Huntsville updates

[Ryan Sanders]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Hopefully this one will be better, the one in Decatur seems to be ok, very busy. The HSV store looks nice in any case, big bucks for that location,
has a upscale quality feel to it.
Restaurants , really no in between , either good or bad. Makes you wonder how Hardees can stay in business.

I have been wandering that too. How in the world does Hardees stay in business. It has to be their breakfast.. cause that is the only time I have seen anyone there. Atleast in Jasper. I worked there not long ago during highschool and I worked some days where NOBODY would come in (this is during the evening of course). We had a few through the drive-thru, but that was it.

[HSVTiger]

Find your best fare
Airport e-mail program has new feature
Huntsville International Airport’s fare alert e-mail program has a new feature that searches hundreds of Web sites to find the best fares.

Huntsville Hot Ticket, which lets customers know each week about the lowest fares to top destinations, was launched in early 2005. The new feature, called Farechaser, lets participants customize their fare searches, said Barbie Peek, the airport’s director of marketing. Farechaser will search online agencies like Expedia and Travelocity as well as airline Web sites for the best fares when and where a traveler wants to fly.

A traveler must subscribe to the free Huntsville Hot Ticket program to use the new search tool, Peek told the Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority on Tuesday. Anyone can register at www.HuntsvilleHotTicket.com to receive the free weekly e-mail.

There are now 33,000 subscribers to Huntsville Hot Ticket, Peek said.
The e-mail alert shows the lowest fares available to top destinations from Huntsville as well as the travel dates and air carriers offering the fare.

Meanwhile, passenger traffic at the airport increased .6 percent in March, compared to the count in March 2006, said Rick Tucker, the airport’s executive director. That leaves the number of passengers in the first three months of this year – 269,563 – down .3 percent compared to 2006 figures.

Marian Accardi

the slight increase most likely due to United nonstops to Denver.
HSV is still recovering from the loss off discount Independence Air
over a year ago. The airport is relentless in trying to attract new service.

[HSVTiger]

Glad this was booted, Huntsville's crown jewels are the mountains that
are intertwined with the city. Every time a crappy (albeit expensive)
home is built on a slope somewhere it tarnishes that crown a little bit.

Green Mountain subdivision plan dropped
The developer of a controversial 195-lot subdivision on Huntsville’s Green Mountain has withdrawn his rezoning request which would allow a higher density mix of homes.

The issue was scheduled to be on Thursday night’s agenda of the Huntsville City Council. Jerry Cargile with 4Site Inc. of Huntsville, sent city planners a letter requesting the rezoning request by his client be pulled from the agenda.

Mountain residents vehemently protested the plan, saying the proposed Inspiration Point on Green Mountain development would create traffic, environmental and drainage problems and destroy the character of their community.

Love Development, a partner with a California-based development owners group, wanted to transform the 127-acre tract into a development of single family houses and townhomes.

--John Peck HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

"Griffith delays filing deannex bill
MONTGOMERY – State Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, said today he will delay for at least a week filing a bill that would deannex 263 acres of commercial property from Madison.

Griffith said he believes officials from the City of Madison and the owner of the property, developer Louis Breland, are nearing an agreement. He is negotiating to build an estimated $500 million shopping center just south of Interstate 565.

Today was the first day the bill could be introduced in the Legislature.

“I’m going to hold off at least a week,” Griffith said before the Senate convened today. “I believe a negotiated settlement of this matter is very near. I’ve got my fingers crossed.”

The local bill was advertised by Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, but Barron said he did it only as a favor to Breland and never intended to sponsor it.

Breland has sought to deannex his property off Zierdt Road from Madison, contending the city could not live up to its incentive pledges."

Bob Lowry, HSV Times

this deal still being worked out
from WAFF
"Senator Parker Griffith says they won't introduce the bill this week because senators feel there's enough movement on both sides that there's a resolution near.

He continues to say it doesn't appear it will even come to the senate.

Kirkindall tells WAFF 48 Investigators, "They're still a threat. They're not acting on them right now, but they're still there."

Both parties' financial analysts have met.

The mayor says, "We're going to go back to negotiating a deal that'll make, that'll provide the developer the incentives he needs and makes good economic sense for the city of Madison."

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Glad this was booted, Huntsville's crown jewels are the mountains that
are intertwined with the city. Every time a crappy (albeit expensive)
home is built on a slope somewhere it tarnishes that crown a little bit.

Green Mountain subdivision plan dropped
The developer of a controversial 195-lot subdivision on Huntsville’s Green Mountain has withdrawn his rezoning request which would allow a higher density mix of homes.

The issue was scheduled to be on Thursday night’s agenda of the Huntsville City Council. Jerry Cargile with 4Site Inc. of Huntsville, sent city planners a letter requesting the rezoning request by his client be pulled from the agenda.

Mountain residents vehemently protested the plan, saying the proposed Inspiration Point on Green Mountain development would create traffic, environmental and drainage problems and destroy the character of their community.

Love Development, a partner with a California-based development owners group, wanted to transform the 127-acre tract into a development of single family houses and townhomes.

--John Peck HSV Times

and this isn't dead either, being revised

"The construction reprieve may be short-lived, however. Chuck Gibb, who led the rezoning fight for the Green Mountain Civic League, said developers are pursuing the project under the existing zoning.

"We're looking forward to working with them on creating an appropriate development for Green Mountain," Gibb said Tuesday.

Love Development of Toney, a partner with a California-based owners group, stirred mountain residents with a proposal to transform a 127-acre tract near the popular Inspiration Point bluff into a development of 160 single family homes and 35 townhomes. The 5 to 4 rezoning approval by the City Planning Commission in February sent the issue to the City Council for a final vote Thursday.

Mountain residents argued the rezoning would result in a too-dense mix of homes, creating greater traffic and drainage problems and destroying the character of their community.

"We're not opposing development. We're hoping to see development continue as low density and consistent with preserving the natural setting and environment of Green Mountain," Gibb said Tuesday.

Developers told planners in February that leaving the zoning as is would allow 182 single family residences, just 13 fewer than what is planned in the mixed-use plan.

Gibb said mountain residents would still oppose that many homes."

HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by neilson

Red Robin might be good, but the best burgers in Huntsville handsdown is at Soulburger located on Bob Wallace Ave. just west of Triana Blvd.

An excellent place, the food is fresh and cooked with love by Cathy who
is a wonderful person. Her constant banter with the customers is what makes this place special. " I gotcha baby, or Hey Love" make you feel welcomed
and she's your best friend. The food is excellent but don't be in a hurry
cause it's made with love.

http://www.soulburger.com/

and a more informative article, show her some love y'all
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletim...960.xml&coll=1

[HSVTiger]

Councill Courts plan moving forward
Huntsville public housing officials are moving forward with a redevelopment plan for the 196-unit Councill Courts housing project in prime downtown.

The authority’s governing board met today with its legal team, financial advisers and the would-be development and management service firm, Philadelphia-based Pennrose Properties, to go over terms of a proposed memorandum of agreement. The authority will officially vote on the deal at its meeting next month.

Pennrose would get 12 percent of the approximately $50 million demolition, relocation and redevelopment plan for assisting the Huntsville Housing Authority in surveying the site, developing a master plan, applying for tax credits, assessing infrastructure needs, lining up contractors and other duties.

Housing officials want to build a smaller residence complex for the elderly on about four acres of the 20-acre Councill Courts complex and sell the rest of the property. Money from the sale would be used to buy up many smaller apartments, duplexes and single family homes throughout the city to refurnish into housing for displaced tenants.

Michael Lundy, executive director and CEO of the housing authority, said housing officials want better housing away from the traditional clustered “projects.” Additional public housing complexes may undergo a similar dismantling in the future, with residents relocated to smaller public housing complexes scattered across town, awarded vouchers for Sec. 8 housing, or moved into independent living arrangements.

--John Peck HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

By PATRICIA C. McCARTER
Times Staff Writer patricia.mccarter@htimes.com
Spouses of potential BRAC transfers from the Washington, D.C., area will be courted with a job fair and carnival this week in Northern Virginia.

About 80 business leaders, educators, real estate professionals and government liaisons from the Tennessee Valley will meet with families during a town hall meeting-style event at the Sheraton National in Arlington, Va. The purpose is to recruit federal employees and contractors who work for commands that are scheduled to move to Redstone Arsenal in coming years per the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Huntsville attorney Joe Ritch - who heads the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee - said the Missile Defense Agency requested the presentation, but other commands in the D.C. area, such as the Army Materiel Command and the Space & Missile Defense Command, are also invited. "We have more than 20 companies that will be here to discuss job openings that are available (in Huntsville)," Ritch said. "For some families, that could be the thing that helps them decide to transfer."

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Councill Courts plan moving forward
Huntsville public housing officials are moving forward with a redevelopment plan for the 196-unit Councill Courts housing project in prime downtown.

The authority’s governing board met today with its legal team, financial advisers and the would-be development and management service firm, Philadelphia-based Pennrose Properties, to go over terms of a proposed memorandum of agreement. The authority will officially vote on the deal at its meeting next month.

Pennrose would get 12 percent of the approximately $50 million demolition, relocation and redevelopment plan for assisting the Huntsville Housing Authority in surveying the site, developing a master plan, applying for tax credits, assessing infrastructure needs, lining up contractors and other duties.

Housing officials want to build a smaller residence complex for the elderly on about four acres of the 20-acre Councill Courts complex and sell the rest of the property. Money from the sale would be used to buy up many smaller apartments, duplexes and single family homes throughout the city to refurnish into housing for displaced tenants.

Michael Lundy, executive director and CEO of the housing authority, said housing officials want better housing away from the traditional clustered “projects.” Additional public housing complexes may undergo a similar dismantling in the future, with residents relocated to smaller public housing complexes scattered across town, awarded vouchers for Sec. 8 housing, or moved into independent living arrangements.

--John Peck HSV Times

some more info
"The authority will officially vote on the deal at its meeting next month.

Dick Fountain, chairman of the five-member housing authority board, said the authority wants to get away from the traditional "clustering" of public housing tenants and spread them around the city in smaller concentrations. The board also hopes to step up efforts to break residents' cycle of dependency through educational and job training programs and help with budgeting and home ownership skills.

"We want to change the face of public housing as we know it in Huntsville," Fountain said. "We hope this move will deconcentrate poverty and provide opportunities for more positive lifestyles for low income residents who are our customer base."
The project would be done in phases, perhaps over the next four to five years. The first phase would entail razing the 57 units of Councill Courts east of Gallatin Street and building a multistory residential building primarily for elderly residents. The senior home would include possibly 35 traditional public housing units and 85 units for residents earning 60 percent or below the median household income. The latter category would pay a higher rent, money that will produce a new revenue stream for the Housing Authority."

[HSVTiger]

Von Braun Center expansion in the works? Sounds like the groundwork is being prepared.

By JOHN PECK
Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com
Bond plan already will pay for schools, garage and sewer

Huntsville's Von Braun Center could be in for a major expansion and face-lift if the city enlarges a borrowing plan for school and downtown improvements.

The City Council authorized Mayor Loretta Spencer to borrow up to $50 million for various city projects when the rates are most favorable on the bond market.
Mayor Loretta Spencer said VBC officials planned to meet with her administration in a week or so to press their case for an additional $10 million.

"It needs $40 million. It's an old building," said Spencer, who was on the VBC board when the facility opened in March 1975. "We need to do a lot of refurbishment and expansion. I would hope a lot will be spent to add seating to the arena."

City Finance Director Randy Taylor stressed that Thursday's borrowing authorization merely puts the city in position to lock in the additional amount while city and VBC officials agree on specific projects.

The $30 million would be spent as follows: $10 million toward construction of a new Lee High; $5 million for a service road along U.S. 72 over Chapman Mountain; $4 million for VBC renovations; $4 million for a new police and fire headquarters on Clinton Avenue just west of Memorial Parkway; $4 million for a downtown parking garage on Green Street; and $3 million for renovations to Butler.

[Exodus]

What would become of the Municipal Bldg. ?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Exodus

What would become of the Municipal Bldg. ?

Probably the city gov. offices would take over the space. The new
downtown firestation is needed to accomodate larger ladder trucks.
If the the Coca Cola plant were to relocate, then the VBC could expand over
Clinton and this would make this road a prime candidate for restaurants
clubs etc further west. Downtown will expand along Clinton past the Parkway
when the MS development is complete. Some high rises along this stretch
would be cool. I could see a Wachovia tower on the vacant lot across from the post office.

Hopefully the planned garage on Greene St, (across from the Times building) will include some options for retail.
A grocery or drug store would fit the bill nicely.

[HSVTiger]

Arab, a nice small town across the Tennessee River from Huntsville,
about 20 minutes.

Arab hopes to convince FAA it needs airport
Posted by David Brewer April 13, 2007 11:09AM
ARAB - Arab City Councilman Russ Elrod is spearheading efforts to build a city airport, but he and other city officials must first convince the federal government it's really needed, he said.

"Arab has always struggled for industry" because it's not located along a waterway, railway or interstate, Elrod said Thursday. "An airport would be Arab's link to the world of industry."

But to get federal money for a project that could cost about $10 million, the city must be included in the Federal Aviation Administration's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

To do that, Elrod said, city officials will have to justify the need for an airport when there's one just 15 to 20 minutes away in Guntersville. FAA guidelines say a proposed airport should be at least 30 minutes away by car from the nearest airport.

[HSVTiger]

By KENNETH KESNER
Times Staff Writer kenneth.kesner@htimes.com
A Huntsville couple have committed to buying the right to name the Saturn V exhibition hall and visitors center under construction at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Space Center CEO Larry Capps said he can't identify the couple yet but said it would be their name on the building, which is expected to open in November. He expects to be able to release their name and details about their plans in a few weeks.

"The couple has been very significant in the missile and space industry and in a multitude of philanthropic projects in this town," Capps said Thursday.

live webacm

[HSVTiger]

Construction to begin shortly on the Governors Medical Tower, corner of Governors Dr and Gallatin,
downtown. It will connect to Huntsville Hospital with an overhead walkway.

[HSVTiger]

ATHENS - Local leaders expressed frustration today over 187.5 acres in Limestone County annexed by the Madison City Council on March 26.

Limestone County Commission chairman David Seibert and Probate Judge Mike Davis held a news conference to complain about Madison's annexation. They said the Madison council's action complicates how county services will be provided in the annexed area.

Seibert said the annexation puts Limestone County at a disadvantage when planning economic development because Madison would reap part of the tax base.

At the property owners' request, Madison annexed eight parcels of land off Segers Road between Old Highway 20 and Powell Road.

[austin356]

Great updates Tiger!!

[BKOTH97]

Annexation is a sticky, sticky issue. Especially when cities bleed over between counties.

So, who wants to bring up Metro Government again?

[neilson]

Originally Posted by BKOTH97

Annexation is a sticky, sticky issue. Especially when cities bleed over between counties.

So, who wants to bring up Metro Government again?

Madison residents voted in 1986 not to become part of Huntsville.

For that, I am grateful to those 5,000 or so that lived in Madison at the time.

[BKOTH97]

Madison is ALOT different now than it was in 1985. Unless Madison is somehow able to land this 500M development from Breland, it is going to collapse under its own residential weight. It cannot sustain the services needed for 40,000 residents on the property tax base currently in place.

My Humble Opinion