Huntsville updates

[David1502]

Buried in last week's Huntsville TImes article on developer Lois Breland (best known for Breland Homes)
http://blog.al.com/huntsville-times-...breland_h.html

is this statement:

"He also continues to pursue plans for the mall off Zierdt Road.

"Oh, absolutely, that will kick up again," he said. "That's the most high-profile tract of land in Madison County."

Daniel Corp. of Birmingham, developers of Ross Bridge, among other properties, has already been retained as the prospective developer, he said.

"I supply the land," he said, "and they supply the tenants." "


Since Daniel Corp. has developed several large scale mixed use develpments (see thir website www.danielcorp.com), it will be interesting to see what direction they choose to pursue given a down economy and the already abundance of retail existing (Bridge Street comes to mind)and in development (the Wal-Mart, Target and Kroger shopping Centers on 72 West which each have several outparcels for sale).

Chances are they will pursue Home Depot and other big box retailers for the land closest to I-565 and then locate residential on the land which backs up to the existing Edgewater and Mountain Brook neighborhoods of Madison.

[David1502]

Another interesting item buried in a long article is a possible new hotel for Bridge Street. In the City of Huntsville's Board of Zoning Adjustemnt Agenda for June 21st, is listed as item #6:

6) A special exception to allow a hotel at 7010 Governors West, Unit 7, Jim Packard of Attitude LLC, appellant


If you put in the address 7010 Governors West into maps.google.com, the location of the existing Westin shows up.

A couple of years ago, O&S Holdings, the owners and developers of Bridge Street, said (in a Huntsville Times article) that they were considering building a five star hotel (as well as a high end department store.) Given that the Westin is a four stat hotel, it is unlikely that a Hampton Inn (or other moderatley priced hotel) will be built next door so this raises speculation that a five star hotel will be built - this would be quite a coup for the Huntsville area.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by David1502

Another interesting item buried in a long article is a possible new hotel for Bridge Street. In the City of Huntsville's Board of Zoning Adjustemnt Agenda for June 21st, is listed as item #6:

6) A special exception to allow a hotel at 7010 Governors West, Unit 7, Jim Packard of Attitude LLC, appellant


If you put in the address 7010 Governors West into maps.google.com, the location of the existing Westin shows up.

A couple of years ago, O&S Holdings, the owners and developers of Bridge Street, said (in a Huntsville Times article) that they were considering building a five star hotel (as well as a high end department store.) Given that the Westin is a four stat hotel, it is unlikely that a Hampton Inn (or other moderatley priced hotel) will be built next door so this raises speculation that a five star hotel will be built - this would be quite a coup for the Huntsville area.

This location may actually be just south of Bridge Street on the new road just completed. Currently there is a Schoolcare of Covenant Classical School under construction on one of the lots. The Westin address is 6800 Governors West. Maybe an Aloft Hotel? Hyatt Place would be another nice complement to Research Park. Withe the Redstone Gateway, Bridge Street expansion., Providence planned another hotel I think we will see
a lot of hotel/restaurant construction along the Research Park corridor over the next few years.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

This location may actually be just south of Bridge Street on the new road just completed. Currently there is a Schoolcare of Covenant Classical School under construction on one of the lots. The Westin address is 6800 Governors West. Maybe an Aloft Hotel? Hyatt Place would be another nice complement to Research Park. Withe the Redstone Gateway, Bridge Street expansion., Providence planned another hotel I think we will see
a lot of hotel/restaurant construction along the Research Park corridor over the next few years.

An Aloft would be really nice. What's the road that you're speaking of that was just completed?

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Groundbreaking downtown this morning for the six story Belk Hudson lofts.
Go man go

from WAAY
On Monday morning, crews will break ground on downtown Huntsville's largest residential project in more than ten years.

The city is contributing $450,000 to the development with the goal of attracting young professionals to downtown living.

The new lofts will be located at the old Belk Hudson building on the corner of Washington Street and Holmes Avenue. They're being developed by Sealy Property Management. And with rent starting at $850 per month for a one bedroom, they're being marketed as the city's first affordable downtown option.

Pic from the architect and Huntsville Times

Belk Hudson Lofts will feature 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments renting for between $850 and $1,500 a month. Tenants will have access to private underground parking, a fitness room with yoga/Pilates studio and rooftop terrace.

Construction is expected to be finished next July.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Where will Audi build? The easy answer is Chattanooga, the better answer is Huntsville.

Volkswagen’s sister company Audi has decided to build an auto assembly plant in North America, and it’s looking at an added drive train factory, according to Automotive News.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said a decision will be made within three years concerning details of the assembly plant such as models, location and capacity, the report said.

That second plant could be shared with the VW division, which opened an assembly plant this spring in Chattanooga.

The $1 billion Chattanooga plant, when fully operational, will have capacity to build 150,000 vehicles a year. But Volkswagen of America President Jonathan Browning said at the Detroit auto show in January that the plant could be expanded to produce 500,000 vehicles.

In addition, VW has said there’s enough land at its Enterprise South industrial park site to duplicate the existing plant.

"Some Volkswagen officials told Alabama economic developers they liked the Huntsville site better, but in the end Alabama could not (or would not) match the $577.4 million incentives package Tennessee put up to win the project.

Brian Hilson was head of the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce during the Volkswagen recruitment. Hilson, now chief executive of the Birmingham Business Alliance, said he hopes the Birmingham metro area will get consideration from Audi but said Huntsville may be in a better position.

"It certainly gives us familiarity with the company and how they go about site selection and the decision-making process," Hilson said. "There might also be established relationships that can be built upon."

The same reasons Volkswagen looked at Alabama will apply to Audi, he said.

"Given the success Alabama has had with major automotive plants -- Mercedes, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai -- we are well-positioned in that the companies understand we as a state 'get it.' We understand their industry," Hilson said. "We have a second-to-none work force capable of responding to the unique needs of automotive assembly. That premise ought to give us the potential to be a contender."

Hilson said Chattanooga had an edge over Huntsville for the Volkswagen plant because the automaker went from looking from another north Alabama industrial site to what was 1,400 acres of farm land in Limestone County.

"The Huntsville site initially was an afterthought. They were looking at another north Alabama site and in the process noticed the land closer to Huntsville," Hilson said. "The interest Volkswagen had in it allowed us to jump-start that site. We were at a significant disadvantage compared to the Chattanooga site because we were really starting from scratch."

But if Huntsville gets a second chance with Audi, Hilson said they will be ready.

"It's a tremendous site that continues to have that same potential for Huntsville and Limestone County and, obviously, from Volkswagen's perspective at least, they are very familiar with it," he said.

The Automotive News also reported Volkswagen Group may build a separate engine and transmission plant to supply both the Volkswagen plant and the future Audi plant."

Huntsville Times

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by tredici

An Aloft would be really nice. What's the road that you're speaking of that was just completed?

Seems this little spur may be called Governors West initially, several lots on this road, at least on will probably be a hotel.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=govern...sqi=2&t=h&z=17

[David1502]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Seems this little spur may be called Governors West initially, several lots on this road, at least on will probably be a hotel.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=govern...sqi=2&t=h&z=17

I agree that this looks like the location of 7010 Governors West, however, one of the selling features which O&S Holdings used in promoting Bridge Street is that they would have a monopoly on any hotel, restaurants or retail in Cummings Research Park because of the zoning of the park. For the City of Huntsville to allow one hotel or restaurant on land zoned for any part of the park would be like letting the "camel's nose into the tent" and there would be a flood of other businesses seeking a similar zoning allowance.

This land which you link to on Google Maps is technically located in Thornton Research Park because it is located north of the Norfolk Southern Railroad - this at least is according to the latest map of the combined Cummings Research Park and Thornton Reserach Park which you can see here:
http://www.huntsvillealabamausa.com/...cs_pdf/crp.pdf

A couple of exceptions have been made within CRP, however,namely the Redstone Federal Credit Union located on Wynn Dr. and Catholic High School further west On Old Madison Pike as well as the Primrose School located at Bradford Blvd. ar Res. Pk. Blvd. These, however, are not likely to cause a reaction from O&S holdings because they are not businesses which would compete with Bridge Street (also RFCU was in CRP well before Bridge Street). Therefore it will be interesting to see if this location which you reference is the actual location or if it is with Bridge Street. If not in Bridge Stret, a law suit could be in the works. Also, what make CRP attractive is its restrictive zoning and the fact that you don't see fast food and cheap motels mixed in it.

[brad0022]

Here is info on the opening of a new brewery in Huntsville called Salty Nut Brewery. This will be the fourth brewer in the city. Good job Huntsville. http://aleheads.com/2011/07/12/say-hello-to-salty-nut/

[HSVTiger]

Mellow Mushroom will open a second Huntsville location on Monday at 2230 Cecil Ashburn Drive. This is just east of the Valley Bend shopping center (Super Target).

[bamastu13]

Yeah, that's about done. It looks like it should be opening pretty soon. As well as Kohls.

[HSVTiger]

Big plans for west Huntsville, nearly 10,000acres, Audi.
I believe Huntsville/state officials have been in contact with Audi ever since
the VW courtship.


http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/07/...ster_plan.html

When Volkswagen considered building its first U.S. automotive plant on Huntsville's western fringe in 2008, city officials didn't have a blueprint for developing the surrounding areas.

If the same rural site ends up in the running for a rumored Audi factory, Mayor Tommy Battle will be able to trot out a detailed master plan that shows where new roads, schools, parks, neighborhoods and businesses might be built nearby.



The master plan envisions the Sewell tract becoming a sort of Cummings Research Park-west with a mix of industries, research and development work and other businesses.

Sasaki Associates, the Boston firm that wrote the master plan for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, says two new major roads are needed as that area grows.

A four-lane boulevard tentatively called Greenbrier Parkway would run from Interstate 565 north to Browns Ferry Road. Acting Planning Director Marie Bostick said the city hopes to begin engineering work on the first phase next year.

The other road would be a seven-mile-long interstate spur designed to open Limestone County's rural farmland to commercial development and create a new shortcut between I-565 and I-65.

Greenbrier Parkway and the interstate spur would meet, strategically, at the Sewell tract.

Because the area is so sparsely populated now - barely 800 people spread across more than 9,000 acres - Battle said the city has a unique opportunity to design a pedestrian-friendly community where residents can walk to work, schools and shopping.

More than 20 percent of the annexed farmland - about 2,000 acres - cannot be developed because of flooding concerns and existing wetlands.

Battle said the city would look to use those areas for walking trails, greenways and parks.

Frederick Merrill with Sasaki Associates said economists predict that Huntsville, Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., are among the cities poised to be "economic winners" through 2050.

He cited a study that projects Madison and Limestone counties will add 177,000 new residents over the next 25 years.

[HSVTiger]

And TVA looking at sites for data center

"A 92-acre site in Jetplex Industrial Park in Huntsville has been identified as a prime candidate for a data center.

The Tennessee Valley Authority hired Chicago-based Deloitte Consulting to identify and evaluate potential data centers sites in the TVA's seven-state, 80,000-square-mile region, which includes most of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia.

More than 50 sites have been evaluated by TVA, the country's largest public utility, and Deloitte for suitability for data centers, specifically financial services processing and technology companies.

So far, sites in 18 cities have been designated as pre-qualified sites: Florence, Hartselle and Guntersville in Alabama; Mary City, Lenoir City, Athens, Bristol, Morristown, Fayetteville, Tullahoma, Jackson and Nashville in Tennessee; Duffield, Va.; Olive Branch, Miss.; and Adairville, Ky"
Huntsville Times

[thunder89]

Its a shame that the city of Huntsville couldn't push for TVA to look to the downtown area as a possible location for some of the offices that may be needed for TVA in general.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Sounds like that data center would be perfect for the new Business Park being built in Hartselle (I'm sure the reason why it was mentioned in those 18 cities)

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

And TVA looking at sites for data center

"A 92-acre site in Jetplex Industrial Park in Huntsville has been identified as a prime candidate for a data center.

The Tennessee Valley Authority hired Chicago-based Deloitte Consulting to identify and evaluate potential data centers sites in the TVA's seven-state, 80,000-square-mile region, which includes most of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia.

More than 50 sites have been evaluated by TVA, the country's largest public utility, and Deloitte for suitability for data centers, specifically financial services processing and technology companies.

So far, sites in 18 cities have been designated as pre-qualified sites: Florence, Hartselle and Guntersville in Alabama; Mary City, Lenoir City, Athens, Bristol, Morristown, Fayetteville, Tullahoma, Jackson and Nashville in Tennessee; Duffield, Va.; Olive Branch, Miss.; and Adairville, Ky"
Huntsville Times

That would be great if we could get that here. TVA is hiring a lot right now, but the work force they are looking for resides here and many don't want to move right now.

[HSVTiger]

Downtown development may include Publix

Bristol Development Group has agreed to pay the Huntsville Housing Authority $3.67 million for 5.58 acres along St. Clair Avenue and Gallatin Street in the medical district. The authority's volunteer board of directors unanimously approved the contract Wednesday.
The company's co-founder, Sam Yeager, is a Huntsville native.

During a Wednesday phone interview, Yeager said Bristol and Nashville retail developer PGM Properties are partnering on the more than $30 million Councill Courts project.

As many as 225 apartments renting for between $800 and $1,300 per month will be built around a central courtyard with a pool, clubhouse and other amenities, he said.

Bristol hopes to start construction within a year.


A map of the proposed project shows a Publix supermarket at the corner of Gallatin Street and Lowe Avenue, with smaller stores and restaurants lining Gallatin
Yeager said plans calls for a minimum of 15,000-20,000 square feet of new retail space, in addition to the grocery store. He cautioned that the developers do not yet have a signed agreement with Publix.

"They're certainly aware of the site," he said, "and are in the process of evaluating it right now."


Adjacent Huntsville Hospital has more than 5,000 employees working just a few steps away, plus hundreds of daily visitors.
Huntsville Times
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/07/...rants_sup.html

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Pic from the architect and Huntsville Times

Belk Hudson Lofts will feature 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments renting for between $850 and $1,500 a month. Tenants will have access to private underground parking, a fitness room with yoga/Pilates studio and rooftop terrace.

Construction is expected to be finished next July.

A link to the website

http://www.belkhudsonlofts.com/

[bamastu13]

I think a Publix would do great at the Council Court location. You have the neighborhood over by Huntsville High, all of the hospital employees, people moving into downtown, and about 1,000 people coming from First Baptist and surrounding churches on Sundays.

This redevelopment seems to be shaping up to be really nice!

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by bamastu13

I think a Publix would do great at the Council Court location. You have the neighborhood over by Huntsville High, all of the hospital employees, people moving into downtown, and about 1,000 people coming from First Baptist and surrounding churches on Sundays.

This redevelopment seems to be shaping up to be really nice!

Twickenham, Blossomwood and Old Town are all within walking distance
and high income areas, Publix kind of neighborhoods.