18 people per day.
That is how many people are moving to Huntsville every day.
To that end, 2025 was a very busy year for Planning. From transportation improvements and mixed-use developments to adaptive reuse projects and new greenway projects, investment occurred in every corner of Huntsville. While popular activity centers like downtown Huntsville, Stovehouse and MidCity District continued to grow, new mixed-use developments added variety and options for locals and visitors alike.
The Sandra Moon Community Complex continued its renovation, Ditto Landing began work on a new entertainment venue, Stadium Commons defined the area around the renovated Joe Davis Stadium, Hays Farm added a new public park to the attractions in south Huntsville, and Front Row transformed the character of the Clinton Avenue corridor into downtown.
Some of the most active and intense growth is taking place west of County Line Road in Limestone County. Not limited to existing employers like Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, it also welcomed the largest Alabama economic development investment in the $6 billion Eli Lilly and Company campus announced in December. To ensure that Huntsville/Limestone could continue to balance the new jobs with housing and amenities, the Planning Department led an update to the plan for the area that identified new locations for housing and shopping, a site for a new school, additional road infrastructure, greenways and even new interchanges on I-65.
Over the next 50 years, the plan anticipated 2,200 new homes and 2,400 new jobs annually in the area, but the update also emphasized a vision for smart, diverse and high-quality development. To that end, on the heels of the plan’s adoption, Westmoore Landing was proposed. A mixed-use community of almost 400 acres just west of Mooresville, the project took its cues from popular places around Huntsville like Village of Providence to envision tree-lined streets, a variety of local parks, and a range of housing options to suit new residents.
When planning for the future, land use and infrastructure are inseparable. Huntsville/Limestone was only one of the many areas that also saw investments in infrastructure, particularly roads.
The widening of I-565 continued, but additional projects took shape – including the Northern Bypass , Resolute Way , the Arsenal East Connector, U.S. 72 East and West, upgrades to multiple intersections on Ala. Highway 53 and preliminary planning for improving the I-565/Memorial Parkway interchange.
Transportation also considers future of options like transit. The Planning Department has been conducting a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) study which looks at how best to merge public transportation and development along the busy University Drive corridor. TODs are an approach to urban development designed to bring people, services and activities together with quality public transit supported by walking and cycling conditions to facilitate shorter trips, better lifestyles and more efficient use of city resources.
Sometimes, it’s smart to be aware of concepts that have worked in other cities. That’s the case with the North Huntsville Greenway , a transformative project designed to connect downtown with Alabama A&M University with recreation, redevelopment and reinvestment along the path. It’s an idea that borrows from the Atlanta Beltline – a 22-mile loop of trails and parks that connects 45 neighborhoods and attracts visitors as well as residents. Public meetings have revealed enthusiasm for the project and the Planning Department is continuing to work to bring it into reality.
Finally, the Planning Department sometimes works to preserve the past while still glancing into the future. Planners held public information sessions about the Huntsville Depot and received feedback about possible uses for the historic structure on Church Street. While plans are still being formulated for the Depot and its grounds, there is one certainty: the Depot building is not going anywhere.
All in all, 2025 was an active year, and 2026 doesn’t look like it will be any less exciting.
