Huntsville updates

[huntsvillefan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Vision Airlines is expected to begin charter service soon from Huntsville
to the Destin area.
http://www.visionairlines.com/

also passenger traffic is up at Huntsville International thanks to AirTran (soon to be Southwest)

"Passenger traffic continues to climb," said Rick Tucker, the executive director of the Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority.


The number of passengers in November was 105,291, according to figures released by the authority.

Through November, the number of passengers reached 1,144,191 million. For all of 2009, the passenger count was 1,171,147.

So glad to see new service out of Huntsville. Hope this goes well.

[HSVTiger]

Like this

"Dubbed “Spaces,” this inaugural biennial sculpture trail invited 15 sculptors from 10 Eastern states to participate in a project that will showcase 25 sculptures of a variety of sizes and art movements at six sites, including Alabama A&M University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Lowe Mill, Madison County Courthouse Square, the Huntsville Museum of Art and the Von Braun Center.

The trail will officially launch with a ceremony Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. at the Von Braun Center, followed by a docent-led trolley tour Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. departing from Lowe Mill. Several components will supplement the sculpture trail, such as its own website – Spacessculpturetrail.org – brochures with maps and locations, GPS-guided tours and cell phone information where observers can simply dial a number to listen to a prerecorded message about the artist, sculpture and additional background information."
HSV Times

also ground was broken for a second high school in the city of Madison, completion 2012.
Ground is expected to begin moving next month on the huge Redstone Gateway project at I-565 and Rideout/Research Park Blvd.

[huntsvillefan]

The Redstone Gateway is a great project for Huntsville but I am still concerned about traffic. It would appear there is a single entrance/exit road (Rideout).

This would be an ideal place to develop some kind of mass transit from the get-go.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by huntsvillefan

The Redstone Gateway is a great project for Huntsville but I am still concerned about traffic. It would appear there is a single entrance/exit road (Rideout).

This would be an ideal place to develop some kind of mass transit from the get-go.

Yep, it will be a nightmare, its bad now and whatever bogus study they have in mind will be too little too late. The good thing is the new ALDOT director for the new governor is from Huntsville so he will at least be familiar with what road they are talking about when the city realizes they have a problem.

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Yep, it will be a nightmare, its bad now and whatever bogus study they have in mind will be too little too late. The good thing is the new ALDOT director for the new governor is from Huntsville so he will at least be familiar with what road they are talking about when the city realizes they have a problem.

And they will realize they have a problem 5 years too late, then it will take another 10 years to make any changes.

I'm shooting for 2025 before we see any changes.

[HSVTiger]

Alabama learned this morning how much the state has grown since 2000, as the first of the 2010 Census results were announced in Washington.

The state population -- as of April 1, 2010 -- was 4,779,736, up 7.5 percent from a population of 4,447,100 in 2000.
Today's release was the national and state populations. Populations of counties and cities will be released starting in February, along with race and ethnicity groups.

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Alabama learned this morning how much the state has grown since 2000, as the first of the 2010 Census results were announced in Washington.

The state population -- as of April 1, 2010 -- was 4,779,736, up 7.5 percent from a population of 4,447,100 in 2000.
Today's release was the national and state populations. Populations of counties and cities will be released starting in February, along with race and ethnicity groups.

The population shifts within Alabama will be a lot more interesting. The state's center of population will most likely continue shifting north and east.

[HSVTiger]

Rotary Plaza, located at the west end of the canal that runs between the Embassy Suites Hotel and the Von Braun Center, was dedicated by club leaders and local officials.
The circular plaza includes six benches, a sitting wall and old-fashioned lampposts.


HSV Times photo

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Rotary Plaza, located at the west end of the canal that runs between the Embassy Suites Hotel and the Von Braun Center, was dedicated by club leaders and local officials.
The circular plaza includes six benches, a sitting wall and old-fashioned lampposts.

What ever became of the lawsuit over the fountain at the EAST end of the canal not performing as advertised? Hopefully the city got some of the money back but I would have rather have had a correctly working fountain put in... It was suposed to be a lot more dynamic, more of a "dancing water" type of fountain. Everytime I have seen it, it just spews water like any run of the mill fountain.

[nickodemis]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Rotary Plaza, located at the west end of the canal that runs between the Embassy Suites Hotel and the Von Braun Center, was dedicated by club leaders and local officials.
The circular plaza includes six benches, a sitting wall and old-fashioned lampposts.


HSV Times photo

Are there any additional plans for the canal? I noticed that there is a new Springhill Suites (Marriott) going up near that area, what is planned for that section of downtown? Is the canal going to be extended toward the parkway?

[Wade2501]

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/01/downtown_huntsville_in_running.html

Downtown Huntsville in running for $30 million, 207-room Excelsior hotel

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- An Atlanta developer is considering building a $30 million luxury hotel near the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville.

National Ventures Group President Robert L. Schwartz confirmed Thursday that his company has the "full intention" to create the area's first European-style hotel -- possibly an Excelsior or other high-end brand.

Schwartz, who is currently developing a $50 million Westin hotel on land owned by the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, first approached Mayor Tommy Battle and other Huntsville leaders several months ago.

"We have a very high regard for Huntsville," he said, "and have gone rather extensively into architectural and engineering planning."

A development proposal obtained by The Times shows the hotel would have 207 rooms and six private condominiums, plus a restaurant, health club and meeting space. It would be designed to win Forbes Travel Guide's four-star rating.

An artist's rendering suggests the modern-looking glass hotel would be 11 stories -- taller than City Hall, the Madison County Courthouse and all but a handful of downtown buildings.

If the Excelsior comes, it will likely be a public-private partnership.

Joe Vallely, the city's economic development director, said Schwartz's company has asked Huntsville to provide a hotel site near the VBC at nominal cost -- possibly the old Meadow Gold Dairy property just a few steps from the North Hall.

The city acquired the land for $2.2 million in 2004 and turned it into extra parking for the VBC.


According to the development proposal, the Excelsior would have an average daily room rate of $124 in the first year, gradually escalating to $151.

Fewer than 200 hotels across the U.S. and Canada carry Forbes Travel Guide's four-star rating. There are none in Alabama or Mississippi, and just two in Tennessee: Blackberry Farm near Knoxville and The Peabody in Memphis.

AAA, which also rates hotels, has bestowed its "Four Diamond" rating on the Westin Huntsville at Bridge Street Town Centre.

Excelsior hotels generally are found in large European cities, including Paris, Rome, Venice and Munich. There is also an Excelsior in Manhattan.

[Dyingyak]

Schwartz is the person working to develop the Westin and entertainment district next the the BJCC here in Birmingham. Interesting to see him working other parts of the state for similar type deals.

[MovingAL]

A 4 star downtown would be great for downtown development. And with a projected 1,100 rooms downtown, if all planned hotels are built, downtown should get more restaurants and entertainment development.

I'm not sure how I feel about using city funds to get this project done, however. If the city had a better track record of making deals I'd be more apt to support the city's/developer's proposal. But I also want to see downtown get more development and activity in hopes of creating some momentum with downtown development. A thriving downtown is essential in building a tax base in the city that can support schools and economic growth in the area.

But I do like the proposed height of the structure. An 11-story hotel, over time, could generate interest in larger office buildings and mixed use towers.

[thunder89]

I think a modern looking structure such as this would be a great addition to downtown, hopefully this hotel plan comes through. They were saying that the development was looking on the old Dairy plant. If the VBC decided to keep that and make a parking deck out of it, and the developers wanted to try another location downtown, where would you think it'd be?

Personally I wish a building such as that was more in the heart of downtown than to the VBC, but I understand the reasonings.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by thunder89

I think a modern looking structure such as this would be a great addition to downtown, hopefully this hotel plan comes through. They were saying that the development was looking on the old Dairy plant. If the VBC decided to keep that and make a parking deck out of it, and the developers wanted to try another location downtown, where would you think it'd be?

Personally I wish a building such as that was more in the heart of downtown than to the VBC, but I understand the reasonings.

Its about as close to the heart as you can get, 2 blocks from Big Spring.
Another location that has been discussed for development is the corner
of Holmes and Jefferson which is 1 block from the courthouse.
Hopefully it will happen, good to see interest from outside developers.

[huntsvillefan]

I believe this property could really add to downtown's desperately-needed dynamism. More entertainment, dining, personal options, etc. The VBC should be the magnate to attract the forces needed to build a dynamic downtown.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by MovingAL

A 4 star downtown would be great for downtown development. And with a projected 1,100 rooms downtown, if all planned hotels are built, downtown should get more restaurants and entertainment development.

I'm not sure how I feel about using city funds to get this project done, however. If the city had a better track record of making deals I'd be more apt to support the city's/developer's proposal. But I also want to see downtown get more development and activity in hopes of creating some momentum with downtown development. A thriving downtown is essential in building a tax base in the city that can support schools and economic growth in the area.

But I do like the proposed height of the structure. An 11-story hotel, over time, could generate interest in larger office buildings and mixed use towers.

Keep in mind that that four star rating is by Forbes, which they mentioned only two exist in Tennessee and none in Alabama or Mississippi.

[MovingAL]

Originally Posted by tredici

Keep in mind that that four star rating is by Forbes, which they mentioned only two exist in Tennessee and none in Alabama or Mississippi.

So is that a vote of confidence for the project or skepticism that it wouldn't work? If you're saying that a four star hotel and a Forbes 4 star hotel are different, I get that. I think it would be a good marketing tool for the VBC and city to compete for conventions.

I love the idea of a signature hotel being in HSV. My only concern is the funding. If this is purely private then I'll go grab some shovels now and get to work. But if the developer wants money from the city, I'd hope the city will make the best deal possible and not cave in and lose $$$ for the ability to say we have a great hotel. I'd rather the city cave and lose $$$ by bringing in a large employer (something non defense or gov't related). But hey, if the city can turn a profit on this deal, then let's sign some papers and get this thing up in time for my wedding reception.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by MovingAL

So is that a vote of confidence for the project or skepticism that it wouldn't work? If you're saying that a four star hotel and a Forbes 4 star hotel are different, I get that. I think it would be a good marketing tool for the VBC and city to compete for conventions.

I love the idea of a signature hotel being in HSV. My only concern is the funding. If this is purely private then I'll go grab some shovels now and get to work. But if the developer wants money from the city, I'd hope the city will make the best deal possible and not cave in and lose $$$ for the ability to say we have a great hotel. I'd rather the city cave and lose $$$ by bringing in a large employer (something non defense or gov't related). But hey, if the city can turn a profit on this deal, then let's sign some papers and get this thing up in time for my wedding reception.

No, that is not a vote of skepticism, I actually think this will go through and be very successful.

I just wanted to be sure that it was made clear in the thread that a four star by Forbes is probably of a higher quality than a four star that we regularly hear about.

[cyberfox]

Huntsville will never be more than a one horse town, so to speak, until they figure out how to keep the elevated portions of I 565 open when there is a snow event. Cities all over the country do not have this problem.