Huntsville/Madison Development News (Providence, Belk: estates, flood plain, hires)

[mcalumni01]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Do you mean paving of I-65 south of 20/59? If so, that's long overdue. I would have thought that's the first thing that would be done, or at least repair some of the bumpiness (I think it's mostly the original concrete from way back when).

When they started this entire rebuilt project, they scraped off the top of the old interstate pavement like they do before they lay down new pavement. That's what I was referring to around the junction that that's all they have left to do there. Both on 65 between 16th st n. and 4th ave. south, and 20/59 head toward the arkadelphia highway overpass.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

It is not planned for that site
A commercial retail mid rise is envisioned for that spot.
The muncipal garage and current city hall will be demolished a new city hall
And new parking deck constructed on those sites.
That is the current idea rendering were posted here maybe a year or so ago.

The latest update and probable timeline for new City Hall
https://3jzi0q2zthm01oqpx2h96lz1-wpe...-28-2019-1.pdf

and detailed study and selected site
https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/wp-cont...Site-Study.pdf


Think there is a lot of construction downtown now, well 2020 and 2021 there will be even more.

[TimCity2000]

nice looking building.

i'll admit, though... the current city hall is actually one of my favorite buildings in huntsville. maybe because it's so unique from anything around it, or because it clearly is a product of its era. i assume it will get demolished? sounds like it's in need of some significant work.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

nice looking building.

i'll admit, though... the current city hall is actually one of my favorite buildings in huntsville. maybe because it's so unique from anything around it, or because it clearly is a product of its era. i assume it will get demolished? sounds like it's in need of some significant work.

Yes, no real way it can be saved without significant rework. Most of the building is not to code and may be asbestos issues as well.
Great design though and still is.

[jero23]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Don't know about economically, but Baldwin County is growing in population. It may be mostly retirees moving there, but there must be others too.

One think I find weird is that Madison and Limestone Counties are growing steadily, but neighboring Morgan County keeps slowly losing population (if the Census Bureau estimates are to be believed). I suspect that many Mazda/Toyota workers will be moving to Morgan County, perhaps the Priceville area, because it's really closer than the main part of Huntsville, and is less expensive than Madison County in general.

The planned widening of 565 may well benefit Decatur and Morgan County, and Limestone County with the Browns Ferry Rd interchange work, more than it does Huntsville. If it helps the general area, that's fine.

Baldwin is growing but not economically. The only industry there is tourism which doesn't do much ultimately unless it's combined with other industries. Auburn-Opelika is growing in population and economically with a rapidly growing high tech manufacturing sector along with Auburn University related economic growth.

[padmaster]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

nice looking building.

i'll admit, though... the current city hall is actually one of my favorite buildings in huntsville. maybe because it's so unique from anything around it, or because it clearly is a product of its era. i assume it will get demolished? sounds like it's in need of some significant work.

I hope they are able to salvage at least some of the massive amounts of Italian marble on that building.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by padmaster

I hope they are able to salvage at least some of the massive amounts of Italian marble on that building.

they attempted some when the annex was demolished but the marble is very fragile and in poor condition.
I agree though that a better attempt to save some pieces should be done to use in the lobby of the new building, maybe an accent wall or something. Sure there are some usable nice pieces on the building.

[AU HSV]

Major South Huntsville development will take care of the Haysland Square strip center.


https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/gian...untsville.html


The 850-acre development – described as a “gathering place for south Huntsville” -- will include high-end housing, a nature preserve, a mixed-use segment with restaurants, retail and condos similar to Providence Main in west Huntsville as an entertainment district as well as city parks and a dog park.
More than 500 single family detached residences are planned with a price range from $300,000 to $700,000, Enfinger said.
There will also be about 600 residences in the form of townhouses and patio homes in the development.
The developers will hold a community meeting May 30 at 6 p.m. at the Grissom High auditorium to discuss the project.
The Hays Farm will be the site of the development, which is being overseen by owners Jim Hays, John Hays and Jeff Enfinger. The Hays family also developed Hampton Cove among other projects in Huntsville.

[buildbirmingham]

That is a pretty solid development. Only thing I would change is intertwining the retail in more with the residential. Most of the houses will be out of walking distance.

Someone pointed out on Reddit that the entire residential portion is within the 2018 FEMA flood map.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by buildbirmingham

That is a pretty solid development. Only thing I would change is intertwining the retail in more with the residential. Most of the houses will be out of walking distance.

Someone pointed out on Reddit that the entire residential portion is within the 2018 FEMA flood map.

that would be a good topic of conversation at the planned meeting