This should be fun:
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, with his city coming off of a string of economic development successes, announced a community wide economic development summit and unveiled an interactive “Ideas Map” as part of his administration’s continued commitment to growth in Huntsville.
“Developing Ideas: Planning for Huntsville’s Future,” will be held on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19th at 6:00pm. The event is hosted by and will be held at the Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology (601 Genome Way, Huntsville, Alabama 35806).
The event is free of charge and is open to the public.
“The successes we’ve seen in economic development over the past year have been unmatched by any other community in our nation,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “Each of those successes started with an idea – and this summit is another incredible way for our residents to bring their ideas to the table.”
Steve Doyle of The Huntsville Times wrote “Trader Joe’s…”:
Called “Developing Ideas: Planning for Huntsville’s Future,” the event includes a panel discussion led by Mayor Tommy Battle and two city department heads directly involved in retail recruitment, Economic Development Director Joe Vallely and Acting Planning Director Marie Bostick.
Other panelists are commercial developer Don Beck, downtown real estate expert Donna Lamb, A.J. Smith of Smith Appraisals and Huntsville Development News blogger James Vandiver.
…”This will give citizens a chance to weigh in on what they would like to see here as far as retail stores,” Battle said Friday. “Some will fit and some won’t, but at least we’ll have input on what people are looking for.”
Battle said two retailers seem to be high on everyone’s wish list: Cheesecake Factory and Trader Joe’s, a specialty grocer with stores in Nashville and Atlanta but none yet in Alabama.
James Vandiver’s blog is Huntsville Development News:
The purpose of this summit is to get feedback from the public about where the city should be going in terms of economic development and planning. Representatives from the real estate community along with city officials and yours truly will be there to answer your questions. The format of this event is still evolving, and the attendance will ultimately determine what will be done.
Here’s my wish list: H&M, IKEA, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, CCs (Community Coffee house), Nordstrom, Von Maur, American Girl, Lego Store, a Cracker Barrel at I565 and Oakwood, and a Taco Bell (or better yet Bandito Burrito) in 5 Points. I’d also like for someone to carry “Volunteer Traditions” products. I think the Von Maur, Brooks Brothers, Cracker Barrel and Taco Bell are doable, the rest are dreams…
Other retail I’ve heard mentioned in wish lists: Trader Joe’s, Cheesecake Factory, Saks, Diesel, Bulgari, Johnny Rockets, In-and-Out Burgers, Joe’s Crab Shack, Coach, Urban Outfitters, Whole Foods, Bass Pro Shops, California Pizza Kitchen, Macy’s, Z Gallerie, Aldi, Chipotle, Wegmans, and Dave and Busters…
with all the talk of near double digit unemployment being the new normal, ever changing budget priorities, , etc might be more useful to wish for more Dollar Generals, Aldi, and similar retailers. High end retail only works when folks got lots of disposable income. Though, an increase in the number of hardware stores that stock everything from horse collars to prom burners and neighborhood taverns would be a goodness.
This is all a waste of time given the state our schools are in right now, and it seems to exhibit more than a bit of denial on the mayor’s part. Then again, retail may be the only thing Huntsville has left once the middle class flees…
But if I’m pressed for a wish list, Bass Pro Shop, LL Bean, La Madeleine, and Maggiano’s Little Italy would top my list. Of course, I would settle for just one decent place to eat in the Parkway Place food court. La Madeleine would actually work perfectly there.
Its all about the tax revenue from the sales tax on say $35/lb organic goat cheese or $100 organic union made jeans, increased property values which lead you know where and generate a tidy profit for developers, btw. Without an ever increasing flow of taxes, gvoernments might have to actually think about the best use of tax money, be unable to reward friends, etc.
Definitely a Bass Pro if we can get one. And if I could get a a Chipotle next to my business I know it would help out a lot with the foot traffic!
Walt I dont know about what its like where you live. But in the Tn Valley you can literally find a dollar general in every little podunk town you could think of. From Ardmore all the way over to Cherokee….there are dollar generals in places that I never wouldve dreamed of just ten years ago.