Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Should not really effect the Huntsville Cabela's or others in the region unless they change the name. Probably means no Bass Pro in the area (Decatur or Town Madison)
The New York Post reported Wednesday night that Bass Pro Shops, which is partnering with Goldman Sachs, has emerged as the only bidder for Cabela's and that a deal to buy the company's retail stores could be just days away

[Wayward Memphian]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Should not really effect the Huntsville Cabela's or others in the region unless they change the name. Probably means no Bass Pro in the area (Decatur or Town Madison)
The New York Post reported Wednesday night that Bass Pro Shops, which is partnering with Goldman Sachs, has emerged as the only bidder for Cabela's and that a deal to buy the company's retail stores could be just days away

This has been talked about for over a year in these parts. Bass Pro seemed set to open a new store in Springdale near the Ballpark according to the rumor mill and talk stopped and Bass Pro is buying Cabelas started. It will be interesting in how much he transforms Cabelas storefront design to his.

It will be interesting where they they both have large stores like the KC area. Both being on the Kansas side about 20 minutes apart.

[Tennhioland]

New retail/office development downtown.

https://crunkletonblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/02/holmes-greene-like-youve-never-seen-them-before/

[stallty]

Originally Posted by Tennhioland

New retail/office development downtown.

https://crunkletonblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/02/holmes-greene-like-youve-never-seen-them-before/

This is great news, we need all the infill projects we can get downtown and the third floor restaurant option would be a great addition to the dining scene.

The office space is actually being specifically built for a company moving from Research Park, maybe this will become a trend. Now we just need the parking garage/apartment project to come back from the dead across the street and the intersection would be complete.

[chadinhsv]

Originally Posted by stallty

This is great news, we need all the infill projects we can get downtown and the third floor restaurant option would be a great addition to the dining scene.

The office space is actually being specifically built for a company moving from Research Park, maybe this will become a trend. Now we just need the parking garage/apartment project to come back from the dead across the street and the intersection would be complete.

Yeah, I like this project a lot. We need more rooftop dining downtown and I know the Big Spring Centre is going to have one or two when they eventually build it. I agree with you in hoping that companies from research park will move downtown especially if they aren't needed to do field work or go onto the arsenal all the time. I wish my office would move downtown. There is no real need for us at the arsenal, but one can only hope.

What did you mean about the parking garage/apartment project that needs to come back from the dead in that area? Were there plans for something in that parking lot across from OTBX next to United Methodist?

[stallty]

There was a proposal for that parking lot that included a 5 story parking deck and apartment building. The only thing I could find quickly was the following link.

http://huntsvilledevelopment.blogspot.com/2008/02/apartment-buildinggarage-rendering.html

This was not the updated rendering though. It looked more like a "providence" building in the final concept. It was proposed before any of the other apartments that are currently downtown. Its safe to say it is a dead proposal though.

[stallty]

I also found on Randy Schrimsher's website a rendering for the Heritage club redevelopment.

http://schrimsherproperties.net/downtown-offices-retail/

It look like they are taking out the alley, which I believe would be a mistake. They could make that space into something neat.

[Tennhioland]

Originally Posted by stallty

I also found on Randy Schrimsher's website a rendering for the Heritage club redevelopment.

http://schrimsherproperties.net/downtown-offices-retail/

It look like they are taking out the alley, which I believe would be a mistake. They could make that space into something neat.

Maybe that plan is a bit out of date, because that is the location of the proposed Washington Park. The article is only a few months old. That will be great if some nice stores and restaurants come into those spaces.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2016/04/huntsville_group_has_big_plans.html

[chadinhsv]

Originally Posted by stallty

There was a proposal for that parking lot that included a 5 story parking deck and apartment building. The only thing I could find quickly was the following link.

http://huntsvilledevelopment.blogspot.com/2008/02/apartment-buildinggarage-rendering.html

This was not the updated rendering though. It looked more like a "providence" building in the final concept. It was proposed before any of the other apartments that are currently downtown. Its safe to say it is a dead proposal though.

Oh I had never seen that plan before. That would have been really nice to have in that spot. Reading through it, it seems that they got their wish with the Twickenham Property build.

[David1502]

Originally Posted by chadinhsv

Yeah, I like this project a lot. We need more rooftop dining downtown and I know the Big Spring Centre is going to have one or two when they eventually build it. I agree with you in hoping that companies from research park will move downtown especially if they aren't needed to do field work or go onto the arsenal all the time. I wish my office would move downtown. There is no real need for us at the arsenal, but one can only hope.

What did you mean about the parking garage/apartment project that needs to come back from the dead in that area? Were there plans for something in that parking lot across from OTBX next to United Methodist?

A dining option for downtown which the City of Huntsville should pursue is Puckett's Grocery Restaurant out of Nashville. If they can have a successful restaurant on the square on Columbia, TN, surely they can make a go of it in downtown HSV. Their restaurants, in addition to providing classic southern fare offer live entertainment on nights and weekends. They opened a new location in Chattanooga near the TN Aquarium and I'm sure it's doing well just because of the volume of tourists in their downtown.

RE: Moving offices out of Cummings Research Park to downtown, I'm not sure that's such a good thing considering that CRP is about a third empty and this reality led to the study being done recently to revitalize it and make it more attractive to companies by providing other uses within the park. It is not good for the City to have its major corporate address look abandoned.

To improve downtown, it seems there needs to be more residential and retail/restaurants - there have been hundreds of folks working in law firms (And some in the bail bond business, too, LOL) for years downtown and that hasn't led to much improvement (from what I can see). It's hard to see how adding more office workers who will leave at 5 o'clock will make much difference. Having a population who are there at night will make a difference whether they live there or are just visiting the restaurants.

A good model is the Village of Providence where there is a synergy between the residents in single family homes or apartments, guests staying in the soon to be three hotels, and office workers who all contribute to the business of the restaurants and retail there.

Likewise, Bridge Street usually has good pedestrian traffic at night when the weather is not too bad. This should be a good example for seeing more street life in the downtown area.

[Tennhioland]

Originally Posted by David1502

To improve downtown, it seems there needs to be more residential and retail/restaurants - there have been hundreds of folks working in law firms (And some in the bail bond business, too, LOL) for years downtown and that hasn't led to much improvement (from what I can see). It's hard to see how adding more office workers who will leave at 5 o'clock will make much difference. Having a population who are there at night will make a difference whether they live there or are just visiting the restaurants.

CityCentre and The Avenue will help a lot. The immediate area around the Von Braun Center needs to have restaurant/bar/entertainment options. Again, CityCentre will help out some there. The garage across Monroe St is ugly and an enormous waste of prime space near the VBC and Big Spring Park. Wish it was 4 or 5 levels and they could open up more land along Monroe and the park. Pedestrian walkways from the garage over Monroe to the VBC would be nice too.

A downtown baseball stadium at the Coke site would also help restaurants in that area and add evening traffic. And a 500-1000 person indoor concert venue is a dream of mine! I need to win the powerball soon.

[HSVTiger]

Lets hope its new service from Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant or Alaska Airlines.
All four have been expanding a lot lately
For the governor to come and make the announcement at the ticket counter is a bit unusual. It could also be an industrial announcement from the recent Farnborough International airshow.

Gov. Robert Bentley make a major announcement involving the Huntsville International Airport next week

Bentley will join Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong and other partners for the event, which begins at 10 a.m. Monday on 1000 Glenn Hearn Boulevard at the ticket counters of the airport.

Huntsville International Airport is part of the Port of Huntsville, which also includes the International Inter-modal Center for air and rail cargo and Jetplex Industrial Park.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Lets hope its new service from Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant or Alaska Airlines.
All four have been expanding a lot lately
For the governor to come and make the announcement at the ticket counter is a bit unusual. It could also be an industrial announcement from the recent Farnborough International airshow.

Gov. Robert Bentley make a major announcement involving the Huntsville International Airport next week

Bentley will join Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong and other partners for the event, which begins at 10 a.m. Monday on 1000 Glenn Hearn Boulevard at the ticket counters of the airport.

Huntsville International Airport is part of the Port of Huntsville, which also includes the International Inter-modal Center for air and rail cargo and Jetplex Industrial Park.

I thought it kind of odd too. It seems more likely that it would be an industrial announcement or something other than commercial service.

If it's an announcement about commercial service, I really hope that it's no a low cost carrier that we had to bribe to to get service from like we did AirTran...

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by David1502

RE: Moving offices out of Cummings Research Park to downtown, I'm not sure that's such a good thing considering that CRP is about a third empty and this reality led to the study being done recently to revitalize it and make it more attractive to companies by providing other uses within the park. It is not good for the City to have its major corporate address look abandoned.

T.

Does anyone know the status of changing CRP zoning to allow restaurants, coffee shops, etc?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by stallty

I also found on Randy Schrimsher's website a rendering for the Heritage club redevelopment.

http://schrimsherproperties.net/downtown-offices-retail/

It look like they are taking out the alley, which I believe would be a mistake. They could make that space into something neat.

Maybe just putting a glass entryway

[SpawnOfVulcan]

So.... the HSV announcement is something less than spectacular. It's just a non-stop to New Orleans that will only last until early November on a 30 passenger plane....

The AL.com article was unclear if this route would be a long term seasonal type deal or if it was a "try and see" thing. Really looks like a startup airline putting its feelers out.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by tascalisa

So.... the HSV announcement is something less than spectacular. It's just a non-stop to New Orleans that will only last until early November on a 30 passenger plane....

The AL.com article was unclear if this route would be a long term seasonal type deal or if it was a "try and see" thing. Really looks like a startup airline putting its feelers out.

No reason for the governor to be here for that. Bentley just likes to be seen.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by tascalisa

So.... the HSV announcement is something less than spectacular. It's just a non-stop to New Orleans that will only last until early November on a 30 passenger plane....

The AL.com article was unclear if this route would be a long term seasonal type deal or if it was a "try and see" thing. Really looks like a startup airline putting its feelers out.

Actually this has been in the works for awhile. Nowhere does it say until November The special will (99$) each way ends in November. After that it goes up to $150 This connection
should appeal to NASA as it now links Michoud, Stennis directly to Marshall.
Also it does create jobs
Corporate Flight Management (CFM) will operate the service, which will create 150 direct and indirect jobs in Huntsville. GLO officials expect the expansion will have an estimated $1 million economic impact.

This is a start, if they are successful then we will see additional service and hopefully the bigger guys (Frontier, Alaska, Spirit, Allegiant) will step in also.
There are potentially 100,000 customers that these airlines could tap into not counting the 1 million or so yearly passengers the airport has now.

on another note tonite we will see some updated renderings for the Mid City develeopment (Madison Square mall property)

[HSVTiger]

Mid City rendering..boring architecture.
Can Huntsville have any building that gets up off the ground and is memorable?
So far no


while the project is great the company doing it has tunnel vision and is locked into a trademark off the shelf architecture


Its great they are doing this but its very predictable and sad


RCP developed the Whole Foods-anchored Shops at Merchants Walk on South Memorial Parkway and recently started construction on CityCentre at Big Spring at the old Holiday Inn site in downtown Huntsville. Last month, the company announced it will open Jodeco | Atlanta South, a $300 million project with Cabela's as its first tenant and a 12,000-square-foot Mt. Olive Market food hall.

[mp7123]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Mid City rendering..boring architecture.
Can Huntsville have any building that gets up off the ground and is memorable?
So far no


while the project is great the company doing it has tunnel vision and is locked into a trademark off the shelf architecture


Its great they are doing this but its very predictable and sad


RCP developed the Whole Foods-anchored Shops at Merchants Walk on South Memorial Parkway and recently started construction on CityCentre at Big Spring at the old Holiday Inn site in downtown Huntsville. Last month, the company announced it will open Jodeco | Atlanta South, a $300 million project with Cabela's as its first tenant and a 12,000-square-foot Mt. Olive Market food hall.

If you look closely, there is an REI in the rendering with the pond and canoes.