Elements of Urbanism: Huntsville

Metro Jacksonville · January 14, 2010, 06:16:56 AM

Elements of Urbanism: Huntsville

Metro Jacksonville visits the downtown of America's Rocket City: Huntsville, AL

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jan-elements-of-urbanism-huntsville

reednavy · January 14, 2010, 10:09:27 AM

That is one very wealthy city due to NASA, the Redstone Arsenal, and other related industries and research facilities. While no really tall buildings, Huntsville is a very pleasant city. I hadn't realized they finally annexed all the way to I-65 in Limestone County.

Captain Zissou · January 14, 2010, 10:23:26 AM

Huntsville looks awesome.

For its size, it looks like Huntsville has gone to great links to provide a high quality of life for its citizens. The downtown looks lovely.

Ocklawaha · January 14, 2010, 10:33:54 AM

Oop's missed the Huntsville Intermodal Center, BLUEPRINT FOR THE WORLD, and national transportation showpiece. HIC is worthy of it's own story and thread!

OCKLAWAHA

ntulip · January 14, 2010, 01:57:46 PM

Huntsville is an awesome place. Don't forget the science museum and the stuff offered by NASA as things to do when in Huntsville. The Science Museum is awesome for the kids.

The people are nice, relaxed and it wasn't uncommon to see people working at the same place for many years. Like things never changed. I miss that place. Not a lot of places to hangout downtown, everything seems to be up on University Blvd. I also remember Madisson county being one of the safest places to live in the nation. This was 7 years ago, but I still would believe it today.

I worked in this building (http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/gallery/8544591_isMW7#562674125_tTyon-A-LB) and too bad only the first 2 floors are occupied. The rest are scary to say the least.

heights unknown · January 14, 2010, 07:42:51 PM

A smaller version of Jacksonville. Nice looking city. Pics must have been taken on a Sunday afternoon, hardly any people around.

"HU"

thelakelander · January 14, 2010, 09:41:49 PM

The pics were taken on a Saturday around 12noon. Outside of the park, there were not many people around. However, there were a ton at the three malls I drove past to get there.

tufsu1 · January 15, 2010, 09:20:53 AM

so wait...you mean Huntsville has parking meters too?

thelakelander · January 15, 2010, 09:22:22 AM

Yes, they do. However, DT was a ghost town during my brief weekend there.

tufsu1 · January 15, 2010, 09:25:20 AM

sure....but is that because of the meters....which operate Monday-Friday (8am-5pm)?

thelakelander · January 15, 2010, 09:35:53 AM

No, but what point are you trying to make? Are you saying that parking meters don't have an impact on the viability and attractiveness of a retail district that has them vs. one that doesn't in a low density sunbelt city?

tufsu1 · January 15, 2010, 09:41:02 AM

I'm saying that meters are not the primary reason why downtown retail doesn't succeed.

Remember that most downtown retail is open during the weekday (when meters are in effect) and closed on weeknights and weekends (when parking is free).

thelakelander · January 15, 2010, 09:53:02 AM

Quote from: tufsu1 on January 15, 2010, 09:41:02 AM
I'm saying that meters are not the primary reason why downtown retail doesn't succeed.

I agree.

tufsu1 · January 15, 2010, 12:55:40 PM

Quote from: stephendare on January 15, 2010, 09:43:13 AM
straw man,tufsu.

No one said they were the sole reason. But a powerful one.

And there are different kinds of enforcement as well.

In Jacksonville's case, the parking enforcement division holds the city back.

You made a comment yesterday about public input at meetings and how hard consultants try to get it.

You yourself have never opened a shop downtown, and yet the majority of the people who actually have all list the parking as the biggest obstacle to growing their businesses.

But you know better? And they just don't know what they are talking about.

Cool

this is not a straw man argument and the tone of your response was unnecessary.

I also never said parking meters were the sole reason...I said their existence is not the primary reason for downtown retail failures....I do agree that enforcement has been a huge problem...and I also feel that the archaic meters (accept only quarters) is also part of the problem.

thelakelander · January 15, 2010, 01:34:48 PM

Meters may be a problem for our DT, but its hard to say they are a problem for Huntsville's. I was only there for a weekend and parking was free. I think Bridge Street Town Center in Cummings Research Park, is something DT Huntsville's retailers should be concerned about. It laid out a lot better than SJTC and is definately the nightlife and retail epicenter of the region.