Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

new Publix anchored shopping center.


A sixth Publix supermarket in Huntsville /Madison County is expected to be completed by next summer.

The 45,600-square-foot store will be the anchor of Winchester Plaza, a new 75,700-square-foot shopping center on Winchester Road at Homer Nance Road.

Site work started at the property several weeks ago, and is about 60 to 70 percent complete, said Peter Pelt, vice president of development for Equity One Realty & Management SE Inc. of Atlanta. That's a division of Equity One Inc., which owns, develops and operates shopping centers across the South and in the Boston area. Foundation work on the grocery store is expected to start late this month, and "after that you'll see walls coming up," Pelt said. The projected opening date for the Publix store is June 29.

From Huntsville Times

[HSVTiger]

Obviously there are some Einsteins who have never been to Gulf
Shores. Skyline is a favorite term to be used by media types.

From Channel "it's all about us" 19

The skyline of Lake Guntersville will soon be changing. A seven story condo will be built along Highway 431. The site is next to the Dairy Queen.

The condo will house 42 units. There are already 12 commitments on units. The condo was approved by the city of Guntersville with a 4 to 0 vote.

Only two people complained. They are afraid the condo will ruin the skyline and beauty of Guntersville. They say Guntersville could end up looking like Gulf Shores.

The developer says the condo will blend in nicely to the area. The condos should be built starting in the next few months.

[HSVTiger]

downtown has the crane in place and construction moving at a
good clip. The image is a little misleading , behind the building is a high rise old folks apartment complex. The view on the backside
if there is one won't be as nice. Notice the added retail on the ground floor. It looks like also to reduce cost, brick will be used.



The historical marker in front, across the street, indicates the spot
where Andrew Jackson made camp.

[TimCity2000]

i like the old rendering better... but i'm still excited to see something like this happening in downtown huntsville.

[HSVTiger]

This does not include the planned tram/monorail, to the space and rocket center.

The $3.6 million project includes a nature center with what the garden says will be the largest seasonal butterfly house in the country, an education center, an amphitheater and a 2-acre children's garden. The complex will be built near the entrance and is scheduled to open June 1.

Since the garden opened in 1988, the focus has been on developing the landscape and becoming part of the community, said Paula Steigerwald, chief executive officer of the garden. For the last several years, the garden has added attractions specifically for children and families such as water play features during the summer and the scarecrow trail now on display, laying the groundwork for the latest project.

The expansion "raises us to a level not just of being a garden in Alabama that we're proud of, but something people all over the country will talk about," said Harvey Cotten, the garden's chief operating officer.

The garden's expansion includes a nature center with a turtle pond, frog pond, waterfall and "critter corner" as well as a 9,000-square-foot shade-cloth-covered butterfly house that Cotten and Steigerwald hope will become a major destination for students and tourists.

At the new 4,000-square-foot education center, students can receive an orientation to the garden and have educational programs. A 250-seat amphitheater will provide a "classroom under the sky."

[DruidCity]

I really like everything I've read about Huntsville lately.

The botanical garden is very nice & has a lot of acreage to work with.

[HSVTiger]

the latest building going up at the Von Braun Complex



Ground was broken for a facility to house Missile Defense Agency employees who are now working off the military base. The $38 million building is the second phase of the Von Braun Complex. The first phase of the complex was completed in late 2003 and houses about 1,000 people from the Army Space & Missile Defense Command. The building, slated to be completed by May 2007, will be used by 828 Missile Defense Agency workers who are scattered across the city.


Being on base most residents don't see these buildings unless you work there.

[HSVTiger]

to the downtown landscape..
Huntsville's downtown canal will open next summer with a big splash.

The waterway will feature a huge fountain with colorful lights and water plumes that can be choreographed to music.
The City Council tonight will consider a $284,000 development deal with Big Spring Partners Inc. to construct the fountain. It will be in a flared part of the canal just beyond the new arched Monroe Street bridge where the canal juts from Big Spring lagoon.

The fountain is a gift from the Thrasher family of Huntsville in memory of Tom Thrasher, a business and civic leader who died in 1999. The project includes benches and landscaping and decorative brick pavers.

The fountain will be the centerpiece in a planned 1,000-foot canal separating the 11-story Embassy Suites Hotel and the Von Braun Center's South Hall. The waterway and adjacent green space is part of an expansion of Big Spring International Park.

source Huntsville Times

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

to the downtown landscape..
Huntsville's downtown canal will open next summer with a big splash.

The waterway will feature a huge fountain with colorful lights and water plumes that can be choreographed to music.
The City Council tonight will consider a $284,000 development deal with Big Spring Partners Inc. to construct the fountain. It will be in a flared part of the canal just beyond the new arched Monroe Street bridge where the canal juts from Big Spring lagoon.

The fountain is a gift from the Thrasher family of Huntsville in memory of Tom Thrasher, a business and civic leader who died in 1999. The project includes benches and landscaping and decorative brick pavers.

The fountain will be the centerpiece in a planned 1,000-foot canal separating the 11-story Embassy Suites Hotel and the Von Braun Center's South Hall. The waterway and adjacent green space is part of an expansion of Big Spring International Park.

source Huntsville Times

and a rendering, this is a large fountain!sweet

[HSVTiger]

kind of hard to tell much but it is a significant addition

[HSVTiger]

Some general photos of the Metro Jail under construction.
Located on the northwest edge of downtown at I-565/Memorial Parkway interchange, this conplex includes police HQ , and jail annex. The new 8 story jail is around
60% complete and can be seen in this old photo where the red dirt is (upper right)


This blockhouse will house over 1000 inmates (sad state of affairs, isn't it ? most crimes are drug related) They will also have a premier view of downtown and the surrounding mountains.
The current jail atop the Madison County courthouse has been in the news lately with deaths and beatings in the jail. The 10th floor is called Thunderdome and no one wants to be placed on that floor. The new jail can't be finished soon enough.

[HSVTiger]

Tower under construction at Huntsville International..



ATLANTA – The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a $13.1 million contract to the Carmon Construction Co. of Albertville, AL to construct a new 246-foot tall air traffic control tower at Huntsville International Airport in Alabama.

The new complex will include the control tower and a 10,000-square-foot administrative and operational base building. It will be located in the middle of the airfield between the two runways, 3,000 feet south of the airport terminal.

The new tower is necessary to accommodate future growth at the airport. The tower will give air traffic controllers unobstructed views of the entire airfield. Construction will begin in November, and the FAA expects to occupy the building in 2008.

[HSVTiger]

Continuing to save the past




hard to read but this area is sandwiched between the downtown
library and Huntsville hospital.
William Hooper Councill School Site, 1892 - 1966
The first public school for African Americans in the City of Huntsville was named for the founder of Alabama A&M University, William Hooper Councill founded in 1867 in the basement of Lakeside Methodist Episcopal Church located on Jefferson Street, the school was moved to a frame building on this site in 1892. The first diploma was granted in 1912. A brick structure replaced the original building in 1927. The school was closed due to integration, graduating its last class in 1966.

[HSVTiger]

the changing of UAH from a commuter college to a more
traditional college atmosphere continues.
groundbreaking was back in September

Sorority and Fraternity Row has been under design for a year. University officials and SKT Architects PC worked with these organizations to come up with the final designs for the houses. Consolidated Construction Co. will build the houses. The houses will be located between Southeast Campus Housing and the University Fitness Center with parking behind the houses.

The streetscape will consist of three different facades selected by the respective organizations. Each house will be identified by their National Greek member letters.

Each house will contain 5,200 square feet, including a common living area and chapter room. Curtis said each organization is responsible for the final touches which will personalize their house such as carpet and furnishings.



along with new residence halls

[HSVTiger]

rendering to come soon

"Officials with Breland Cos. planned to formally announce their redevelopment plans in a news conference today.

Breland bought the eight-story building from electronics manufacturer Sanmina-SCI several months ago and started gutting the interior Monday.

Architectural plans refer to the new development as the 2101 Clinton Commerce Center.

Mike Culbreath, chief operations officer for Breland, said the office building, which has been vacant for a couple of years, seemed ripe to be transformed into office space for sale or for lease

The building is located on the southwest corner of Memorial Parkway and Clinton Avenue and includes 4.5 acres for surface parking. An artist's rendering shows a planned new main entrance and fountain on the west side of the building where the old Huntsville News operated until 1996. The News building will be demolished.

Culbreath said the main structure and foundation appear in good shape, so demolishing the building and starting over wasn't necessary. Besides, preserving the building just seemed like the right thing to do. "It's part of Huntsville's historic skyline," he said. The makeover will cost $10 million to $12 million. "

This renovation seems even more important because this building could have gone either way, torn down or saved with the latter being the best option. It is also in an area of town that is less desirable, but now offers much potential along the west Clinton
corridor.

[TimCity2000]

can't wait to see the rendering. i'm definitely going to miss those flags, though

the building could use some more development around it, also, as it is rather isolated from the rest of downtown because of the parkway. anyways, glad to hear it may be occupied again. i bet the view from the top is pretty neat.

[HSVTiger]

renovation




image added

[supastar]

Cool, I was Alpha Tau Omega at UAH, I wonder if they're finally getting their own house/

[HSV79]

It's about time that the old SCI building is being used. I rather like the newer design, things around here are really starting to look upward. Wonder how long now until we get a 20+ something building now?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by supastar

Cool, I was Alpha Tau Omega at UAH, I wonder if they're finally getting their own house/

from ATO themselves
On September 8th, UAH held its official ground breaking ceremony for UAH’s first Greek row. Along with ATO; KD, DZ, DX, and EN will also be a part of UAH’s Greek row to be opened fall 2006!!! ATO was the first fraternity to get their funds raised for this housing effort, and thus will be the first fraternity to occupy Greek Row as well. This is a big step in the right direction for UAH and the entire Greek System!!! ATO would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all of the donors for the entire Greek Row.