Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by David1502

Could a Wal-Mart be in the works for the Winchester Rd. - Homer Nance Rd. intersection? The December 23rd Planning Agenda for the City of Huntsville's Planning Commission has as item#4, MAPCO Subdivision, 3 lots with Wal-Mart Real Estate as the developer. The location "North of Winchester Rd., West of Homer Nance Rd." Here is the link: http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/Planning/agendas/2014/PlanningCommissionAgendaDec14.pdf

Many probably don't realize that the City of Huntsville annexed a sliver of land along the Flint River in order to annex the property where the Publix is currently located (Publix wanted to be in the City for fire and sewer service). At the same time a parcel north of Winchester was also annexed.

This area has to be one of the most underserviced areas in the country as the closest Wal-Mart is on Sparkman at the Parkway and Target is probably at least 15 miles away. At the same time, there are several high end subdivisions adjacent (Edenshire, Riverwalk, Mount Carmel on the River) whose only retail options are the Publix and Kroger at Moores Mill Rd. Those who live in New Market have to drive a good distance to reach the Publix.

The question is, will they build a Super Center or a Neighborhood store like they just built in Gurley. There is nothing sure about this, but it has to raise eyebrows when Wal-Mart is the developer.

yes
Wal-Mart wants to build a 151,000-square-foot Supercenter Winchester Road in northeast Huntsville.

The Huntsville Planning Commission has OK'd the layout of the 17.7-acre retail tract at the intersection of Winchester and Homer Nance roads, across from the Publix-anchored Winchester Plaza shopping center.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said the new Supercenter - Madison County's ninth - could be under construction by this spring or summer and would take about a year.

[HSVTiger]

Polaris Industries Inc. will build an ATV manufacturing facility in Huntsville/ Limestone County near the Greenbrier exit, bringing at least 1,700 jobs in the near future
The new plant in Alabama will become part of Polaris’ North American plant network and officials say it will reduce complexity within the existing plant network and enable logistics optimization. The company says the Huntsville facility will have multiple assembly lines providing flexibility to quickly replenish demand and support continued product innovations. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, the plant will support several core processes including, vehicle assembly, chassis and body painting, welding, fabrication and injection molding. At full capacity, the site will employ at least 1,700 people.

Polaris will break ground on the Huntsville facility in the first quarter of 2015 with completion slated for early in the second quarter of 2016. Production will begin shortly thereafter.

Of course aldont will be involved, maybe now they will add lanes to I-565 from the airport to I-65

WHNT TV

[Colin Giersberg]

For those not familiar with the location, it is west of Greenbrier Rd. and north of I-565, primarily north of and behind behind the Target Distribution Center. It will include a test track and space for future expansion as well.

[mp7123]

Originally Posted by Colin Giersberg

For those not familiar with the location, it is west of Greenbrier Rd. and north of I-565, primarily north of and behind behind the Target Distribution Center. It will include a test track and space for future expansion as well.

This isn't the Mega Site is it?

[Colin Giersberg]

If you are referring to the location that Volkswagen was looking at, no. That is just northwest of the old Greenbrier Restaurant at Greenbrier Rd. and Old Hwy. 20 behind the cotton gin that is partially still there.

[Colin Giersberg]

Also, if you are referring to the the TVA megabyte, that was located between US. 31 and I-65 close to where the mobile home park is on Hwy. 31.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

One article mentioned that the city plans to accelerate construction of Greenbrier Parkway as part of the incentive package. I've been looking for a map of the roadway, but have been unsuccessful. Does anyone have ready access to one? Of course I'll keep looking, but if someone has easy access to it please share!

[Colin Giersberg]

The Athens Herald Chronicle newspaper showed a little bit of the new highway, primarily from Greenbrier northwest to Old Hwy. 20.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by tascalisa

One article mentioned that the city plans to accelerate construction of Greenbrier Parkway as part of the incentive package. I've been looking for a map of the roadway, but have been unsuccessful. Does anyone have ready access to one? Of course I'll keep looking, but if someone has easy access to it please share!

not sure how accurate this map is, the Polaris plant will be located west of Greenbrier about just above the I-565 shield is on the map



the large "L "green shaped area wrapping arond the Target Distribution Center. Polaris will have frontage visibility along I-565.

photo by SellersPhoto Aerial Photography

[Tennhioland]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Northrop Grumman set to begin construction of second building..

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) intends to begin construction on the second of four buildings that will comprise its $80 million Cummings Research Park campus, continuing to consolidate operations in the region, increasing efficiency and positioning the company for additional growth in the region.Northrop Grumman employs approximately 1,200 people in the Huntsville area, and about 1,500 in Alabama.

New to Huntsville and enjoy following and reading thru the history of this thread. I assume this second Northrop building was never built? Any idea what happened? Sounds like they had a pretty big ground breaking ceremony.

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by Tennhioland

New to Huntsville and enjoy following and reading thru the history of this thread. I assume this second Northrop building was never built? Any idea what happened? Sounds like they had a pretty big ground breaking ceremony.

2008 and 2009 happened, sequestrations, etc. Just bad timing.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

yes
Wal-Mart wants to build a 151,000-square-foot Supercenter Winchester Road in northeast Huntsville.

The Huntsville Planning Commission has OK'd the layout of the 17.7-acre retail tract at the intersection of Winchester and Homer Nance roads, across from the Publix-anchored Winchester Plaza shopping center.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said the new Supercenter - Madison County's ninth - could be under construction by this spring or summer and would take about a year.

With the current infrastructure in that area this is going to be a nightmare traffic wise. 72/Moores Mill is a better location for a major shopping center. Currently there are only two lane roads in that area.

[huntsvillefan]

As Huntsville continues to grow, traffic congestion will become more of a problem. What if we expanded transportation services like Chattanooga proposes to do? The city of Chattanooga will undertake a $400,000 restoration study in 2015, looking to utilize 21 miles of an urban freight rail corridor to develop a citywide light rail network. Business and community leaders are looking to spur economic development by connecting downtown Chattanooga to the airport, nearby industrial parks, college campuses, and healthcare facilities.

Could Huntsville develop a light rail network--especially along rail corridors already in place? It is fun to dream.

[Colin Giersberg]

As long as the tracks do not cross Norfolk Southern's mainline, there probably would not be an issue. Railroads are highly protective of their right of way and I see a light rail system as being somewhat of a problem to them. For example, if you have noticed, when a road gets resurfaced, the new asphalt paving stops several feet from the tracks. This is then completed by companies that the railroad trusts. As a result, grade crossings are rarely as smooth as we would prefer.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by huntsvillefan

As Huntsville continues to grow, traffic congestion will become more of a problem. What if we expanded transportation services like Chattanooga proposes to do? The city of Chattanooga will undertake a $400,000 restoration study in 2015, looking to utilize 21 miles of an urban freight rail corridor to develop a citywide light rail network. Business and community leaders are looking to spur economic development by connecting downtown Chattanooga to the airport, nearby industrial parks, college campuses, and healthcare facilities.

Could Huntsville develop a light rail network--especially along rail corridors already in place? It is fun to dream.

airport/Research Park/Downtown/Parkway Place/Dittto Landing are all connected by rail now..It could be an easy(but expensive) addition for light rail

[jhsv]

The Huntsville Madison County Railroad Authority operates the old L&N tracks from the river on past A&M I believe. So north to south you could have some stations at A&M, downtown/von braun, parkway place, ditto landing. Is there a little used or unused track going west?

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

airport/Research Park/Downtown/Parkway Place/Dittto Landing are all connected by rail now..It could be an easy(but expensive) addition for light rail

[jhsv]

Saw most of the strip center where Mock Electronics was located is coming down. The comic store moved to where Mock was and the rest of the center is about gone now.

Anyone know what is in the works for that lot?

[huntsvillefan]

Originally Posted by jhsv

The Huntsville Madison County Railroad Authority operates the old L&N tracks from the river on past A&M I believe. So north to south you could have some stations at A&M, downtown/von braun, parkway place, ditto landing. Is there a little used or unused track going west?

I think the main usage would be going West--Research Park, the Arsenal and the airport. North/South would not garner much usage now, but if a commuter line were put it, I could see these areas rapidly develop. People are looking for transportation other than cars.

[jhsv]

Originally Posted by huntsvillefan

I think the main usage would be going West--Research Park, the Arsenal and the airport. North/South would not garner much usage now, but if a commuter line were put it, I could see these areas rapidly develop. People are looking for transportation other than cars.

Yes that is true. The thing about north and south is there are existing tracks that are not used by much commerical activity. I wondered if there any east-west that were not fully used. I couldn't think of any off hand.

[HSVTiger]

At its meeting Thursday night, the Huntsville City Council agreed to lease a downtown public parking lot at the corner of Holmes Avenue and Jefferson Street to developers Charlie and Sasha Sealy.

The Sealys' will transform the site near the federal courthouse into a five-story, mixed-use building called The Avenue. Plans call for at least 120 apartments, multiple restaurants on the ground floor and a 350-space parking deck.

also downtown long time bar The Kaffeeklatsch Bar, , has closed its doors after more than three decades in Huntsville.
Grant Heath, owner of the adjacent coffee store and the bar's landlord, confirmed the closing Thursday. Heath's store, which roasts and sells coffee to stores and individuals, will remain open.

At Bridge Street Texas de Brazil is open
The dinner-only restaurant, which specializes in 16 different grilled meats, is open from 5-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday, 4-10 p.m. Saturday and 4-9 p.m. Sunday