Ideas Report - City of Huntsville, Alabama *** Huntsville *** Alabama

THE IDEAS MAP
CITY OF HUNTSVILLE
Introduction
The City of Huntsville’s Ideas Map was an interactive tool that allowed residents to
post and share their ideas on the direction of the city’s future in economic development and
planning. The map was hosted by SeeClickFix, a website that allows citizens to report
municipal maintenance issues. While the Ideas Map was primarily used to gather
information on the most desired retail and restaurants, non-retail ideas were accepted as
well.
The map was launched on January 14, 2011 and closed on February 1. During that
19-day period, 927 ideas were posted on the map, with over 4,800 votes. A summary of the
most popular ideas in several categories is on the next page.
Top Ideas
Individual- ranked based on popularity of individual ideas placed on the map
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Kroger at Martin/Zierdt
Five Points Streetscape
Trader Joe’s at Lincoln Mill
Joe’s Crab Shack at Bridge Street
Target in Northeast Huntsville
Cumulative- ranked based on popularity of similar ideas placed in the same area
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Trader Joe’s in Southeast Huntsville
Macy’s at Bridge Street
Target in Northeast Huntsville
Downtown Ideas
Trader Joe’s in West Huntsville
Top Retail Ideas, Cumulative
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Trader Joe’s in Southeast Huntsville
Macy’s at Bridge Street
Target in Northeast Huntsville
Kroger at Martin/Zierdt
Kohl’s in Southeast Huntsville
Top Restaurant Ideas, Cumulative
1. Cheesecake Factory in Downtown Huntsville
2. Chipotle in West Huntsville
3. Dave and Buster’s at Bridge Street (tie)
Joe’s Crab Shack at Bridge Street (tie)
4. Olive Garden in Southeast Huntsville
5. Dunkin Donuts in Southeast Huntsville
Top New Restaurants, Cumulative
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cheesecake Factory
Chipotle
Joe’s Crab Shack
Dunkin’ Donuts
Dave and Buster’s
Top New Retailers, Cumulative
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Trader Joe’s
Macy’s
Ikea
Container Store
Whole Foods Market
Top Ideas, West Huntsville
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Macy’s
Trader Joe’s
Kroger
Cheesecake Factory
Chipotle
Top Ideas, South Huntsville
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Trader Joe’s
Kohl’s
Olive Garden
Ikea
Dunkin’ Donuts
Top Ideas, Bridge Street
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Macy’s
Cheesecake Factory
Dave and Buster’s
Joe’s Crab Shack
H&M
Top Ideas, Downtown/Five Points
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Five Points Streetscape
Downtown Retail/Restaurant Rezoning
Cheesecake Factory
Bakery/Sandwich Shop
Whole Foods (tie)
Small Business Incentives (tie)
Brewpub (tie)
*NOTE: Ideas in North Huntsville centered on a new grocery store, while East Huntsville
rallied for a Target.
Retail
Trader Joe’s
Population recommended: 400-500,000+
Space required: 12-15,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many [locations can Huntsville sustain]? One
Nearest Store: Nashville
Likelihood [of coming to Huntsville]: High
Potential locations: Downtown, Lincoln Mill, Five Points, Near Southside
Commentary: Trader Joe’s prefers to locate in established high-wealth neighborhoods. An
example of this type of neighborhood in Huntsville is the area bounded by Interstate 565 to
the north, Memorial Parkway to the west, Monte Sano to the East and Airport Road to the
South. With stores in Huntsville-sized cities like Des Moines and Lincoln, NE, and new
stores opening soon in Spokane, WA and Charleston, SC, population requirements should
be met.
Macy’s
Population recommended: 100-200,000+
Space required: 100-150,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1-2
Nearest Stores: Birmingham/Nashville
Likelihood: Medium
Potential locations: Parkway Place, Bridge Street (preferred by voters), Madison Square
Commentary: Looking at other cities where there are Macy’s stores, Huntsville is capable
of sustaining one, if not two locations. However, the department store chain has remained
stagnant during the recession, announcing only two new stores in 2010 (both in
California). Most new-build stores are between 120,000 and 150,000 square feet, but
Macy’s will consider renovating existing anchor spaces.
Ikea
Population recommended: 2 million+
Space required: 400,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Build
How many? 0
Nearest Stores: Atlanta
Likelihood: Very Low
Potential locations: None
Commentary: Despite its popularity on the Ideas Map, Ikea is unlikely to look at
Huntsville. The Swedish furniture chain looks for metro areas of greater than two million to
build their stores. Nashville, a city with a metro population of 1.6 million (three times the
size of Huntsville), is struggling to recruit an Ikea due to its “small” size.
Container Store
Population recommended: 800,000+
Space required: 25,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Build
How many? 1
Nearest Store: Atlanta, Nashville (opening late 2011)
Likelihood: Medium
Potential locations: Bridge Street
Commentary: The Container Store is a smaller chain that is expanding in larger cities with
populations of 1 million-plus. However, a minority of stores are in cities such as Little Rock,
which has a metro area slightly larger than Huntsville’s.
Whole Foods Market
Population recommended: 500,000+
Space required: 25,000-50,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Stores: Birmingham, Nashville, Chattanooga (as Greenlife)
Likelihood: High
Potential locations: Downtown, Near Southside (Airport/Whitesburg, preferred)
Commentary: Like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods prefers to locate in established high-wealth
neighborhoods. Minimum population concerns shouldn’t be a problem here; many stores
are located in cities smaller than Huntsville (mostly college towns).
Restaurants
Cheesecake Factory
Population recommended: 1 million+
Space required: 8,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Build
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Birmingham, Nashville
Likelihood: Medium
Potential locations: Downtown (preferred), Bridge Street
Commentary: Cheesecake Factory almost always locates in cities with more than one
million people in the metro area. Some notable exceptions—Boise, Des Moines, and
Omaha—are hundreds of miles away from the nearest major city. Huntsville, with two
major cities 100 miles away (both with Cheesecake Factory restaurants), seems unlikely to
be an exception. However, Cheesecake Factory is experimenting with a smaller restaurant
format that could be used in smaller cities such as Huntsville.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Population recommended: 100,000+
Space required: 5,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Build
How many? 1-2
Nearest Locations: Birmingham, Nashville
Likelihood: High
Potential locations: University Drive
Commentary: Huntsville can handle one, if not two locations of this popular Mexican
chain. Chipotle is continuing to expand nationwide, and a Huntsville location appears likely
in the near future.
Joe’s Crab Shack
Population recommended: 500,000+
Space required: ~6,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Birmingham, Nashville
Likelihood: High
Potential locations: Bridge Street, Downtown
Commentary: With locations in similar-sized cities like Shreveport, LA and Fayetteville,
NC, Huntsville can probably support a Joe’s Crab Shack. However, the chain has struggled
recently, but seems to be slowly expanding again. Their Shreveport location is in a Bridge
Street-like development, and the Nashville restaurant is located downtown, so either site in
Huntsville seems feasible.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Population recommended: 100,000+
Space required: 1,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 5-30
Nearest Locations: Birmingham, Nashville
Likelihood: High
Potential locations: Anywhere (Southeast HSV preferred)
Commentary: Dunkin’ Donuts is a franchisee away from opening their first stores in
Huntsville in over a decade. In cities of Huntsville’s size, Dunkin’ opens up to thirty
locations. A franchisee must commit to opening five stores in their designated territory.
Dave and Buster’s
Population recommended: 1 million+
Space required: 25,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Atlanta
Likelihood: Low
Potential locations: Bridge Street (preferred), Downtown
Commentary: Dave and Buster’s rarely, if ever, opens a restaurant in a city with a metro
population of less than 1 million. Their Nashville restaurant at Opry Mills closed last year
due to flooding and has yet to reopen or relocate.
Honorable Mentions- Stores/restaurants that just missed the “Top 5,” but have a good
chance of entering the Huntsville market:
World Market
Home Décor Store
Space required: 15-20,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Chattanooga, Nashville, Birmingham
Potential locations: University Drive (preferred), South Huntsville, Jones Valley
H&M
Clothing store
Space required: 20,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Atlanta
Potential locations: Bridge Street (preferred), Parkway Place
REI
Outdoor/Recreation store
Space required: 20,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Nashville (Brentwood)
Potential locations: Bridge Street (preferred), Airport/Whitesburg
California Pizza Kitchen
Pizza restaurant
Space required: 5,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Birmingham, Nashville
Potential locations: Bridge Street
Home Goods
Home décor store
Space required: 25,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Birmingham, Nashville, Chattanooga
Potential locations: University Drive (preferred), South Parkway, Jones Valley
Qdoba
Mexican restaurant
Space required: ~5,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1-2
Nearest Locations: Birmingham, Nashville, Chattanooga
Potential locations: Downtown, Research Park (preferred), South Huntsville
Gordon Biersch
Brewpub*
Space required: 15-20,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1
Nearest Locations: Atlanta
Potential locations: Downtown (preferred), Bridge Street
*NOTE: Potential brewpub locations are extremely limited due to current state laws.
Texas de Brazil
Brazilian Steakhouse
Space required: 5-10,000 sq. ft.
Renovate or build? Both
How many? 1-2
Nearest Locations: Memphis
Potential locations: Downtown (preferred), Bridge Street
Comments
Downtown
Cumulatively, downtown non-retail/restaurant ideas were ranked #2. Visitors to the
map rallied around these ideas:
“The only way to make Downtown Huntsville into a viable walkable community is to pass an
ordinance that requires the spaces facing the street to be limited to retail and restaurants.
The attorneys, insurance companies, storage space, etc. should be only on upper floors and
rear offices…”
“Downtown has no retail and limited restaurant options available to the public. The higher
end restaurants seem to do ok down here, but there is a limited variety. Suggest recruiting
(and subsidizing for a limited time) more restaurant options for the public to choose from
downtown such as a bakery, sandwich shop, and even fast food.…”
“Huntsville leadership and community have long debated how to attract a young, educated
workforce to key areas of the city…. As a former Arlington, VA native I would suggest you look
into how that city developed with a key focus on accessibility, transportation, housing, and
leisure/entertainment venues. Namely, Arlington has conducted a phased approach to urban
development that started in the 60’s and has now grown into vibrant communities across the
city. Arlington calls these hubs Urban Villages. Each urban village is a distinctive and
multifaceted community with jobs, housing, and recreation all within a few blocks of each
other.… Each of these "urban villages" is well-served by public transportation and amenities
for bicyclists and walkers, connecting the neighborhoods to each other and to the rest of the
metropolitan area. Teeming with shopping centers and lively nightlife, Arlington has a little
bit of everything for everyone, exactly what Huntsville should aspire to be; albeit maybe a
little less crowded. Arlington’s planned development centered around one of the best public
transportation systems in the country, something Huntsville will have to consider… ”
Other non-retail ideas brought forward included a new baseball stadium, riverwalk,
financial incentives for small businesses, and moving Sci-Quest downtown.
Five Points
This idea was ranked #2 overall for individual ideas:
“I'm not sure, but I would guess that 5 Points/Old Town is one of the densest areas in
Huntsville. It's also (at least east of California) one of the most affordable for young
professionals and families. As a result, it could easily be one of the most vibrant, walkable
areas of Huntsville, but it seems that there are power poles growing from every crack in the
sidewalk, where sidewalks can be found. Also, none of the buildings in the area (with the
exceptions of Star Market and 1892) have been improved lately. Landlords should be
encouraged (read: incentivized) to upgrade their facilities. Ideally, buildings would be 2 or
more stories with small setbacks and provide, in some cases, apartment living (like the main
street in Providence). Further, I would personally love to see California turn into a 2 lane
road with parallel parking and bike lanes between Randolph and Beirne. That, coupled with
sidewalk improvements, would go a long way towards creating a pedestrian-friendly
environment in the area of Huntsville that would be most receptive to it.”
Several other ideas in Five Points called for the expansion of the streetscape project
along Andrew Jackson Way and providing more entertainment options (e.g. bars) in
the neighborhood.
Public Transit
Cumulatively, ideas for better transit service ranked #6. Most rallied around the
ultimate goal of a rail-based system:
“The key to having a great city is people being able to move around efficiently and quickly.
Huntsville should lead the US and create its own mass transit system. There are plenty of
existing rail lines that could be upgraded… You could turn the downtown station back into a
usable station. It would be great, because it is right by the Visitors bureau and the main
Shuttle Bus station. Passengers could then rely on (a much improved version) the shuttle
buses to get them exactly where they needed to be. Some major areas could be accessible by
the rail network though, such as; UAH, Parkway Place, Huntsville Madison County Library,
VBC, Downtown Madison, and the Arsenal. Huntsville Hospital could even offer a van service
to shuttle from a station located near Gov. Dr. on the L&N Line to the hospital or extend their
trams. Crestwood could also offer the van service. A special Arsenal train could be offered to
get people from the Downtown station to the Arsenal. MPs could be stationed on the train to
have everyone's IDs checked by the time the train arrived at the Arsenal gates. This would
greatly decrease crowding at the gate in the mornings and evenings. Moreover, a efficient and
useful mass transit system would greatly benefit the city both now and in the future. Don't
wait to build this after the city has already expanded and needs help. Anticipate the expansion
and plan for the future!”
Several other transit ideas were placed outside of city limits and therefore were not
counted in the rankings. Some users called for the introduction of commuter rail
service to Decatur, while others discussed streetcar lines in Downtown and Research
Park and the introduction of night and weekend bus service.