth in the area. All the added population will attract new tenants.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by Alabadrock

I think that with the population growth in the area, stores that aren't in the area will eventually take up the space in the mall. We're fortunate that we're still seeing pretty good growth in the area. All the added population will attract new tenants.

It's gonna have to involve a true investment in renovating the mall. Anyone that was here in 1994 knows what a real mall renovation looks like.

That's what it's gonna take for CBL to make the mall more viable. Also, something needs to be done about the 4 big box spaces west of Best Buy that either are or are about to be vacant. Any ideas?

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by neilson

So what then should be done for the plot of land that Madison Square Mall is currently on?

We can't just let it rot and be an empty eyesore. Something has to be done(either Constellation type tear down/rebuild from scratch or The Mall turns into The Fountain type redevelopment). Thing is, there really are no easy answers about Madison Square Mall's future.

It would be a natural extension of Research Park. The city would make more property tax revenue with that type of development anyway.

[HSVTiger]

To President Obama; Huntsville's wish list, hey you gotta ask..

By CHALLEN STEPHENS
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Mayor calls local needs state's 'most significant'

Practiced at winning federal dollars, Huntsville has put together Alabama's lengthiest and most detailed federal shopping list.

From new bus route maps to parkway overpasses, Huntsville names 100 projects it hopes to see paid for by the economic stimulus package proposed by President-elect Barack Obama.

Huntsville's big-ticket requests include $45 million for Lee High, $53 million for overpasses on South Memorial Parkway, $40 million for three downtown parking garages, $50 million to make schools energy efficient, and $50 million to improve the roads on Redstone Arsenal.

The city's entire wish list runs $566 million. That's five times more than the combined requests of Birmingham, Auburn and Tuscaloosa.

"We have the most significant needs in Alabama. We're the ones with the most significant growth," said Mayor Tommy Battle on Friday. "Nobody else has the economic impact of 10,000 jobs with BRAC coming in."

But in Alabama, Huntsville's was only the second-most expensive list. Mobile, in just 12 sweeping projects, identified more than $1.1 billion in federal assistance. Mobile included broad items, such as $360 million for schools and $293 million for a bypass.

The wish lists, which are not official requests for funding, are included in a report released last month by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The report names more than 15,000 "ready-to-go" infrastructure improvements submitted by 641 cities. The entire list would cost $96 billion.

Details and dollar amounts have yet to be settled, but by some accounts Obama's stimulus proposal could be $775 billion or more over two years.


Unlike Mobile, Huntsville found few projects too picayune to mention in the report. Huntsville listed $125,000 to replace city bus shelters, $500,000 to buy two trolleys, $65,000 for software for police, $400,000 for a heating unit at the library and $200,000 to improve the back patio at the natatorium.

In Alabama, Birmingham identified just $69.1 million for "ready-to-go" projects, mostly street repairs. Auburn named $11 million, Tuscaloosa $17.5 million and Montgomery didn't name any for the early report. Decatur listed the need for $98 million, about half of it for a highway interchange at U.S. 20.

[marvingardns]

Good thing Parker Griffith landed himself seats on the Transportation and Space & Tech Committees. :-)

My hipocracy knows no bounds...

[HSVTiger]

As renovations begin to ramp up for the Von Braun Center, Concert Hall and Arena, some interesting comments..Does this mean that Huntsville will never have an expanded arena or what? Or does he mean just a brand new facility? This renovation will address pressing needs now but long term the facility needs expanding and has been proposed.

As for the Arena, Matheny (architect) said "there are ongoing discussions to find additional money."

The good news is that it will be easier to maintain events in the Arena because most of the impact is on the concession areas and lobby, he said. The renovation will provide for a new entrance through the East-West Exhibit Hall, Matheny said.

The end result: a more modern facility that should get Huntsvillians excited again.

"It will be a bold, fresh look," Matheny said. "It will be the equivalent facility that you see in other cities. No longer is it a shut-out-the-outside-world, make-it-a-fortress way of thinking. Now, we're bringing the experience inside-outside."

the Arena, it will never be big enough to draw mega acts such as the Eagles, Dave Matthews, U2 or George Strait. But Maples hopes it can bring a little of the class delivered by one of his favorite arenas, the Gwinett County Civic Center near Atlanta.

"It's first class and well run," Maples said. "It makes you feel like you're in a major city without going to New York, Chicago or L.A. I'd like to bring some of that here.

"I know we're never going to have an arena like that, but at the end of the day, I hope we can have a quality, 5,600-6,000-seat facility that's first class and makes you want to come back."

[HSVTiger]

As happening at most airports less seats and flights..

By KEITH CLINES
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
Carriers plan to cut flights, number of seats available

Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority officials are bracing for hard times to continue after a 2008 that started good then turned sour.

Though the airport saw an increase in the number of passengers last year over 2007, airlines serving this area plan to cut the number of flights and seats available.


Passenger traffic at the airport was down 2.9 percent in December compared to December 2007. For all of 2008, more than 1.25 million passengers passed through the airport, missing the record year of 2005 by 12,051 passengers.

At the International Intermodal Center, rail cargo traffic was down 11.5 percent in December compared to December 2007, but was up 1.8 percent for the year.

Air cargo (measured by weight) in November was down 24.3 percent compared to the same month a year ago and was down 2.6 percent for the first 11 months of the year. Nationwide, air cargo was down 13 percent in December.


The airlines that serve Huntsville plan to cut the number of flights by 16 percent and seating by 13 percent in February, Marketing Director Barbie Peek said.

In other business, the airport has two projects it would like included in any federal economic stimulus package adopted: a planned $30 million expansion of the baggage-claim area and $8 million to complete road improvements.

The road work would improve access to the International Diesel plant, improve James Record Road to Martin Road and widen a bridge on Glenn Heard Boulevard near the Interstate 565 eastbound on-ramp.

[HSVTiger]

Something to keep an eye on, upgrades and improvement are still planned on the I-565/Greenbrier interchange and work is underway at the I-65/Tanner interchange. (Something is prompting this)
The new Robotics school at Calhoun in Decatur is pushing forward
By KEITH CLINES
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
$71M complex will 'lead nation' in new methods

DECATUR - As a robot handed him a shovel at a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday, Gov. Bob Riley said a $71 million robotics complex will help keep the state on the leading edge of technology needed for economic development.

"I want us to take work force development and job training to a different level," he said.
Riley headed a long list of state and local officials gathered under a tent in an open field at the ceremony for the Advanced Technology Robotics Research and Development Complex. The training and development center across from Calhoun Community College will have the capacity to train 450 people a year to operate robot machines when it opens in two years."

Earlier it was said that Huntsville was still high on VW's list for possible future work. It may still be done at the Chattanooga site but we shall see.

Audi U.S. plant decision coming by mid-2009
Alisa Priddle / The Detroit News
Audi AG will make a decision on a U.S. plant by mid-2009, said Peter Schwarzenbauer, board member in charge of marketing and sales.
The German automaker is weighing whether to build a stand alone assembly plant or to share the $1 billion plant that Volkswagen AG has under construction in Chattanooga, Tenn., that is slated to begin production in early 2011.
One factor in the decision is the timing and lifecycle of the products that will be built in the U.S., said Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America Inc. president.
VW also is considering building an engine plant in the U.S.

[Wade2501]

Guess we'll have another unsightly empty store/shopping center.

from Fox Newshttp://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/retail/circuit-city-liquidate-remaining-stores/

Friday, January 16, 2009
Circuit City to Liquidate Remaining US Stores


Circuit City (CC) has reached a deal to be fully liquidated after failing to find a buyer or a refinancing deal.

The electronics retailer reached an agreement with liquidators to sell the merchandise in its 567 domestic stores.

"We are extremely disappointed by this outcome. The company had been in continuous negotiations regarding a going concern transaction,” said James Marcum, vice chairman and acting president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “Regrettably for the more than 30,000 employees of Circuit City and our loyal customers, we were unable to reach an agreement with our creditors and lenders to structure a going-concern transaction in the limited timeframe available, and so this is the only possible path for our company."

Court papers showed the retailer appointed Great American Group LLC, Hudson Capital Partners LLC, SB Capital Group LLC and Tiger Capital Group LLC as liquidators.

In November, the Richmond, Va,-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, falling victim to tight credit markets and slowdown in consumer spending. The court set today as a deadline to reach a deal with a buyer.

Golden Gate Capital has emerged as a leading bidder in the auction for the 59-year-old retailer. It made an offer, but requested 30 days to analyze the business, according to reports.

The retailer has been struggling for some time. A week before filing Chapter 11 it announced it was closing 155 U.S. stores, resulting in 17% of its workforce to be laid off.

[HSVTiger]

[QUOTE=Wade2501;4029922]Guess we'll have another unsightly empty store/shopping center.
Circuit City, is anybody really surprised?
Us and everybody else I guess, in this economy there will be a lot of this but the location of that strip center is prime and I expect someone will snap it up for future options. The former Winn Dixie center just up and across the street
is still vacant which I thought would have been filled by now. Not many retailers need that much space. Most of that center should be bulldozed and turned into a nice office/research park with the remaining restaurants shops made over to fit. Something besides desolate asphalt.

[chris21718]

I certainly won't miss Circuit City, and haven't shopped there in a long time.

Their DVD and CD selection got cut to the bone a few years ago and the presence of all kinds of beeping alarms throughout the store was a constant annoyance (high pitched chirps and beeps every few seconds).

The only reason I hate for them to close is that Best Buy will be the main store in that category (selling audio/video, computer, and CDs and DVDs too), with no real competition. This will likely mean worse service, higher prices, and worse selection in general.

[JuanHunt]

Best Buy is looking to move too. A store with a larger floorplan is in the works.

[Wade2501]

Originally Posted by JuanHunt

Best Buy is looking to move too. A store with a larger floorplan is in the works.

They should just split the old Barnes and Noble next door into two shops and that way Best buy can just expand into it, and maybe a restaurant can fill the remaining space. That way Best Buy won't move and leave more "empties".

[Wade2501]

Originally Posted by chris21718

I certainly won't miss Circuit City, and haven't shopped there in a long time.

Their DVD and CD selection got cut to the bone a few years ago and the presence of all kinds of beeping alarms throughout the store was a constant annoyance (high pitched chirps and beeps every few seconds).

The only reason I hate for them to close is that Best Buy will be the main store in that category (selling audio/video, computer, and CDs and DVDs too), with no real competition. This will likely mean worse service, higher prices, and worse selection in general.

I feel the same way. Haven't bought anything from them in over 4 years.

But I still hate seeing all these stores/companies closing due to the economy.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by Wade2501

I feel the same way. Haven't bought anything from them in over 4 years.

But I still hate seeing all these stores/companies closing due to the economy.

I was wondering why the credit people stopped bugging me. I guess when they went bankrupt and out of business they no longer could demand payment.

[Wade2501]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

I was wondering why the credit people stopped bugging me. I guess when they went bankrupt and out of business they no longer could demand payment.

Now that's something to cheer about!