Huntsville Embarks on Downtown Master Plan

Published on March 9, 2017

A public invitation to help the City update its downtown master plan drew hundreds to the Huntsville Museum of Art on March 7 for a visioning session with planning consultants Urban Design Associates.

Architect and Urban Planner Rob Robinson opened the workshop with a synopsis of the downtown’s strengths and challenges.

“You are essentially building a downtown,” said Robinson. “You had one years ago that thrived, but what worked then doesn’t necessarily work today.”

The City and UDA define downtown as an area of approximately 20 square blocks, a central core grid that has remained largely intact since its inception. A lot of new investment is already happening in this area, particularly the addition of new residences, and the question is how to shepherd growth into creating a downtown befitting public needs and desires.

“You are tiny compared to most cities, and you have retained your basic core grid, so how do you retain the character and scale of what you have and continue to grow without becoming some generic place,” said Robinson.

UDA leads the way

The City selected UDA to lead the downtown update after reviewing proposals from a number of national firms. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based firm has had a depth of recent experience in Huntsville as lead designer on the Providence development, City Centre and Mid-City. They recognize the family-friendly characteristics of Huntsville and have come to know what the community values.

In tackling the downtown core, UDA offered the public a glimpse at what their research has discovered.

From a physical analysis, UDA noted downtown has some big streets where cars rip through the core – something prized in the 70s but not considered an appropriate strategy today for a pedestrian friendly destination where people live, work and play. They pointed out a high number of flat surface parking lots – not the best use of parking density (think garages) or environmentally friendly (think heat). They cheered Big Spring Park as an asset, serving as the public’s living room, but noted few of the buildings surrounding the park physically interact with the grounds (think cafes like Pane Y Vino). Likewise, the unappealing frontage of the Monroe Street municipal parking garage doesn’t entice Von Braun Center patrons to venture further into the downtown area.

“You have 800,000 people coming to the VBC every year, and you want to capitalize on these visits,” said Robinson.

Using data and public input, the updated plan will tackle these questions and other important needs including connectivity for high-speed broadband and transportation options for bicycles, pedestrians, and public transit.

City Hall and Parking

For Mayor Tommy Battle, the updated plan will also provide recommendations on the best locations for public parking garages and a new city hall.

“We want to ensure the garages are located in key areas for redevelopment, and that includes having enough parking available to support a new municipal complex,” said Mayor Battle. “We’ve just authorized a preliminary architectural assessment for our space requirements. Our goal is to maximize the best use of our square footage and to consolidate operations so that we can truly be a one-stop-shop location for citizens needing our services.”

The short list of potential sites for a new city hall include the current property, the municipal parking garage on Gates Avenue and Fountain Circle, and the parking lot on Clinton Avenue adjacent to Huntsville Utilities. Should the new city hall move from its current location, the Mayor says he wants the property added to Big Spring Park East.

The BIG Picture

For UDA, it amounts to a holistic look at downtown. One that supports the City’s BIG Picture comprehensive master plan .

“The goal is to look at the next wave of development and to be strategic,” said Robinson. “To get it right with this renaissance. To make sure the whole Huntsville team has a good plan so when someone comes in with an idea for a building or project, the City can guide them to the right place and appropriate design.”

The City of Huntsville is paying UDA $147,555 for the planning update, which is expected to be complete in six to 10 months. The public is invited to continue the conversation on the City’s Imagine Huntsville online town hall forum .