Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

and at UAH a new Student Center is in the works, it will be located near the current corner of Holmes and Erskine St. This will be the "Heart of the Campus" and the focal point of the planned pedestrian greenway through the campus.

UAH unveiled plans to build a $39 million student life center that will be the centerpiece of a new campus greenway.

The UAH master plan calls for Erskine Street to be replaced with a campus greenway
The presentation was made to the physical properties committee of the UA System board of trustees. The trustees are meeting this week at UAH.

Michael Finnegan, UAH assistant vice president for facilities and operations, told the trustees that the student life center will be "creating a destination point" for students and "supports a long-range goal in the heart of campus as part of the 2010 master plan."

The facility, expected to be about 170,000 square feet, was first approved by the committee last September.
HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

From the Mayors retail update



Mayor Tommy Battle revealed the results Thursday night at Monaco Pictures in Bridge Street Town Centre.

The most-wanted retailers after Trader Joe's were Macy's, IKEA, Container Store and Whole Foods Market. Cheesecake Factory got the most votes in the restaurant category, followed by Chipotle Mexican Grill, Joe's Crab Shack, Dunkin' Donuts and Dave & Buster's.

Battle said Huntsville has to chase more and better stores and eateries because the sales taxes they provide are "the lifeblood of our financial position." Sales taxes account for 53 percent of the city's $220 million annual budget.

"Most cities live and die on retail," Battle told the crowd, "and we're no different."

The mayor asked commercial developer Scott McLain to give his take on the wish list. The "Ideas Map" shows specific locations where people feel certain stores would thrive, including Macy's and Joe's Crab Shack at Bridge Street.

McLain called the list mostly "realistic and achievable."

"Frankly, we've been talking to some of these guys (about coming to Huntsville) for 10 years."

Most residents have no concept of reality when it comes to wanting stores.
I mean really IKEA, ain't happenin and how often would you go if it was here?

[David1502]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

From the Mayors retail update



Mayor Tommy Battle revealed the results Thursday night at Monaco Pictures in Bridge Street Town Centre.

The most-wanted retailers after Trader Joe's were Macy's, IKEA, Container Store and Whole Foods Market. Cheesecake Factory got the most votes in the restaurant category, followed by Chipotle Mexican Grill, Joe's Crab Shack, Dunkin' Donuts and Dave & Buster's.

Battle said Huntsville has to chase more and better stores and eateries because the sales taxes they provide are "the lifeblood of our financial position." Sales taxes account for 53 percent of the city's $220 million annual budget.

"Most cities live and die on retail," Battle told the crowd, "and we're no different."

The mayor asked commercial developer Scott McLain to give his take on the wish list. The "Ideas Map" shows specific locations where people feel certain stores would thrive, including Macy's and Joe's Crab Shack at Bridge Street.

McLain called the list mostly "realistic and achievable."

"Frankly, we've been talking to some of these guys (about coming to Huntsville) for 10 years."

Most residents have no concept of reality when it comes to wanting stores.
I mean really IKEA, ain't happenin and how often would you go if it was here?

While I agree with you that IKEA will never come to the HSV area (- there's a minor chance that they might come to Nashville), however the more realistic targets are:
1. Macy's - they have stores in JAckson, TN and Bowling Green, KY -come on Hsv is much larger and higher income.
2. Von Maur - In the announcement of thie first store in Alpharetta, GA, they have said they have plans to add stores in AL, TN, and the Carolinas. Here is a case where they have expressed a desire to enter this area.
3. Chipotlle - They will have a location near CRP and one on Airport Rd.
4. Chuy's - A Mexican restaurant which has a store at the Summit in Birmingham and has designs on HSV.
5. Joe's CrabShack - probablo location at Bridge Street. Landry's is part of the same company.
6. Trader Joe's - The closest store is near the Mall at Green Hills in Nashville.
7. Whole Foods - The closest store is in the Mountain Brook area of BHM.

The wise thing will be to concentrate on those retailers and restaurants which have a) expressed some interest in the area and b) have locations in similar size metro areas. Also, Bridge Steet is the premier destination as it is central to the higher income neighborhoods in the upper part of the Southeast and Madison and Monrovia as well as being the destination for business travelers and business professionals who work in CRP.

While Constellation is a central location, there is nothing there now other than a hotel and another about to be built, Bridge Street already is an established location. Restaurants want to go where the customers already are and not have to create a destination. Restaurants in this area are only able to make it because of the business travelers who are here during the week and they are very present at Connor's and P.F. Changs.

With all of this data in hand, it will be interesting to see which retailers they are able to land.

[MovingAL]

Originally Posted by David1502

4. Chuy's - A Mexican restaurant which has a store at the Summit in Birmingham and has designs on HSV.

I hope that Iguana Grill (Bham and Tusc) comes rather than Chuy's. Iguana Grill is far better, just not as showy.

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by MovingAL

I hope that Iguana Grill (Bham and Tusc) comes rather than Chuy's. Iguana Grill is far better, just not as showy.

Definitely agree there. For cheaper stuff, I wish Huntsville had a Milo's Hamburgers.

[luvinhsv]

I agree with Tiger. IKEA? Get serious - Atlanta, which is just a tad bigger than HSV - just got an IKEA in the last few years.

I don't see the big deal about Macy's. They destroyed one of the last great retailers a few years ago when they bought Marshall Fields (which was previously Dayton-Hudson - without a doubt, one of THE finest department stores anywhere!). Macy's is just a bigger name than Belk. But frankly, not much that sets them apart!

As for restaurants, I'd love to see:

Chipotle - that is a must!!
McCormick/Schmick's - not as upscale as they once were perceived --AWESOME HAPPY HOUR!
Cheesecake Factory (although I've always found a bit overrated)
California Pizza Kitchen - maybe at Constellation (sometime around 2019!!!)
A brew pub of some kind - along the lines of Rock Bottom Brewery or Granite City Brewery. Or Great River like in Chattanooga!
Old Chicago (I like beer and lots of choices!)
Champp's Sports bar

The new Mellow Mushroom in Jones Valley started going vertical last week!

Not sure about the fascination with Joe's Crab Shack. They all closed up north. Copeland's was a big failure nation wide (although that wasn't all because of their food) and Landry's isn't too different and they aren't that busy as far as I can tell! (I did, however, introduce my now-wife to my parents at Joe's in Minnesota in 1999.)

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville should concentrate on cleaning up it's eyesore strip centers,
U g l y road corridors, step up with serious landscaping and directional sign
be extremely stingy with tree cutting raise the level of architectural design and urban planning. Look at Huntsville as if it was the first time sometimes we get jaded and don't see the vision of what it could be.

[luvinhsv]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Huntsville should concentrate on cleaning up it's eyesore strip centers,
U g l y road corridors, step up with serious landscaping and directional sign
be extremely stingy with tree cutting raise the level of architectural design and urban planning. Look at Huntsville as if it was the first time sometimes we get jaded and don't see the vision of what it could be.

I think about that every time I drive down University or the parkway. A person driving through HSV wouldn't think much of such a fine city if they judged it on those thoroughfares!

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Nice photo from the airport last week
747's being unloaded and loaded, the helicopter is one of many that get work done on them by a local contractor.

Huntsville could handle the new jumbo easily..

NEW YORK (AP) - The biggest version yet of Boeing's jumbo 747 could soon be flying into airports that have never seen aircraft that large before.

Airports from Rockford, Ill. to Huntsville, Ala. are asking the FAA for waivers so they can receive the new Boeing 747-8 (pronounced dash-eight) cargo plane. Twenty-seven airports in all are seeking approval to handle the plane in hopes of grabbing a bigger share of the growing market for air cargo.

The new Boeing falls into the biggest category of commercial aircraft. The passenger version will compete with the mammoth Airbus A380

[bamastu13]

A J. Alexanders would be nice to have out at Bridge Street or at Constellation if it ever adds actually stores and what not.
I like the ideas presented at the Monaco though, now we just need to start bringing these things in.

Does anyone know of any stores or restaurants that might go in phase one of Redstone Gateway?

[HSVTiger]

O'Charleys on Balmoral closed , University Drive location
still open . It seems these guys, Applebes, Logan's and others have slipped in quality and service lately, not all but in general.
In light of the meeting on what retail we would like to come to Huntsville this is important. I think people are getting bored with what everyone has and it is difficult to keep people coming back to these type of chains.

Of the locations closing, 11 are O’Charley’s restaurants and five are Ninety Nine stores. The O'Charley's restaurants being closed are in the following states: North Carolina (4), Missouri (2), Alabama (2), Arkansas, Florida and South Carolina.The Ninety Nine locations are in Pennsylvania (2), Connecticut and New Jersey.

The company said their closure should increase annual operating profits by about $1.5 million. O'Charley's posted an operating loss of $5.6 million through the first nine months of its fiscal 2010.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

O'Charleys on Balmoral closed

I would like to see Beaureguards move into this location and go even more head-to-head with Wings.

[HSVTiger]

Downtown lofts planned, this is a project that looks good fits the need
and creates a new positive atmosphere on this block. Construction starts in a few months. The 6 story part is new construction while incorporating the old
Belk Hudson facade, nice. Thanks to the Sealy's for wanting to make a positive difference.



On Thursday night, the City Council approved a development deal with a local couple who plans to convert the vacant Belk Hudson building on Washington Street into 75 loft apartments.

Charlie Sealy III and his wife, Sasha, aim to break ground on the $11.5 million Belk Hudson Lofts in July. It's the largest residential construction project downtown in well over a decade -- and the first that young professionals can realistically afford.

Most of the one- and two-bedroom lofts will rent for $850-$1,350 a month. "We're trying to make this accessible," Charlie Sealy said.

The easement -- a common development tool in larger cities -- prohibits Sealy from tearing down the 88-year-old brick facade and gives the city control over the exterior look of the apartments.

While the outside walls will stay, the interior will be gutted. The basement and much of the ground floor will become private parking for apartment tenants, Sealy said.

Meanwhile, the lofts will rise six stories above Washington Street and Holmes Avenue, dramatically altering a corner that's been deserted since Sentinel Environmental Services moved out two years ago.

Sealy estimates the apartment building will have 100-150 residents when it opens in mid-2012.

Source HSV Times

[thunder89]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Downtown lofts planned, this is a project that looks good fits the need
and creates a new positive atmosphere on this block. Construction starts in a few months. The 6 story part is new construction while incorporating the old
Belk Hudson facade, nice. Thanks to the Sealy's for wanting to make a positive difference.

Exciting news to hear. Perhaps this is the beginning of a new wave of proposals for the downtown area?

[David1502]

The Shopes of Madison will have in addition to the 136,000 sq. ft. Target, the following stores:

Home Goods,Petco,Shoe Carnival,Claires,Matress King,The Children's Place,Dollar Tree,Rue 21 and Maurice's

And the following restaurants:
Cracker Barrel
Chili's
Burger King
Moe's
Jersey Mike's
Fulin's Asian Cuisine
Pie in the Sky Pizza

The Shoppes of Madison is being constructed on US 72 West (in the Madison City Limits) between Wall Triana Hwy and Balch Rd.

It is interesting that Cracker Barrel is locating another store so close to their existing Madison location along !-565 as this new location on 72 will canabilize their existing store and will not have as many travelers to draw from. While Cracker Barrels are primarily along interstate highways where they can draw travelers, their business model is based on getting at least 50% of their customers from the local area. At this location, that % will be a lot higher.

[HSVTiger]

Cracker Barrel will do fine, they are building more stores off of the interstates
(Drake/Parkway) plus it's at least what 7 miles away. It may impact the I-65 store in Athens more. I'm more worried about Mattress King

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by David1502

The Shopes of Madison will have in addition to the 136,000 sq. ft. Target, the following stores:

Home Goods,Petco,Shoe Carnival,Claires,Matress King,The Children's Place,Dollar Tree,Rue 21 and Maurice's

And the following restaurants:
Cracker Barrel
Chili's
Burger King
Moe's
Jersey Mike's
Fulin's Asian Cuisine
Pie in the Sky Pizza

The Shoppes of Madison is being constructed on US 72 West (in the Madison City Limits) between Wall Triana Hwy and Balch Rd.

It is interesting that Cracker Barrel is locating another store so close to their existing Madison location along !-565 as this new location on 72 will canabilize their existing store and will not have as many travelers to draw from. While Cracker Barrels are primarily along interstate highways where they can draw travelers, their business model is based on getting at least 50% of their customers from the local area. At this location, that % will be a lot higher.

About time Decatur didn't have a monopoly on Fulin's in north Alabama.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by David1502

The Shopes of Madison will have in addition to the 136,000 sq. ft. Target, the following stores:

Home Goods,Petco,Shoe Carnival,Claires,Matress King,The Children's Place,Dollar Tree,Rue 21 and Maurice's

And the following restaurants:
Cracker Barrel
Chili's
Burger King
Moe's
Jersey Mike's
Fulin's Asian Cuisine
Pie in the Sky Pizza

The Shoppes of Madison is being constructed on US 72 West (in the Madison City Limits) between Wall Triana Hwy and Balch Rd.

That is a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. My wife will be pleased to finally have a Home Goods in the area, although she won't like that it is all the way out in Madison...

[crr0004]

Not that I'm surprised, but the Shoppes of Madison is just more garbage stores and chain restaurants. Not very excited with this one.

[TimCity2000]

that downtown loft project looks nice!