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Originally Posted by HSVTiger
another new urbanism project on 115 acres, that will keep most trees, many large hardwoods, and create a park like setting
The still-unnamed neighborhood will feature restaurants, a bookstore, boutique hotel, loft apartments, estate homes and a soaring glass conservatory.J.H. Partners, a Huntsville architectural firm, began working on the design in January.The neighborhood will be next door to Country Day School and around the corner from the Village of Providence, an even larger mixed-use development.
Construction should begin by January
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Some more info on this project..it sure does seem like most developers are ready to build, but are waiting on somebody..
By Martin Burkey
DAILY Staff Writer
mburkey@decaturdaily.com ยท 340-2441
Not content to wait on their proposed Point Mallard Park development to move forward, Decatur insurance broker Rex Rankin III and Madison construction contractor Doug Gooch are relocating their imagination to Huntsville.
They plan to create an upscale "lifestyle" residential and commercial development.
The still unnamed development on Old Monrovia Road would be similar to the nearby Providence lifestyle development, Gooch said. The new development would be to Providence what WaterColor is to neighboring Seaside on the Florida Gulf Coast.
The developers are working with the Huntsville Planning Department to get site-plan approval for a 35-acre tract that would include single-family homes and loft apartments over commercial space with a glass-walled conservatory as the centerpiece of the development. Their plan also includes a 20-acre "retail village" on the north side of Old Monrovia directly across from the 35-acre development.
Developers propose to have the 20-acre site, now outside the city limits, annexed into Huntsville.
"It goes back to a lifestyle experience, borrowing from what's been done over in Providence," Gooch said. "One part of the property is almost touching land owned by Providence, which is across the street to the east. We're taking on a bit more focused group that will appreciate the character and quality of something like a conservatory. Individuals who choose not to have a yard can have a condo. Individuals who still want the comfort of a single-family home have the opportunity to have a traditional home in a very traditional neighborhood."
Huntsville Assistant Planning Director Marie Bostick said she has had preliminary concept discussions with the developers, but has nothing official to begin formal evaluation. She said it will require zoning amendments, a process expected to take five to six months.
Gooch estimated the development, created by J.H. Partners in Huntsville, would have 60 to 70 single-family home lots and about 50 to 100 loft apartments. Apartments would range from 1,200 to 1,800 square feet. Single-family homes would range from 2,200 to 4,000 square feet. Three main commercial buildings will contain 18, nine and five rental commercial spaces beneath loft apartments.
The developers will finance their development. They are waiting for their architects to provide cost estimates for the development and estimated prices for rental and single-family homes, Gooch said.
Gooch described the design concept as late 19th, early 20th century.
"It's a lifestyle community, so you could get up on Sunday, walk down to a Starbucks-type coffee shop, and enjoy the paper and a cup of coffee," he said.
The conservatory will set the development apart from anything in North Alabama, Gooch said. The conservatory would be capable of hosting catered events and concerts, and serve as an educational center.
The design of mixed-use commercial area, Gooch noted, is much like the developers' "Village" area of their RiverCountry at Point Mallard project. Located at the south end of Point Mallard, the Village area would have restaurants, shops and loft apartments, an inn and galleries.
"The greenhouse structure literally glows at night, forming a beacon to the surrounding community," Gooch said. "We anticipated the same kind of glass structure for the Point Mallard convention center hotel because of the presence on the riverfront."
In the Huntsville project, Gooch said he hopes to get approval and break ground this fall.
Rankin and Gooch proposed a $256 million program last year to privatize most of Point Mallard park with the addition of about 40 attractions such as hotels, tournament golf course, rental cottages, shops, yacht harbor, sports fields and attractions. They are seeking approval from city, state and federal officials to begin work on the project.