Huntsville just came on my radar - conservative SoCal native looking to move after college (Auburn: transplants, 2015)

[JeffSanDimas]

Hey! I've posted similar threads in Texas and Atlanta, but I just "discovered" Huntsville so to speak and my interest is piqued.


Me: college senior at Cal State Northridge, white, strong Baptist background, republican, love nature, enjoy firearms, prefer suburban living (with the option to drive into the city and then drive home) vs. living downtown or in the city, majoring in Economics, want to get into Construction Management, like to be around like minded folks etc etc. I don't go to clubs or drink liquor ever, I do like concerts, car shows/racing etc.


I can answer more info, but I didn't have a bunch of time to write this and I wanted to get y'all's opinion on if HSV is the place for me? (wow a rhyme :P).


I'm reading that the part of HSV I want to be in is the SE part except for the Hamptons Cove area which is turning into a housing project, am I on the mark here?

Don't want to spend more than $800 (preferably less) for my own place with at least one bedroom in a classy area, any places I should zero in on?

[AU HSV]

Huntsville is a high tech mecca with a southern charm and historic past
You would fit right in
Come you will be welcomed
start here to get the general overview, downtown, Monte Sano, south Huntsville, Madison will fit your criteria
The Chamber of Commerce - Huntsville and Madison County

[1973PINTO]

what AU HVS said ..come on down .. join Huntsvillecarscene.com ... plenty of hot rod activity around

[Reactionary]

I saw your thread in another section and my first thought was to recommend Auburn because of the construction management / building science program. However I didn't have time to post then.

Yes, Huntsville might be a good place for you but consider that it's a small to mid-sized city of ~180,000. While that's larger than the Los Angeles (around here, LA means lower Alabama) neighborhood of Northridge (~60,000), consider the population densities: Northridge = 6080 people per square mile vs Huntsville = 858 people per square mile.

Think of Huntsville as a large suburb with a very small downtown (i.e., there is really no option of driving into "the city" then driving home, unless you live in the country). You can live downtown and drive 5 or 10 minutes to a 3,000 acre State Park / Nature Preserve.

We've got Baptists, lots of Republicans, lots of nature, guns (Remington is building a new plant here), some concerts, and Talledega is about 1 1/2 hours away.

Hampton Cove is an upscale neighborhood near which the housing authority is building a housing project. So, a bit off the mark.

I think that the Belk Hudson apartments downtown fit your budget. Note that they're two blocks from the courthouse

[JeffSanDimas]

Thank you!! The more I read about the area the more I like it!

I know the city has gotten a lot of transplants (having NASA an awesome economy will do thsg flings , but does it still have a real "southern feeling" where the transplants have assimilated to AL culture?

Does the area feel transient or settled? By that I mean do you know your neighbors and feel like lart of a community? Do you feel a community feeling in your area where the residents seem to be there for the long haul or is it just a bunch of folks following a job with no intentions of staying past the time when their position ends?

[AU HSV]

Downtown covers area between Governors Dr to the south Oakwood to the north , Memorial Parkway west and California to the east
Lowe mill village is nearby the largest arts , craft conglomeration in the south, new home grow breweries downtown
http://btrbrew.com/
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf..._to_break.html
many great restaurants downtown
There are many more options downtown coming on line
Twickenham Square, available now, includes Publix grocery store, 4 restaurants
City Centre at Big Spring soon to be under construction
The Avenue soon to be under construction
Constellation; maybe sometime in the next few years
Historic districts downtown, Twickenham, Old Town,
nearby nice neighborhoods Blossomwood, Five Points

[JeffSanDimas]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

Downtown covers area between Governors Dr to the south Oakwood to the north , Memorial Parkway west and California to the east
Lowe mill village is nearby the largest arts , craft conglomeration in the south, new home grow breweries downtown
Below the Radar
Yellowhammer Brewing to break ground Thursday on Stone Middle School expansion, partner with pizza food truck | AL.com
many great restaurants downtown
There are many more options downtown coming on line
Twickenham Square, available now, includes Publix grocery store, 4 restaurants
City Centre at Big Spring soon to be under construction
The Avenue soon to be under construction
Constellation; maybe sometime in the next few years
Historic districts downtown, Twickenham, Old Town,
nearby nice neighborhoods Blossomwood, Five Points

All the places seem nice, but a bit too "in the middle of everything" if you get me.


Do you know of any locations in the city that are less "urban" I guess would be the word.


Here is an example of the kind of places I like:

[LCTMadison]

Even downtown doesn't really feel "urban" but you would probably not find what you like in your budget near there anyways. Pretty sure Belk Hudson Lofts are running a wait list right now and those are going to be more than $800/month.

In SE HSV there is a lack of apartments (at least like the ones you have posted) so you may not find what you are looking for there.

Stick to the outlying "suburbs" like Hampton Cove or Madison, or even the county areas. There are some apartments that are very convenient to University Drive/72 area that are in the Monrovia area near the Village of Providence that might fit the bill. Arch Street is on the outskirts of Madison very close to Research Park and Bridgestreet. Hampton Falls over in Hampton Cove are really nice and still very convenient to downtown HSV and shopping. There are lots of newer options that surround the Research Park/Arsenal area.

They are not building "housing projects" in Hampton Cove. They are building INCOME CONTROLLED apartments, there is a big difference. And from the plans they are going to be extremely nice.

[Justacoolguy]

LOL Hampton Cove isnt building projects. Ive lived there for almost 5 years and never plan on leaving. This is the best part of Huntsville.

[DaMadHatter]

Originally Posted by JeffSanDimas

Don't want to spend more than $800 (preferably less) for my own place with at least one bedroom in a classy area, any places I should zero in on?

You could buy a 3 bedroom/2 bath house for $800/month. You should look in the Madison area.