Huntsville updates

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by quattordici

I don't know a single Alabamian who is an Atlanta Hawks or Memphis Grizzlies fan... The second most populated state with out a pro team and well over 2 Million people within 100 miles of the city. The money is actually already being brought in (about $12 million annually), it's just been intended for the dome.

If the NBA were to show interest in Birmingham, the city could make the arena happen some how. But, again, that's if the NBA were to show interest.

Anyways, enough about Birmingham.

FYI, I have seen people around Huntsville with Memphis gear on. The Grizzlies are a hot commodity right now coming off a Western Conference championship. They will be a title contender again next year since they didn't lose any stars.

The next city to receive an NBA franchise will be Seattle via a relocation. And the only option for that was Sacramento, but they have signed a deal for a new arena in downtown and aren't moving. Birmingham will never be considered for the NBA for many reasons.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

FYI, I have seen people around Huntsville with Memphis gear on. The Grizzlies are a hot commodity right now coming off a Western Conference championship. They will be a title contender again next year since they didn't lose any stars.

The next city to receive an NBA franchise will be Seattle via a relocation. And the only option for that was Sacramento, but they have signed a deal for a new arena in downtown and aren't moving. Birmingham will never be considered for the NBA for many reasons.

I lived 20 years in the Tennessee Valley... I am certain that the region shows no evidence of a sincere allegiance (at large) to any NBA team. The only professional team that comes close to attracting a large audience is the Titans. Yes, The Grizzlies are a hot commodity, as you said, coming off a western conference championship... a season's worth of success, however, doesn't ensure that an entire region of over 600,000 people will suddenly become fans of a team that finds its home nearly 200 miles away.

It's about geography and politics. As far as the NFL goes, there are probably many more fans of the Titans in Chattanooga than of the Falcons, and Atlanta is closer to Chattanooga (and more connected via a more densely developed I-75 corridor) primarily because it is in the state of Tennessee. Within 100 miles of downtown Birmingham you have a majority of the Huntsville-Decatur area, all of the Tuscaloosa area, a majority of the Montgomery area, all of the Anniston area, and all of the Gadsden area (plus the many smaller centers like Centreville, Cullman, and southern Marion County).

I agree, Seattle will be one of the the next cities to receive a team, though I don't think it will be a relocation. Key Arena sucks as it is, the city needs a new arena; no team will move there until a new facility is built. The prospect of placing a team there (Key Arena) has been heavily criticized by media and sports people. Birmingham is probably closer to building an NBA-worthy facility than Seattle, considering that the land has already been purchased, and money is already flowing in.

Also, the idea that Birmingham will never be considered is incredibly short-sited. The city has recently seen an incredible upswing and has shown no sign of slowing. The momentum is on the city's side, not the naysayers.

If you wish to continue this discussion, please resume in the Birmingham Discussion Thread since this conversation has gone beyond any subject regarding Huntsville.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by quattordici

I lived 20 years in the Tennessee Valley... I am certain that the region shows no evidence of a sincere allegiance (at large) to any NBA team. The only professional team that comes close to attracting a large audience is the Titans. Yes, The Grizzlies are a hot commodity, as you said, coming off a western conference championship... a season's worth of success, however, doesn't ensure that an entire region of over 600,000 people will suddenly become fans of a team that finds its home nearly 200 miles away.

It's about geography and politics. As far as the NFL goes, there are probably many more fans of the Titans in Chattanooga than of the Falcons, and Atlanta is closer to Chattanooga (and more connected via a more densely developed I-75 corridor) primarily because it is in the state of Tennessee. Within 100 miles of downtown Birmingham you have a majority of the Huntsville-Decatur area, all of the Tuscaloosa area, a majority of the Montgomery area, all of the Anniston area, and all of the Gadsden area (plus the many smaller centers like Centreville, Cullman, and southern Marion County).

I agree, Seattle will be one of the the next cities to receive a team, though I don't think it will be a relocation. Key Arena sucks as it is, the city needs a new arena; no team will move there until a new facility is built. The prospect of placing a team there (Key Arena) has been heavily criticized by media and sports people. Birmingham is probably closer to building an NBA-worthy facility than Seattle, considering that the land has already been purchased, and money is already flowing in.

Also, the idea that Birmingham will never be considered is incredibly short-sited. The city has recently seen an incredible upswing and has shown no sign of slowing. The momentum is on the city's side, not the naysayers.

If you wish to continue this discussion, please resume in the Birmingham Discussion Thread since this conversation has gone beyond any subject regarding Huntsville.

You're living in a fantasy world if you believe that Birmingham is on the upside or close to building a NBA-style arena anytime soon. They are just as bad as Memphis is right now when it comes to financial debt. Plus it's a smaller market than Memphis is. The NBA was skeptic about giving Memphis a team to begin with because of it being barely a top 50 market. It's actually #49. Birmingham, like Memphis, is already broke. There was even a debate over the downtown stadium that got built. And now there's doubt that the dome stadium will get built. This is why I see no NBA arena or team there within the foreseeable near future.

Plus, Alabama is NOT an attractive state when it comes to professional sports. That's why there is no pro teams from the MLB, NFL, NHL or NBA in Bama. I take that back, there's one in Tuscaloosa that pays it's players nicely.

[Tourian]

Birmingham is not broke. You seem to be confusing it with Jefferson County. Or if not you are just spouting off about something you are clueless about. Building Railroad park and Regions Field and Uptown is just the beginning. You say there was a "debate" over the stadium being built. So what? Anytime people and money are involved there's debate. But now it's done. They've had three sellouts and have much higher average attendance then they had in Hoover. Once more supporting businesses develops in the Parkside and midtown districts it will get even better.

All this never this and never that talk just proves you are a jealous homer. I can be realistic and realize that an NFL franchise is a pie in the sky dream but an NBA or even a MLB franchise could quite easily be a reality within 5-10 years. The money is there now to build a mini dome/arena/mixed use convention center - they just haven't agreed on the best way to do it yet. Those two sports don't require a 500 million to billion dollar or more stadium like the NFl does.

We can continue to derail this thread or you can stop posting false statements about Birmingham and let this thread return to its stated topic.

[HSVTiger]

Onward and Upward

Huntsville International Airport announced today during its monthly board meeting it has reopened its west runway and adjacent taxiways after an extensive 18-month renovation to accommodate Panalpina’s 747-8 freighters.

The $27.8 million airport improvement project meets Federal Aviation Administration requirements to operate Group VI aircraft. The FAA funded the majority of the project, while the Huntsville airport matched 10 percent of the improvements using taxed passenger fees.

APAC Mid-South, Inc., was the primary contractor for the 12,600-foot long west runway, which officially opened Monday morning. Stan Hogan, director of capital improvements for the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority, said the airport began planning the improvement project four years ago, started the design process 18 months ago and began construction in June 2012.

"With larger planes, it takes longer runways, wider taxiways and a wider turning radius that we’re on now,” he said. “With the new 12,600-square-foot runway, that allows Panalpina on a hot day like today to leave Huntsville fully loaded, fully fueled. With the hot temperatures, the (larger planes) need a longer runway, where the 10,000-foot runway just isn’t enough this time of the year.”

Some of the capital improvements included expanding paved shoulders on the runway to 35 feet and shoulders on the taxiways to 40 feet, widening the full-strength pavement on the west taxiway to 82 feet, rejuvenating existing asphalt on the runway and taxiways, installing a new airfield lighting control system, upgrading signage and lighting with eco-friendly LED lights and redesigning the turn radius for the taxiways.

“Huntsville International Airport is part of a small group of U.S. airports that have been FAA-certified to support these 747-8s,” said Carl Gessler, Jr., board chairman for the airport authority. “We share this distinction with cities like Miami, New York, L.A., and Chicago. Considering the size of our community as compared to the others on the list, this truly is an accomplishment for our region.”

Huntsville International Airport has already started the process to secure funds to update the east airfield to ensure the entire airport is compatible to the 747-8 aircraft in the future. Officials will seek bids for the project in August with hopes of beginning construction on the east airfield by March 2014.

HMCAA Executive Director Rick Tucker said the Huntsville airport is the 14th largest international cargo airport in the country.

“The new west runway and taxiway system gives Huntsville the infrastructure it needs to continue growth in global transportation and to strengthen the regional economy,” he said.
HSV Times

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Birmingham is not broke. You seem to be confusing it with Jefferson County. Or if not you are just spouting off about something you are clueless about. Building Railroad park and Regions Field and Uptown is just the beginning. You say there was a "debate" over the stadium being built. So what? Anytime people and money are involved there's debate. But now it's done. They've had three sellouts and have much higher average attendance then they had in Hoover. Once more supporting businesses develops in the Parkside and midtown districts it will get even better.

All this never this and never that talk just proves you are a jealous homer. I can be realistic and realize that an NFL franchise is a pie in the sky dream but an NBA or even a MLB franchise could quite easily be a reality within 5-10 years. The money is there now to build a mini dome/arena/mixed use convention center - they just haven't agreed on the best way to do it yet. Those two sports don't require a 500 million to billion dollar or more stadium like the NFl does.

We can continue to derail this thread or you can stop posting false statements about Birmingham and let this thread return to its stated topic.

I'd rather stay in Mayberry, aka Huntsville than to be a part of Bham. It's kind of funny though. When I was last in Memphis, they were saying at least the city isn't as bad off as Birmingham.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Onward and Upward

Huntsville International Airport announced today during its monthly board meeting it has reopened its west runway and adjacent taxiways after an extensive 18-month renovation to accommodate Panalpina’s 747-8 freighters.

The $27.8 million airport improvement project meets Federal Aviation Administration requirements to operate Group VI aircraft. The FAA funded the majority of the project, while the Huntsville airport matched 10 percent of the improvements using taxed passenger fees.

APAC Mid-South, Inc., was the primary contractor for the 12,600-foot long west runway, which officially opened Monday morning. Stan Hogan, director of capital improvements for the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority, said the airport began planning the improvement project four years ago, started the design process 18 months ago and began construction in June 2012.

"With larger planes, it takes longer runways, wider taxiways and a wider turning radius that we’re on now,” he said. “With the new 12,600-square-foot runway, that allows Panalpina on a hot day like today to leave Huntsville fully loaded, fully fueled. With the hot temperatures, the (larger planes) need a longer runway, where the 10,000-foot runway just isn’t enough this time of the year.”

Some of the capital improvements included expanding paved shoulders on the runway to 35 feet and shoulders on the taxiways to 40 feet, widening the full-strength pavement on the west taxiway to 82 feet, rejuvenating existing asphalt on the runway and taxiways, installing a new airfield lighting control system, upgrading signage and lighting with eco-friendly LED lights and redesigning the turn radius for the taxiways.

“Huntsville International Airport is part of a small group of U.S. airports that have been FAA-certified to support these 747-8s,” said Carl Gessler, Jr., board chairman for the airport authority. “We share this distinction with cities like Miami, New York, L.A., and Chicago. Considering the size of our community as compared to the others on the list, this truly is an accomplishment for our region.”

Huntsville International Airport has already started the process to secure funds to update the east airfield to ensure the entire airport is compatible to the 747-8 aircraft in the future. Officials will seek bids for the project in August with hopes of beginning construction on the east airfield by March 2014.

HMCAA Executive Director Rick Tucker said the Huntsville airport is the 14th largest international cargo airport in the country.

“The new west runway and taxiway system gives Huntsville the infrastructure it needs to continue growth in global transportation and to strengthen the regional economy,” he said.
HSV Times

When I once worked for the Huntsville Airport, I got to paint the west runway using a spray paint vehicle that made the landing lines. Coolest thing, and hottest too, that I ever have got to do on a job!

[HSVTiger]

GBT Realty, based in Nashville, beat out two other firms for the right to buy the coveted city-owned tract near the corner of Memorial Parkway and Airport Road. GBT plans to build a 240,000-square-foot mixed-use retail center there.
Sembler/Greenstone Properties of Atlanta and Merchants Retail Partners from Birmingham were the other finalists to develop the John Hunt Park retail site. The Huntsville City Council still has to OK the land sale.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

GBT Realty, based in Nashville, beat out two other firms for the right to buy the coveted city-owned tract near the corner of Memorial Parkway and Airport Road. GBT plans to build a 240,000-square-foot mixed-use retail center there.
Sembler/Greenstone Properties of Atlanta and Merchants Retail Partners from Birmingham were the other finalists to develop the John Hunt Park retail site. The Huntsville City Council still has to OK the land sale.

It looks like earthwork is going on next to the Marine Reserve building. Related?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

It looks like earthwork is going on next to the Marine Reserve building. Related?

no, not sure what is going on there, while the plan for John Hunt park is good
having GBT do it may or may not be good. They may be too entrenched in the area, would be nice to have some variety from Atlanta. GBT did the Shops of Madison and the Academy Sports, all average and typical strip centers.
Maybe one of the other two could do the Constellation project. I would think the Mayor and others would be hopping mad that this eyesore is still sitting there exposed dirt and weeds as the official gateway impression to downtown.

May be seeing activity soon for the North Public Safety Complex next to the current fire station(North Parkway); it has been rebid this week so hopefully construction can start soon on the side of town that time forgot.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

You're living in a fantasy world if you believe that Birmingham is on the upside or close to building a NBA-style arena anytime soon. They are just as bad as Memphis is right now when it comes to financial debt. Plus it's a smaller market than Memphis is. The NBA was skeptic about giving Memphis a team to begin with because of it being barely a top 50 market. It's actually #49. Birmingham, like Memphis, is already broke. There was even a debate over the downtown stadium that got built. And now there's doubt that the dome stadium will get built. This is why I see no NBA arena or team there within the foreseeable near future.

Plus, Alabama is NOT an attractive state when it comes to professional sports. That's why there is no pro teams from the MLB, NFL, NHL or NBA in Bama. I take that back, there's one in Tuscaloosa that pays it's players nicely.

Birmingham will not get an NBA team any team in the near future and probably not in our lives. I see the NBA expanding overseas first before it happens in Birmingham, possibly in Europe where basketball has become the most popular professional team sport next to soccer. Most small market NBA teams struggle enough as it is. Not impossible but very highly unlikely. I just don't think Birmingham and Alabama in general have what it takes to be one of the small market teams that defy the norm and succeed in the NBA.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Birmingham will not get an NBA team any team in the near future and probably not in our lives. I see the NBA expanding overseas first before it happens in Birmingham, possibly in Europe where basketball has become the most popular professional team sport next to soccer. Most small market NBA teams struggle enough as it is. Not impossible but very highly unlikely. I just don't think Birmingham and Alabama in general have what it takes to be one of the small market teams that defy the norm and succeed in the NBA.

Exactly!

[*BRAVO*]

I thought this thread was about Huntsville?

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by *BRAVO*

I thought this thread was about Huntsville?

I tried to move it to the Birmingham threads.. but to no avail...

[HSVTiger]

This place should do well right next to the park

"Five years after Bruegger’s Bagels moved out, a new eatery is moving into the Big Spring Summit/PNC Bank building downtown.

The Cozy Cow, which bills itself as an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and gourmet coffee house, is in the final stages of renovating the former bagel shop space overlooking Big Spring International Park.

Allison Stewart, who owns The Cozy Cow with her husband, Steve, said she hopes to open at 7 a.m. Friday. The Tuscaloosa transplants run a successful ice cream parlor by the same name in Hampton Cove.

“We really like the vibe downtown and want to be part of the community,” Allison Stewart said Wednesday. “We looked around the Courthouse Square, but we love the park and the lake and thought this would be a really wonderful place.”

With more elbow room than their Hampton Cove location, the downtown Cozy Cow will serve hamburgers, hot and cold sandwiches, soups and salads and breakfast items along with hand-dipped malts and milkshakes, banana splits, root beer floats, ice cream sundaes, fruit smoothies, frappes and coffees from Toomers Coffee Roasters in Auburn."

[HSVTiger]

Heads up to Redstone Arsenal's 38,000 workers, you may have experienced this today

The effects of sequestration showed up at the gates of Redstone Arsenal Wednesday morning in the form of traffic jams and garrison officials are warning it won't be the last time commuters face long lines and growing wait times.

Traffic at multiple gates was back up for miles Wednesday morning as thousands of commuters tried to access the installation. Like other civilian employees, gate guards are being furloughed eight hours a week for 11 weeks. The guards work in shifts and their furloughs are staggered, unlike those of many workers who will miss an entire day - mostly Fridays - due to the cutbacks.

"We have to spread the furlough for guards throughout the week; we can't simply shut down post on Friday," said Mike Sheehy, Director of Emergency Services. "We've programmed the major reductions for Fridays but still feel the impact throughout the week."

Sheehy said the plan was to reduce access to each gate by at least one lane, resulting in 30 percent less capability per gate. On Wednesday, commuters reported wait times at Gate 9 - the most heavily traveled gate - of up to 45 minutes.

"I normally wait 10-12 minutes at the most," said one commuter who waited 35 minutes at Gate 9 Wednesday morning.

To add to the delays, there were wrecks near several access points and, at Gate 9, a driver without proper credentials approached the check-in point in the center lane during the morning rush hour. Garrison officials said the driver had to be rerouted through several lanes of traffic and that contributed to the congestion.

The current gate schedule calls for reduced capacity at most gates throughout the week, with Gate 3 at Redstone Road and Gate 7 at Martin Road closing on Friday. Operations at Gate 9 are set to remain at the same 24-hour/seven day-a-week schedule but with reduced staffing.

To further add to the congestion, the four-laning of Martin Road between Gate 7 and Rideout Road will begin soon.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

This place should do well right next to the park

"Five years after Bruegger’s Bagels moved out, a new eatery is moving into the Big Spring Summit/PNC Bank building downtown.

The Cozy Cow, which bills itself as an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and gourmet coffee house, is in the final stages of renovating the former bagel shop space overlooking Big Spring International Park.

Allison Stewart, who owns The Cozy Cow with her husband, Steve, said she hopes to open at 7 a.m. Friday. The Tuscaloosa transplants run a successful ice cream parlor by the same name in Hampton Cove.

“We really like the vibe downtown and want to be part of the community,” Allison Stewart said Wednesday. “We looked around the Courthouse Square, but we love the park and the lake and thought this would be a really wonderful place.”

With more elbow room than their Hampton Cove location, the downtown Cozy Cow will serve hamburgers, hot and cold sandwiches, soups and salads and breakfast items along with hand-dipped malts and milkshakes, banana splits, root beer floats, ice cream sundaes, fruit smoothies, frappes and coffees from Toomers Coffee Roasters in Auburn."

Good news! Probably be good for people who out and about enjoying the park or walking around.

[downtownhsvguy]

Something that has not been commented from the article that deserves some attention is this "When Triad failed to secure a restaurant commitment by the Feb. 8, 2008, deadline, the city canceled a second phase of the Summit that was to include condominiums facing the park."

So my question is why is the city not trying to either get Triad back to the table or another developer back to build housing around the park.. this would be an awesome addition to the park and downtown. Any thoughts or ideas on this?

[downtownhsvguy]

Also more good news for Huntsville and my hometown of San Francisco/Bay Area!!!

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Financial literacy and consumer advocacy site NerdWallet has named Huntsville as one of America's top 10 best metro areas for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates.

The Rocket City ranked No. 3 on a list with other major U.S. metro areas such as San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Arlington, Va., and Seattle.

In Huntsville, about 20 percent of total jobs call for a STEM bachelor's degree or higher, while the average salary for a STEM job requiring a four-year degree or higher is $91,873, NerdWallet reports.

NerdWallet analyst Divya Raghavan studied 357 U.S. metro areas using data she collected from the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C. Raghavan said she compiled the list by measuring the total number of jobs that require a STEM bachelor's degree, average salary and the overall economic health in each metro area.

"Huntsville definitely has strong STEM support and its main industries are ones that require STEM knowledge," she said. "For recent college graduates in general, the area also has a low cost of living and it might be good for someone who might have a lot of debt or not a lot of savings to start out."

In the report, Raghavan said Huntsville has strong science, technology, architecture, engineering and computer and math science fields.

"A major part of the Huntsville economy is driven by science- and engineering-related jobs in the defense and space industries," said Huntsville Career Center manager Mike Fowler.

Here's NerdWallet's complete top 10 metro areas for STEM graduates list:

1. San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Calif.

2. Washington, D.C., Arlington, Alexandria, Va./Md./W.Va.

3. Huntsville

4. San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Calif.

5. Trenton-Ewing, N.J.

6. Boulder, Colo.

7. Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Wash.

8. Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, Mass./N.H.

9. Ann Arbor, Mich.

10. Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Wash.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

This place should do well right next to the park

"Five years after Bruegger’s Bagels moved out, a new eatery is moving into the Big Spring Summit/PNC Bank building downtown.

The Cozy Cow, which bills itself as an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and gourmet coffee house, is in the final stages of renovating the former bagel shop space overlooking Big Spring International Park.

Allison Stewart, who owns The Cozy Cow with her husband, Steve, said she hopes to open at 7 a.m. Friday. The Tuscaloosa transplants run a successful ice cream parlor by the same name in Hampton Cove.

“We really like the vibe downtown and want to be part of the community,” Allison Stewart said Wednesday. “We looked around the Courthouse Square, but we love the park and the lake and thought this would be a really wonderful place.”

With more elbow room than their Hampton Cove location, the downtown Cozy Cow will serve hamburgers, hot and cold sandwiches, soups and salads and breakfast items along with hand-dipped malts and milkshakes, banana splits, root beer floats, ice cream sundaes, fruit smoothies, frappes and coffees from Toomers Coffee Roasters in Auburn."

Great new addition! With this hot summer weather, a nice cold milkshake or ice cream cone will be a great way to cool off. Huntsville needs more eateries and snack bars downtown. I've been hoping that they would put something like this down that served hamburgers, hot dogs etc. Growing up me, my dad and my grandma would go to Zestos and get a corn dog. Wish they had that downtown.