Huntsville updates

[huntsvillefan]

Originally Posted by stallty

Exactly what I thought when I saw the rendering. It does't fit in with the development and looks more like it belongs on fraternity row on Alabama's campus.

It looks like they took the plans from the main branch in Tuscaloosa and made minor alterations to the outside. Birmingham has a great design review board with specific guidelines for historic districts and commercial zones. Huntsville needs to step up and start to demand better architecture, specially in key districts such as downtown.

Great cities have architecture that fits in a congruent pattern. None of the mismatch too common in most cities. Buildings should stand out in the way that they fit in.

[Ingsoc75]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

wow this really doesn't deserve mention except to show a fine example of 🞵🞵🞵🞵 architecture Huntsville and many southern cities are cursed with. This example which would make a fine fraternity house doesn't fit in with any of the surrounding downtown Twickenham Square development or the nearby soon to be under construction City Centre.
Just a typical boring forgetful off the shelf "southern style" garbage, banks for some reason think is special. When this nice piece of land was purchased for this bank there would be no surprise what we would get


The only good thing is maybe it wont be too visible and will be quickly passed by.
Ward Scott architecture really? way to keep the design bar low

Not to mention the 3D render is awful. :\

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Engineering and design for an exciting new pedestrian/greenway set to begin.
This project will stretch from Holmes Ave downtown along Pinhook creek behind the VBC and end at Lowe Mill. It will include several pedestrian bridges a "pedestrian "skyway" over Memorial Parkway in the vicinity of Governors Dr. It will include landscaping, lighting, hardscapes, and signing.
This will be a great project, hopefully it will proceed quickly.

brief update from WAFF


"The city’s goal is to build a greenway stretching from Holmes Avenue along Pinhook Creek, have it go past the VBC, and then connect to Lowe Mill via a suspension bridge across Memorial Parkway.

"This is going to be an art piece that crosses our Parkway. People will see it, it will be very iconic for the city of Huntsville,” said City of Huntsville Director of Engineering’s Kathy Martin. “It is more than just a sky bridge, it is an art piece."

Martin’s office is already working with a world-renowned bridge designer and they're modeling the new bridge after a similar project in Greenville, South Carolina. Martin showed off the plans in her office.

"The fact that the greenway is coming is a huge deal for us. It is something we've been fighting for years," said Lowe Mill’s Sarah Cole.

Cole couldn't hold back her excitement about the new multi-use path. It creates a more walkable city and she predicts will bring in more customers to the largest privately owned arts facility in the country ."

Greenvilles Liberty Bridge


The Liberty Bridge was constructed over a period of 12 months by Taylor and Murphy Construction Co. of Asheville, N.C., designed by bridge architect Miquel Rosales of Boston, and engineered by Schlaich Bergermann.

Chris Britton, structural division manager for Taylor and Murphy, describes the bridge as "an ultra lightweight bridge, which almost looks like it’s floating on air."

At 345 feet long, 12 feet wide and 8 inches thick, the concrete reinforced deck is supported by a single suspension cable. The deck's distinctive curve has a radius of 214 feet and it is cantilevered toward the waterfall from supporting cables on the outside. The bridge deck also inclines 12 feet or 3% from east to west over the river.

[huntsvillefan]

This greenway and bridge is perfect for Huntsville and will help both downtown and Lowe Mill. I am personally very excited about this development. The only question for me is "how soon can it be completed?"

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by huntsvillefan

This greenway and bridge is perfect for Huntsville and will help both downtown and Lowe Mill. I am personally very excited about this development. The only question for me is "how soon can it be completed?"

When does the contest to name the bridge start??? Stargate! Starbridge! Rocketbridge! Umm... Orion Bridge! Werner Von Bridge!!!!

[JuanHunt]

A bridge over an 8 lane state highway is going to have to be built so that people cant jump or fall off into traffic, and cant throw stuff at the cars passing underneath. A clear plastic tube sounds nice.
Call it Bridgey McGhettobridge.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by JuanHunt

A bridge over an 8 lane state highway is going to have to be built so that people cant jump or fall off into traffic, and cant throw stuff at the cars passing underneath. A clear plastic tube sounds nice.
Call it Bridgey McGhettobridge.

I hope Phase II will extend it down to Pinhook Marina on Johnson Rd.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by JuanHunt

A bridge over an 8 lane state highway is going to have to be built so that people cant jump or fall off into traffic, and cant throw stuff at the cars passing underneath. A clear plastic tube sounds nice.
Call it Bridgey McGhettobridge.

a fly in the ointment may be aldont. This project will probably have to be reviewed by them which means a 10 year study.
In reality I think you will see this project under construction within a year.
They are in the engineering and design phase now so by the end of summer we should have more details with a go ahead soon after.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

correct
nice project


The company said a small section of the first floor of the garage will be revamped into five or six retail bays across from UG White and The Clinton Row Project.

Construction should begin this spring with hopes of opening the project by fall of this year.

one of the stores coming to this downtown project..opens this fall.
Roosevelt & Co., a gentleman's shop focused on upscale clothing, shoes, leather goods, grooming products and more.

The nearly 3,000-square-foot store will open at the Garage at Clinton Row

and a few blocks away at 5 Points a specialty market will open soon
http://www.walkersmarket.com/

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Engineering and design for an exciting new pedestrian/greenway set to begin.
This project will stretch from Holmes Ave downtown along Pinhook creek behind the VBC and end at Lowe Mill. It will include several pedestrian bridges a "pedestrian "skyway" over Memorial Parkway in the vicinity of Governors Dr. It will include landscaping, lighting, hardscapes, and signing.
This will be a great project, hopefully it will proceed quickly.

a few updates
Dennis Madsen, city director of urban and long-range planning says a "realistic timeline is multiple years." It will take a year to design the bridge and greenway section, and that has to be done first. It will take a year or longer – probably longer – to build the greenway. We won't be walking and riding on this path for a while, but city leaders say we will get there and beyond to the larger greenway plan.
This section is a "target of opportunity," Madsen says. Huntsville has been given a strong signal from Washington that it could get a $25 million TIGER grant from the Department of Transportation if it can present a "shovel ready" plan. Other Alabama cities have gotten them, but Huntsville hasn't.

What makes the plan work for Washington is it would connect "underserved communities to job centers in downtown and Lowe Mill," City Engineer Kathy Martin said. That means pedestrian access across the Parkway for west Huntsville residents who work at Huntsville Hospital and other downtown employers.
al.com

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

a few updates
Dennis Madsen, city director of urban and long-range planning says a "realistic timeline is multiple years." It will take a year to design the bridge and greenway section, and that has to be done first. It will take a year or longer – probably longer – to build the greenway. We won't be walking and riding on this path for a while, but city leaders say we will get there and beyond to the larger greenway plan.
This section is a "target of opportunity," Madsen says. Huntsville has been given a strong signal from Washington that it could get a $25 million TIGER grant from the Department of Transportation if it can present a "shovel ready" plan. Other Alabama cities have gotten them, but Huntsville hasn't.

What makes the plan work for Washington is it would connect "underserved communities to job centers in downtown and Lowe Mill," City Engineer Kathy Martin said. That means pedestrian access across the Parkway for west Huntsville residents who work at Huntsville Hospital and other downtown employers.
al.com

I understand the reasoning for the extended timeline for the bridge over the Parkway. It is a busy road and it will be difficult to stretch a pedestrian bridge over it, especially at this interchange.

[HSVTiger]

Coming soon?

[chadinhsv]

Is that supposed to be part of the TVA mega-site development? Looks pretty cool but where exactly did you get that from?

[David1502]

Originally Posted by chadinhsv

Is that supposed to be part of the TVA mega-site development? Looks pretty cool but where exactly did you get that from?

Here is a link to the project website:

http://www.ddpllc.com/the-oasis-concept-to-completion

The Oasis looks like it will most likely be a part of Town Madison because you can see in the picture an interstate highway on the edge of the development in the first picture. You can click in the picture to the right and then scroll through several artist's renderings of what they plan to build.

It will be interesting to see if this is part of the plan which Andres Duany comes up with for Town Madison. He designed the plan for the Village of Providence (among a hundred other projects worldwide).

Given all of the ongoing projects: Town Madison, City Centre in downtown, Mid City Huntsville (the redevelopment of Madison Square Mall) as well as the strictly retail development- the one just south of Whole Foods and the hotel/office/restaurant development at Redstone Gateway, it is impossible for me to see how the area can support another large scale development.

I can't see a bank financing another large scale project. Town Madison at least has the advantage of Louis Breland's deep projects as he is willing to pay the $22 million to build the interchange with I-565 to give access to his project.

Notice that I didn't include in the list the Constellation development at Clinton and Memorial Parkway. It was announced 10 years ago (at least?) and has one hotel to show for it.

[HSVTiger]

This project was announced October last year...groundbreaking tomorrow..
Gov. Robert Bentley and GE Aviation leaders and Huntsville officials will break ground Thursday on two factories that will cost over $200 million to build and when operating will employee 300 people.
This is a mile or so from the just announced TVA Megasite and across the interstate from soon to open Polaris manufacturing and the Target distribution facility at the I-565 /Greenbrier exit.

The factories will produce silicon carbide materials used to manufacture ceramic matrix composite components for jet engines and land-based gas turbines.

[TheCapstone]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Coming soon?

Wow.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by TheCapstone

Wow.

Looks like you are just as impressed by that huge fan that isn't attached to anything as I am!

[stallty]

From what I have heard this is a actual project and is going to be in Huntsville city limits. Wasn't given specifics on where exactly though.

[HSVTiger]

AC Hotel downtown Construction begins within the next 2 weeks, while not a show stopping design this rendering may not be the final look but close.


RCP Director of Acquisitions and Asset Management Odie Fakhouri said the hotel will be customized for Huntsville and have integrated new restaurants with rooftop bars and outdoor terraces overlooking Big Spring International Park.

"The results are delivery of a special hotel experience that resonates with the local market and embodies a unique personality within the brand," he said in a statement.

CityCentre at Big Spring, will also feature a 12,000-square-foot artisanal food hall called The Public Market designed by The Gravity Company, an Orlando consulting firm. Ray Schaefer, founding partner of The Gravity Company, said food halls offer a "snapshot of a community's culinary and cultural identity."

The food hall at CityCentre will be inspired by Ponce City Market and Krog Street in Atlanta, Eataly in Chicago and The Source in Denver.

[chadinhsv]

Finally a bar and restaurant on the roof. That is one thing that this city is missing that I love about other places.