Bridge Street to get new contractor
Summer 2007 still targeted as opening date for project

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

By GINA HANNAH

Times Business Writer ginah@htimes.com

Developers of Bridge Street town center at Cummings Research Park and its contractor have parted ways.

O&S Holdings LLC, which is developing the mixed-use project, said it is in final negotiations with another contractor to take over the site from Turner Universal Construction effective next month.

"While we have the utmost respect for Turner Universal, we believe it is in the best interest of both companies to cease our relationship at this time," Brett Thornton, senior vice president of development for O&S, said in a news release.

Shannon Hines, general manager for Turner Universal, said money was an issue in the relationship.

"Turner Universal regrets that we were unable to reach a mutually agreeable price with O&S Holdings to complete the Bridge Street project," Hines said. "This will be a great project for Huntsville. We wish them success on this and their other projects."

Bridge Street, formerly called World Famous Bridge Street, was first announced in September 2002. Site work on the $210 million project began last May, with O&S officials projecting the first phase to be complete by the end of 2006.

Now, the projected opening date is more than a year away.

"We are going to great lengths to ensure that this change (in contractors) will not impact our targeted opening date of summer 2007," Thornton said.

Tenants announced for Bridge Street include Regal Cinema, Coldwater Creek, Ann Taylor Loft, P.F. Chang's, Sullivan's Steakhouse and Bravo Cucina. O&S said Alabama's first Westin hotel will also be located at the site.