moving to Huntsville, (Birmingham, Florence, Madison: real estate, home, rent)

[mswebb06]

Hello, everyone I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year and a very Merry Christmas. My wife and I are looking at move to the Huntsville area in the next year or so, and we have heard several things and have a few questions. I am 29 and she is 27 we don't do the "bar scene" anymore, we enjoy going shopping, nice dinning, going to the mall, movies,musuems, ballgames, etc.. I am hearing great things about Madison, Alabama which is just a few miles from the city, however I am also hearing some nice things about Florence, Alabama which a little further I do believe.

This is where we need some help, w/o ever visiting Huntsville or the surronding cities based on the information I have given which one of these cities should we target? Thanks for all your help. Have a great 2008.

[cpg35223]

Florence is really a long way from Huntsville.

Huntsville is a neat town, with a lot more to do than one would expect from a city that size. Birmingham is the same way. Just be prepared to leave your stereotypes at the door, because both cities are very surprising in terms of quality of life.

[zenjenn]

This is a great place, especially if kids are in your future.

Madison is nice, but I am partial to south Huntsville. Don't let crime statistics (higher than average for the city overall) and things scare you away from Huntsville itself. There are areas of Huntsville that are as nice or nicer than Madison.

I came from California and am a mother of two, and in direct comparison I can tell that the "entertainment" sector here in Huntsville is not as well-established, including dining. However, there are nice restaurants, ethnic cuisine and things to do in the city, and if you are so inclined to want more, it's not a long trip to Nashville or Birmingham. Hsv has everything I want, but I am a busy mother of two and 2-3 movies a year and an occasional dinner out is all I need. There are museums, parks, and activities for families and kids. The only thing I have looked for that I havn't been able to find, is a Jewish preschool and a well-qualified acupunturist, but I can't say I'm disappointed because I didn't move here expecting those things. On balance I've been pleasantly surprised - the smoke-free ordinances, health food stores, lots of diverse transplants (who all seem willing enough to embrace the positive things of Southern culture), have made me feel quite easily at home here. People ask how I am "adjusting" to life in Alabama, and I tell them I don't feel like I've had to adjust at all! The transition has so far been a happy and smooth one. And only once did someone - a gal at Huntsville Utilities - tell me to stop talking so fast.

I'm not sure where you are coming from but if you are looking for a mid-sized city with many of the amenities of a big city and a good, safe place to get a home and ultimately raise a family, this is a fabulous place. If you are looking for a entertainment scene as big as a large city, you may be disappointed.

[knightofeffect]

Nice to see you are considering Huntsville! Most of the things you enjoy (shopping, fine dining, mall, movies) can be wrapped up at the new Bridge Street Complex. Bridge Street Town Centre

As for ballgames...
Stars - a minor League Baseball Class AA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. www.huntsvillestars.com

Havoc - ice hockey. www.huntsvillehavoc.com

UAH college sports - www.uahchargers.com

There is a really nice art musem downtown on the border of Big Spring Park, which is also nice. www.hsvmuseum.org

Also, you could consider the Space and Rocket Center as a mesuem which definitiely demands a visit if you have never been there. Welcome To Space Camp® Online

Pretty much anything else you need to know about Huntsville you can find at City of Huntsville, Alabama *** Huntsville *** Alabama ***.

PS - I agree with Zenjenn, go with south Huntsville/Jones Valley/Hampton Cove over Madison.

[mswebb06]

We are coming from the suburbs of Jackson,MS this city is really in decline, crime is really terrible and virtually nothing to do here. My wife is a speech-language pathologist and work in the Financial Services industry. We will be planning to start a family very shortly. We have several friends that live over in Florence. So we will have to make a decision once we learn about both areas.

[Southlander]

Just be sure you have jobs lined up before you move, or know that there are opportunities for jobs in your areas. In Alabama, we've had a LOT of bank consolidation in the past year and more coming up. My sister-in-law works at First American and her job will be eliminated in March thanks to its buyout by a Canadian bank. So there are a lot of financial people out there looking for jobs right now.
Florence is a little more than an hour's drive from Huntsville, about 2 hours to Birmingham and 2 hours to Memphis, and a little more than 2 hours to Nashville. Pretty city. Good schools. Not much shopping beyond the basic Target, Wal-Mart, Dillard's. However, some very nice locally owned stores, and a surprising amount of dining.
Huntsville has its own charms.
I'd encourage you to take a week's vacation and look around here if you're serious. You can check out real estate on ValleyMLS.com.
Good luck!

[mswebb06]

My area of expertise is the insurance, investments, securities,annuities not the banking aspect of the finance world. My wife has about five different sectors that are linked to her profession she can practically work wherever. Thanks for the advice though I never turn down free advice.

[NicoleC]

I personally find Huntsville lacking in the entertainment and recreation department but it is by no means a city devoid of culture or entertainment. It has the variety and options you'd expect from a city this size and then some.

Madison is mostly a bedroom community of Huntsville -- it has it's own shopping and schools and movie theaters, but not much else. The two are side by side, so you could live in either and still easily access everything the other city has.

[zenjenn]

Bridge Street Town Centre

Honestly, I was unimpressed with Bridge Street. It's pretty and probably a good place to take a date once. But for the most part you're talking about paddleboats, a movie theater, a couple places to eat and a bunch of overpriced clothing stores. I went there thinking I might find some nice gifts for the holidays, but no. I left empty-handed, since I don't really know anyone for which I want to purchase overpriced clothing.

I expect others are equally unimpressed because even on a beautiful Saturday in the peak of the holiday shopping season, the place only had a trickle of patrons wandering through.

It has potential. Once a greater variety of retailers open their doors I might even consider going back.

My kids did enjoy the merry-go-round though.

[knightofeffect]

As a retail shopping experience, I don't think Bridge Street is designed for the average middle class family. It's clothing options are definitley aimed towards the upper class deserning shopper. Personally, I'm not interested in Bridge Street for shopping at all, but instead for its dining and entertainment.

I've been to the Monaco Theatre five times now, and can confidently say its movie experience is second to none that I have found. The soon-to-be-open Dolce and Ketchup resturants will definitley warrent the occasional visit as well as rare 120, connors, and PF changs.

During the summer I plan on getting some overpriced icecream at Magie Moos and then taking a paddle boat on the lake... Even though I don't feel like paying $120 for some jeans, Bridge Street still delivers on many experiences I have wanted and Huntsville has lacked.

I was impressed

EDIT: Also, right now I believe they are operating with 32 stores open; by the end of April I believe they intend to have 71 stores open including more domestic options such as Old Navy.