Huntsville updates

[jmanhsv]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

There were periods after Sweet.Home. are they still on it?
why it has to be tied in with a redneck song is the question, but the image is okay. Sales from Montgomery north may not be that great, just like the Saturn V plates probably don't go too far south of the Tennessee River.

No, the even better question is, why did the state spend $25,000 to get rights to use the song?

The plate looks fine, but I would have rather seen a variation of the "First to the Moon" plates go standard. That would do a whole lot more good for the image of this state than a pretty beach picture. Come on... Even Mississippi has beaches.

[Rail Claimore]

The new plate is a step up from the "Stars Fell on Alabama" design.

Two questions:

1) Are they still going to do the county numbering system? I think we should go away from that. There are too many Sheriff Bubbas in rural parts of the state looking to pull over anyone with a 1, 2, 3, or 47.

2) Where are the stickers going to go? I see they've put "Heart of Dixie" at the top-right corner, and that has to show (by state law). Yet, the bottom part of the plate looks more covered with graphics. My guess is that they're going to do what several other states have begun doing: Issue just one sticker with both the month and year on it for the top-left corner.

[TimCity2000]

^ not to mention that Madison County should be the true "3" tag, lol.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

yea, I think I read that they're still using the numbering system.

[OCA REP]

Originally Posted by Alabadrock

yea, I think I read that they're still using the numbering system.

Yes; they are... BUT, anyone can also option to get one of the red-white-blue (God Bless America) tags that does not have any indicator for the county. I prefer the tags that indicate the county, because sometimes I just like to know where a vehicle is from. That being said, my truck has an Auburn University tag and you cannot indicate my county with one of those.

[Jugernagt]

Originally Posted by OCA REP

my truck has an Auburn University tag...

Which is even more of a reason to pull you over.

[TimCity2000]

Wow, this is pretty cool. I just went to www.yahoo.com (it's about 11:00 pm on Thursday night), and Huntsville's skyline is on the front page...

...unfortunately it's for an article about states that are facing a budget crisis.

[marvingardns]

Laughing out loud!

[HSVTiger]

Mayor Battle talks downtown a bit, he just barely got into possibilities

"Several developers and architects complain in private about the city's lack of "vision" downtown. They cite ongoing battles over parking, building heights and building codes. Will you try to spur more development downtown?

There are "smart codes" that allow consistency in building and setbacks of buildings, which provide for a beautiful downtown area. Montgomery has been using smart codes for a while.

(So-called smart codes allow people to live above their businesses, let cities plan for greenspace, encourage the reuse of existing buildings and promote pedestrian-friendly designs, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.)

The second thing is to look at doing affordable housing downtown, with lofts and flats for rent in the $600- to $1,000-a-month range. People who could live there would be the support staff of the downtown professional crowd, and techs and nurses from the hospital. That gives us young people downtown and foot traffic, which drives retail trade.

(I think this comment is still to focused on the small courthouse square, instead should look at the entire downtown area. Don't be so limited, the Courthouse isn't stopping anything)

"Staying downtown, several architects and planners view the Madison County Courthouse as the biggest impediment to remaking or re-envisioning the center city because of its size, location, age and dated design. Do you agree, and if so, what can you do about it?

I agree it has problems, but I don't know what the city can do about it. I think age will eventually take care of it, and I look forward to the day we have a signature building anchoring our downtown."

[SouthSky]

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

There are too many Sheriff Bubbas in rural parts of the state looking to pull over anyone with a 1, 2, 3, or 47.

Unfortunately that happens in Baldwin County for the oh-so-many Mobile residents traveling across the Bay.

But southern Baldwin isn't that rural anymore. They just like screwing around with Mobile residents. My one speeding ticket has been in Baldwin County from a Sheriff.

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Mayor Battle talks downtown a bit, he just barely got into possibilities

"Several developers and architects complain in private about the city's lack of "vision" downtown. They cite ongoing battles over parking, building heights and building codes. Will you try to spur more development downtown?

There are "smart codes" that allow consistency in building and setbacks of buildings, which provide for a beautiful downtown area. Montgomery has been using smart codes for a while.

(So-called smart codes allow people to live above their businesses, let cities plan for greenspace, encourage the reuse of existing buildings and promote pedestrian-friendly designs, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.)

The second thing is to look at doing affordable housing downtown, with lofts and flats for rent in the $600- to $1,000-a-month range. People who could live there would be the support staff of the downtown professional crowd, and techs and nurses from the hospital. That gives us young people downtown and foot traffic, which drives retail trade.

(I think this comment is still to focused on the small courthouse square, instead should look at the entire downtown area. Don't be so limited, the Courthouse isn't stopping anything)

"Staying downtown, several architects and planners view the Madison County Courthouse as the biggest impediment to remaking or re-envisioning the center city because of its size, location, age and dated design. Do you agree, and if so, what can you do about it?

I agree it has problems, but I don't know what the city can do about it. I think age will eventually take care of it, and I look forward to the day we have a signature building anchoring our downtown."

That last sentence is exactly why TB is right for this community. Spencer was all about kisisng up to the old folks and not worried about if the city grew or not.

But here's a suggestion. Why not build a new downtown as in more south towards the river? There's so much potential out that way. Look at Memphis and Chattanooga. Those cities have their downtowns right on the river. We should consider that. That way height issues would no longer come into play.

Some fo the most beautified cities in America are built along riverfronts. Huntsville could make this happen and create a growth spert that could surpass Birmingham one day.

[g-man435]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

That last sentence is exactly why TB is right for this community. Spencer was all about kisisng up to the old folks and not worried about if the city grew or not.

But here's a suggestion. Why not build a new downtown as in more south towards the river? There's so much potential out that way. Look at Memphis and Chattanooga. Those cities have their downtowns right on the river. We should consider that. That way height issues would no longer come into play.

Some fo the most beautified cities in America are built along riverfronts. Huntsville could make this happen and create a growth spert that could surpass Birmingham one day.

Greenville's downtown is also built right along a river and it has really paid off. Hope Huntsville can do the same. Maybe the city could do something like this but with highrises included of course: http://www.riverplacesc.com/

[Jugernagt]

Someone told me that the entire business center at 4725 University Drive has been condemned. This complex is on the corner of University and Wynn Drive, commonly known as the "Pink building" and houses Rugby's. Every unit had a notice pinned to the doors stating the tenant had to move because the building structure was unstable. The worst part of this complex is a condominium where the tenants own their unit.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by Jugernagt

Someone told me that the entire business center at 4725 University Drive has been condemned. This complex is on the corner of University and Wynn Drive, commonly known as the "Pink building" and houses Rugby's. Every unit had a notice pinned to the doors stating the tenant had to move because the building structure was unstable. The worst part of this complex is a condominium where the tenants own their unit.

But they just changed the roof on that place not even 2 months ago. I'm surprised.

[jmanhsv]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

That last sentence is exactly why TB is right for this community. Spencer was all about kisisng up to the old folks and not worried about if the city grew or not.

But here's a suggestion. Why not build a new downtown as in more south towards the river? There's so much potential out that way. Look at Memphis and Chattanooga. Those cities have their downtowns right on the river. We should consider that. That way height issues would no longer come into play.

Some fo the most beautified cities in America are built along riverfronts. Huntsville could make this happen and create a growth spert that could surpass Birmingham one day.

Well, here's the problem with moving downtown to the Tennessee River... the point of a downtown is to be central and convenient to everything and everyone in the city. While it might look nice and modern, a downtown near the Tennessee River would be convenient to only people in extreme south Huntsville and Lacey's Spring. It would take about 40 minutes to get from my house just north of Huntsville to this "new" downtown; it would probably take longer to get to there from "Spencer's Folly" (aka Southeast Limestone County). Infrastructure might be a bit of a problem, too; I doubt Hobbs Island Road (or even the Parkway in its current state) would be able to handle the amount of traffic a downtown area would create.

Let's improve on what we've got. Eliminate the height limits, and accelerate plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods, especially those to the north and west, and make them a mix of mid-rise condo/office towers. And for those who want a river through downtown, we can improve Pinhook Creek with a network of parks and bike paths running along it.

[neilson]

Anyone think we'll ever see a bridge across the Tennessee River on Wall-Triana Hwy? I think that would be extremely lucrative for Tim James and his toll bridge ppl to build.

[HSVTiger]

New Lee High School scheduled to open in 2011. This should help stimulate
growth in NE Huntsville. The current Lee High was built in 1958.


SKT Architects

Frank Nola of SKT Architects in Huntsville unveiled several renderings of the $42.5 million project, which will boast a 1,000-seat auditorium, ample green space, and several amenities for its magnet program.

"I'm really impressed," said Paul Parvin, principal at the current Lee. He said teachers are excited, too.

"Beautiful building," said board member Alta Morrison.

The 250,000-square-foot school is designed for 1,200 students. The school will have more than 50 classrooms, a 500-seat cafeteria, and separate halls for core subjects, such as science and math.

The school is divided into three wings for core subjects, athletics and magnet classes.

[marvingardns]

There IS a downtown next to the river and its called Decatur. Intriguing, though, about building a bridge across the river at Triana. I've thought about that before because the development along the south bank has some potential for both Decatur and Huntsville. Unfortunately I think you would run into obstacles such as Triana's politics and the Refuge, not to mention there would be NO traffic along that bridge until development opens up along the south bank. That rules out a toll bridge.

Saw some surveying going on the old Dallas Mill property next to the Lincoln Mill. Wonder what's going on there.

[HSVTiger]

At Huntsville International Airport

Passenger traffic at Huntsville International Airport fell 4.2 percent to 95,810 in September compared with the previous September, but it has risen 4.1 percent year to date over the same period in 2007.
At the Intermodal Center, rail cargo traffic increased 13 percent in September from the same month a year ago. The 4,417 rail lifts were a record for September.

In other business, airport Deputy Director Butch Roberts told the board that the new west wing concourse is expected to open by Nov. 21 and the new restrooms by Nov. 10.
HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

Demolition is set to begin on part of the old Council Court housing project
downtown. This area adjacent to Huntsville Hospital is set for major redevelopment which may include, residential, hospitality, and retail elements.