Sales office to open for condos atop Westin hotel

Bridge Street Town Centre, the mixed-use development in Cummings Research Park, is showing some progress.

On Thursday, Bridge Street's Westin Huntsville Residences sales office will open at the Bridge Street site at Old Madison Pike and Research Park Boulevard. The Residences are high-dollar condominiums atop what will be Alabama's first Westin hotel.

In addition to the sales office grand opening, Bridge Street plans to announce a new general contractor for the $210 million mixed-use project. In March, Los Angeles-based O&S Holdings, Bridge Street's developer, said its contract with Turner Universal had been severed.

Alex Hardy, business development manager for O&S, said Thursday's announcement will include a new timeline for the project's completion.

Bridge Street was first announced in December 2002. Plans call for the project to include shops, restaurants, offices and entertainment.

The developer will also name one of Bridge Street's major anchor tenants and give an overall update on all of the tenants, Rachel Forman, an O&S spokeswoman.

Hardy said O&S has been working hard to line up subcontractors for the project before announcing the new general contractor.

"The market is so heavy right now, we're having a hard time getting subs," he said. "Everyone's pipeline is so full."

Gander Mountain coming

If you're into hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor recreational pursuits, you'll soon have a new place to get your gear. Gander Mountain lists Huntsville as a new market it plans to enter this fall. Huntsville is listed among a number of cities slated by the St. Paul, Minn.-based retailer, including Knoxville, Charleston, W. Va., and Lake Mary, Fla.

A company spokeswoman couldn't be reached for comment Friday, but word on the street is the location will be the vacant Sam's Club building on North Memorial Parkway. Wherever it is, the store is expected to open by October, according to the company's Web site, www.gandermountain.com.

Valley Bend's new phase

Valley Bend at Jones Farm is about to undergo another phase of construction. Raymond Jones, developer of Valley Bend on Carl T. Jones Drive, said the next round of development includes 22,400 square feet of space west of Hobby Lobby, to be divided into several parcels. Jones said four leases have been signed, with another close, but he's not ready to announce store names.

Got a business news tip? Reach Gina Hannah at 532-4531 ginah@htimes.com.