Huntsville updates

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Next step in new development, this is part of the area eyed for a new ballpark/entertainment/riverwalk

More than 100 proposed new public housing units apparently are not earmarked for residents of Searcy Homes downtown.

A public meeting last month left the impression that Searcy residents could be first in line to move into Work Force Housing's possible 40-unit public housing apartment complexes on Winchester Road, Research Park Boulevard and Newson Road.

The July 23 meeting also fueled speculation that the Huntsville Housing Authority may be preparing to sell the Searcy property, which occupies 19.4 prime acres a block north of the Von Braun Center.

That's the absolute best news that I have heard for downtown in a long time! It's also opening the doors for the dream of a new downtown stadium!

[jhsv]

How many acres would be needed for a stadium?

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

They ruined Bridge Street by being money hungry. Filling in the beautiful lake was the dumbest thing they could have done. Now they will see lack of even more visitors. Most went there for the beautification to enjoy, like myself. I give it less than 5 years and it will be in bankruptcy.

But were you actually buying stuff when you went there to look at the lake? I saw plenty of people in Bridgestreet walking around enjoying the lake, scenery, music, but I rarely so those people with shopping bags. Most people i see go there for the restaurants and the the movie theatre. Ultimately they had to get some kind of department store to increase the retail success there. The way they went about though however was dumb.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

But were you actually buying stuff when you went there to look at the lake? I saw plenty of people in Bridgestreet walking around enjoying the lake, scenery, music, but I rarely so those people with shopping bags. Most people i see go there for the restaurants and the the movie theatre. Ultimately they had to get some kind of department store to increase the retail success there. The way they went about though however was dumb.

I approached the BSTC management back in 2012 about the idea of a signature ferris wheel along the lake that would guarantee larger crowds of visitors, families and shoppers along with more entertainment. But they made all the excuses they could find not to go with it. I finally gave up and walked out.

Bridge Street is a great example of how poorly ran Huntsville is and probably always will be. Nothing but a backwards town. Just take the argument from certain ones over a downtown baseball stadium for instance. Nothing is ever done right here. Everybody that has a little power has their hand in the cookie jar.

This is why I said the other day that Memphis and Huntsville are so much alike. Not the cities, but the leadership and government. Always cutting corners, or always doing half-asses jobs on something that, if done properly and correctly, could be a bigger asset down the road for the local economy and the city's growth.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by jhsv

How many acres would be needed for a stadium?

Counting parking and stadium development, probably about 15 acres or so.

[Jugernagt]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

But were you actually buying stuff when you went there to look at the lake? I saw plenty of people in Bridgestreet walking around enjoying the lake, scenery, music, but I rarely so those people with shopping bags. Most people i see go there for the restaurants and the the movie theatre. Ultimately they had to get some kind of department store to increase the retail success there. The way they went about though however was dumb.

And they do this by pursuing and luring the popular retail stores in Huntsville to move to Bridge Street so there aren't any reasons to go to any other retail center.

[jhsv]

I just do not get the outdoor shopping center setup especially on cold or rainy days. The parking is only close to a few stores and restaurants but the majority it is a hike.

[Huntsvillenative]

I was out at Bridge Street today and it was flat dead. Hardly anyone there and this was noon time. That's when they get the most visitors from Research Park. Did make a comment to a couple of guys in suits who were standing and looking at the now large filled lake and said to them "they screwed up big time filling that in" and they replied "they sure did. It was the nicest thing they had and now it's gone. I guess their greed will be the death of it". And I agreed.

Oh and to make things even worse, they have also closed The Station entertainment complex and are moving HM store there. No way will it survive now.

RIP Bridge Street.

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

I was out at Bridge Street today and it was flat dead. Hardly anyone there and this was noon time. That's when they get the most visitors from Research Park. Did make a comment to a couple of guys in suits who were standing and looking at the now large filled lake and said to them "they screwed up big time filling that in" and they replied "they sure did. It was the nicest thing they had and now it's gone. I guess their greed will be the death of it". And I agreed.

Oh and to make things even worse, they have also closed The Station entertainment complex and are moving HM store there. No way will it survive now.

RIP Bridge Street.

When people finally realize that lake was leaking money because of the constant repairs having to be done, they may a different perspective. Go ahead and call it greed if it makes you feel better.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by stewdog1

When people finally realize that lake was leaking money because of the constant repairs having to be done, they may a different perspective. Go ahead and call it greed if it makes you feel better.

You must be part of that greed to make such an inaccurate excuse.

[JuanHunt]

Build the new baseball park right next to Bridge Street.
That'll save it.

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

You must be part of that greed to make such an inaccurate excuse.

Wait, wait, wait. So the owner of that land... decides to remove the lake that has had to be drained and fixed several times, and fills it in to build new buildings. And that is called greed?

Granted, I'm not thrilled with the way they are going about it, but to call it greed because they are removing something you liked is a bit obtuse.

[Urbancity]

I think we can all agree that Bridgestreet did not incorporate a department store the way they should have. It is very disappointing and it could have been something really special. However, I do not wish the downfall of Bridgestreet. I do not understand why all of y'all are being so negative and are already shutting Bridgestreet down in your heads. Why would you wish such a thing. That would be really bad if Bridgestreet did go under and would be a horrible thing for Huntsville economic development. Yes, I agree for what we can see now it isn't what it should have been, but I hope that Bridgestreet will be successful.

Now I'm just really hoping that Madison Square Mall will live up to the expectations that are being set for it now.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

Oh and to make things even worse, they have also closed The Station entertainment complex and are moving HM store there. No way will it survive now.

RIP Bridge Street.

Some clarification needed here please. Are yiu saying the H&M fashion store is leaving? And moving where? Source?

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Some clarification needed here please. Are yiu saying the H&M fashion store is leaving? And moving where? Source?

At BSC they have ads and new map layouts with H&M store relocating from its current location at BSC into the once-popular Station and bowling alley which was above the stairway on the side of the east lake. There was also a sports bar up there as well.

[Tourian]

Ah ok so still within Bridge Street. Why do you think the new spot will be worse? Bad visibility? Maybe it is a larger spot?

[jhsv]

Am not the biggest fan of bridge street but not wanting it to fail either. Not really sure the lake was that big a draw and they did seem to have alot of issues with it leaking. Once stores started leaving Madison Square it was only a matter of time before one of the department stores made the move to Bridge Street. Maybe a lot should have been left for a department store in the original plan while keeping some of the water feature. The main problem it seems with Bridge Street businesses are the restaurants- while a few have done well others have not lasted long at all. Some of the buildings have had 3 restaurants in the few years the place has been open.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by jhsv

Am not the biggest fan of bridge street but not wanting it to fail either. Not really sure the lake was that big a draw and they did seem to have alot of issues with it leaking. Once stores started leaving Madison Square it was only a matter of time before one of the department stores made the move to Bridge Street. Maybe a lot should have been left for a department store in the original plan while keeping some of the water feature. The main problem it seems with Bridge Street businesses are the restaurants- while a few have done well others have not lasted long at all. Some of the buildings have had 3 restaurants in the few years the place has been open.

I don't think the absence of the lake will be such a detriment to Bridge Street. I do think that portion was the most scenic, however. I think what many people are upset about is that what is replacing that portion of the lake isn't what it could have been. The renderings of what will replace it look OK, but compared to what used to be there, it isn't even close. A landscaped, creekside pedestrian-way would have been so much better.

Either way, I don't think removing the lake will end Bridge Street; I don't think much could. Bridge Street won't die by any means... any speak about its death is much ado about nothing. If the place was in such awful danger of decline, Belk would have pulled out long ago (the new construction of their 2 story store was announced over a year ago).

Bridge Street has had a bit of trouble retaining a few headline occupants, but all that says is that the center hasn't completely nestled into its niche; that's the case with any large scale retail center in a rapidly growing area.

If you're writing off Bridge Street because occupancy is constantly changing, you really don't understand what is going on in the Tennessee Valley.

[HSVTiger]

Could Huntsville be in the mix for the new plant?
The city has the land, and infrastructure planned or underway for a large auto type plant.



The governors of Alabama and Georgia are wooing Hyundai in hopes that the automaker will choose their state as the site of a new U.S. manufacturing plant, according to a report from South Korea.

The courting comes as Hyundai is dealing with labor union disputes, work stoppages and resulting production shortfalls in its home country that have made overseas manufacturing sites more attractive, Business Korea says.


According to the report, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal visited Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo in Korea last month, where he made a pitch for the construction of a new Hyundai plant in his state.

Hyundai has a U.S. manufacturing plant in Montgomery, and its affiliate, Kia, has one in West Point, Ga., which is just across the state line. Both are non-union.


Deal emphasized free infrastructure, funding for job creation and tax exemptions that would be available for the plant at a Georgia site.

Meanwhile, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is set to make his own case for a new Hyundai plant in Alabama during a trip to Korea in October, the report says.

[JuanHunt]

The Bridge Street concept that was envisioned for the place, as a shopping and dining destination, dies a few years ago. The development is trying to mold itself into a viable development by adopting more conventional shopping mall traits. Its a open air mall into the middle of a cow pasture, with nothing to differentiate it from most any mall.

The latest restaurant to close, The Tavern, was reported by al.com just today.