Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

blah, blah, blah, basically standard stuff, my question is why hasn't this stuff been done already like 25 years ago.
Not much to it.. the shift of focus is now from the central core to North downtown between Pratt and Clinton, and along Meridian St. Alot of opportunity in this area.

Vision and goals of Huntsville’s Downtown Master Plan Update:

Identify ways to lessen land use conflicts.

Devise strategies for encouraging reinvestment.

Emphasize historic preservation.

Allow mixed uses.

Identify ways to make downtown a unique, lively area that is aesthetically appealing and economically and socially vibrant.

Keep buildings and public spaces clean, landscaped and well-maintained.

Ensure adequate movement between downtown core sites through a variety of transit options including car (and adequate parking), bus, bike paths and walkways.

Devise and promote events and activities.

Is everyone asleep now.

[HSVTiger]

Growth will go in a new direction
Panel OKs 178-lot project near A&M: 'ahead of the curve'

Thursday, November 17, 2005


By JOHN PECK


Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com


Huntsville's housing boom is spreading north.

A city planning subcommittee approved plans Wednesday for a 178-lot subdivision north of Alabama A&M University.

Ed Starnes, chairman of the subdivision subcommittee, said that's the largest residential development for extreme north Huntsville in the 15 years he's been on the Planning Commission.

"It's good for Huntsville," he said. "I'm glad to see it because nothing much has been done east of the Parkway as far as residential developments of any significance in some time."

[neilson]

^Any word on what will be going into the old Sam's Club space on North Parkway, and if there's any expectation that the Southern Bypass will begin construction next year as planned?

[neilson]

Lowe's plans new store in southeast
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
From staff reports
Huntsville Times
There's an improvement on the horizon in southeast Huntsville - home improvement, that is.

Lowe's announced plans Monday to build a store at Sutton Road and U.S. 431, where site work is already under way.

The 117,000-square-foot home improvement warehouse store is expected to open next fall, according to the company. It will include a garden center with more than 31,000 square feet of space.

According to the company, a store of this size can create up to 175 jobs and represents an average investment of $18.5 million.

Lowe's, the country's second-largest home improvement retailer, has 31 stores in Alabama, including two in Huntsville and one in Madison.



© 2005 The Huntsville Times
© 2005 al.com All Rights Reserved.

[HSVTiger]

Slowly but surely,,

Condo complex looms alongside Big Spring
Sunday, November 27, 2005
By JOHN PECK
Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com
Project height could be as high as 8-story Summit, twice space

Huntsville's downtown skyline is poised to take off again, this time with the possibility of condominiums overlooking Big Spring International Park.

Two years after the City Council approved Big Spring Summit, an eight-story office tower beside the Big Spring International Park lagoon, plans are in the works for a second high-rise structure that could include as many as 40 condos, plus restaurants, retail stores and offices. The second phase of Triad Properties' project could rise just as high as the Summit building, but stretch twice as far along the waterfront.

Triad executive William Stroud said spiraling construction costs make pre-planning difficult without knowing yet which venues the building will offer. Triad hopes to have more details fleshed out by early next year so it can begin submitting formal plans and acquiring the necessary permits.

"Our primary focus would be residential," Stroud said last week. He anticipates as many as 40 condos and preferably some restaurants, retail stores and maybe something like a health club on the ground level. "We're pricing plans now," he said.

Triad was given two years to exercise its option to build the second phase, but the actual deadline on the option agreement is still months away because the timetable is based on the construction startup on the Big Spring Summit office tower. That project has been under construction now for about a year.



http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletim...000.xml&coll=1

[neilson]

We had one of these back in the 80s, across from Red Lobster; I'm glad they're coming back to town the same way Bennigans did a few years ago.......

Bojangles' will open University Drive site
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Huntsville Times

Q. What is going in the old Hardee's restaurant on University Drive next to UAH? It looks like they're remodeling the outside.

A. Ganaway Contracting of Roswell, Ga., is remodeling the building for a Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits restaurant, according to the company. The projected opening is at the end of December or in early January.

Got a question? Submit it to htimes@htimes.com or phone it in to 536-8255. Include your name, hometown and phone number.

[HSVTiger]

Having flown them several times I hope they make it.
They have been a big plus to the local airport, if they don't
make it ,I see a push for AirTran.
Charlotte, Columbia, Knoxville a few other cities served.
Nationwide fuel costs have really hurt.
this from early November

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing Monday by Flyi Inc., which launched low-fare Independence Air last year, is not expected to affect the airline's flights at Huntsville International Airport.

Airline spokesman Rick DeLisi said flights would operate on their regular schedule Monday and that customers should not expect any immediate disruptions.

Independence Air last year became the first low-fare carrier to serve Huntsville International Airport, offering flights to its hub at Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C.

[HSVTiger]

Bruegger's Bagel Bakeries plans to open its first Alabama store in the Big Spring Summit, which is now under construction downtown. An official agreement signing is scheduled today at 9 a.m. on the first floor of the Summit. Vermont-based Bruegger's operates 250 bakeries in 17 states. Local franchise group Bama Bagels plans to develop four bakeries in the Huntsville area by 2008.

source Brueggers

[HSVTiger]

Huntsville's hands on science museum looks to move

U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer said Wednesday he's working with local officials to get the museum to a downtown site near Big Spring International Park. Sci-Quest currently occupies space owned by Calhoun Community College across Interstate 565 from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

"Sci-Quest is important to our community, like the space program has been," he said.

Cramer was in town Wednesday to have a look at the progress of current projects downtown.

He said he has gotten $2 million in federal money that could be used to renovate a building for the museum. He declined to specify any potential sites.

Sci-Quest director J.D. Horne said he and the Sci-Quest board support moving the children's hands-on museum downtown. "We'd welcome that. There's no big negative I know of," he said.

A new planetatarium may also be in the mix but nothing official

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Having flown them several times I hope they make it.
They have been a big plus to the local airport, if they don't
make it ,I see a push for AirTran.
Charlotte, Columbia, Knoxville a few other cities served.
Nationwide fuel costs have really hurt.
this from early November

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing Monday by Flyi Inc., which launched low-fare Independence Air last year, is not expected to affect the airline's flights at Huntsville International Airport.

Airline spokesman Rick DeLisi said flights would operate on their regular schedule Monday and that customers should not expect any immediate disruptions.

Independence Air last year became the first low-fare carrier to serve Huntsville International Airport, offering flights to its hub at Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C.

This would be a great move I think, forumers in Charlotte should watch this closely as well as everyone on Independence's route:

+ Virgin mulls bid for bankrupt U.S. airline
Virgin is considering making an offer for America's recently bankrupted low-cost operator Independence Air in a move which would finally allow Sir Richard Branson to break into America's budget airline market.

[HSVTiger]

in all 3 systems in Madison County

According to the average head count from the first 40 days of school, which is the state's official record of enrollment, Huntsville now has 22,803 students - an increase of more than 300 children since last fall.

Although some of the jump can be attributed to hurricane evacuees, any growth is welcome news in a city system where enrollment tends to drop or remain flat year after year.
"I'm excited we've had an increase in our enrollment," Superintendent Ann Roy Moore said. "That's a great thing."

In practical terms, she said, the growth helps because the system will get up to $4,000 in state tax dollars for each new student. That could help provide salaries for 35 more teachers next school year, she said.

According to average enrollment for the first 40 days, the county system has 18,252 students this year, and Madison has 7,728. The county added more than 500 students since last fall, and Madison added about 450.

Both will receive a similar bump in their share of state tax dollars to hire dozens of teachers.

[HSVTiger]

Main Street loft groundbreaking



The Village of Providence will soon add the Main Street Lofts and two Florida-based restaurants to its Huntsville locale.

The lofts are designed for luxury living and the restaurants will be right downstairs along with other shops and a grocery store for Providence residents.

"We're doing buildings with a mixed use in nature so everybody in neighborhoods and lofts can enjoy convenience. Live, learn, work, shop, and play is our whole philosophy and that's what we've developed here," says David Slyman, the developer.

The new restaurants added with Main Street Lofts are Market Street Cafe and Grille 29.

[HSVTiger]

Westin Huntsville at Bridge Street under construction.




The new year will ring in the USA's first smoke-free major hotel chain.

Westin notes 92% of guests request non-smoking rooms. Its Ft. Lauderdale hotel, among others, will be ready.


Westin Hotels & Resorts will announce today that it is snuffing out smoking in all rooms, restaurants, bars and public areas at its 77 U.S., Canadian and Caribbean properties starting in January. Guests may smoke only on balconies or in other outdoor areas.

The policy reflects "a demand from guests for a smoke-free hotel experience," says Sue Brush, Westin senior vice president. "Nobody likes to walk into a smoky guest room — not even smokers." Westin research shows that 92% of its guests request a non-smoking room.

USA Today

[HSVTiger]

In a wise move , World Famous Bridge Street
will be called; Bridge Street Town Centre

That's a little better, many of these preliminary names are
just for marketing studies and consumer reaction.
Any time you say world famous you set yourself up for problems.

Tenants will be announced soon, and some may be big
surprises.

[DruidCity]

Glad to hear the Bridge Street is still coming along nicely !

[neilson]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

In a wise move , World Famous Bridge Street
will be called; Bridge Street Town Centre

That's a little better, many of these preliminary names are
just for marketing studies and consumer reaction.
Any time you say world famous you set yourself up for problems.

Tenants will be announced soon, and some may be big
surprises.

How so? Like Department Stores(Because I don't want to see Madison Square Mall lose any Anchor Stores ahead of its own renovations beginning this January).

Humm, Borders perhaps? After all, it would be their 1st location in Alabama. Maybe that's it, a lot of businesses that will be opening their 1st Locations in Alabama, right?

[Rail Claimore]

We need to organize a forum meet some time for all this Huntsville stuff going on.

[HSVTiger]

Not much to see now, as the work taking place is below ground
foundation work. In a few months the 12 story building should be showing up.
http://turneruniversaljobs.com/Webca...streaming.html

[HSVTiger]

and slightly to the west in the same development the
site prep work continues on Bridge Street Town Center
http://turneruniversaljobs.com/Webca...streaming.html

[HSVTiger]

seems like a good move, parking available , Big Spring Park
adjacent to the space.

Utility gets city's OK for office renovation
Friday, December 16, 2005
By JOHN PECK
Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com
Sci-Quest could move into empty space downtown

The City Council authorized Huntsville Utilities on Thursday night to spend up to $1.8 million to renovate some of its empty office space downtown that could become the new home of Sci-Quest.

The cavernous space in the utility's administrative building on Spragins Street faces the cascading canal in the east end of Big Spring International Park. The unfinished area resulted from a top-to-bottom makeover of its downtown headquarters in the late 1990s.

John Thomas, vice president of services for Huntsville Utilities, told the council that U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, recently secured $2 million for the renovation. Thomas said city leaders support moving Sci-Quest downtown. The Huntsville Utilities building may be just the place to accommodate Sci-Quest, he said, if legal agreements can be met among the private, nonprofit museum, the city-owned utilities building and federal grant money.

"There are a lot of questions we'll have to reconcile," he said.

Cramer discussed the possible Sci-Quest relocation during a news conference this month plugging downtown revitalization efforts. In announcing the $2 million renovation money, Cramer did not specify a site but said the hands-on science center for children would be a welcome addition to downtown.

Sci-Quest Director J.D. Horne has said he and the Sci-Quest board support moving downtown. Sci-Quest currently occupies 42,500 square feet in a building owned by Calhoun Community College on Interstate 565 across from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Outside the council chambers Thursday night, Thomas said several companies have inquired about the Huntsville Utilities space. An engineering firm has offered to lease 7,000 square feet at $16 to $18 per square foot, he said, and at least two other professional firms have expressed interest in the other parts of the 25,000 square feet.

Thomas said the utility could create as much as 40,000 square feet for Sci-Quest in a renovation.

Picture added of the location, the first floor is pegged for the museum