Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville should work with this group, Birmingham is taking advantage of this resource. Similar to what Chattanooga did with Tennessee.
http://cadc.auburn.edu/apla/pages/urban_studio.aspx

[HSVTiger]

Some interesting Sci Quest tidbits..remember Huntsville had been working with
them for 7 years trying to find a location. Sci Quest earlier indicated losing Huntsville's support was no big deal

All five Huntsville City Council members -- Will Culver, Bill Kling, John Olshefski, Mark Russell and Richard Showers -- told The Times this week that organizations based outside Huntsville should not expect the same level of financial support from the city.
Kling said he favors "zeroing out" Sci-Quest's city funding in 2013 and equally dividing that money among the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, EarlyWorks Museum, Burritt on the Mountain museum and Huntsville Museum of Art.

Sci-Quest opened at Calhoun's Huntsville campus in 1999. The Rocket City has given the nonprofit science center $1.4 million since 2004 to help with operating costs, including $231,000 in the current budget.

The museum has averaged about 100,000 visitors a year for the past two years.


Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said Sci-Quest also expressed interest in the renovated Lincoln Mill on Meridian Street.

Had the museum picked Lincoln Mill, Battle said he would have recommended keeping its city funding at $231,000 for the next five years and offered help with rental costs.

However, he said he did not want to get into a "proposal war" with Madison over Sci-Quest.

"We wish Sci-Quest well," Battle said Wednesday.

Madison Mayor Paul Finley said Madison school officials, business leaders and others are mobilizing to make sure Sci-Quest succeeds in its new home.

Madison will provide $50,000 in direct support for three years, Finley said. In addition, he said, the owner of Madison Village Shopping Center, Shiv Aggarwal, has pledged $250,000 in building renovations, as well as free rent for the first six months. (who could turn this down?)
Finley said Madison resident Frank Williams, who owns the Landers McLarty automotive group, is giving Sci-Quest $30,000 to help with salary costs and establish a scholarship fund.

Also, the Madison school system will make its top math and science teachers available to Sci-Quest for a quarterly program, said Finley.

"I think Sci-Quest chose a location where they felt they had the best opportunity," Finley said Wednesday. "We're going to wrap our arms around their mission.

"And if we can help them get there." he said, "that helps not only Madison residents, but Huntsville residents, Madison County residents and all around."


Huntsville Times

[HSVTiger]

For long time residents they will remember this that is now back.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is now offering bus tours that include a drive through one of the Arsenal’s most heavily populated areas and stops at two Marshall Space Flight Center sites. It is the first time tour buses from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center have been allowed on the Arsenal since the Garrison brought a halt to the tradition due to security reasons following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"Ever since the tours were stopped after 9/11 our museum guests have constantly asked about them. They’ve asked when they would resume and what they could see on a tour," Mike Flachbart of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center said.
There are two stops on the tour – one at the historic Redstone test stand where engineers tested the Redstone Rocket that launched Alan Shepard, the first American into space, and today is registered as a National Historic Landmark; and the other at the Payload Operations and Integration Center, where Marshall employees coordinate all scientific experiments on the International Space Station as well as communications between researchers around the world and their experiments on-station.
From the windshield, tourists will see the Dynamic Test Stand used in testing the Saturn V rocket, Marshall’s own rocket park, the Propulsion Research Lab and various military points of interest.

"The Army side has provided talking points for our guide," Flachbart said. "As things change and messages change for NASA/Marshall and the Army, they are sure to let us know so we have up-to-date information. We really want to tell the story that NASA and the Army want us to tell."

Organizers will solicit feedback from tourists on the bus tour, Dumoulin said, using that information to make changes that ensure the tour’s relevancy and importance.
The bus tours will be offered twice a day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and once a day – at either 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. – Sunday through Thursday depending on the demand. Each tour can accommodate up to 45 tourists. Tickets cost $12 each and are free for children under 5. The tour lasts about an hour and 15 minutes.

From The Redstone Rocket

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

For long time residents they will remember this that is now back.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is now offering bus tours that include a drive through one of the Arsenal’s most heavily populated areas and stops at two Marshall Space Flight Center sites. It is the first time tour buses from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center have been allowed on the Arsenal since the Garrison brought a halt to the tradition due to security reasons following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"Ever since the tours were stopped after 9/11 our museum guests have constantly asked about them. They’ve asked when they would resume and what they could see on a tour," Mike Flachbart of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center said.
There are two stops on the tour – one at the historic Redstone test stand where engineers tested the Redstone Rocket that launched Alan Shepard, the first American into space, and today is registered as a National Historic Landmark; and the other at the Payload Operations and Integration Center, where Marshall employees coordinate all scientific experiments on the International Space Station as well as communications between researchers around the world and their experiments on-station.
From the windshield, tourists will see the Dynamic Test Stand used in testing the Saturn V rocket, Marshall’s own rocket park, the Propulsion Research Lab and various military points of interest.

"The Army side has provided talking points for our guide," Flachbart said. "As things change and messages change for NASA/Marshall and the Army, they are sure to let us know so we have up-to-date information. We really want to tell the story that NASA and the Army want us to tell."

Organizers will solicit feedback from tourists on the bus tour, Dumoulin said, using that information to make changes that ensure the tour’s relevancy and importance.
The bus tours will be offered twice a day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and once a day – at either 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. – Sunday through Thursday depending on the demand. Each tour can accommodate up to 45 tourists. Tickets cost $12 each and are free for children under 5. The tour lasts about an hour and 15 minutes.

From The Redstone Rocket

It only took 11 years for knee-jerk security actions to be removed. Now on to the TSA and Homeland Security!

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by stewdog1

It only took 11 years for knee-jerk security actions to be removed. Now on to the TSA and Homeland Security!

Actually it took 11 years and millions of dollars to install perimiter security fences around all of the major workforce facilites on Redstone. It wasn't just "a change of heart."

[nkp0001]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Huntsville should work with this group, Birmingham is taking advantage of this resource. Similar to what Chattanooga did with Tennessee.
http://cadc.auburn.edu/apla/pages/urban_studio.aspx

I am a fifth-year architecture/interior architecture student at Auburn University and a native to Huntsville. I think the Urban Studio model used in Birmingham would do well in Huntsville. Birmingham's studio is focused on revitalization, whereas, Huntsville would be the perfect laboratory for growth-based design. Even if the Urban Studio was not affiliated with the City of Huntsville, a design project sponsored by the CoH at the Auburn campus would be rewarding to both the students and the city.

http://apps.cadc.auburn.edu/urban-studio/
http://apps.cadc.auburn.edu/rural-studio/Default.aspx
http://cadc.auburn.edu/studentservices/Pages/APLA/aria_prog.aspx

[HSVTiger]

Some road improvements downtown
Miller & Miller will be paid $2.26 million to rip out the uneven brick sidewalks, raised planters and disco-era street lights along Washington Street between the courthouse square and Holmes Avenue.

Plans call for wider, brick-trimmed sidewalks to encourage patio dining, 50 parallel parking spaces -- up from 18 today -- nicer benches and street lamps, and 72 new shade trees that will eventually grow together to form a canopy.

The project also includes straightening a gentle curve on Washington Street and incorporating public art along the quarter-mile route.

The work is intended to spur redevelopment downtown. A handful of large buildings on Washington Street are currently empty, including the former Heritage Club site. The members-only dining room moved to Bridge Street Town Centre in 2010
And maybe just maybe some movement on this long delayed interchange..

Director of Urban Development Shane Davis said
The approved DOT resolution gives the state access to city rights-of-way during the upcoming construction of a full interchange at Interstate 565 and County Line Road

Davis said he expects the state to seek bids from interested contractors by the end of this year. Construction of the $30 million interchange should take about 12 months. The state has agreed to pay 90 percent of the tab, with the City of Madison covering the balance.

and some work for Academy Sports
Also Thursday, the council approved road agreements with the Alabama Department of Transportation and the developers of a new Academy Sports Outdoors store at the corner of U.S. 72 West and Nance Road.
The city will pay for a right-turn lane into the shopping center for westbound traffic, as well as a left-turn lane for eastbound drivers.

In exchange, Academy Huntsville LLC promises to have a 71,000-square-foot Academy Sports store open by June 30, 2013. Davis said GBT Realty of Brentwood, Tenn., is developing the shopping center.

Source HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

Thanks Southwest for your lack of vision and support

AirTran will take its final flight out of the Huntsville airport this weekend.

Officials at the Huntsville airport said they are very disappointed that the low cost carrier is leaving.

The airline was only in our area for two years.

AirTran was the cheapest way to fly out of the Huntsville airport.

Officials said they are working to see how they can make up for the void the airline will leave.

"We've met with several other low cost carriers and we're talking with our existing carriers about expanding their current seat capacity and then we're are talking with other low cost carriers about new service to fill the void," said Barbie Peek, Director of Marketing at Huntsville International Airport.

AirTran's final outbound flight will take off Sunday night.
WAFF News

[thunder89]

Interesting conceptual images of the make-over planned by officials at Calhoun in Huntsville. This is all pending approval by the Board of Education (if I remember correctly), but if you recall they were previously denied approval to completely rebuild the college at another site.

Calhoun Community College offers peek into renovated Huntsville campus
Paul Gattis, The Huntsville Times

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- "The drawings are only conceptual and the reality may be "dramatically different," school officials said, but the plan for a proposed Huntsville campus overhaul of Calhoun Community College is dramatic.

The school -- the largest community college in the state with an enrollment of more than 12,000 -- has released drawings it unveiled to the state board of education at last week's work session. The state board is expected to vote on the project at its August 23 meeting in Montgomery.

The proposed $34 million expansion of the Huntsville campus on Wynn Drive includes a significantly new look to the front of the current structure -- a former manufacturing building that has a warehouse look to it. It would also raise student capacity to about 7,500. The facility is currently maxed out with about 4,800 students.

The look includes an abundance of glass and brick that transforms the building to have a more collegiate feel. On the east end of the building which is the current site of Sci-Quest Museum, a three-story addition is planned that has a more modern, attractive look."



"The space occupied by Sci-Quest would be torn down to make room for the three-story addition that would add 90,000 square feet, raising the total of the college to 250,000 square feet.

Sci-Quest announced last month it is relocating to Madison.

A parking deck planned to add 750 parking spaces is located in the college's main parking lot behind the building."

I must say, I do like the chance they are taking in improving the look of the school in comparison to now. Certainly am glad they are making a parking deck instead of planting more asphalt. I just have concerns over future expansion. Calhoun should continue to grow even further - in years, of course - and while they make up for their current capacity, they should continue looking into future options for additions or for a satellite campus across the street or across town. Just my two cents

[bamastu13]

I like the drawings. Hopefully they'll have an easier time getting approval since it is at the current location.
There is that warehouse across the street from their current location also. Last time I checked it was for sale but I'm not sure about now. That could be a possibility for future growth.

[thunder89]

Originally Posted by bamastu13

I like the drawings. Hopefully they'll have an easier time getting approval since it is at the current location.
There is that warehouse across the street from their current location also. Last time I checked it was for sale but I'm not sure about now. That could be a possibility for future growth.

Did not know that about the property. While they are the largest community college in the state they should flaunt it, to put it lightly. I know they were interested in adding more studies and programs - though that may have been at the campus in Decatur - but all the same, they should look to the future even more.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by thunder89

Did not know that about the property. While they are the largest community college in the state they should flaunt it, to put it lightly. I know they were interested in adding more studies and programs - though that may have been at the campus in Decatur - but all the same, they should look to the future even more.

Alabama A&M could learn something from these guys, it wouldn't be popular
but they should put more emphasis on getting wide diverse population of students.

[thunder89]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Alabama A&M could learn something from these guys, it wouldn't be popular
but they should put more emphasis on getting wide diverse population of students.

Agreed

Speaking of A&M, I was thinking to myself while driving around their campus recently, of ways they could improve their campus. I was making remarks to a friend of mine about the fact that they sit on the side of a hill, that they could dramatically make the campus more friendly, and more green.

I also thought of a connector road to 231/431/Memorial Parkway what-have-you that could make a dramatic entrance to the campus. If only though...

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Alabama A&M could learn something from these guys, it wouldn't be popular
but they should put more emphasis on getting wide diverse population of students.

That's what Alabama State has been doing and it's helped them improve by leaps and bounds.

[MovingAL]

Originally Posted by tredici

That's what Alabama State has been doing and it's helped them improve by leaps and bounds.

Doing a quick google search showed that Alabama State is 95% black and Alabama A&M is 93% black. I don't think demographics are the problem here.

Alabama State has done one thing that Alabama A&M should do and that's reform its Board of Trustees. Joe Reed: removed. Now you see growth and development at ASU.

AAMU still has a board full of infighting and personal agendas that limit positive results at the University. Part of the blame lies with the respective "control groups" at each respective university. However, blame also lies on the several governors of Alabama that have appointed people to the boards like Joe Reed.

[HSVTiger]

A&M should be a premier institution in the state..great location, access to great
technology, a land grant university.
But lack of funding, political corruption, lack of a dynamic leader keep holding them back. They have made progress but at a snails pace, they should easily have 10-12,000 students

[HSVTiger]

At UAH

Groundbreaking for a $25 million student life center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville will be Tuesday, the school announced today.

The 97,000-square foot facility, to be located on the south side of Holmes Avenue across from Salmon Library, will anchor a new campus green that will run south from Holmes to Lakeside Drive.
Interesting design in so many ways



TurnerBatson Architects

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by thunder89

Interesting conceptual images of the make-over planned by officials at Calhoun in Huntsville. This is all pending approval by the Board of Education (if I remember correctly), but if you recall they were previously denied approval to completely rebuild the college at another site.

Calhoun Community College offers peek into renovated Huntsville campus
Paul Gattis, The Huntsville Times

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- "The drawings are only conceptual and the reality may be "dramatically different," school officials said, but the plan for a proposed Huntsville campus overhaul of Calhoun Community College is dramatic.

The school -- the largest community college in the state with an enrollment of more than 12,000 -- has released drawings it unveiled to the state board of education at last week's work session. The state board is expected to vote on the project at its August 23 meeting in Montgomery.

The proposed $34 million expansion of the Huntsville campus on Wynn Drive includes a significantly new look to the front of the current structure -- a former manufacturing building that has a warehouse look to it. It would also raise student capacity to about 7,500. The facility is currently maxed out with about 4,800 students.

The look includes an abundance of glass and brick that transforms the building to have a more collegiate feel. On the east end of the building which is the current site of Sci-Quest Museum, a three-story addition is planned that has a more modern, attractive look."



"The space occupied by Sci-Quest would be torn down to make room for the three-story addition that would add 90,000 square feet, raising the total of the college to 250,000 square feet.

Sci-Quest announced last month it is relocating to Madison.

A parking deck planned to add 750 parking spaces is located in the college's main parking lot behind the building."

I must say, I do like the chance they are taking in improving the look of the school in comparison to now. Certainly am glad they are making a parking deck instead of planting more asphalt. I just have concerns over future expansion. Calhoun should continue to grow even further - in years, of course - and while they make up for their current capacity, they should continue looking into future options for additions or for a satellite campus across the street or across town. Just my two cents

Announced todayThe state board of education unanimously voted today to approve plans by Calhoun Community College to expand and refurbish its Huntsville campus on Wynn Drive.

Janet Martin, assistant to Calhoun President Marilyn Beck, said Beck intends to have the project on the "fast track."

[thunder89]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Announced todayThe state board of education unanimously voted today to approve plans by Calhoun Community College to expand and refurbish its Huntsville campus on Wynn Drive.

Janet Martin, assistant to Calhoun President Marilyn Beck, said Beck intends to have the project on the "fast track."

Beat me to it, but all the same excited that it has gotten approval. I wonder by "fast track" they mean the globally accepted term, or the Alabama term?

[thunder89]

I like the "outside-the-box" thinking this is, and is definitely an innovative idea for the Huntsville area.

Huntsville Museum of Art plans ice rink for Big Spring International Park
Pat Ammons, Aug 26. 2012

It may be hard to imagine during these dog days of summer, but come November you can strap on a pair of ice skates and glide along an ice-covered, outdoor rink in Big Spring International Park.

The Huntsville Museum of Art Foundation Board is responsible for the 50-by-70-foot rink that will be constructed on the west side of the museum where the Concerts in the Park take place each summer.

“We’ve always seen these things in big cities,” including the famed rink in Rockefeller Center in New York, said Dane Block, president of the foundation board. “I thought how great would that be to put an ice rink in Big Spring Park in downtown Huntsville.”

Block projects 12,000 to 15,000 people will use the rink during that time, many coming in from out of town for the special treat.

Admission to the ice rink will be $10 a person, with $3 for skate rental for the many Alabamians who don’t have their own. All profits from the project will go to the museum’s general fund.

The cost of constructing and managing the rink will be $104,000, a sizable amount to raise. As of last week, the board had secured $92,000 toward the project with more expected to come in soon thanks to the work of Dabney Maxwell and other members of the foundation board, Block said.

But what of the city's own Ice Complex?

Battle said he didn’t think the outdoor ice rink will keep people from using the Benton H. Wilcoxen Ice Complex on Leeman Ferry Road. In fact, the outdoor rink may introduce more people to ice skating, he said.

“When this goes away, people can go for the big sheets of ice” at the municipal ice complex, he said.

Again, I really like the idea. And am certainly glad to be a supporter of any kind of new ideas to get people from around town, and out, into the downtown area. Kudos Mr. Block