Project to pump $150M into heart of Huntsville

Constellation complex to feature two hotels, retail, offices, condos

Huntsville developer Scott McLain said Wednesday he hopes to create a more attractive gateway from Memorial Parkway to downtown with a $150 million retail and hotel complex that will be named Constellation.

The complex would feature two 160-room hotels, 60,000 square feet of office space, several restaurants, a high-rise apartment or condominium complex and a multideck parking garage surrounded by 40,000 square feet of retail space.

A bank building, entertainment venues and possibly a health club would also be part of the mix.

The development will be at the site of the former Market Square shopping center, originally the Heart of Huntsville mall, which opened in 1961. McLain and business partner Manu Patel outlined the project Wednesday to The Times and later to a young professionals group.

Mayor Loretta Spencer said Constellation could help build momentum for more downtown revitalization.

"It's another area that is close to the heart of the city, and we are so glad to see the investment being made for the expansion of downtown with the multiple opportunities to live, eat, work and play," she said. "The accessibility to Memorial Parkway and Interstate 565 will be very good. We have made a commitment to have a vibrant downtown and this is proving to be another active area for continued growth."

Workers are expected to complete the demolition of the old mall site by August. Construction could begin in the fall, with completion in about two or three years.

"It's been a long time coming," McLain said. "We now have what we need and are ready to proceed. We're excited and we hope the city will be excited."

McLain said the development - with places to eat, shop, work or stroll a river promenade - should help Huntsville to lure young professionals. Pinhook Creek and Huntsville Spring Branch thread between the planned Constellation development and the Von Braun Center and are slated for sidewalks and landscaping.

The hotels will be in the Marriott family. The specific brand won't be identified until a formal announcement Friday. Restaurant deals haven't been locked in, but McLain said he envisions places along the lines of Hard Rock Cafe, Cheesecake Factory and PF Changs.

"These will be very easy to land lease," he said, referring to the restaurant sites, which are just a few feet off the Memorial Parkway service road. "From a restaurant perspective, these have powerful traffic counts with 110,000 cars on Memorial Parkway each day" and easy access from I-565, Clinton Avenue and Governors Drive.

McLain said the hotels will bring to nearly 1,000 the number of rooms available in downtown since the addition of the 300-room Embassy Suites hotel last year. Convention planners have said more hotel rooms would help the city nab bigger concerts, conventions and trade shows.

McLain could not immediately say whether the residential component would consist of apartments or condominiums. Plans call for a six- or seven-story building with up to 80 condominiums or more apartments. Further study is needed to determine pricing and the target customer, he said.

McLain said Constellation will change most people's concept of Huntsville's downtown by stretching it closer to Memorial Parkway.

The name isn't an homage to the movie, "Constellation," which was filmed entirely in Huntsville and premiered in theaters here earlier this year, he said. Naming the complex Constellation, McLain said, is a nod to Huntsville's space heritage, while also reflecting that it offers a "collection" of venues, just as a constellation is a collection of stars.

Asked whether there is any public money involved, McLain said he's talked with city officials about help with the parking garage, but he and Patel may develop the project without any help. McLain said redevelopments of this type are less costly than on undeveloped property because roads, sewers and other utilities are present.