Billion dollar development in Madison (Huntsville, Decatur: how much, hotel, tenant)

[Huntsville_secede]

Ok what is going on here sounds like a race between cities to develop the 565/65 corridor. And don't forget about the Debartlo Development at Zierdt road in Madison too. I would assume that project is dead, I don't think this area can support Debartlo (which was 2 million sq feet plus) Sweetwater in Decatur and the announced County Line Road development.



Ground-breaking is set to begin this summer on a billion dollar development that will add 4 million square feet of shopping, dining, entertainment, residential, hotel and office space to the city.

Mayor Sandy Kirkindall announced the major development with Wann Springs Development Group during tonight's annual State of the City Address. It will be on 450 acres at the intersection of County Line Road and Interstate 565.

"This is the most important economic development projects in Madison to date," Kirkindall said. "Our hope and expectation is that this project will serve so many of the needs of Madison and the region as we continue to address the demands of fast growth in North Alabama."

[Charles]

I did a quick couple of googles on this and didn't see much...anyone know anything more? For example, when might it be completed? Sounds like another Bridge Street (....shopping, dining, entertainment, residential, hotel and office space ....)?

Haven't been to the County Line region near Madison. Will check it out in a couple of weeks. What impressions do people have of it? Is it primarily residential? Does it suffer from some of the infrastructure problems we've seen written about Madison (too many single lane roads for example)? I read another high school may be built out there. Sounds like this County Line area is starting to move...

[NicoleC]

County Line Road and 565 is the airport right now, Charles, that and farm fields. No, there are no major roads out there, or anywhere else it that area, but this development will at least have 565 as an artery.

[HsvMike]

Traffic should not be too much of a problem in that specific area. Just like Nicole said you have 565 there to free up the roads and County Line Rd is 2 - lanes each way and a turn lane in the middle of that ( 5 total lanes ) so it isn't as bad as most roads in Madison.

It is mostly residential ( subdivisions on either side ) and a Publix recently opened and a small strip mall attached to it. Going South of the Publix is mostly farm land, and there are a few other small strip malls as well.

[VMH2507]

County Line Road is 4 lanes all the way from I565 to 72. There are a couple of commercial developments (strip malls) including a new large Publix, Tuesday Morning, etc. There is also a lot of upscale housing that has been under development for approximately 5 years.

[ionlife]

whatever they do--they need to find a way to fund that new HS in Madison or the HS students will be living in trailers/traveling in shifts to school.

[Huntsville_secede]

FROM WAAYTV more info about the project


"We are excited about the tremendous potential of this project, and of the Madison market," said Bob Flowers, Managing Partner of WSDG. "The consistent rate and quality of growth for the Madison area - and the promise of more to come - is impressive, not just for the Southeast, but across the USA. This is a very special market."

The project is designed to meet the shopping, dining, medical and residential needs of the Madison community. It will also meet the lodging, entertainment and office needs of the region as a whole. Significant features of the large-scale development will include a new east-west roadway from County Line Road to Wall-Triana Highway. Future infrastructure expansion may also create a more direct route from the interior of the city to Huntsville International Airport. A large water feature of approximately 20 acres will be at the center of the project, fed by a natural spring. The project will be pedestrian friendly, and will be bounded on the east by walking and biking paths adjacent to Bradford Creek winding through the new Greenway being developed by the City of Madison.

With full build-out of the masterplan, the project will represent more than a 15% increase of the entire metro area office market, and a more than 8% expansion of the metro retail market. New lodging amenities will include a four-star hotel with meeting space, and new limited-service or extended-stay lodging as well. Plans are also being developed for a dynamic regional arts center, including an indoor performing theatre and an outdoor amphitheater. Opportunities for office development include land for owner-occupied office buildings, multi-tenant construction, and mixed-use buildings in the Town Center area with offices above shops and restaurants.

Master-planning, design, and engineering for the project is being conducted by the nationally-ranked firm of PBS&J. With more than 4,000 employees in 75 offices nationwide, Florida-based PBS&J is well known for its significant contributions to numerous high profile projects, including the town of Celebration, Florida, which has been recognized as a hallmark of New Urbanism design. PBS&J (Welcome to PBS&J) is an employee-owned firm that provides infrastructure planning, engineering, construction management, architecture, environmental, and program management services to public and private clients.

[Southlander]

Of course, if the economy tanks this will all go to he(( in a hurry!

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Of course, if the economy tanks this will all go to he(( in a hurry!

Yeah I'm wondering how this Constellation and Sweetwater can all be built. They all have similar aspects like the hotel and amphitheater. But lets dream on right now, here are some renderings.

[NicoleC]

I don't think Constellation is a competitor to either, and Sweetwater was far enough away to fly. This one stuck so close to Sweetwater seems like a concern for me.

I really, really, really think Madison is being overbuilt, but this development DOES address some of the problems with Madison, i.e. that it's pretty much all cookie cutter suburban sprawl. Will this new mixed use development stand on it's own two feet? It's hard to say. I am sure they did all kinds of analysis, but I wonder how much they thought about Sweetwater when it comes to retail competition.

I think a very good case can be made for high tech companies wanting to be close to the airport, though, and the office space may do very well.