Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by stewdog1

I saw an article on AL.com the other day saying that it would take $16million to expand 72 to 7 lanes up to County Line Rd, but it is only a pipe dream right now.

Yet I drive down through Birmingham the other day and saw a big interchange on I-65 starting to be built north of the town, but couldn't understand why as there was nothing in that area.

One of these days the legislature in Montgomery will appreciate just how much this town is keeping Alabama above water.

You saw where I-22 will tie into I-65, this will end up being the the largest
road construction project in Alabama I do believe. Nothing really there now but it sure will be in a few years.
Still under construction is a simple widening project at the intersection of Moores Mill and Winchester..goin on a year and a half now. Skyscrapers and bridges around the world have been completed in less time.

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

You saw where I-22 will tie into I-65, this will end up being the the largest
road construction project in Alabama I do believe. Nothing really there now but it sure will be in a few years.

Thanks for the info.

Still under construction is a simple widening project at the intersection of Moores Mill and Winchester..goin on a year and a half now. Skyscrapers and bridges around the world have been completed in less time.

I find it amazing the pretty much everything north of 72 is all 2 lane roads still. Wal-triana, Jeff Rd, Nance Rd, etc.

[HSVTiger]

More info about the Spaces sculpture trail which can now be seen around Downtown and various other locations around the city.
http://www.spacessculpturetrail.org/about/latest-news?phpMyAdmin=wlNapiHDbMQDZU4ccZ7BLoDq%2Cfc

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by stewdog1

I saw an article on AL.com the other day saying that it would take $16million to expand 72 to 7 lanes up to County Line Rd, but it is only a pipe dream right now.

Yet I drive down through Birmingham the other day and saw a big interchange on I-65 starting to be built north of the town, but couldn't understand why as there was nothing in that area.

One of these days the legislature in Montgomery will appreciate just how much this town is keeping Alabama above water.

Yea, that interchange has been planned for decades, for I-22. It's not just a local access interchange, it ties in a road that leads to Memphis. It looks pointless, but it's probably going to lead to Birmingham having an explosion in growth in the years following its completion.

Without that interchange, the state would have spent billions of dollars on I-22 for nothing.

[David1502]

An encouraging sign of hope that Southwest will not immediately discontinue AirTran's low fare service out of HSV, in an article in the Tennessean,

"Southwest CEO Gary C. Kelly said this week that Southwest plans to continue service to all of AirTran’s destinations, some of which are smaller than cities on the Southwest route map. Kelly also said Southwest will keep AirTran’s smaller Boeing 717 aircraft, which would alter Southwest’s all-Boeing 737 fleet."

You can read the whole article at http://www.tennessean.com/article/201103...st?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

However, Gary Kelly may be saying this for now until they have received approval for the merger - He wouldn't want any Congressman to say, "It can't go through if my home airport looses low fare service." The article states that they should receive approval in three months and will be able to operate as one airline by the beginnning of next year. That will be the real test if HSV continues to have a low fare airline.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by David1502

An encouraging sign of hope that Southwest will not immediately discontinue AirTran's low fare service out of HSV, in an article in the Tennessean,

"Southwest CEO Gary C. Kelly said this week that Southwest plans to continue service to all of AirTran’s destinations, some of which are smaller than cities on the Southwest route map. Kelly also said Southwest will keep AirTran’s smaller Boeing 717 aircraft, which would alter Southwest’s all-Boeing 737 fleet."

You can read the whole article at http://www.tennessean.com/article/201103...st?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

However, Gary Kelly may be saying this for now until they have received approval for the merger - He wouldn't want any Congressman to say, "It can't go through if my home airport looses low fare service." The article states that they should receive approval in three months and will be able to operate as one airline by the beginnning of next year. That will be the real test if HSV continues to have a low fare airline.

so far so good
AirTran Airways shareholders on March 23 overwhelmingly approved the airline’s proposed merger with Southwest Airlines, but the more difficult hurdle to clear is still to come: getting the go-ahead from the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ), which the carriers still are expecting to happen in the second quarter of this year.

The carriers also have filed for U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) approval to transfer AirTran’s international route authorities to Southwest after their deal closes—and for a temporary exemption from the requirement so they can operate under common control until a final ruling on the transfer is made.

and if you want to go the the beach cheap..


Discount carrier Vision Airlines is extending its $19 one-way fare sale through Sunday, March 27 at midnight for travel through May 21, thanks to strong response to its intial offer this week.

The $19 one-way fare does not include taxes and travel fees. A standard-sized checked bag costs $15 if paid in advance and $25 at the airport, the carrier said.

Starting Friday, the airline will serve these markets to and from Northwest Florida:
• Atlanta
• Baton Rouge, La.
• Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.
• Little Rock, Ark.
• Knoxville, Tenn.
• Louisville, Ky.
• Huntsville, Ala.
• St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Punta Gorda, Fla.
• Savannah, Ga.

Starting April 1, it also will serve these markets to and from Northwest Florida:
• Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Asheville, N.C.
• Columbia, S.C.
• Shreveport, La.
• Orlando-Sanford

[JuanHunt]

Huntsville to spend a few million to help Wal Mart build a new store at County line and 72. This will close the store at Enterprise and 72 leaving another dead strip mall.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2011/03/huntsville_promises_14_million.html

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by JuanHunt

Huntsville to spend a few million to help Wal Mart build a new store at County line and 72. This will close the store at Enterprise and 72 leaving another dead strip mall.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2011/03/huntsville_promises_14_million.html

So far there has been no indication that store will close, don't think it will.
In any case you won't have to go to far to find one unless you live in NE
Huntsville/Madison County which has been completely ignored by retailers,
the 1950's era road system tends to discourage them.

[HSVTiger]

As expected the proposed downtown Sheraton won't happen as it is currently proposed. This was known ahead of time so I take it the developer wasn't very serious to begin with, or was hoping the city would be stupid and give him some prime land. In this case the developer is stupid, why not work with the city to evaluate other sites and come up with a creative solution instead of trying to rob the city and it's citizens? Info from HSV Times
"That's our pitch. If you like it, fine," Schwartz said. "If not, we'll quietly walk away."

During a City Council work session, National Ventures Group executives asked for a 12-month option on their preferred hotel site - the VBC North Hall parking lot on Clinton Avenue - while they study the feasibility of the project and line up private investors.(Doesn't sound like much of a plan does it?)
The company's president, Robert L. Schwartz, said putting a 207-room Sheraton a few steps from the civic center would help attract bigger and better conventions.

Thats right tie up city land and then bail, we have seen this dance before well you struck out, move east 1 block and you would have a better location
"Mayor Tommy Battle said a stand-alone Sheraton isn't quite what VBC officials have in mind for that area. Civic center leaders have talked with a local developer about a large "multi-use building" that would include a hotel, offices, condominiums and extra meeting space, he said.

It is earmarked for the old Meadow Gold Dairy property that now serves as overflow VBC parking.

"That building hits all the needs that we have," Battle said. "We felt the better process would be to wait until we could find a developer for that tower."

A Sheraton by itself "does not address having residences downtown" or the need for more exhibit halls.


Schwartz, who has been pursuing the Huntsville project for nearly two years, left disappointed. For now, he said, his firm will focus on completing a $50 million, 300-room Westin in downtown Birmingham that broke ground in January
2 Years!! and he doesn't have investors or feasability study? Thats a warning flag right there and most likely a lie.

[bystander1]

I thought the same thing about that developer when I saw that article too.
Shady-like...

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Sad that he doesn't seem interested enough in the project to actually try and work it out. Hopefully, this whole situation has gotten a bit of news out on the details of what the city is trying to do so that some (serious) private investor will come to town and form a (serious) partnership with the city.

I just pray that Birmingham doesn't fall victim to this man's tomfoolery. There was already a road bump that the city had to get past with that Westin. Let's just hope this guy doesn't get anymore ideas.

[HSVTiger]

I just don't know, seems we are always chasing our tails when it comes to roads and nothing really ever gets done in a reasonable amount of time..

"The Bentley administration is looking at the construction of toll roads to replace the possible disappearance of $150 million in federal highway funding, The Montgomery Advertiser reports. Legislators are not necessarily opposed to the idea, but add there are only a few places in the state where traffic will justify the roads. "

Just finish what has been planned since 1980

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Well, the good thing is that I Bentley is probably serious and isn't just gonna sit on this idea the whole time he's in office. The corridor between Decatur and Huntsville, I think, would do extremely well. AL 20 needs improvement in the Decatur city limits, and 565 is gonna need to be expanded eventually, with or without any kind of intercity rail.

[ThatGuy]

The Blockbuster on South Parkway is closed. Kinda sad to see it go even though I had only gone in there a handful of times over the last 8 years.

It seems like a prime location though. Hopefully something good will move in there. Maybe a Mattress King... Where is the 'Idea Map' when you need it?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

The Blockbuster on South Parkway is closed. Kinda sad to see it go even though I had only gone in there a handful of times over the last 8 years.

It seems like a prime location though. Hopefully something good will move in there. Maybe a Mattress King... Where is the 'Idea Map' when you need it?

we really need a Dollar general

Nah how about Red Lobster

[JuanHunt]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

we really need a Dollar general

Nah how about Red Lobster

Payday loan/title pawn.

I would like to see a Dairy Queen.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by HSV79

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - The Huntsville metropolitan area is now Alabama's second largest with 417,593 people, new census figures show. That puts it above Mobile, which was No. 2 and has 412,992 people. Jefferson County's metro area is still No. 1 with 1.12 million people.

Weird that they would say "Jefferson County's metro" instead of saying Birmingham's metro while mentioning Huntsville and Mobile. I'm assuming its just a mistake and nothing to read in to, but still odd.

Originally Posted by stewdog1

Yet I drive down through Birmingham the other day and saw a big interchange on I-65 starting to be built north of the town, but couldn't understand why as there was nothing in that area.

I wouldn't say there's nothing there. The Fultondale side of the road already has a nice commercial district coming along. And if it weren't for all the trees you be able to see the fairly large Daniel Payne industrial park which has Fed Ex among their tenants.

One of these days the legislature in Montgomery will appreciate just how much this town is keeping Alabama above water.

Which town are your referring to and what do you mean by that?

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

The Blockbuster on South Parkway is closed. Kinda sad to see it go even though I had only gone in there a handful of times over the last 8 years.

I think Blockbuster is doomed. Netflix and Redbox are going to deliver the final blow to them sooner or later. We've got several empty locations here too, to go along with the empty Hollywood and Movie Galleries (and Circuit Cities)

[JuanHunt]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

The Blockbuster on South Parkway is closed. Kinda sad to see it go even though I had only gone in there a handful of times over the last 8 years.

It seems like a prime location though. Hopefully something good will move in there. Maybe a Mattress King... Where is the 'Idea Map' when you need it?

BB at Oakwood an Pway is also closed. Were there only two of them in HSV?

[bamastu13]

Originally Posted by JuanHunt

BB at Oakwood an Pway is also closed. Were there only two of them in HSV?

There was one at Oakwood and the parkway across from Kroger last time I checked, but I could have very well gone out of business as well.

[HSVTiger]

Airport news

Construction of the new baggage claim is in full force, and passengers at Huntsville International Airport will begin Phase I of the expansion in June 2011. The $25 million baggage claim expansion project, which broke ground in August 2010, is being built in two phases to enable continued baggage delivery throughout the two-year construction timeline.

Upon the opening of Phase I, passengers can expect to see new rental car facilities, a new tourism-information booth, and the operation of one of three planned baggage carousels. The expansion has been designed to mirror the look of the new public waiting and security checkpoint areas with extremely tall ceilings, windows encompassing the entire north side facing the terminal, and lots of open space. While Phase I is being utilized, the existing baggage claim will be demolished and the remainder of the baggage claim expansion built to connect to the Phase 1 section. This second phase of the project is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.
Source Huntsville International Airport




And American Airlines has added a third nonstop to Chicago