Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Hearing some chatter that the Constellation project downtown may be waking up from the dead. Until we see steel cranes and concrete it remains to be seen.
Don't cry wolf too many times.

Also a few blocks away the long neglected Councill High School is finally being revived. It was the only high school for black students in Huntsville for decades.
An $8 million plan unveiled Wednesday will preserve the original gymnasium and surrounding rooms, tear down the rest and create a public memorial and garden honoring Councill and other civil rights leaders. Funding will come initially from the city and private donations. City leaders also hope for financial support from Madison County and the state.

[HSVTiger]

Google Fiber update from WHNT TV and Huntsville Utilities.


HUNTSVILLE, Ala. –

The whole process starts with a fiber backbone, built by Huntsville Utilities.

Huntsville Utilities Spokesperson Joe Gehrdes says, “We are about 78% complete with the backbone fiber loop, which is what will feed the distribution fiber.”

Now they’ve hired Bear Communications of Kansas to build out the next stage. The company won a competitive bid process based on price and experience. Gehrdes says, “It’s a huge project, and so a company has got to be pretty robust to handle a project of this size. And they met the bid specifications and won the bid.”

Bear is set to begin construction on the distribution network on September 12. As fiber reaches neighborhoods, Google Fiber is in charge of carrying it to homes.

But as for the Huntsville Utilities part, Gehrdes says, “We’re on schedule. We’ll have to build the network out in three years. We anticipate the first section being ready for customers to receive service from whoever, in this case Google, late spring, early summer, which is consistent with what we’ve given since the beginning.”

They’ve also identified a starting point for the fiber network.

“We’ll begin that construction out in the Chase area, which is northeast Huntsville,” Gehrdes tells WHNT News 19, “We haven’t quite hammered out where it will go from there, but that area will see the first service offered from Google, we believe.”

That area is located on Jordan Rd. between Shields Rd. and Moores Mill Rd.

Right now, there’s a lean toward building counterclockwise from the northeast.

Gehrdes tells us, “That’s probably how it will go, but we and The Broadband Group, and Bear Communications, who is doing the fiber construction, are still working that out.”

[beergutbrew]

Green Bus Brewing opened last night in downtown Huntsville.
206 Eustis Ave SE, Huntsville, AL 35801

https://www.facebook.com/GreenBusBrewing/

[HSVTiger]

Google Fiber
Spokesman Joe Gehdres of Huntsville Utilities said crews began laying fiber optic cable this week in a subdivision at the corner of Winchester Road and Pulaski Pike. Next will come other neighborhoods in that area.
For purposes of expanding the fiber network, Huntsville has been divided into six districts. They are, roughly, northwest Huntsville, Five Points/Blossomwood area, Hampton Cove area, west Huntsville, southwest Huntsville and south Huntsville.
This is a three year installation project but Google Fiber high speed Internet services could begin as early as summer 2017, in this area.

[David1502]

The Oasis Huntsville now has an official website and it has to be the most far out there, over the top development which has been proposed in the HSV area. It's location is at the SW corner of the I-565/Greenbriar Rd. interchange and will be directly across the street from the entrance to the two GE Aircraft plants.

Here is a link to the website:http://www.oasisreg.com/

Be sure to watch the video.

Here are the main features:
1. Five buildings with 560,000 sq. ft. of usable space which will include the following:
2. "Northern Alabama's only true, full service four star hotel" What do they think the Westin Huntsville at Bridge Street is? The hotel will reach 160 ft. into the sky - the top of which will have a rooftop restaurant and lounge.
3. The ground floor experience throughout the project is dominated by 60,000 SF of food: restaurants, cafés, food stores, epicurean retail, bakery, pastry shop, and The Oasis Bazaar. Supporting the culinary arts will be a small demonstration farm and series of greenhouses to provide year-round ingredients to be consumed as close to the origin as possible. And a unique Culinary Incubator.4. Medical Office Buildings including a Conference Center.
5. The central plaza is considered a theater - This theater space will be filled with continuous programs: musical concerts, seasonal shows, farmers markets and bazaars. The Oasis Huntsville will have a full time events management office to keep events timely, fresh and exciting.The video and brochure emphasize that there is a population of 4.5 million within a 100 mile radius of this project. However, it seems unlikely that those who reside in the Birmingham and Nashville metro areas (the majority of the 4.5 million) will drive to Greenbriar Rd. For that matter, there are people in Hampton Cove who never or rarely ever travel to Bridge Street.

Crunkelton Associates, a HSV real estate firm is listed as the contact for leasing information.

My comment is good luck, but I have serious doubts if this will ever get off the ground. I could see a Holiday Inn Express and a McDonald's (and other fast food) to accommodate those visiting and those working at the Polaris, Target Distribution Center as well as the upcoming GE Aircraft plants. However, a project on this scale to be located in a location, where the five mile radius includes far more corn stalks than people, looks doubtful. If Town Madison, and Mid Huntsville have yet to make an announcement of anchor tenants as well as a date to get started building, I don't know what these guys are thinking.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by David1502

The Oasis Huntsville now has an official website and it has to be the most far out there, over the top development which has been proposed in the HSV area. It's location is at the SW corner of the I-565/Greenbriar Rd. interchange and will be directly across the street from the entrance to the two GE Aircraft plants.

Here is a link to the website:http://www.oasisreg.com/

Be sure to watch the video.

Here are the main features:
1. Five buildings with 560,000 sq. ft. of usable space which will include the following:
2. "Northern Alabama's only true, full service four star hotel" What do they think the Westin Huntsville at Bridge Street is? The hotel will reach 160 ft. into the sky - the top of which will have a rooftop restaurant and lounge.
3. The ground floor experience throughout the project is dominated by 60,000 SF of food: restaurants, cafés, food stores, epicurean retail, bakery, pastry shop, and The Oasis Bazaar. Supporting the culinary arts will be a small demonstration farm and series of greenhouses to provide year-round ingredients to be consumed as close to the origin as possible. And a unique Culinary Incubator.
4. Medical Office Buildings including a Conference Center.
5. The central plaza is considered a theater - This theater space will be filled with continuous programs: musical concerts, seasonal shows, farmers markets and bazaars. The Oasis Huntsville will have a full time events management office to keep events timely, fresh and exciting.

The video and brochure emphasize that there is a population of 4.5 million within a 100 mile radius of this project. However, it seems unlikely that those who reside in the Birmingham and Nashville metro areas (the majority of the 4.5 million) will drive to Greenbriar Rd. For that matter, there are people in Hampton Cove who never or rarely ever travel to Bridge Street.

Crunkelton Associates, a HSV real estate firm is listed as the contact for leasing information.

My comment is good luck, but I have serious doubts if this will ever get off the ground. I could see a Holiday Inn Express and a McDonald's (and other fast food) to accommodate those visiting and those working at the Polaris, Target Distribution Center as well as the upcoming GE Aircraft plants. However, a project on this scale to be located in a location, where the five mile radius includes far more corn stalks than people, looks doubtful. If Town Madison, and Mid Huntsville have yet to make an announcement of anchor tenants as well as a date to get started building, I don't know what these guys are thinking.

I think they're banking on growth along the corridor between Huntsville and Decatur. Of course, we're already seeing that occur with the amount of jobs that are flocking to this interchange (which not doubt will need to be upgraded in the near future). With the jobs that are coming to Greenbrier, residences will follow and so will additional retail.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by David1502

2. "Northern Alabama's only true, full service four star hotel" What do they think the Westin Huntsville at Bridge Street is?

I didn't hear him say the only, I heard him say the finest. Is there somewhere else on the site where they are claiming "only" as if the Westin doesn't exist? Because otherwise they are just claiming they will be the best.

EDIT: Now I see what you are saying in the PDF. I guess there must be something in that "true" to indicate they will provide something the Westin doesn't. A spa or sauna maybe?

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by David1502

The Oasis Huntsville now has an official website and it has to be the most far out there, over the top development which has been proposed in the HSV area.

I'm not holding my breath on this one, but, I have to admit, I was also pretty surprised that Bridgesteet actually got built.

[HSVTiger]

They are going to have to get with it to meet that timeline.

and this from WAFF

A major development that would sit off Research Park Boulevard in North Huntsville will be unveiled at a special meeting on Tuesday.

Huntsville City Councilman Richard Showers made the announcement that he’ll be on hand for the master plan release of “The Peaks” of North Huntsville. According to the renderings that were posted, the project includes a six to eight story hotel, convention center, a Topgolf facility, a Lifetime Fitness, Whole Foods, retail space, mixed use space and office space.

However, on Monday afternoon a spokesman for Topgolf, one of the businesses named as a major tenant, said the organization has no interest in "The Peaks" development. Zach Shor sent us an email stating the company is "familiar with ['The Peaks'], and though we are looking at a number of opportunities, this is not one of them."

A representative from Whole Foods claims the company has "no plans to build another store in Huntsville."

According to the city councilman’s facebook post, Representatives from Charisma III, will be in Huntsville for this meeting to answer questions regarding the proposed site development.

On a different direction now would be a perfect time for a new high rise convention hotel downtown to be announced.

[mp7123]

Amazing how all these huge projects are announced before elections. Most of these don't even make sense and probably will never happen... similar to a few years ago when multiple billion dollar developments were announced and not a single one materialized.

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by mp7123

Amazing how all these huge projects are announced before elections. Most of these don't even make sense and probably will never happen... similar to a few years ago when multiple billion dollar developments were announced and not a single one materialized.

Yep, especially since Showers is in a run-off. Do anything to retain their little fiefdom.

[TimCity2000]

Originally Posted by beergutbrew

Green Bus Brewing opened last night in downtown Huntsville.
206 Eustis Ave SE, Huntsville, AL 35801

https://www.facebook.com/GreenBusBrewing/

very cool. sounds like Huntsville is doing well in the craft beer scene.

[HSVTiger]

Fulfilling aldots motto "We will never finish a project within most peoples lifetime" this decades talked about project might just get started.

Local leaders from Madison County and the City of Madison announced that the new interchange on I-565 will begin construction in early 2017.

The Environmental Assessment Document was approved by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the United States Federal Highway Administration.

The final approval will allow for final design and construction to begin in January of 2017 and is estimated to be completed by summer of 2018. WAFF TV

[David1502]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Fulfilling aldots motto "We will never finish a project within most peoples lifetime" this decades talked about project might just get started.

Local leaders from Madison County and the City of Madison announced that the new interchange on I-565 will begin construction in early 2017.

The Environmental Assessment Document was approved by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the United States Federal Highway Administration.

The final approval will allow for final design and construction to begin in January of 2017 and is estimated to be completed by summer of 2018. WAFF TV

This is excellent news for Breland's Town Madison. Now, he will have to deliver and announce what retail, hotels and other businesses will locate there. According to the WAFF article, plans are for over 800,000 sq. ft. of retail, 700,000 sq. ft. of office space and 700 new hotel rooms. Here is the link to the WAFF-TV article: http://www.waff.com/story/33140208/construction-for-new-zierdt-road-interchange-to-begin-early-2017

To reach 800,00 sq. ft. of retail, a few large anchors will be needed. This leads to the perennial question of will Von Maur, Macy's, Dillard's build there or will Sears and JC Penney relocate there from the soon to be bulldozed Madison Square mall.

In comparison, Bridge Street has 550,000 sq. ft. with a 170,000 sq. ft. flagship Belk as the major anchor. If Town Madison has the typical, Target anchored strip center (as exists in three locations already), it is hard to see how they can achieve "over 800,000 sq. ft.". Therefore it seems almost imperative that at least one anchor (more likely several) will have well over 100,000 sq. ft. and this means most likely a department store. Another possibility is the new larger Kroger's which have over 100,000, but it's hard to see them building a third such store in the Madison area.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by David1502

This is excellent news for Breland's Town Madison. Now, he will have to deliver and announce what retail, hotels and other businesses will locate there. According to the WAFF article, plans are for over 800,000 sq. ft. of retail, 700,000 sq. ft. of office space and 700 new hotel rooms. Here is the link to the WAFF-TV article: http://www.waff.com/story/33140208/construction-for-new-zierdt-road-interchange-to-begin-early-2017

To reach 800,00 sq. ft. of retail, a few large anchors will be needed. This leads to the perennial question of will Von Maur, Macy's, Dillard's build there or will Sears and JC Penney relocate there from the soon to be bulldozed Madison Square mall.

In comparison, Bridge Street has 550,000 sq. ft. with a 170,000 sq. ft. flagship Belk as the major anchor. If Town Madison has the typical, Target anchored strip center (as exists in three locations already), it is hard to see how they can achieve "over 800,000 sq. ft.". Therefore it seems almost imperative that at least one anchor (more likely several) will have well over 100,000 sq. ft. and this means most likely a department store. Another possibility is the new larger Kroger's which have over 100,000, but it's hard to see them building a third such store in the Madison area.

Publix would probably move over, along with a new Lowes, Home Depot and Costco

[David1502]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Publix would probably move over, along with a new Lowes, Home Depot and Costco

True, but even with that group of stores, it seems like you're still a long way from having 800,000 sq. ft. of retail. I'm curious if the Valley Bend Shopping Center in Jones Valley even has 800,000 sq. ft. It has a Barnes and Nobel which is not a possibility as they have their Bridge Street store. Also, it seems unlikely that Old Navy, DSW Shoes or Ulta Cosmetics will move from Bridge Street, either.

[DP1]

The developers of Madison movie theater North of 72 and Hughes have a new contractor, so the construction has resumed.

[DP1]

Would be nice to see this up and running in 2018.

'The Oasis,' a dazzling new entertainment center, touted for Huntsville.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index....entertainment_cen.html#incart_river_home

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by DP1

Would be nice to see this up and running in 2018.

'The Oasis,' a dazzling new entertainment center, touted for Huntsville.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index....entertainment_cen.html#incart_river_home

Not that you would probably know but this project was revealed on this site December of 2015.

"This is conceptual only, may or may not be a real development. Location possibly along I-565 corridor, Greenbrier maybe. South Parkway another possibility, Completion currently early 2017 so if it's real then something needs to start happening soon.

The Oasis Huntsville is a micro-urban real estate development project in the City of Huntsville, AL. The 565,000 sf development will feature a mix of complimentary uses housed including a hotel, conference center, spa, office space and retail space."

But could this have some connection? Probably not but a lot of work went into the Oasis for just some fancy renderings
(WAFF) -
"Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said he's going to make a major announcement involving gambling later this week.

Bentley made the comments while in Limestone County on Tuesday.

"I'm not ready to announce what we're going to do but we may have some people looking at gaming in the state,” Bentley said. “And I'll be announcing that later in the week."

The revelation that gaming is once again on the governor's radar comes as a surprise. This comes just weeks after the state legislature failed to support Bentley's lottery bill. Bentley said it would have helped balance the state budget.

It's unclear if this week's announcement involves gambling, a lottery, or a combination of the two. Bentley did not say if this gaming release will involve the Porch Creek Indians."

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

They are going to have to get with it to meet that timeline.

and this from WAFF

A major development that would sit off Research Park Boulevard in North Huntsville will be unveiled at a special meeting on Tuesday.

Huntsville City Councilman Richard Showers made the announcement that he’ll be on hand for the master plan release of “The Peaks” of North Huntsville. According to the renderings that were posted, the project includes a six to eight story hotel, convention center, a Topgolf facility, a Lifetime Fitness, Whole Foods, retail space, mixed use space and office space.

However, on Monday afternoon a spokesman for Topgolf, one of the businesses named as a major tenant, said the organization has no interest in "The Peaks" development. Zach Shor sent us an email stating the company is "familiar with ['The Peaks'], and though we are looking at a number of opportunities, this is not one of them."

A representative from Whole Foods claims the company has "no plans to build another store in Huntsville."

According to the city councilman’s facebook post, Representatives from Charisma III, will be in Huntsville for this meeting to answer questions regarding the proposed site development.

On a different direction now would be a perfect time for a new high rise convention hotel downtown to be announced.

Update on the Peaks, nothing but a scam and shell game by councilman Showers who is in a runoff election.
Of course he blamed the mayor and anyone else that would listen but wouldn't talk to the media.
Hard to give up that cushy council gig