Huntsville/Madison Development News (Mobile, Gulf Shores: foundation, architect, resorts)

[AU HSV]

Sometimes these pics are used only as placeholders on the website. Lets hope this is the case here.
The hotel is great but the design is not. Lazy cookie cutter architecture is not what Huntsville needs in a prime location. There are many excellent designs out there in many cities that become distinctive for that city. This is just like similar hotel in Mobile, Memphis, Chattanooga. Why can't we have something different that will compliment the new VBC expansion and be a building one would want to see or go in.
Something like this
Courtesy of SPL Realty Partners

[AU HSV]

Frontier Airlines has extended their schedule through the holidays into February.
Should be able to get some winter time deals. They also added Jackson Mississippi
to get service. Looks like they are filling in the blanks on the map.

[denofhc]

Is the city permitted input on buildings? Please...NO MORE COOKIE CUTTER BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN!

[David1502]

Originally Posted by dijkstra

The Westin was built at Bridgestreet because the developers convinced them that Bridgestreet itself was going to be a destination. Remember the Gondola rides and all that? They even incorporated condos in the upper floors because they thought people would want to live there......never sold a single one. It turned into just another shopping center and the hotel ended up being exactly what you stated, a business traveler hotel.

I don't see how The Westin could have been more than a hotel for business travelers, anyway. The only tourists coming to Huntsville are those visiting the Space and Rock Center and those folks are usually families with school aged kids who are not likely to pay the rates of a Westin Hotel. The families who visit the Space Center usually do their visits on the weekends during the school year, so any hotel here has to rely on business travelers to make it.


The Gondola at Bridge Street is still operating - it has been moved to just east of the bridge behind Chico's. The small train is operating, too. Bridge Street has become the destination for North Alabama for both locals and business travelers. You see this on the weekends when it's tough finding a parking space and during the week when Connor's and Texas de Brazil are crowded. Business travelers are the ones running up big checks at both of these restaurants and are the reason that they are still in business. Other than birthdays and anniversaries, how many locals are going to pay $50 per person to eat at Texas de Brazil on a Monday night?

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by David1502

I don't see how The Westin could have been more than a hotel for business travelers, anyway. The only tourists coming to Huntsville are those visiting the Space and Rock Center and those folks are usually families with school aged kids who are not likely to pay the rates of a Westin Hotel. The families who visit the Space Center usually do their visits on the weekends during the school year, so any hotel here has to rely on business travelers to make it.


The Gondola at Bridge Street is still operating - it has been moved to just east of the bridge behind Chico's. The small train is operating, too. Bridge Street has become the destination for North Alabama for both locals and business travelers. You see this on the weekends when it's tough finding a parking space and during the week when Connor's and Texas de Brazil are crowded. Business travelers are the ones running up big checks at both of these restaurants and are the reason that they are still in business. Other than birthdays and anniversaries, how many locals are going to pay $50 per person to eat at Texas de Brazil on a Monday night?

That's true about the reason for the Westin ... I don't know of anybody who makes a trip to a shopping center and spends the night in a nearby hotel. Maybe around Christmas? Same thing for the hotel at the Galleria in B'ham. There are other reasons for staying in a hotel other than business ... when my son and his family visit they sometime stay in a hotel rather than staying here, and we do the same on occasion when visiting with them. But the overwhelming reason for hotel stays in Huntsville, and most other cities that aren't resorts, has to be for business.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by cooldiver

This. I think it is a much more attractive structure than the vaunted Drury, and is almost as tall (7 floors for the Hampton, 8 for the Drury.)

And it is a Hilton flagged hotel, which makes it more attractive to business travelers including Hilton Diamond members such as myself.

The VBC has been needing more rooms downtown and it seems that the day is coming:

New:
Curio : 117 rooms
AC at CityCentre: 150 rooms
Hampton Inn: 134 rooms (room count for H.I. in Chattanooga which looks similar).

Existing:
Embassy Suites: 295 rooms
Homewood Suites: Can't find count, but HS at Providence has 107.
Springhill Suites: Can't find count.

Springhill Suites has 149 rooms (see "Rooms" here: https://www.reservationcounter.com/h...SAAEgI0lvD_BwE)

Homewood Suites on Gallatin has 101 rooms (just Google "Homewood Suites Huntsville, then look for the one on Gallatin St).

Not sure I'd call the Drury "vaunted" but it's a pretty nice building, much like many other of their locations. The Springhill is plain-looking, if you want to see plain.

Regardless, I think it's a good thing to have additional hotels downtown. Not too long ago the only one downtown was the aged Holiday Inn. Downtown may not have any high-rises, but it's at least become more dense.

[AU HSV]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Springhill Suites has 149 rooms (see "Rooms" here: https://www.reservationcounter.com/h...SAAEgI0lvD_BwE)

Homewood Suites on Gallatin has 101 rooms (just Google "Homewood Suites Huntsville, then look for the one on Gallatin St).

Not sure I'd call the Drury "vaunted" but it's a pretty nice building, much like many other of their locations. The Springhill is plain-looking, if you want to see plain.

Regardless, I think it's a good thing to have additional hotels downtown. Not too long ago the only one downtown was the aged Holiday Inn. Downtown may not have any high-rises, but it's at least become more dense.

Huntsville needs around another 1000 rooms downtown, conferences shows business keep them booked most of the time. At least 4 hotels are planned or soon to be under construction downtown

[cooldiver]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Not sure I'd call the Drury "vaunted" but it's a pretty nice building, much like many other of their locations. The Springhill is plain-looking, if you want to see plain.

I meant to have my tongue firmly in cheek with the Drury reference.

Thank you for the update. Yes the Springhill is very plain, made more so by the surrounding dusty acreage.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by AU HSV

Huntsville needs around another 1000 rooms downtown, conferences shows business keep them booked most of the time. At least 4 hotels are planned or soon to be under construction downtown

There's the AC, Hampton Inn, and Curio. What is the other one?

Haven't we heard for years that the property on Clinton, across from the VBC, is a prime hotel spot? It's the currently vacant Coca Cola plant. Think that'll ever come to fruition?

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by cooldiver

I meant to have my tongue firmly in cheek with the Drury reference.

Thank you for the update. Yes the Springhill is very plain, made more so by the surrounding dusty acreage.

Ah.