A Final Note...

Dear Readers,

Many of you already know that I am employed as an urban planner with the City of Huntsville. You may also know that I am part of the team working on the Big Picture comprehensive planning effort for the City. My duties include maintaining the website and writing a bi-weekly "What We're Reading" and newsletter series. We are fortunate to have such an engaged citizenry here-- to date, we've spoken to more than fifty groups throughout the city and held more than a dozen public events. This year, we plan to continue the public outreach, and introduce a draft plan.

With time comes more responsibilities. As we've delved deeper into the plan, my time has become more limited, with less time to write blog posts and answer readers' questions. I've held out hope that one day I would have the time like I did in college to write in-depth posts on a regular basis, but I now realize that isn't going to happen. This will be my last post on Huntsville Development News. The blog will remain online for archival purposes, but there will be no new posts. The Facebook page and Development Map will shut down this month (January 2016), while the Twitter feed will remain active as my personal account.

Just in case you're wondering about where else to find out about projects, here are some resources to keep in mind:

• The monthly Development Review posts will continue on the BIG Picture website. Check out the December edition here: http://bigpicturehuntsville.com/development-review-1215/ You can be notified of new posts by subscribing to the newsletter, or liking the BIG Picture Huntsville on Facebook. 

• The Huntsville Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has a map of transportation projects that require state and federal funding within the next 15 years. It's updated every other month. The map is full of information on construction start/finish dates and costs. 

• Many of you have come here (and to the Facebook page) for details on upcoming retail and restaurant projects in the area. While I can't give you a specific source, check your favorite local media outlet for announcements. Google is also very helpful with those questions. 

The blog became more popular than I ever would have imagined. I have had the privilege of meeting many of you over the years. Thank you for reading these past 8 years, and I hope to see you again soon. --James

Development Review: November 2015

A Hampton Inn and Suites hotel under construction in Providence. (Photo credit: James Vandiver)

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

2213 Drake Ave. SW: Addition to a recreation facility for the City of Huntsville (Natatorium expansion). Contractor: Pearce Construction. $19.4 Million

328 Providence Main St. NW: Construction of a hotel for Omega Hotel Group/Kana Hotel Group (Hampton Inn and Suites). Contractor: Humphreys and Associates Contractors. $5.16 Million

7512 US 72 West NW: Construction of a gas station for Walmart. Contractor: DBS Corporation. $2.02 Million

7500 US 72 West NW: Construction of a medical clinic for Quick Care Wellness. Contractor: Lee Builders. $1.75 Million

2010 Southpoint Park Cir. SW: Construction of a shopping center for Kendall Properties USA LLC. Contractor: Kendall Shoemake Construction. $1 Million

Development Review: October 2015

Foreground: Phase One of the Shoppes at Redstone Gateway. Background: Construction continues on a Towne Place Suites by Marriott hotel. Photo credit: James Vandiver

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

2100 Rideout Rd. SW: Construction of a shopping center for Redstone Gateway 2100, LLC. Contractor: The Stewart Perry Company. $3.03 Million

1 Hospital Dr. SW: Alterations to a hospital for Community Health Systems. Contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie. $1.6 Million

180 West Park Loop NW: Construction of an office building for AZ Technology. Contractor: Summit Structures. $1.4 Million

2500 Jordan Ln. NW: Construction of a building for Woody Anderson Ford. Contractor: Consolidated Construction Co. $1.31 Million

2600 Clinton Ave. NW: Construction of a retail building for Randy Schrimsher. Contractor: Fite Building Company. $1.26 Million

7049 Greenbrier Pky. NW: Construction of an office building for Polaris. Contractor: TW Frierson Contractor. $N/A

Development Review: September 2015

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

15990 Chaney Thompson Rd. SE: Addition to an industrial building for Ridgeview Industries. Contractor: Elzinga and Volkers. $1.5 Million

5000 Bradford Dr. NW: Tenant fit-out of an office building for Huntsville NYL, LLC. Contractor: Stutts Corporation. $1.32 Million

1582 US 72 East NE: Construction of a gas station for NTI Investments, LLC (Mapco). Contractor: Marco Contractors. $1.28 Million

2130 Redstone Rd. SW: Construction of a shopping center for Triad Properties. Contractor: Fite Building. $1.2 Million

Development Review: August 2015

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

11580 Memorial Pky. SW: Construction of a mini storage facility for Gerry Shannon/TPH Storage Huntsville I LLC. Contractor: Fite Building Company. $3.02 Million

8475 Wann Dr. NW: Construction of a medical office building for The Orthopedic Center. Contractor: Woodward Construction and Design. $1.55 Million

6890 Governors West NW, Unit A: Alterations to a retail space for Dick’s Sporting Goods. Contractor: Ordner Construction. $1.29 Million

Development Review: July 2015

The former Star Market/Bruno's at Bailey Cove and Weatherly was demolished last month to make way for a Walmart Neighborhood Market and gas station. (Photo credit: James Vandiver)

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

9020 Bailey Cove Rd. SE: Construction of a grocery store for MAP Bailey Cove (Walmart Neighborhood Market). Contractor: McWhorter and Company. $3.29 Million

5734 Research Park Blvd. NW: Construction of a building for Graybar. Contractor: Holladay Construction Group. $3.19 Million

901 Explorer Blvd. NW: Alterations to an office space for Adtran. Contractor: Brasfield and Gorrie. $2.26 Million

2600 Clinton Ave. SW: Construction of a brewery for Yellowhammer. Contractor: Fite Building Co. $1.1 Million

1816 Remington Cir. SW: An addition to an industrial building for Remington. Contractor: Tenant Building Group. $1 Million

Development Review: June 2015

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

2165 Winchester Rd. NE: Construction of a retail building for Walmart Real Estate. Contractor: James C. Hudson Construction. $10.3 Million

4090 Memorial Pky. SW: Alterations to an office building for Freedom Real Estate. Contractor: Universal Construction. $2.5 Million

845 Slaughter Rd. SW: Construction of a church for Building Church. Contractor: Moon Construction Services. $1.96 Million

7036 US 72 West NW: Construction of a retail building for Crosland Southeast (tire store). Contractor: Lee Builders. $1.47 Million

Development Review: May 2015

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

1401 Memorial Pky. NW: Alterations to a retail building for EBR Huntsville LLC (At Home). Contractor: Parkway Construction and Associates. $1.6 Million

Development Review: April 2015

Whole Foods Market, under construction at the intersection of Memorial Parkway and Bob Wallace Ave. (Photo credit: James Vandiver)

Note: The 2014 Huntsville Development Review is now available online. 

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

2501 Memorial Parkway SW: Finish-out of a retail building for Whole Foods Market. Contractor: KMD Construction, LLC. $3.21 Million

Development Review: March 2015

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

248 Dunlop Blvd. SW: Alterations to an industrial building for Science and Engineering Services, Inc. Contractor: Simco Construction. $2.2 Million

1 Hospital Dr. SW: Alterations to a medical building for Community Health Systems/Crestwood Medical Center. Contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie. $1.84 Million

101 Sivley Rd. SW: Alterations to a medical lab for Huntsville Hospital. Contractor: James Hill Acoustical. $1.8 Million

Development Review: February 2015

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

237 Johns Rd. NW: Construction of a sanctuary for Westminster Christian Academy. Contractor: Woodward Construction and Design. $5 Million

970 Balch Rd. NW: Construction of a building for Balch Road Partners (fitness center). Contractor: Summit Structures. $1.63 Million

401 The Bridge St. NW, Unit 120: Alterations to a restaurant space for BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. Contractor: Haley Construction. $1.35 Million

Development Review: January 2015

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd. SW: Alterations to an airport for Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority (new jet bridges). Contractor: Johnson Contractors. $10.1 Million

7200 Redstone Gateway SW: Finish-out of an office space for Frantz Corporate Services Group/DRS Technologies. Contractor: Rand Construction. $5.66 Million

7200 Redstone Gateway SW, Unit B: Finish-out of an office space for Frantz Corporate Services Group/DRS Technologies. Contractor: Rand Construction. $2.83 Million

1816 Remington Cir. SW: Alterations to an industrial space for Remington Arms. Contractor: Burns & McDonnell Engineering. $1.8 Million

10008 Memorial Pky. SW: Alterations to a retail space for Pet Depot. Contractor: McQuinn & Eastep Construction. $375,000

309 Pelham Ave. SW, Unit B5: Alterations to a retail space for Tom Wang (Nail Salon). Contractor: McQuinn & Eastep Construction. $328,000

2801 Memorial Pky. SW, Unit 264: Alterations to a retail space for CBL Properties/Bath and Body Works. Contractor: Horizon Retail Construction. $303,000

365 The Bridge St. NW, Unit 101: Alterations to a retail space for SAPH Alabama. Contractor: Prairie Contractors. $254,000

388 Wade Rd. SE: Construction of a community building for Flint River LP (Flint River Apartments). Contractor: Hunters Walk Home Center. $230,000

6215 Old Madison Pike NW: Alterations to a building for Buffalo Rock. Contractor: JR Robinson Construction. $207,000

5510 Promenade Point Pky. NW, Unit 110: Finish-out of a retail space for Madison Retail Partners/Picture Perfect. Contractor: Huntsville Design and Construction. $149,000

200 Clinton Ave. NW, 1^st and 2^nd Floors: Alterations to an office space for Regions. Contractor: Stutts Corporation. $100,000

Residential Permits (new construction) in Huntsville city limits:

In January, 167 housing units were permitted, including 85 single- and 82 multi-family units. The top tract for building permits last month was 109.01 (Hampton Cove), where 84 units were permitted, 12 single- and 72 multi-family. This is a 42.7% increase over January 2014, when 117 housing units (61 single-family and 56 multi-family) were permitted.

Residential Certificates of Occupancy (new construction) in Huntsville city limits:

90 housing units were granted certificates of occupancy (CO’s), including 51 single- and 39 multi-family units. The top tract for CO’s in the month of January was 19.02 (Jones Valley) where 24 housing units were added, all multi-family. This is a 15.4% increase over January 2014, when 78 housing units (77 single-family and 1 multi-family) were granted CO’s.

Development Review: December 2014

Commercial Building Permits over $100,000 within Huntsville city limits:

345 Voyager Way NW: Construction of an office building for Vette Properties (Logicore headquarters). Contractor: Fite Building. $9.89 Million

1100 Redstone Gateway SW: Alterations to an office building for Corporate Office Properties Trust/Boeing. Contractor: BL Harbert International. $1.35 Million

A Look Ahead 2015

Here's what to look forward to in Huntsville development for 2015:

Comprehensive Plan

A shameless plug on The BIG Picture-- Huntsville's comprehensive planning effort. The public involvement phase will be winding down in late spring, but not before several more Citizens Academies, including one on Transportation. The first half of the report (historic and existing conditions) will be released in the next month or so, with the full report (hopefully) approved by the end of the year. Check out bigpicturehuntsville.com for updates, and sign up for the email newsletter. 

Downtown

The Avenue-- Charlie Sealy's next downtown project-- will begin construction early this year. Construction will also begin on CityCentre at Big Spring-- the mixed-use redevelopment of the Holiday Inn site. These two developments have nearly 400 apartment units between them, bringing the total units constructed in Downtown since 2010 to over 700. There's also the potential of at least a dozen new restaurants in Downtown with these projects. CityCentre includes a boutique hotel in its first phase, and I expect another to be announced elsewhere. Plans for the Coca-Cola site at Clinton and Monroe will become clearer. A baseball park somewhere Downtown is still a possibility, but a team and a developer willing to foot the bill would be necessary to make it happen. 

Research Park

The future of Cummings Research Park is going to be discussed further this year, especially the area east of Research Park Blvd. As companies consolidate their office space, they have left large swaths of vacant office space in their wake. Making problems worse, much of this space was built more than 20 years ago, making it obsolete for today's workforce needs. It may be time to rethink the park's restrictive zoning policy to allow for non-office uses such as apartments and restaurants that could replace at least some of the aging office buildings. 

Grocery Stores

The existing "Big Three" grocers (Walmart, Kroger, and Publix) will continue expanding. Walmart will be building mostly small neighborhood market stores throughout Madison County, and only one full-size "Supercenter" will begin construction at the corner of Winchester and Homer Nance in Northeast Huntsville. 

In 2014, I expected two (maybe three) new grocery store chains to enter the Huntsville market. Sprouts Farmers Market and Whole Foods announced plans to open one store each, February and this fall respectively. The third chain was Trader Joe's, which announced in 2014 that its first store in Alabama will open in late 2015... in Birmingham. With that said, I think this is the year TJ's will announce a Huntsville location, with an opening in 2016. 

Etc...

Town Madison will get started, but don't expect a whole lot of new-to-the-area stores... Cabela's will open later this year just south of Research Park-- some smaller retailers and restaurants are expected to follow... Three new-to-Huntsville restaurants will open at Bridge Street this year-- Texas de Brazil (January), Bravo! Cucina Italiana (January), and BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse... At Home, formerly known as Garden Ridge, will open a store in the soon-to-be-former Kmart on North Parkway in the summer... The old Walmart across from Parkway Place will be filled... We may learn more about a shopping center in Jones Valley... Joe Davis Stadium will be torn down in the fall, possibly for an indoor sports facility... Construction will continue on the redevelopment of the old Stone Middle School property, which will be home to two breweries and an amphitheater.