Huntsville updates

[huntsvillefan]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

I've been up at Huntsville Hospital this week due to my father being in ICU and for the first time I rode the tram. Anyway I was thinking back to the plans the city has for something similar going from downtown to Bridgestreet and the Space Center.

If they ever get that built it will do wonders for city travel and cut off a heck of a lot of traffic.

I love taking the HH tram and enjoy watching the tram effortlessly pass the cars stuck in traffic below. I have often thought how wonderful it would be if Huntsville had something like this on a larger scale.

I suspect this would be terribly expensive (but so are more lanes and more roads). I guess one can dream.

[HSVTiger]

The Huntsville City Council voted Thursday to borrow $10 million to begin work on the 470-acre Redstone Gateway office park site.

Earlier this year, the city committed to spend up to $76 million on roads, grading, drainage, sidewalks and other improvements sought by the park's developer, LW Redstone.

Construction on the $1 billion office park is expected to get under way in early November near the arsenal's busy Gate 9 on Rideout Road.

Plans call for 52 large office buildings holding as many as 15,000 government workers and defense contractors, two hotels, multiple restaurants, an academic campus and outdoor concert venue.

HSV Times

[jonnie256]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

The Huntsville City Council voted Thursday to borrow $10 million to begin work on the 470-acre Redstone Gateway office park site.

Earlier this year, the city committed to spend up to $76 million on roads, grading, drainage, sidewalks and other improvements sought by the park's developer, LW Redstone.

Construction on the $1 billion office park is expected to get under way in early November near the arsenal's busy Gate 9 on Rideout Road.

Plans call for 52 large office buildings holding as many as 15,000 government workers and defense contractors, two hotels, multiple restaurants, an academic campus and outdoor concert venue.

HSV Times

So where is this exactly gonna be located?

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by jonnie256

So where is this exactly gonna be located?

Right outside of gate 9 and just inside of the arsenal for more sensitive buildings.

[jonnie256]

I was just thinking how gay it is that Huntsville has like a 10 story height limit...When like Montgomery has a 22 story tall building and its smaller than huntsville(I think?)? Huntsville will never grow as a city if it can't get the bigger companies that come in here and try to build. It will just stay the meteocor city it is.....

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by jonnie256

I was just thinking how gay it is that Huntsville has like a 10 story height limit...When like Montgomery has a 22 story tall building and its smaller than huntsville(I think?)? Huntsville will never grow as a city if it can't get the bigger companies that come in here and try to build. It will just stay the meteocor city it is.....

The city council lifted that rule at last year's meetings. There's plans for a signature tower of 20-30 stories to be built on Holmes Ave between Jefferson St and Spragins Ave. Although that won't happen until the economy gets back to normal.

[jonnie256]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

The city council lifted that rule at last year's meetings. There's plans for a signature tower of 20-30 stories to be built on Holmes Ave between Jefferson St and Spragins Ave. Although that won't happen until the economy gets back to normal.

Do you have any pics or rederings? That sounds awsome

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Momma Goldbergs the famous Auburn eatery set to expand to Huntsville.
They have been opening up around the state and now its Huntsville's turn.
Location is probably in the Bonefish Grill/Fresh Market area on Whitesburg.
Sometimes these local great restaurants are hard to duplicate when franchised.
The original on Magnolia and Donahue in Auburn is tradition for thousands of
Auburn faithful so hopefully Momma's Love will take hold in the Rocket City.

Update
Momma Goldberg's will be opening next month at the Village on Whitesburg shopping center.

"Aug. 23 is our target opening," said Katie Crew, the franchise coordinator for Momma G's. "We're excited. Huntsville has been our target since 2007, when we started franchising."

[HSVTiger]

These could be interesting, at least something visible is on paper..

The latest Alabama Department of Transportation announced meetings involve the new interchange at Interstate 565 and County Line Road and the proposed northern bypass from U.S. 231/431 to U.S. 72.

The northern bypass meeting will be Aug. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Riverton Elementary School lunchroom at 2615 Winchester Road.

The I-565 and County Line Road interchange meeting will be Aug. 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Heritage Elementary School gym at 11775 County Line Road.

Previously announced, the extension of the limited access on U.S. 72 from Chapman Mountain to east of Shields Road.
The U.S. 72 meeting will be Aug. 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Riverton Intermediate School lunchroom at 399 Homer Nance Road.

[mp7123]

Huntsville's second Newk's location will be located in the Publix shopping center at the Airport - Whitesburg intersection. It will be opening early fall.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Update
Momma Goldberg's will be opening next month at the Village on Whitesburg shopping center.

"Aug. 23 is our target opening," said Katie Crew, the franchise coordinator for Momma G's. "We're excited. Huntsville has been our target since 2007, when we started franchising."

That is interesting. That isn't much time to decorate and put in a kitchen (if needed). I'm trying to even visualize any empty slots in that center. Maybe next to Panera? Maybe the on-again/off-again Great Wraps is off-again, but permanently this time...

That shopping center sure has seen a dramatic turn-around in the last several years. Kudos to them!

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

That is interesting. That isn't much time to decorate and put in a kitchen (if needed). I'm trying to even visualize any empty slots in that center. Maybe next to Panera? Maybe the on-again/off-again Great Wraps is off-again, but permanently this time...

That shopping center sure has seen a dramatic turn-around in the last several years. Kudos to them!

Too bad the Qdoba owner had a falling out with the owner of that strip center.

[HSV79]

EarlyWorks Goes Coastal in Downtown Huntsville
Posted on 12. Jul, 2010 by Administrator in Home Page Featured

The EarlyWorks Children’s Museum announces a new family friendly event; the first
Rocket City Beach Bash will be held on Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, 2010. This year, a portion of every admission sold will be donated to help save our Alabama beaches.

Imagine a section of downtown Huntsville turned into a fabulous beach!

Over 400 tons of sand will be trucked in and spread out on a 200 yard section of
Fountain Circle, the street located behind the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum. Family friendly beach activities, concessions and entertainment are being planned for the two day event. Wading pools, an interactive fountain, inflatable bounce houses, beach umbrellas, sand toys and even inflatable palm trees will help add to the atmosphere and the FUN!

Families are encouraged to bring their favorite beach toys, towels, beach chairs and come enjoy the day at the beach -in downtown Huntsville, while helping the Alabama beaches recover from the oil spill.

The Rocket City Beach Bash is a fundraiser for the EarlyWorks Museum Complex. EarlyWorks is committed to making the event as family friendly as possible. In order to keep the cost of admission as affordable as possible, EarlyWorks is seeking sponsors to help off-set expenses. A portion of every Beach Bash admission sold will be donated to the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund in response to the oil spill in the Gulf.


EarlyWorks is a non-profit organization consisting of three separate, yet complementary history museums; including the Historic Huntsville Depot, Alabama Constitution Village and the EarlyWorks Children’s Museum. EarlyWorks is dedicated to providing history related educational programming and entertainment to its visitors. Over 150,000 students, teachers and families enjoy EarlyWorks on an annual basis.

Who: All families

What: The Rocket City Beach Bash

Where: Fountain Circle – Behind EarlyWorks – downtown Huntsville

When: July 31st and August 1st
The beach will be open both days, noon until 8:00p.m.

Admission: $5.00/per person (ages 2 and younger free)

Media Partners:
Radio: The Clear Channel Broadcasting; 102.1 WDRM, 100.3 The River & 106.1 WTAK
TV: WAAY 31 – ABC
Newspaper: The Huntsville Times

[luvinhsv]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

These could be interesting, at least something visible is on paper..

The latest Alabama Department of Transportation announced meetings involve the new interchange at Interstate 565 and County Line Road and the proposed northern bypass from U.S. 231/431 to U.S. 72.

The northern bypass meeting will be Aug. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Riverton Elementary School lunchroom at 2615 Winchester Road.

The I-565 and County Line Road interchange meeting will be Aug. 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Heritage Elementary School gym at 11775 County Line Road.

Previously announced, the extension of the limited access on U.S. 72 from Chapman Mountain to east of Shields Road.
The U.S. 72 meeting will be Aug. 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Riverton Intermediate School lunchroom at 399 Homer Nance Road.

What, exactly, is this proposed route?

[neilson]

Originally Posted by luvinhsv

What, exactly, is this proposed route?

It'll be just south of the current Bob Wade Lane/Countess Road.

[HSVTiger]

Nice recognition

The Westin Huntsville was chosen as one of the best destinations for business travel in the Southeast by Meeting South Magazine, a national hospitality, meeting planner and tourism publication, in its 2010 Best of the South awards.

[Huntsvillenative]

Does anyone know much about the new plaza being constructed at the back end of the Embassy Suites hotel in downtown? I've been occupied with my dad being in the hospital these past few weeks and haven't been able to find out much about it. I do know they had a ribbon ceremony there about 2 weeks ago.

What is it exactly and when's it supposed to be completed and opened to the public?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

Does anyone know much about the new plaza being constructed at the back end of the Embassy Suites hotel in downtown? I've been occupied with my dad being in the hospital these past few weeks and haven't been able to find out much about it. I do know they had a ribbon ceremony there about 2 weeks ago.

What is it exactly and when's it supposed to be completed and opened to the public?

Yeah they dont tell much but it will basically provide seating area and finish that end of the canal.
It is supposed to become part of the planned greenway between Constellation and the VBC.
Also still in the planning is the Church Street bridge which will allow east Big Spring to have direct connection with the main park.
It will be a copy of the Monroe Street bridge by the Embassy Suite. I think you will also see the park expanded south toward the Medical District.
Eventually you should be able to walk just about anywhere in the core downtown area without having to cross a single street, it will be by either
bridge or tunnel.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Yeah they dont tell much but it will basically provide seating area and finish that end of the canal.
It is supposed to become part of the planned greenway between Constellation and the VBC.
Also still in the planning is the Church Street bridge which will allow east Big Spring to have direct connection with the main park.
It will be a copy of the Monroe Street bridge by the Embassy Suite. I think you will also see the park expanded south toward the Medical District.
Eventually you should be able to walk just about anywhere in the core downtown area without having to cross a single street, it will be by either
bridge or tunnel.

I walked down to the end where they have a fence around it to keep people out. From that rendering it will look really nice when completed. What they should do is run it underground over to Constellation.

I have heard for a while now that there's plans to expand Big Spring Park southward where the office plaza is now and create more open public space which is really needed. More people are starting to venture to downtown.

There's talk of building a museum district around BSP with a state-of-the-art science museum being an ideal attraction.

I really wish they would do something with the Holiday Inn too. Tear it down and build a newer and taller upscale hotel to compliment the Embassy. It's too small for such a location. Hard to believe that Elvis once statyed there for as big a star as he was.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

I walked down to the end where they have a fence around it to keep people out. From that rendering it will look really nice when completed. What they should do is run it underground over to Constellation.

I have heard for a while now that there's plans to expand Big Spring Park southward where the office plaza is now and create more open public space which is really needed. More people are starting to venture to downtown.

There's talk of building a museum district around BSP with a state-of-the-art science museum being an ideal attraction.

I really wish they would do something with the Holiday Inn too. Tear it down and build a newer and taller upscale hotel to compliment the Embassy. It's too small for such a location. Hard to believe that Elvis once statyed there for as big a star as he was.

Your thoughts on the Holiday Inn are probably more accurate than not.
Something will be done to that property, when is the question.
I would like to see a greenway created/extended north as well to the train depot. It could be a well landscaped strip with fountains, good lighting,
seating and info kiosks about Huntsville. Tear down the awful building
across from the Regions building and put a high rise with the greenway part of that block.