Bridge Street takes next step

Zoning change to let hundreds live in Research Park

Thursday, December 09, 2004

By JOHN PECK

Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com

Plans for the proposed Bridge Street development in Cummings Research Park crossed a hurdle Wednesday with zoning modifications that would allow hundreds of people to live in the park.

A city planning subcommittee approved a zoning change that expands land uses in Cummings Research Park. The modification will allow, in addition to office buildings, a hotel, condominiums, apartments, lounges, spas, restaurants, a performing arts center - even a bowling alley.

The proposed ordinance change will go before the City Planning Commission on Dec. 21. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. City Council will have the final say, possibly as early as January.

The $210 million "World Famous Bridge Street" development is planned for a 100-acre field just west of Research Park Boulevard and north of Old Madison Pike. Los Angeles-based O&S Holdings is the developer.

Planning board members got their first official glimpse of the proposed layout on Wednesday. Project officials planned today to announce Westin as the new hotel group. The 200-plus room hotel will be housed in a 12-story building capped with as many as 40 condominiums. An 8,000-square-foot conference center would be built next to the four-star hotel. As many as 450 apartments and condominiums would be part of the overall development.

Wednesday's planning meeting stirred questions about the effect Bridge Street may have on nearby retail stores, the Von Braun Center, and other hotels under development.

Marie Bostick, assistant city planner, said the industrial park's master plans included a commercial core when the park underwent a major expansion in the early 1980s. The targeted area was eventually consumed by the massive Adtran office building and later expansions, she said.

"At first, there was a transitory period where half the center area was going to be Adtran and the other half the commercial services, but (the commercial center part) was never developed," said Alex Hardy, business development manager of O&S Holdings in Huntsville.

Crawford Howard, chairman of the Huntsville Planning Commission, said the mixed use development will mark a dramatic change from the industrial park's original core mission as primarily an office park.

"This has evolved from being a Research Park service sector to a destination service sector," he said. Howard said the new "atmosphere" and expanded venues should make Huntsville more attractive to young professionals.

Hardy said O&S does not view its development as competition with other hotels and retail offerings. "We feel it will complement what's here" and help Huntsville grow, he said. Missouri hotel developer John Hammonds was briefed on the proposed Bridge Street development before announcing plans for his 300-room Embassy Suites convention center hotel next to the VBC, city officials said.

The planning subcommittee also signed off Wednesday on changes to city sign ordinances to accommodate the Bridge Street project.

The revisions will allow developers to mark the site with a towering sign that will rise from a man-made lake. Restaurants, specialty shops and offices will line a promenade bridging the lake.

Plans call for a landmark sign, 60-feet high, erected in the center of the lake. The sign may be two sided and up to 150-square feet. Because of the height allowance, planners put a 200-foot buffer between it and any major entrance road in case the manmade lake isn't built.

Planning member and City Councilwoman Sandra Moon seemed puzzled why developers wanted the sign in the lake's center. She also questioned whether the proposed performing arts center would hurt efforts by developers of the Providence planned community to build an arts groups headquarters in Providence.

Hardy said the performance center is still tentative. Bridge Street is one of three sites arts groups are considering for a new performing arts center. Hardy compared fears about competition to concerns raised years ago on whether the new municipal iceplex would steer ice events away from the VBC.

"We see this (the entire development) as creating a new wave of excitement. I think it's a dynamic that complements everything else in the city," Hardy said.




Bridge Street takes next step Zoning change to let hundreds live in Research Park Thursday, December 09, 2004 By JOHN PECK Times Staff Writer jpeck@htimes.com Plans for the proposed Bridge Street development in Cummings Research Park crossed a hurdle Wednesday with zoning modifications that would allow hundreds of people to live in the park. A city planning subcommittee approved a zoning change that expands land uses in Cummings Research Park. The modification will allow, in addition to office buildings, a hotel, condominiums, apartments, lounges, spas, restaurants, a performing arts center - even a bowling alley. The proposed ordinance change will go before the City Planning Commission on Dec. 21. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. City Council will have the final say, possibly as early as January. The $210 million "World Famous Bridge Street" development is planned for a 100-acre field just west of Research Park Boulevard and north of Old Madison Pike. Los Angeles-based O&S Holdings is the developer. Planning board members got their first official glimpse of the proposed layout on Wednesday. Project officials planned today to announce Westin as the new hotel group. The 200-plus room hotel will be housed in a 12-story building capped with as many as 40 condominiums. An 8,000-square-foot conference center would be built next to the four-star hotel. As many as 450 apartments and condominiums would be part of the overall development. Wednesday's planning meeting stirred questions about the effect Bridge Street may have on nearby retail stores, the Von Braun Center, and other hotels under development. Marie Bostick, assistant city planner, said the industrial park's master plans included a commercial core when the park underwent a major expansion in the early 1980s. The targeted area was eventually consumed by the massive Adtran office building and later expansions, she said. "At first, there was a transitory period where half the center area was going to be Adtran and the other half the commercial services, but (the commercial center part) was never developed," said Alex Hardy, business development manager of O&S Holdings in Huntsville. Crawford Howard, chairman of the Huntsville Planning Commission, said the mixed use development will mark a dramatic change from the industrial park's original core mission as primarily an office park. "This has evolved from being a Research Park service sector to a destination service sector," he said. Howard said the new "atmosphere" and expanded venues should make Huntsville more attractive to young professionals. Hardy said O&S does not view its development as competition with other hotels and retail offerings. "We feel it will complement what's here" and help Huntsville grow, he said. Missouri hotel developer John Hammonds was briefed on the proposed Bridge Street development before announcing plans for his 300-room Embassy Suites convention center hotel next to the VBC, city officials said. The planning subcommittee also signed off Wednesday on changes to city sign ordinances to accommodate the Bridge Street project. The revisions will allow developers to mark the site with a towering sign that will rise from a man-made lake. Restaurants, specialty shops and offices will line a promenade bridging the lake. Plans call for a landmark sign, 60-feet high, erected in the center of the lake. The sign may be two sided and up to 150-square feet. Because of the height allowance, planners put a 200-foot buffer between it and any major entrance road in case the manmade lake isn't built. Planning member and City Councilwoman Sandra Moon seemed puzzled why developers wanted the sign in the lake's center. She also questioned whether the proposed performing arts center would hurt efforts by developers of the Providence planned community to build an arts groups headquarters in Providence. Hardy said the performance center is still tentative. Bridge Street is one of three sites arts groups are considering for a new performing arts center. Hardy compared fears about competition to concerns raised years ago on whether the new municipal iceplex would steer ice events away from the VBC. "We see this (the entire development) as creating a new wave of excitement. I think it's a dynamic that complements everything else in the city," Hardy said. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.