Huntsville updates

[mp7123]

Originally Posted by mp7123

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

http://image.al.com/home/bama-media/width960/img/alphotos/photo/2016/08/08/-bc65f12655921f6c.JPG

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

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)

Makes much more sense. I think the AL.com quote was just poorly worded. I really hope that this airline turns out better than the Southern Airways Express situation in Birmingham. Of course, GLO in Huntsville will be flying larger planes, so I'm hoping that will provide greater assurance for its future at HSV.

[ThatGuy]

Is it just me or does the MidCity development give off the same vibes as Constellation. Sort of a "will build to suit" feel to it without any real demand. I think it will be at least 8 years before there is any movement on this project.

[stallty]

The only reason Constellation hasn't worked is because of who is developing it. He started on that project before BelkHudson, Twickenham, The Avenue and City Centre and all will be done before he really starts Constellation. There clearly was a demand and he had a prime spot but couldn't make it happen.

I would expect MidCity to start this year and take 5 years to fully build out, but as always in Huntsville I expect reality won't quite match the renderings.

IMO I like the overall feel of the development, I don't mind the architecture. I wouldn't expect ground breaking architecture in this kind of development even outside of Huntsville. That being said it is definitely a suburban development disguised as urban.

[HSVTiger]

Looks like the old abandoned Ramada Inn at the corner of University and The Boardwalk will be demolished to make way for Rooms To Go store

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Looks like the old abandoned Ramada Inn at the corner of University and The Boardwalk will be demolished to make way for Rooms To Go store

That is good news!

[ThatGuy]

Ambitious schedule for CityCentre build out...

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2016/08/post_405.html#incart_river_home

[mp7123]

Looks like the Residence in at City Center will be 13 floors. That has to be a stock rendering I would think. No way its going to be 13 floors.

[David1502]

Originally Posted by mp7123

Looks like the Residence in at City Center will be 13 floors. That has to be a stock rendering I would think. No way its going to be 13 floors.

I have my doubts about the Residence Inn being 13 floors, too. Primarily, because have never seen a high rise R.I. and where they are would most likely be in large cities where the land cost is so great that they have to build up - Huntsville land prices don't demand that. Most of the hotel business in downtown is driven by conventions at Von Braun and the article mentions the City of Huntsville's attempts to have 1,000 rooms within walking distance of Von Braun in order to attract more conventions.

It would be great if a 13 story hotel were being built at City Centre. On the north side of V.B. where the former Coke Bottling Plant was located, has a better chance of getting a high rise - several years ago, there was talk of a high rise Sheraton being built there.

It's a shame that an existing 13 story structure is not being used as a hotel - the former (historic) Russell Erskine Hotel building (on Clinton Ave.) is being used instead as public housing for seniors. If some investor could buy it from its present owners, it could easily be converted into a high end hotel.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I don't think there's a lack of demand for a Residence Inn as large as the rendering.

Consider this, Huntsville is a city bursting at its seems with tech companies, and not all of them are headquartered in town. That means that 1) Investors and representatives of companies looking to locate in the city need a longer term place to stay in the city, Residence Inn (especially this one) satisfies that demand, 2) Considering at not all of the many tech firms in Huntsville are headquartered in the area managers, supervisors, executives, etc... need a longer term place to stay, Residence Inn satisfies that demand, and 3) Huntsville is a city increasingly full of transplant residents with families that want to visit them, again, Residence Inn satisfies that demand.

Of course, we can't rely 100% on the rendering, but it certainly isn't outside the realm of possibility for a Residence Inn of that size to locate in Huntsville. I think another thing that satisfies the demand is that convention-goers might be in town for a few days if not for a week or so.

[HSVTiger]

In addition to these two hotels the city would like to have at least an additional
300 rooms downtown

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

In addition to these two hotels the city would like to have at least an additional
300 rooms downtown

I doubt it will take long for that 1,000 to be achieved.

Birmingham took great effort recently to achieve the same milestone, and now hotels are booming! Of course, Birmingham has a much larger footprint and influence, but Huntsville reaching 1,000 rooms would be VERY significant.

[downtownhsvguy]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

That is good news!

that would be awesome if on top of rooms to go there were apartments or office.. great corner to be underutilized.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by David1502

I have my doubts about the Residence Inn being 13 floors, too. Primarily, because have never seen a high rise R.I. and where they are would most likely be in large cities where the land cost is so great that they have to build up - Huntsville land prices don't demand that. Most of the hotel business in downtown is driven by conventions at Von Braun and the article mentions the City of Huntsville's attempts to have 1,000 rooms within walking distance of Von Braun in order to attract more conventions.

It would be great if a 13 story hotel were being built at City Centre. On the north side of V.B. where the former Coke Bottling Plant was located, has a better chance of getting a high rise - several years ago, there was talk of a high rise Sheraton being built there.

It's a shame that an existing 13 story structure is not being used as a hotel - the former (historic) Russell Erskine Hotel building (on Clinton Ave.) is being used instead as public housing for seniors. If some investor could buy it from its present owners, it could easily be converted into a high end hotel.

The art deco Times building would be a great boutique hotel with a parking deck/residence/retail across the street. That corner/intersection would be great with the new building on the opposite corner being built and the brewery/tap room there also,

[SpawnOfVulcan]

It certainly could provide that kick that the very center of the CBD needs.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

The art deco Times building would be a great boutique hotel with a parking deck/residence/retail across the street.

Isn't the deal with all the vintage buildings downtown that they don't meet current fire/safety codes? Something like they would have to put in another set of stairs and that shoots the renovation cost up higher than new construction? Something like that is what I remember. I think there was some effort to get special waivers, but haven't heard anything further on that issue.

[David1502]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

Isn't the deal with all the vintage buildings downtown that they don't meet current fire/safety codes? Something like they would have to put in another set of stairs and that shoots the renovation cost up higher than new construction? Something like that is what I remember. I think there was some effort to get special waivers, but haven't heard anything further on that issue.

You are exactly right. Originally, Scott McClain, the owner, looked into converting The Times Building into apartments or condos, however, the fire code requires that there be an additional staircase for any residential use. (When it was built in the 1940's, there weren't as many codes). Therefore, he decided to lease it as office space.

I still think the Russell Erskine is the most underutilized building in the HSV area. It is within a stones throw of the Von Braun, is directly part of the existing older street grid downtown (as opposed to the Embassy Suites and City Centre) and has classic architecture and an interesting history to make it into the elite historic classification of hotels which Marriott has. The problem is that when it came up for sale over 20 years ago (I'm guessing) there wasn't much activity downtown and the purchasers thought that public housing for seniors was their best return on their investment.

[HSVTiger]

Element hotel update

Mark Nelson, general manager of the 210-unit Westin, said levels 7-11 of the hotel will transform early next year to Element Huntsville, a 150-room facility.

The Westin is also adding 17 rooms, 11 of which will be suites, as well as a 5,000-square-foot ballroom adjacent to the hotel's existing function space.
The first floor will have an entrance for Westin customers and a separate entrance, lobby, check-in desk and set of elevators for Element guests. Element visitors will also have access to The Westin's bar and restaurant during their stay.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Academy Sports coming to the old Wal Mart location at Drake and Memorial Parkway. There will also be three other tenant spaces created.
This had been rumored for a while, good to see these Wal mart skeletons get new life.

Supposedly this project fell through and Academy may be locating elsewhere

This project is underway at Drake and the Parkway..the old Wal Mart

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

This project is underway at Drake and the Parkway..the old Wal Mart

The plans look like there will be two businesses. Any idea on what will be the second?