Huntsville/Madison Development News (Birmingham, Montgomery: license plate, hotels, home)

[Chris_NorthHSV]

The march to hurt Alabama by the federal government is on going....You can tell there's a lot of people jealous of what's going on in Huntsville.

The FBI warned that funding cuts in a fiscal 2024 spending package would hamper counterintelligence activities and the ability to investigate human trafficking and crimes against children, as House Republicans this week touted funding reductions for federal law enforcement agencies.

Much of the $654 million in cuts announced Friday that Republicans have negotiated with Democrats come from a reduction in the construction at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

“Out of the $654 million lawmakers agreed to cut ... $622 million came from eliminating what was essentially an old earmark: money for construction at the bureau’s campus at Redstone Arsenal,” The New York Times reported.

That money was part of retired U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby’s famous earmarks for his home state.

“What they won’t tell you is, 95 percent of that cut is eliminating an earmark from Richard Shelby, because Richard Shelby is no longer here to defend his pet project building back in Alabama,” U.S. Rep Chip Roy of Texas told The Times.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by Chris_NorthHSV

The march to hurt Alabama by the federal government is on going....You can tell there's a lot of people jealous of what's going on in Huntsville.

Fortunately this is probably a temporary issue as The FBI complex is well on its way to be completed. This is a long term project and most likely the remaining will be funded in the future.

[RocketDawg]

Looks like some funding for the North Alabama Zoo has been acquired, according to an article in the Huntsville Business Journal. https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.co...-announcement/

I can only read the headline so I don't know how much they've gotten or from where, even though I have a subscription to the site. For some reason, even though I have my monthly subscription paid by Visa, it's been lost. I'll have to give them another call Monday. This is the second time this year it's happened. They're nice to deal with other than their automated payment system.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

Fortunately this is probably a temporary issue as The FBI complex is well on its way to be completed. This is a long term project and most likely the remaining will be funded in the future.

The FBI is a pretty controversial agency nowadays, and there can't even decide where to build their new headquarters. It'll move out of the J. Edgar Hoover building in DC to (most likely) the Virginia suburbs.

Several of the buildings at Redstone are completed, so as AU says, this is almost certainly a temporary issue and perhaps funding will be included whenever the actual budget is approved. Katie Britt is Shelby's protege, so she has some important work to do. This isn't exactly a pork project since it's needed by the Agency and the move to Huntsville is well underway. It's a wonder we ever get anything done with politics nowadays.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

The FBI is a pretty controversial agency nowadays, and there can't even decide where to build their new headquarters. It'll move out of the J. Edgar Hoover building in DC to (most likely) the Virginia suburbs.

Several of the buildings at Redstone are completed, so as AU says, this is almost certainly a temporary issue and perhaps funding will be included whenever the actual budget is approved. Katie Britt is Shelby's protege, so she has some important work to do. This isn't exactly a pork project since it's needed by the Agency and the move to Huntsville is well underway. It's a wonder we ever get anything done with politics nowadays.

And it sounds like the reports are incorrect

https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2...fices-say.html

“The FBI has confirmed that this funding has been obligated and that this year’s funding levels reflect that additional funding was not required to complete construction,” the spokesperson said.

Sean Ross, a spokesperson from Britt’s office, said “the reporting we’ve seen on this issue is not accurate.”

“The FBI’s construction at Redstone has already been fully funded through previous appropriations measures,” Ross said.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

And it sounds like the reports are incorrect

https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2...fices-say.html

“The FBI has confirmed that this funding has been obligated and that this year’s funding levels reflect that additional funding was not required to complete construction,” the spokesperson said.

Sean Ross, a spokesperson from Britt’s office, said “the reporting we’ve seen on this issue is not accurate.”

“The FBI’s construction at Redstone has already been fully funded through previous appropriations measures,” Ross said.

Good.

I haven't been out there in a while to see what they're building, but I believe they now have their own gate within a gate, so you can't just drive down there and look around.

Now, if we can just get the Space Command back on track all will be well.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

Publix in Meridianville is supposedly closing that store in April and rebuilding a new larger store at the same location. Most likely taking over the three or most of the vacant spaces adjacent to the current store in the shopping center. This Publix has always been an anomaly as it was a former Winn Dixie and didn’t really fit the Publix design. There has been a large increase in population within 10 miles of this store so it’s quickly becoming overwhelmed. It also is a convenient option for Tennessee residents.

More info
This project will consist of demolishing the existing 44,000SF Publix along with a portion of retail spaces, and replacing it with Publix 48.17 Prototype. The abutting 1,200SF unit on the north side of Publix will also be demolished to allow for a pharmacy drive thru, and 2,400SF of the adjacent unit to the south of Publix will be demolished to make room for the new Publix footprint. Demolition/construction will begin in May with completion expected March 2025.

[tn_native]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

More info
This project will consist of demolishing the existing 44,000SF Publix along with a portion of retail spaces, and replacing it with Publix 48.17 Prototype. The abutting 1,200SF unit on the north side of Publix will also be demolished to allow for a pharmacy drive thru, and 2,400SF of the adjacent unit to the south of Publix will be demolished to make room for the new Publix footprint. Demolition/construction will begin in May with completion expected March 2025.

I haven't seen a sign (I shop in Meridianville) about the store closing. I guess they will pack up the remaining store and move it to one of the other 14 in the county. Only three (and now two when this one closes temporarily) have county tax, which adds up.

[Preston3124]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

Fortunately this is probably a temporary issue as The FBI complex is well on its way to be completed. This is a long term project and most likely the remaining will be funded in the future.

If they are almost completed how is there still $622 million left to be cut from the budget for their construction? How much did the total project cost?

[AU HSV]

Development planned/proposed for North Memorial Parkway and Hollow road.
Proposed 600 housing units, 100 townhomes, a grocery store, restaurants, 120 room hotel with convention facilities. Still has to go through the planning process so a timeline is not known but reaction is favorable for this area of North Huntsville.
The developer is 2204 & Co. based in Montgomery and Atlanta.