Huntsville updates

[JuanHunt]

The city is buying the East Clinton School property for $1.5mil and selling it to a private Christian school for less.
Brilliant.
Is this a standard transaction model at Battle Real Estate?
Why didnt the HCS sell it directly?

[HSVTiger]

Inept aldot at work..good job sure Mobile appreciates it. Meanwhile Huntsville has been neutered by the good ole boy highway department
Maybe this a reason Huntsville projects are forever delayed..to cover mistakes south of the Tennessee River

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) It's not only a headache for drivers, but a hazard. The interchange at I-10 and Water Street has been the site of 139 accidents in the last three years.

"If you're going from Water Street across the bay, it's a terrible ramp," says Alabama Department of Transportation Pre-Construction Engineer Don Powell.

Powell is working on a traffic redesign that would eliminate some of the problems, but the project met one major snag. $9 million that would have helped fund the redesign was recently revoked by the federal government.

"We got notice that any unobligated or unused funds was going to be rescinded," Powell says.

In the early 90's the money was earmarked for the I-10 project. That project fell through and the money sat untouched and apparently forgotten for two decades.

Powell would still have been in college at the time, and other ALDOT engineers have come and gone. The reason the money was never used is unclear.

"There's a number of reasons why a project may get started and never get finished," Powell says. "This specific project, I'm not sure why it sat for so long."


Now, 20 years later a redesign project is once again on the table, but without that $9 million in funding. It does, however, have lots of support from groups in the community.

"We felt there had to be a better way to transition interstate traffic into sort of a calm, urban environment," says Carol Hunter with the Downtown Mobile Alliance.

Hunter says one proposal would move the I-10 interchange back to Canal Street and eliminate the elevated, winding ramps leading on and off the highway.

"It should be safer," she says. "It also could potentially put back 20 acres of land on the tax rolls."

So the project is moving forward. Right now ALDOT has about $16 million of the $24 million needed to finance the full design and construction process. That lost $9 million would have covered the difference.

"We're disappointed the project may be a bit delayed, but pleased there's still money in there that can be programmed into ALDOT's regular projects," Hunter says.

So how was the government allowed to take the money? Turns out this sort of thing has happened before and is actually somewhat common. Powell says there is wording in the agreement when the money is given that it can be rescinded if not used within a certain time period.How much has been lost on purpose for Huntsville projects?

"This wasn't just an Alabama issue either," he says. "There was money taken back from most, if not all of the states." So What

He admits it could happen again in the future, but the agency is working to ensure it doesn't. He says the key is making sure the earmarked projects are seen through to completion.Brilliant!!

"There's any number of us around the state responsible for reviewing projects and keeping them moving as much as they can," Powell says.They should all be FIRED.

He says it's unclear whether ALDOT has any recourse to try to recoup the $9 million, or if it would even be worthwhile to do so
aldot only works on projects if they are forced too, never are they in front of a project or have a proactive solution.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Inept aldot at work..good job sure Mobile appreciates it. Meanwhile Huntsville has been neutered by the good ole boy highway department
Maybe this a reason Huntsville projects are forever delayed..to cover mistakes south of the Tennessee River

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) It's not only a headache for drivers, but a hazard. The interchange at I-10 and Water Street has been the site of 139 accidents in the last three years.

"If you're going from Water Street across the bay, it's a terrible ramp," says Alabama Department of Transportation Pre-Construction Engineer Don Powell.

Powell is working on a traffic redesign that would eliminate some of the problems, but the project met one major snag. $9 million that would have helped fund the redesign was recently revoked by the federal government.

"We got notice that any unobligated or unused funds was going to be rescinded," Powell says.

In the early 90's the money was earmarked for the I-10 project. That project fell through and the money sat untouched and apparently forgotten for two decades.

Powell would still have been in college at the time, and other ALDOT engineers have come and gone. The reason the money was never used is unclear.

"There's a number of reasons why a project may get started and never get finished," Powell says. "This specific project, I'm not sure why it sat for so long."


Now, 20 years later a redesign project is once again on the table, but without that $9 million in funding. It does, however, have lots of support from groups in the community.

"We felt there had to be a better way to transition interstate traffic into sort of a calm, urban environment," says Carol Hunter with the Downtown Mobile Alliance.

Hunter says one proposal would move the I-10 interchange back to Canal Street and eliminate the elevated, winding ramps leading on and off the highway.

"It should be safer," she says. "It also could potentially put back 20 acres of land on the tax rolls."

So the project is moving forward. Right now ALDOT has about $16 million of the $24 million needed to finance the full design and construction process. That lost $9 million would have covered the difference.

"We're disappointed the project may be a bit delayed, but pleased there's still money in there that can be programmed into ALDOT's regular projects," Hunter says.

So how was the government allowed to take the money? Turns out this sort of thing has happened before and is actually somewhat common. Powell says there is wording in the agreement when the money is given that it can be rescinded if not used within a certain time period.How much has been lost on purpose for Huntsville projects?

"This wasn't just an Alabama issue either," he says. "There was money taken back from most, if not all of the states." So What

He admits it could happen again in the future, but the agency is working to ensure it doesn't. He says the key is making sure the earmarked projects are seen through to completion.Brilliant!!

"There's any number of us around the state responsible for reviewing projects and keeping them moving as much as they can," Powell says.They should all be FIRED.

He says it's unclear whether ALDOT has any recourse to try to recoup the $9 million, or if it would even be worthwhile to do so
aldot only works on projects if they are forced too, never are they in front of a project or have a proactive solution.

It's incredible they allowed this to happen, but at the very least the project still looks like it'll happen (maybe). ALDOT needs some serious revisions...

[Huntsville_secede]

Kind of off topic but I noticed Marshall county was added to the combined statistical area for Huntsville-Decatur in February. I thought Decatur would have been added to the MSA for Huntsville this go around. Seems like years ago it was right below the criteria needed for number (percentage) of residents that work in Huntsville.

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Kind of topic but I noticed Marshall county was added to the combined statistical area for Huntsville-Decatur in February. I thought Decatur would have been added to the MSA for Huntsville this go around. Seems like years ago it was right below the criteria needed for number (percentage) of residents that work in Huntsville.

These figures might help you out.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=5641364&postcount=141

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville's newest skyscraper..new test stands planned for Marshall Space Flight Center



NASA engineers are building on the historic foundation of rocket testing in Huntsville - literally - as they prepare for critical stress tests on the core of Space Launch System, America's next deep-space rocket.

Two large new test stands are being designed for Marshall Space Flight Center, and one of those stands will be built atop the bedrock-deep foundation of the stand Wernher von Braun used to test the massive F-1 Saturn V engines.

These new tests won't shake the ground across Huntsville as those Saturn V engine tests did, because NASA does its engine testing now in the vast open space of the Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi.

But the tests in Huntsville will be critical to the new rocket meeting its tight flight schedule, and the testing program itself is a complicated choreography. For example, giant barges will transport the rocket's core components - including a 185-foot tall liquid hydrogen tank - up Alabama's river system to Huntsville from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans where they will be made.
The liquid hydrogen tank is the reason for the big new, 215-feet-high test stand that will rise on the foundation of stand 4693 used for the Saturn V engine hot-fires. Engineers will hang the 185-foot-tall tank vertically, load it with enough liquid nitrogen to cover critical areas and apply stress. "We won't shake it," Huddleston said, "but we will bend it and twist it and compress it and pull it."

"We won't shake it, but we will bend it and twist it and compress it and pull it."
Huntsville Times

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by SouthSky

These figures might help you out.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=5641364&postcount=141

Thanks for the link. I'm suprised Morgan only went up to 21.9% from 21.4%. Needs to be at 25%. Looks like we are stuck with being the 3rd largest metro in the state. The official CSA designation though has 5 counties and 679,743 people as of the 2012 estimate. I could see the CSA estimate hitting 1 million if more counties are added in the next 10-20 years.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Thanks I'm suprised Morgan only went up to 21.9% from 21.4%. Needs to be at 25%. Looks like we are stuck with being the 3rd largest metro in the state. The official CSA designation though has 5 counties and 679,743 people as of the 2012 estimate. I could see the CSA estimate hitting 1 million if more counties are added in the next 10-20 years.

Currently Huntsville is number two MSA from 2011. If you could add Decatur and or Lincoln County Tennessee then the numbers are more significant.
Huntsville MSA has just two counties


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.

Madison and Limestone counties combine to make up the Huntsville metro area. Limestone County has 82,782 people, according to the census. Mobile County's metro area does not include fast-growing Baldwin County, which has approximately 180,000 people.

Metropolitan areas are core urban areas not defined by the Census Bureau but by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

[HSVTiger]

I hope city leaders will strongly impress upon the Governor, the pathetic job aldot is doing to meet the needs of very important road projects in the area.
The excuses and delays, (anyone ever see any other parts of the state on the delay list?) are unacceptable.

Gov. Robert Bentley arrives in Huntsville today to speak at a luncheon at the Von Braun Center.

Bentley will be speaking at the 2013 Alabama Update Luncheon organized by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

[ttownfeen]

All the money's going to the extremely pointless I-85 extension through the Black Belt.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Thanks for the link. I'm suprised Morgan only went up to 21.9% from 21.4%. Needs to be at 25%. Looks like we are stuck with being the 3rd largest metro in the state. The official CSA designation though has 5 counties and 679,743 people as of the 2012 estimate. I could see the CSA estimate hitting 1 million if more counties are added in the next 10-20 years.

I was convinced the Decatur MSA was going to merge with Huntsville's, but with all the industrial development being constructed in Morgan County right now, it'd take a few HUGE projects in Huntsville to turn that tide.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Currently Huntsville is number two MSA from 2011. If you could add Decatur and or Lincoln County Tennessee then the numbers are more significant.
Huntsville MSA has just two counties


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.

Madison and Limestone counties combine to make up the Huntsville metro area. Limestone County has 82,782 people, according to the census. Mobile County's metro area does not include fast-growing Baldwin County, which has approximately 180,000 people.

Metropolitan areas are core urban areas not defined by the Census Bureau but by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Interesting. Is there a reason why Baldwin County is not included in Mobile's metro at this point even though they are above the 25% criteria needed to be included in the MSA? When do they make the decision to change the components of each MSA? I thought this was done back in February when they changed the CSA classifications and added Marshall County to the Huntsville-Decatur CSA? I really think Baldwin should be included as part of Mobile and Decatur (Morgan & Lawrence) included as part of Huntsville. They are interconnected enough to be included as one MSA.

[Jugernagt]

Huntsville makes it to the top of the list!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/annanorth/the-most-porn-loving-religious-cities-in-the-country

[HSVTiger]

Historic downtown school gets new life and owners..

East Clinton School, abandoned last May as part of a Huntsville City Schools plan to eliminate surplus classroom space, has a new life as a private Christian school.

On Thursday night, the Huntsville City Council voted to sell the Old Town Historic District landmark to Providence Classical School for $1.2 million. Spokesman James Johnson said Providence Classical hopes to be settled at East Clinton in time for the start of classes on Aug. 20.

[HSVTiger]

Drinks to Go

The larger of Huntsville's two new downtown entertainment districts - called The Quigley after an early street map of the city - covers 96 acres including the Courthouse Square, Big Spring International Park, the Von Braun Center, Huntsville Museum of Art, Alabama Constitution Village, the Embassy Suites and downtown Holiday Inn.

The Meridian District will encompass 10 acres around the Meridian Street-Cleveland Avenue intersection, including Bud Cramer Park, A.M. Booth's Lumberyard, Furniture Factory Bar & Grill and Lone Goose Saloon.

Bars and restaurants inside the districts will be allowed to sell adult beverages in plastic "to go" cups. People can drink while walking around the districts, but they can't take their alcohol into another bar or restaurant.

[HSVTiger]

The new downtown apartments at Twickenham Square..Artisan
no new info just a web site to sign up

http://www.artisantwickenhamsquare.com/

and a flyer for the adjacent downtown Publix
http://www.pgmproperties.com/properties/twickenham/marketingflyer.pdf

Under construction on Meridian street is a new downtown branch for National Bank of Commerce. This was the bank that was originally penciled in for the Twickenham Square office building but elected to have their own facility. Haven't seen a rendering of the building but it's tucked in close to the Washington street/I-565 viaduct. Guessing that unless you are looking for it, you won't see it. Good access to the Lumberyard/Cleveland Street entertainment area, Veterans Memorial, dog park and skateboard park.

[HSVTiger]

al.com did a survey of Alabama's most wanted retailers, (Huntsville did this years ago and came up with similar results) so way to catch up al.com.

I'm betting Trader Joes will locate in the state or announce it within two years.
IKEA no way and who really cares, they would not survive in this state.

"Some Alabama consumers may want Trader Joe's and IKEA to open stores in the state. But the popular retail firms say they have no such plans.

A spokeswoman for Trader Joe's said the California-based grocer has a two-year expansion plan, but that Alabama isn't included. The firm has about 400 stories nationwide.

At IKEA , spokesman Joseph Roth said the Swedish firm usually requires a population base of about 2 million people within a 40-60 mile radius"

With the planned Whole Foods store for Mobile in 2014 will a Huntsville location not be far behind to join Earth Fare and Fresh Market?

[HSVTiger]

On Redstone Arsenal a new 93 room Candlewood Suite hotel is planned to be constructed on Patton Rd. Completion is in 18-24 months.
This is part of privatizing housing accommodation program on the Arsenal.

On North Parkway/ Bob Wade intersection the slum that is on the northwest corner will be cleared and a new Raceway gas station constructed

[HSVTiger]

will Huntsville and owners step up to the plate?
Here is a chance for Huntsville to radically change the face and dynamics of downtown.
Could a re-energized Constellation development be part of it? and expanded VBC (Coca Cola plant)? Another convention hotel is on the wish list, and of course restaurants and apartments.
Interchange improvements on I-565, Memorial Parkway (uh oh, aldot involvement, that could be a deal killer, their plan is to stop growth north of the Tennessee River)
at least 20 million would be required, private financing, and Huntsvilles' stellar bond market rating shouldn't be an issue. Construction could start within a year and be ready by 2015
John Hunt Park remember (Joe Davis site) is being repositioned and developed for retail and major park upgrades. Wal mart will pay a high price for a parcel on that site. Money that can go to a new stadium

"Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway are scheduled to announce this afternoon that a new stadium will be built in downtown Biloxi and architectural designs will be unveiled, according to the Mississippi Business Journal.

The stadium will be built in time for the 2014 season.

Biloxi will try to land a Class AA team and join the Southern League. Earlier, Councilman Bill Stallworth told The Biloxi Sun-Herald there was a "fairly good assurance that that would take place."

Because of dwindling attendance and the state of Joe W. Davis Stadium, the oldest park in the Southern League, the Huntsville Stars is the team being most widely speculated about in the Mississippi reports."
The Stars lease expires in 2015
HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

Big downtown proposal..let's go
Sealy sees the big picture, other developers need to get busy

Barely six months after opening the Belk Hudson Lofts apartment building on Washington Street, Charlie Sealy III is working on something even bigger downtown.

Sealy confirmed Thursday that he is in active negotiations with Huntsville officials to build a more than $30 million mixed-use development on the site of a city parking lot at Jefferson Street and Holmes Avenue, across from the federal courthouse.

The preliminary design shows 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space at street level with as many as 120 apartments above, a four- or five-story office building, wide sidewalks, heavy landscaping, public art and garage parking for 400 vehicles.

"I'm really excited about this and looking forward to moving it ahead," said Sealy, who is teaming up with his wife, Sasha, and several unnamed business partners on the project.

"Jefferson Street is one of the main gateways into downtown," he said. "With its proximity to the entertainment district and the Courthouse Square and Big Spring Park, it's an ideal location for a mixed-use development that I think would really be well-received by the market."
Sealy said he hopes to have the negotiations wrapped up in the next three to four months. If the Huntsville City Council OKs the deal, blueprints and other plans would take up to nine months. Construction would start next summer, said Sealy.


"We're really a firm believer that the progress of a downtown is largely dependent on getting people living there," he said. "Getting more of a critical mass down there will really help everything. I think this will be a great development for downtown."
From Huntsville Times