Huntsville updates

[jonnie256]

Its pretty sad that one of Huntsville's tallest buildings now is the new JAIL!!!!!wtf?..sad

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I'm beginning to think that all the people on this forum that are from the Tennessee Valley should form a group. Something like:

the Coalition Advocating North Alabama Rail Transit. CANART

or, my favorite

The Coalition Advocating a Commuter Rail System Between Huntsville and Decatur. TCACRSBHD

FuN!

[jmanhsv]

^That was a really random post... but I prefer HART (Huntsville Area Regional Transit). I think that would also be the best name for the regional transit authority, whenever our leaders realize we need one.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Haha, yes it was random. But, not trying to sound all pitiful and proud, but unless we wanna turn into a chaotic region like Birmingham, the name would need to be Huntsville-Decatur, or North Alabama, or Tennessee Valley.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

http://decaturdaily.com/stories/14689.html

Article in today's Daily about Bassmaster Elite holding it's three competitions in Alabama on the Tennessee River. The first will be held at Ingalls Harbor in Decatur.

The new harbor constructed a year or two back has more than paid for it's initial $1.8 Million investment.

[HSVTiger]

Yeah! a bit of the Gulf Coast in North Alabama in Guntersville

Wintzell's Oyster House has opened off U.S. 431 south just across the causeway from the city proper. It's situated on the water next to the Hampton Inn.

[marvingardns]

It might be time to consider some new leadership in Huntsville...

[Huntsville_secede]

Huntsville is just another city in Alabama that wants to remain the same and stay small, its not as progressive as it seems, research park makes it seem that way. In some ways its less progressive than even some other cities in Alabama, definitely Birmingham, I'd say even less progressive than Mobile and Tuscaloosa. They'll regret not developing a downtown or any other industry when these defense contracts start to disappear. I may be leaving this city soon, its just too backwards and slow and has too many of the same type of people (engineers) and a lack of women for a young single professional to enjoy living here. Yes they've improved a lot but they have a long way to go in this aspect and don't bash me because most young people I talk to feel this way about the area so if they are serious about attracting young talent to this city they have to do something to make them want to be here.

[tdawg]

I have to admit then when i go back to Huntsville for Christmas, I'm always shocked at how little the city has really changed since 1990 when I left for college.

[| BRAVO |]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

In some ways its less progressive than even some other cities in Alabama, definitely Birmingham, I'd say even less progressive than Mobile and Tuscaloosa.

Zoinks! How can this be? Inconceivable?

[Jacknah]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Huntsville is just another city in Alabama that wants to remain the same and stay small, its not as progressive as it seems, research park makes it seem that way. In some ways its less progressive than even some other cities in Alabama, definitely Birmingham, I'd say even less progressive than Mobile and Tuscaloosa. They'll regret not developing a downtown or any other industry when these defense contracts start to disappear. I may be leaving this city soon, its just too backwards and slow and has too many of the same type of people (engineers) and a lack of women for a young single professional to enjoy living here. Yes they've improved a lot but they have a long way to go in this aspect and don't bash me because most young people I talk to feel this way about the area so if they are serious about attracting young talent to this city they have to do something to make them want to be here.

It's hard for me to sympathize with people who complain about Huntsville not growing fast enough. If you want to live in a bigger city and all that comes with it, just move. The reason why people move to Huntsville is because they like it the way it is - not too big for their taste and not too small for their taste. Huntsville is not going to turn into a metropolis in this lifetime. That's going to be a gradual process. So you're wasting your time waiting for it. Just move to a larger city, like I did. Then come back to visit Huntsville now and then, and you may even enjoy the fact that it's not a metropolis with all the headaches and unfriendly people that come with it. I do.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Jacknah

It's hard for me to sympathize with people who complain about Huntsville not growing fast enough. If you want to live in a bigger city and all that comes with it, just move. The reason why people move to Huntsville is because they like it the way it is - not too big for their taste and not too small for their taste. Huntsville is not going to turn into a metropolis in this lifetime. That's going to be a gradual process. So you're wasting your time waiting for it. Just move to a larger city, like I did. Then come back to visit Huntsville now and then, and you may even enjoy the fact that it's not a metropolis with all the headaches and unfriendly people that come with it. I do.

NOWHERE did I say that Huntsville isn't growing fast enough, it's actually growing pretty fast. I was specifically talking about its lack of character (especially downtown), diversity and lack of attracting young people. Most of the people who move here are old and the same type of people (usually people who don't want to do much and live a very simple lifestyle) This has nothing to do with it being a big or fast growing city, there are smaller cities or comparably sized cities that are much more vibrant and diverse than Huntsville. The city CLAIMS they want to attract more young professionals to fill all of these engineering job openings that are projected but if they want to do that they are seriously going to have to improve the culture and diversity of this city or just keep attracting the type of people that don't care about those things and just want a city with a low cost of living and decent quality of life. Part of the problem is that Huntsville is growing fast but there seems to be a mindset here that they want to hold on to the past and remain small and the same (e.g. height limits downtown) not a good combination, but guess what if you keep recruiting for thousands of jobs you can't remain the same. If they don't want to grow and diversify then don't recruit for so many jobs. Growing at the rate Huntsville is and doing so primarily outward with no development in the core areas (downtown, no subdivisions closer to the city will lead to many problems in the future). Don't get me wrong I think Huntsville is a really nice city, it has a lot to offer I'm just pointing out some areas that it fails in. Much can be done to improve it though without losing the things Huntsville has going for it.

[g-man435]

Move to Greenville. We're growing pretty fast.

[HSVTiger]

I can see the points mentioned above. Huntsville with all it's rankings, accomplishments, technology and growth (leads the state currently, never seems to have much to show for it. (The VW plant trumped everything at least image wise). The downtown should be a technology showplace but isn't, same ugly buildings that were built 5 presidents ago, the road system is pathetic (ALDOT gets the blame here) Federal highways that have not changed in 50 years and architecture that does not exist except in historical areas. There are very big bright spots, Research Park, airport area, parks and some residential areas, but the city is spinning it's wheels in many areas. A perfect example to look at is Chattanooga, once left for dead is now the leader.
But we still love Huntsville, I guess it's the potential we see wasted or missed opportunities that keeps everybody upset.
When is the big transformation (especially downtown) going to take place, if not now during good job growth then when?
A downtown reserach park should be established, a requirement that the buildings be of signature design quality, an invitation for a high rise convention hotel.
Start the renovation and expansion of the VBC, Constellation either start or get out of the way, improve downtown access via Governors Drive and Church Street.
Speed up development of the Dallas Mill area as starting points.

Hudson Alpha would have been a great addition downtown, level the slum loard eyesores south of the train station and put op a gleaming 20 story building with smaller
midrises for parking and labs. Create a water canal linear park to link Big Spring and use the train station as a lite rail link to Research Park and Huntsville International.
Now that would create a change, is it feasible? about as possible as VW building a plant in Chattanooga.

[HSVTiger]

ALDOT complaint #432
Ok I have to give credit to ALDOT for jumping through hoops for VW surveying
and all that jazz on Greenbrier Rd. But on the other hand why can't they put overhead direcctional signs at the Old Madison Pike/Research Park interchange? If you are from out of town and make into Bridge Street (yes people do visit Huntsville Aldot)
you have no clue or idea of how to get to I-565/I-65 even though it is very simple but no road identification of any kind. Brilliant!!

[jmanhsv]

Yeah, Huntsville hasn't given me any reason to stay here after college, except that this is where the jobs and growth are/will be. I think the problem is all those "best place to live" rankings that Tiger mentioned. It gives residents (as well as city officials) a mentality that this city is fine the way it is; a Utopian paradise where everyone is happy. Unfortunately, this also gives leaders a very bright view of the future, where we will always have high-paying jobs, cheap farmland 20 miles away, and 15-20 minute commutes. So until our leaders wake up and realize they need to prepare for a future not as bright and sunny as they imagine (VW's decision and/or a delay of BRAC might be a turning point), this city will be naive to its problems.

I agree about the downtown research park; if not that, at least some incentives for some of the tech companies in CRP to set up shop downtown. However, I don't see that happening until CRP runs out of land, which shouldn't be more than a decade.

Originally Posted by g-man435

Move to Greenville. We're growing pretty fast.

Is anyone else getting annoyed with this guy? I'm tired of hearing crap about Greenville. I'm sure it's a nice city, but I don't think it's appropriate for the HUNTSVILLE thread. Do we bombard your threads with Huntsville boosterism? Besides, growth isn't the problem here; we're growing as fast as Nashville (percentage-wise of course) and faster than Greenville.

[HSVTiger]

Ah g-mans ok he's just passionate about Greenville. Huntsville should pay attention to what Greenville is doing as well. Most good ideas come from someplace else, and posts about other places now and then keep the fire going.
We need the push sometimes.

[super_adam]

I'd rather be dead in Alabama than alive in South Carolina

[The 251]

Originally Posted by super_adam

I'd rather be dead in Alabama than alive in South Carolina

LMFAO

[Shawn35816]

Most of the frustration seems to be stemming from the loss of the VW plant. I know if we had won it everyone would be singing a different tune. I'm not saying some of the comments are not right, I'm just saying that the lid seems to have come off after that decision. We now see the faults that we otherwise might have looked over in our elected officials, and throw blame on them. Well, pretty soon you will be able to take part in electing new officials.

It just seems like a lot of frustration to me.

Huntsville will be all right. It's a leader in the state, and in the nation. Everything won't go our way everytime but we will get our share.