It’s time for my annual predictions/educated guesses for
Huntsville development in 2014:
Comprehensive Plan
This year, Huntsville will begin work on a new comprehensive
plan—the first in this city since the 1960s. A public kickoff will occur in the
spring, and then we’ll begin general and neighborhood-specific conversations
about everything from transportation to land use. More information will come
available in the next few months, and I’ll keep everyone updated on here and on
Twitter and Facebook.
Downtown
Downtown will be hot this year. Twickenham Square opens in
the spring, with more apartments, a hotel, restaurants and a Publix. If
everything goes well, Charlie Sealy will get started on his next project- The Avenue, a mix of apartments, offices and retail- by the end of the year at the
corner of Holmes and Jefferson. With the Holiday Inn closed, its site will now
be solicited for redevelopment proposals, along with the parking garage across
Monroe from the VBC. The latter will likely be a new hotel; the former could be
an entertainment or even a residential development. I expect one more major
project to be announced in the next few months. Towards the end of the year,
talk of a downtown baseball stadium may turn serious, but only if a new team/ownership
is secured.
Central Parkway
I know… This is the third year I’ve said this, but I’m
serious this time! The Parkway between Governors and Airport-- what I like to
call “Central Parkway”—is about to explode in new development. Of course,
Walmart is going to build their new store on the East side of the Parkway. That
will leave their existing store vacant, though I don’t see that site sitting
idle for long. A development plan will be released for the John Hunt Park
commercial site, where GBT Realty (Madison Target) was selected to develop the
site. With the Stars’ last game in September, Joe Davis Stadium will also be in
play.
Etc…
What are the possibilities for the old Huntsville Times property?
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say thanks for the great work you do with this blog. It's nice to be well informed about the developments in the area!
ReplyDeleteYou say moving WalMart is an explosion in development, I say it will leave us with another crumbling eyesore on the Parkway. The Parkway needs redevelopment, and it won't happen as long as the city is pushing new development like John Hunt Park.
ReplyDeleteTrader Joes? Sprouts? Parking garages?
ReplyDeleteI would really like to see some short-term thinking around 3 story parking garages downtown that can be a support in front of or at minimum in tandem to all the growth. I travel a lot for my job and always find communities think of that last but it is the neatest way to be inviting for merchant traffic and citizens as well. Build it, they will use it!! ;)
I also expect Huntsville's craft beer community to continue to grow at a fast pace. Beer producers who currently contract brew like Old Black Bear and Rocket Republic will likely secure their own brewery locations in the Huntsville/Madison area by the end of the year. Below the Radar and Huntsville Brewery will begin to produce their own beer on site. And Huntsville/Madison's established breweries, Straight to Ale, Yellowhammer, Blue Pants, Brew Stooges, and Salty Nut will continue to grow and expand their operations and taprooms. And another craft beer oriented bar or two will pop up around town. I've also heard rumor that both popular craft beer stores in town, Wish You Were Beer and Liquor Express are eying second locations. Fun times for craft beer lovers in the Rocket City!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have Trader Joe's here!
ReplyDelete