Huntsville updates

[stewdog1]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

As reported earlier

A groundbreaking ceremony will be Friday at 2 p.m. for the 53-acre Colonial Promenade Huntsville development that will be anchored by a Walmart Supercenter and include a mix of retail shops, restaurants and apartments.

The project is to be built in three phases at U.S. 72 West between Balch and County Line roads, according to a news release. The total construction cost is estimated at $60 million, and total annual sales there are expected to reach more than $70 million.

The first phase of Colonial Promenade will include a 180,000-square-foot Walmart and up to 90,000 square feet of additional commercial space, primarily for retail shops and restaurants. It is scheduled to be finished no later than spring 2013.

The second phase will have 80,000 square feet of commercial space. A 27-acre apartment development will complete the project in the third phase.

The project includes about $2 million in public road improvements including the widening of U.S. 72, the construction of a new public road called Promenade Point Parkway and the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Promenade Point Parkway and U.S. 72.

Colonial Promenade is being developed by Birmingham-based Colonial Properties Trust, which owns or manages 35,189 apartment units and 14.5 million square feet of commercial space.

Source Huntsville Times

Not happy at all about this development, being myself a Madisonite. It is another one of those across the road from Madison developments that Huntsville continues to do which hurts Madison. Of course such is the price of doing business. Just irks me.

In case anyone didn't know, the Home Depot and everything east of it on 72 is Huntsville. The Publix and every thing west on 72 is Madison including the Lowe's.

[Huntsvillenative]

Does anyone know exactly how much, or close to it, that it cost to build the South Hall convention center at the VBC? I need to know.

[bamastu13]

Originally Posted by Huntsvillenative

Does anyone know exactly how much, or close to it, that it cost to build the South Hall convention center at the VBC? I need to know.

SOUTH HALL FOR VON BRAUN CENTER
Huntsville, Alabama
Construction Cost: $25,000,000+
This project consisted of a 100,000 square feet elevated Exhibition Hall over a Parking Garage. Subsurface conditions for this project consisted of highly solutioned limestone and shallow groundwater condition. Due to upper soft dumped fill and shallow groundwater conditions, extensive stabilization for garage was required. About 275 Caissons were installed on this project with Caisson depths ranging from 30 to 80+ feet.

This came from http://www.amiriengineering.com/

[Huntsvillenative]

Originally Posted by bamastu13

SOUTH HALL FOR VON BRAUN CENTER
Huntsville, Alabama
Construction Cost: $25,000,000+
This project consisted of a 100,000 square feet elevated Exhibition Hall over a Parking Garage. Subsurface conditions for this project consisted of highly solutioned limestone and shallow groundwater condition. Due to upper soft dumped fill and shallow groundwater conditions, extensive stabilization for garage was required. About 275 Caissons were installed on this project with Caisson depths ranging from 30 to 80+ feet.

This came from http://www.amiriengineering.com/

Thanks! I've been searching for info but couldn't come up with anything.

[HSVTiger]

Eventually maybe it will be finished:
"It's a great property," said Stuart Newmark, the executive vice president of operations of Yedla Management, the developer, operator and part-owner of the SpringHill Suites by Marriott at 745 Constellation Place. "We're off to a wonderful start."

Constellation developer Scott McLain said the hotel is a draw for the proposed center.

"The opening of SpringHill Suites is a terrific addition to downtown Huntsville and Constellation," said McLain.

The hotel, he said, is "helping to spur other development at Constellation. We're in the letter-of-intent stage with at least three restaurants and retailers. At this point, we have smaller retailers and restaurants who would like to be there, but we need to pursue the larger users first, then fill in" with small retailers and restaurants.
From HSV Times

[Dale]

Anything new on Councill Court ?

[HSVTiger]

Some things never change..unless it's 5-10 years out

"Senator Orr wants to increase the capacity from four to six lanes between north of Hwy 31 and 565 at Wall Triana.

For safety he wants to get rid of the medians and use service roads for businesses. Caldwell approves of the plan.

“I think it will be better than having to cross that median if you could just loop around and be out of harms way than trying to cross four lanes of traffic,” said Caldwell.

Orr says there's no word as of yet on the cost. Due to limited funding and a long waiting list, even if approved, construction would not start for five years. "

Zierdt Rd is planned to be expanded to 5 lanes Maybe starting next year but don't count on it.
Wonder how those 10 year late overpasses at Moores Mill and Shields are coming along?

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Some things never change..unless it's 5-10 years out

"Senator Orr wants to increase the capacity from four to six lanes between north of Hwy 31 and 565 at Wall Triana.

For safety he wants to get rid of the medians and use service roads for businesses. Caldwell approves of the plan.

“I think it will be better than having to cross that median if you could just loop around and be out of harms way than trying to cross four lanes of traffic,” said Caldwell.

Orr says there's no word as of yet on the cost. Due to limited funding and a long waiting list, even if approved, construction would not start for five years. "

How long have officials been discussing this? For over a decade I know that... AL 20 is h*** at rush hour. One of the deadliest roads in the state.

[HSVTiger]

Don't worry the toll road from Mobile to the North Pole will be finished in 5 years.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Don't worry the toll road from Mobile to the North Pole will be finished in 5 years.

We're all saved!!!

[HSVTiger]

Nice service..

Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center is spicing up its events with downtown's signature trolley.

Dubbed Downtown Trolley Nights, Merrimack Hall is partnering with Amendment XXI Bar and Watercress Restaurant to transport folks from downtown locations to select Merrimack performances.

The trolley service is free to Merrimack Hall ticketholders and the instructions are simple -- just hop on the trolley 30 minutes prior to the show and the trolley will drop you back off at a downtown location.

[HSVTiger]

Crane is up downtown for Belk Hudson lofts. Hopefully it is the beginning of a long period of seeing "storks" over downtown.

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Nice addition to Bridge Street
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is opening at Bridge Street Town Centre in October.

The Florida-based fast-casual restaurant will be located near Connors Steakhouse. The company website lists Oct. 5 as the opening date. This will be the first location outside Florida, publicists said.

Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, an upscale fast-food restaurant, opens Oct. 5.

Prices start at about $6 and top out at $11.99 (fajita platter) on a menu that includes salads, soups, quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, burritos appetizers, desserts and more. Margaritas and sangria are $5.

There are even four kinds of guacamole: classic, with jalapenos added, one made with house creamy cilantro and a fourth with tomatillos, garlic and onions

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by HSVTiger

Crane is up downtown for Belk Hudson lofts. Hopefully it is the beginning of a long period of seeing "storks" over downtown.

[thunder89]

I'm excited to finally see some progress on a downtown project. Hopefully the second hotel for Constellation will begin soon, and then the domino effect can begin.

[HSV79]

Nice to see this crane pop up downtown. Maybe some more cranes (weeds) will start to pop up. Now correct me if I'm wrong but it looks like that crane is holding a heart. LOL

[HSVTiger]

Aldi open

The store, at 4175 University Drive, is a discount grocer but has what the company calls, its "new look." This is a former Winn Dixie, then Office Depot
location.

With higher ceilings, improved natural lighting and environmentally friendly building materials - such as recycled materials and energy-saving refrigeration and light bulbs - the store provides an almost unique shopping experience.
The warehouse-style, open carton displays helps provide the discount prices.
The company says there are 1,400 of the most frequently purchased items sold under Aldi select brands for prices up to 50 percent less than traditional supermarkets.

Also, it said costs are reduced by a cart deposit system where shoppers insert a quarter to release a cart and receive the quarter back upon the cart's return. There is no need to have employees chase down the wayward carts.

The company also will open a Madison store Nov. 3
HSV Times

[HSVTiger]

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly said it's appropriate that the Missile Defense Agency's new six-story office center on Redstone Arsenal is part of a complex named for Dr. Wernher von Braun, whose team based in Huntsville put the nation's first satellite and astronaut in orbit and the first men on the moon.
At ceremonies Thursday officially opening the 840,000-square-foot "Von Braun III" building, MDA Director O'Reilly said von Braun was a man with vision.

- $221.8 million in construction costs, plus another $94 million for Information Technology, equipment and furnishings.

- 127 conference rooms, equipped for video-teleconferencing.

- The basement level features Secure, Compartmented Information Facilities or "SCIFs" for handling classified information above even the "Top Secret" level.

- A fitness center, small barber shop, coffee shop and privately-operated cafeteria that can seat 700 and serves about 1,200 a day.

- If the hallways were straightened out and positioned end to end, they would run 17 football fields. They're decorated with photographs of the missile defense work force, both government and private contractors involved in research, tests and deployments around the world.

A smaller "Von Braun IV" building is being considered and has been looked upon favorably by Congress, but is not yet approved, O'Reilly said. It will allow MDA to bring about 1,000 personnel still scattered in buildings around Huntsville - typically contractors supporting the government work - alongside their colleagues on the arsenal.

HSV Times Photo


1 and 2 buildings behind #3

[HSVTiger]

Gateway Place downtown set to open soon


The Huntsville Housing Authority's $15 million Gateway Place apartment building is on track to open next month at St. Clair Avenue and Gallatin Street.

Just over half of the 86 units are reserved for seniors in public housing. The rest are open to anyone 62 and over earning 60 percent or less of the area's median income - $29,760 a year for an individual.

Across the street bigger plans:
Gateway Place began rising in May 2010 directly across St. Clair Avenue from Huntsville Hospital.

The remainder of the Councill Courts site is to be redeveloped as 200 high-end apartments, restaurants, medical office space, a National Bank of Commerce and Publix supermarket.

[David1502]

Bulldozers are moving earth at the Village of Providence as construciton begins on Huntsvile's most exclusive apartments. Called Providence Place Apartments, it will consist of 226 units. - See City of Huntsville planning agenda for September http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/Planning...endaSept11.pdf

Also, according to the huntsvilledevelopment.blogspot.com website, it will feature "urban style" apartments and a hotel. See http://huntsvilledevelopment.blogspo...nts-hotel.html


A new Hilton brand hotel chain called Home 2 Suites could be the Hilton brand hotel. Presently on the company's webiste, there is a Huntsville - University Drive location listed,
http://home2suites.hilton.com/en/ht/...ns/index.jhtml

With the success of the sister Hilton brand, Homewood Suites in Providence, it is likely that they would consider buildong another hotel property there. If they mean literally on University Drive, the Watercress development, just to the west on University offers several parcels.

Directly across the street from the construction, the three acre lot is for sale and according to the listing agent, CrinkletonAssociates, it is zoned for a hotel. The three acres includes the existing parking lot. Removing this surface parking could force the developers to build the parking deck which they have mentioned in the past.

Anyway, in this economy, any construction is exciting news and worth noting.