Huntsville updates

[jmanhsv]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

MATHENY GOLDMON ARCHITECTS is the architect for the project and this firm is quickly being recognized as doing beautiful and superior design around the Huntsville area. Not the good ole boy lazy architecture this area has grown used to seeing but actual design that actually makes you stop and admire the building. The new downtown fire/police station mentioned a page or so back is an example and won an award for it. I don't have any affiliation with these guys.

Speaking of Matheny Goldmon, they're moving soon to the old TVA building on Woodson downtown, across from the proposed Constellation office building.

[Huntsvillenative]

One thing's for certain, Huntsville officials need to focus primarily on bringing in tourism to put money into this economy and our city. Whether it's a water park, theme park, aquarium, science museum or zoo, something's got to get people here. They should also build strongly on the space program and add exciting attractions at the S&R Center. The space program is starting to draw major interest on a world wide scale with al the talk of going to Mars in the enxt decade or so. Huntsville needs to build on that.

Redeveloping downtown Huntsville could go a long way into making it more tourist and family friendly. Expansion to Big Spring is needed. Expansion to the north of downtown from Holmes all the way north to Clevenad Ave. that should be where a signature tower and other 15-20 story buildings should be built.

The city also needs to give Madison Square Mall a serious makeover like they did with Parkway Place. Either that or tear it down and redevelop that land for something that would bring in a economical profit to the city. Maybe a bigger and better Southern Adventures with more space and attractions.

There's just nothing fun to do for families, kids, or the younger more vibrant people in this city.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

The city also needs to give Madison Square Mall a serious makeover like they did with Parkway Place.

While they are at it, the city could also put in a sprinkler system and sod my yard.

On a serious note, I think we should wait and see what effect Constellation has on downtown. If it is successful, it will probably mean more convention business for the VBC which means full hotels and lots more people downtown which will entice more/better businesses to open.

[HSVTiger]

Real new stadium talk

In a 45-minute meeting Thursday afternoon in Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle's office, Huntsville Stars owner Miles Prentice III made his pitch for a new baseball park to replace Joe Davis Stadium, a facility that Prentice called "not fan friendly."

Prentice indicated he has no plans to sell or move the club, even though he termed the Stars a "drain financially" and said he receives regular calls from investment bankers who are interested in buying the team.

Prentice, a New York lawyer, has been the Stars' principal owner since October 2001, when he headed an eight-man group that bought the Stars for about $6 million.

"I guess the basic issue (now) is the recognition that we in Huntsville need a new ballpark," Prentice said in Battle's office after the meeting.

Prentice says he wants the new park at the current stadium site, a move that would save the city $5 million to $10 million, by his estimate.

"That makes the most sense to me and the mayor," Prentice said.

Prentice and Battle described the meeting as friendly and open. The meeting was Prentice's sole reason for visiting Huntsville Thursday.
HSV Times
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/1248426936229450.xml&coll=1

[TimCity2000]

that stadium needs to be downtown.

besides, would they be able to tear down and rebuild a stadium in the offseason? doubtful.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

that stadium needs to be downtown.

besides, would they be able to tear down and rebuild a stadium in the offseason? doubtful.

Some points/ideas.

Maybe the Stars would play elsewhere for one year.
Downtown would be ideal but VERY expensive to relocate, some big time private investors would have to step up.
Either location, the stadium should be part of a larger development
that would/could include retail, housing, restaurants. This would ensure activity year round. If the South Parkway location is used better access and free parking should be required.

It sounds like a new stadium is in our future but how or when is the question.

More from the article..
"The Brewers want to talk to (Battle)," Prentice said. "They want to stay here. (But) they want a first-class facility."

Joe Davis Stadium, he said, is far from that.

"I see a very tired facility that was not designed by a baseball architect," Prentice said. "It was done quickly and inexpensively, and with no real forethought and not maintained for 20 years - not built to last."

A possible solution, he said, is to duplicate what happened in Midland, Texas, where Prentice owns the Double-A Midland RockHounds.

"The city built a new stadium there," he said. "Let's emphasize that."

Using a sales tax increase of a quarter of a point, Prentice said Midland built a new stadium, even though local unemployment was more than 9 percent.

Said Battle: "We'll look at all possibilities. (But) we both look at the reality of where we are right now. That's the financial times we live in."

The stadium he is talking about, not to exciting from this viewpoint , Huntsville would need to be very distinctive and well designed which is what Prentice is saying

[stallty]

The Rockhounds stadium in Midland was built as part of the Scharbauer Sports Complex. It includes the baseball stadium and a High school football stadium. If I remember right the price tag(I think it was a little over 50 million) for the stadium is well over what anyone here is looking to spend. I was pretty young when this all happened but I lived there at the time it was being built. The complex is beautiful and draws huge crowds just seems a little out of reach for Huntsville. The only reason the citizens allowed the stadium and its cost was because of the High school stadium. High school football in Texas is like College football here. People go crazy for it.

[Huntsvillenative]

Well that guy I spoke with last week was right with the talk of a new stadium and it most likely not in downtown. Although I still think one would work better downtown but infrastructure improvements would be sky high.

A new state-of-the-art first class minor league baseball stadium today will cost anywhere from $40-60 million minimum. I would expect it to be larger than the current one and would seat at least 14,000.Tax dollars will more than likely be used on some of it.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

Well that guy I spoke with last week was right with the talk of a new stadium and it most likely not in downtown. Although I still think one would work better downtown but infrastructure improvements would be sky high.

A new state-of-the-art first class minor league baseball stadium today will cost anywhere from $40-60 million minimum. I would expect it to be larger than the current one and would seat at least 14,000.Tax dollars will more than likely be used on some of it.

I would tend to think it would be smaller say 8,000 with a design that could allow expansion if required.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

I would tend to think it would be smaller say 8,000 with a design that could allow expansion if required.

I think that would be too small and would elminate the first class demanding. Plus the bigger the stadium the more amenities there are and a fan friendly atmosphere. I think they're wanting a double deck stadium. Like the one in Memphis.



I also think there should be seats in the outfield at least some.

[HSVTiger]

That would be cool as well, the city lost out on a golden opportunity years ago
if they had taken parts of the Constellation concept, (hotel, retail, condo) and combined it with a new stadium on the Constellation site, (there is room) Some of those elements could be part of the outside of the stadium and include the planned Pinhook Creek upgrades. Parking decks/ office tower on the north side. Big Spring Park could be expanded as it is now via the canal to give the park a true park/pedestrian element with car access limited to the Parkway side and restaurants that could locate there. Another deck could be located further east on Clinton with major landscape and walkway improvements along this road. In order for the stadium to work it needs to be a part of a bigger plan, not a stand alone that is only used a few months of the year.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

That would be cool as well, the city lost out on a golden opportunity years ago
if they had taken parts of the Constellation concept, (hotel, retail, condo) and combined it with a new stadium on the Constellation site, (there is room) Some of those elements could be part of the outside of the stadium and include the planned Pinhook Creek upgrades. Parking decks/ office tower on the north side. Big Spring Park could be expanded as it is now via the canal to give the park a true park/pedestrian element with car access limited to the Parkway side and restaurants that could locate there. Another deck could be located further east on Clinton with major landscape and walkway improvements along this road. In order for the stadium to work it needs to be a part of a bigger plan, not a stand alone that is only used a few months of the year.

As slow developing as the Constellation project is, I wonder if there is a chance this could still be incorporated into the project?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

As slow developing as the Constellation project is, I wonder if there is a chance this could still be incorporated into the project?

Well you would think but I doubt it. A few other things to consider, several years ago John Q. Hammons (Embassy Suite developer) mentioned he was looking at putting another hotel in Huntsville. He has also built a minor league ball park/ convention center and put hotels next to ballparks. He is one who could do a project like this easily.
If I was the Mayor I would give him a call. he is very familiar with Huntsville and seemed to have a good relationship with former mayor Spencer.

Hammons Field Springfield MO

[Huntsvillenative]

Huntsville should go with something like this. Here's Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis. Capacity is 15,500.

[ttownfeen]

http://www.waaytv.com/global/story.asp?s=10782988

A downtown business owner has proposed making a portion of downtown Huntsville pedestrian-only.

Greg Hawthorne's elaborate proposal includes shutting down the streets running north and south of the court house. Then, he wants the city to replace the space with open markets and pedestrian malls. He believes his plan may not prevent crime but it could deter unwanted traffic.

[Huntsvillenative]

Here's a really nice minor league stadium in Buffalo called Coca Cola Park.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by ttownfeen

http://www.waaytv.com/global/story.asp?s=10782988

A downtown business owner has proposed making a portion of downtown Huntsville pedestrian-only.

I think that's just wishful thinking on his part.

[ttownfeen]

Still, from what I've seen of downtown Huntsville, this sounds like it would be wonderful idea.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by ttownfeen

http://www.waaytv.com/global/story.asp?s=10782988

A downtown business owner has proposed making a portion of downtown Huntsville pedestrian-only.

It's funny how that guy hijacked that news story to get in a plug for his totally unrelated idea.

[HSVTiger]

On the flip side, Joe Davis has some positives, the view is nice, the trees are
now mature and look good around the stadium. Plenty of parking but this also hurts it because it is in a sea of gravel and asphalt, pretty good access but still dangerous exiting to the Parkway frontage roads. If a new stadium is built on this site it will still need to be piece of a bigger creative development, as if it were downtown.
Prentice was against doing anymore improvements, they are short term and really won't solve the problems. It sounds like some serious proposals and plans will be brought to the table over the next year.