Town Madison Update Thread (Huntsville, Decatur: club, transport, wealthy)

[Rick In Madison]

I know the land owner and it would cheaper to gold plate the existing Balch Road before being able to purchase that land. I don't blame him. I don't know about the map from 10 years ago.

[dijkstra]

Originally Posted by Maya Blue

What do you mean incorrect? It was clearly listed as an extension on a map from about 10 years ago. Any road extension will have to deal with private property and purchasing it.

Originally Posted by Rick In Madison

I know the land owner and it would cheaper to gold plate the existing Balch Road before being able to purchase that land. I don't blame him. I don't know about the map from 10 years ago.

If a road is really needed and becomes necessary, they will just use imminent domain, go through the process and send him a check for what it appraises. It sucks but that is what happens when something needs to be built and landowners are refusing to sell for the right of way or trying to block it.

[David1502]

It appears that construction has started on the flyover ramps for the Town Center Blvd - I-565 interchange. There is a bulldozer on the top of the hill, and surveying stakes are visible near the east bound on ramp to I-565. Thanks to the annexation of the Publix in Clift Farms, the City of Madison is able to finance the construction of this interchange with the $700K + in sales tax revenue generated by that Publix.

Construction is also underway on the dual branded Marriott hotels (Courtyard and Residence Inn). Also, there seems to be some activity on the lot where The Hub is stated to be built, the outdoor food court, which is just east of Toyota Field, behind J. Alexander's. There is a bulldozer on the lot which has construction fencing around it. The Hub will be essentially a replica of the namesake location along the Highway 30A corridor located near Seaside, FL. The owner of The Hub is attempting to persuade many of the restaurants at that location to open restaurants at the Town Madison location, too.

[Madmom2000]

Originally Posted by dijkstra

If a road is really needed and becomes necessary, they will just use imminent domain, go through the process and send him a check for what it appraises. It sucks but that is what happens when something needs to be built and landowners are refusing to sell for the right of way or trying to block it.

That may happen elsewhere, for example, gaining right of way on Wall Triana, but that will never happen for the property south of Balch. Rick is 100% correct. That property belongs to one of the Adtran founders daughters. They will never sell and Madison will never take it.

[dijkstra]

Originally Posted by Madmom2000

That may happen elsewhere, for example, gaining right of way on Wall Triana, but that will never happen for the property south of Balch. Rick is 100% correct. That property belongs to one of the Adtran founders daughters. They will never sell and Madison will never take it.

It doesn't really matter to me either way. If a road is badly needed and they choose not to do what it takes to make it happen, that is a problem for Madison residents and those who have to deal with the traffic or long way around. I am just saying that when one is needed and a property owner refuses to sell the right of way, imminent domain is used to make it happen. With all of that said, right now today it may be true that she would never sell and the current Madison administration would not use imminent domain on it but 5, 10 15 years from now it may be a different story.

[Madmom2000]

Originally Posted by dijkstra

It doesn't really matter to me either way. If a road is badly needed and they choose not to do what it takes to make it happen, that is a problem for Madison residents and those who have to deal with the traffic or long way around. I am just saying that when one is needed and a property owner refuses to sell the right of way, imminent domain is used to make it happen. With all of that said, right now today it may be true that she would never sell and the current Madison administration would not use imminent domain on it but 5, 10 15 years from now it may be a different story.

This location isn't merely gaining right of way. To connect Balch to Highway 20 would take going through the center of the property owners 30+ acres.

[dijkstra]

Originally Posted by Madmom2000

This location isn't merely gaining right of way. To connect Balch to Highway 20 would take going through the center of the property owners 30+ acres.

I don't know why you think it matters that it is 30+ acres. Whether it is the corner of a 3/4 acre yard or 1000 acres, if right of way is required for a road or infrastructure that is needed, they can make it happen if they want. I completely get that they would not want a road through their property. I have land that I would not want one through either but if it is necessary, it will happen whether you want it or not. If we didn't have imminent domain laws to force right of ways, many of our roads would have so many left and right turns working around people's property, it would take us forever to get anywhere.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by dijkstra

I don't know why you think it matters that it is 30+ acres. Whether it is the corner of a 3/4 acre yard or 1000 acres, if right of way is required for a road or infrastructure that is needed, they can make it happen if they want. I completely get that they would not want a road through their property. I have land that I would not want one through either but if it is necessary, it will happen whether you want it or not. If we didn't have imminent domain laws to force right of ways, many of our roads would have so many left and right turns working around people's property, it would take us forever to get anywhere.

Eminent domain sometimes is abused however. One case that sticks in my mind for some reason was in New London, Connecticut in the early 2000s. It's #4 in this article: https://www.purdybailey.com/blog/202...-domain-abuse/

So the government has to be careful about taking over private land. The process needs to be unquestionably for the public good, in my opinion, and not just for the needs of a developer.

[dijkstra]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Eminent domain sometimes is abused however. One case that sticks in my mind for some reason was in New London, Connecticut in the early 2000s. It's #4 in this article: https://www.purdybailey.com/blog/202...-domain-abuse/

So the government has to be careful about taking over private land. The process needs to be unquestionably for the public good, in my opinion, and not just for the needs of a developer.

I completely agree. It should only be used for public good when it is necessary.

[johnsonkk]

Let’s say the land NEXT to the rich daughter of that networking company is converted into a bypass. Does anybody think she’ll sit by and watch a 4 lane highway route around her 30 acres with all that noise. Expect frivolous lawsuits in trying to turn down a casual 45 degree turn around her property.

Another misery index for this land is it is RIGHT on the flight path of Huntsville airport. I’ve passed over that property 100 times and think if they don’t use the pool, the could make money advertising to fliers all day long. Living on a flight path that close to the airport is not fun. No bones about it, people think about moving with that much noise.