City keeps growing, with projects to west

The development boom along U.S. 72 west is about to include another major construction project. City officials and developers today planned to formally announce a specialty shopping center and apartment complex for a 22-acre tract north of U.S. 72 between Providence Main Street and Jeff Road.

The project will include a new traffic light on U.S. 72 for a new street called Paramount Drive. Paramount will run north just beyond the bridge over Indian Creek and end in a cul-de-sac.

Paramount Drive will be the primary access to the planned 204-unit Main Line Apartments complex, and a 20,000-square-foot retail center called Paramount Place.

Disraeli LLC., a partnership between Huntsville developers D. Scott McLain and Niru Patel, is developing the Main Line Apartments. McLain and Patel are also the prime developers for the specialty shopping center. Main Line will be brick construction and feature "upscale'' apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms. S.C. Bodner Co. of Indianapolis is the prime contractor. Completion is expected in summer 2005.

Paramount Place will also feature brick construction and extensive landscaping. According to a press release issued by McLain, it will host several tenants including a "casual theme'' restaurant. Other retailers will be announced later, McLain said. A fast food outlet and an unnamed "free-standing retail outlet'' are also planned for the development.

"Huntsville continues to grow to the west and the demand for shop and retail space development is unabated," McLain said. "Paramount Place will address some of this demand with high quality space and attractive parcels that are appropriate for this affluent and growing part of the city."