Huntsville To Add Two Hotel in Mixed Use Plans

Huntsville, AL–Architectural plans are in place and the demolition is nearly complete. Now comes an aggressive search for retail tenants for a planned $150 million development at the old Market Square site near downtown Huntsville, according to published reports . The proposed Constellation would feature two hotels, Courtyard and SpringHill Suites, restaurants, shops, a condominium or apartment tower, office space and plenty of parking across the 18-plus acres that was the site of the 1960s-era Heart of Huntsville mall. Huntsville commercial developer Scott McLain planned to travel to Las Vegas last week for a five-day retail recruiting blitz at an international conference of shopping centers. “I hope well fill up the restaurant outparcels out there. Thats what I hope, for starters,” McLain said Friday afternoon after a kickoff announcement of the redevelopment plan. Marriott Courtyard and Springhill Suites will fill the hotel sites, officials announced Friday. McLain said hes already fielded numerous calls from restaurant prospects and hopes to meet more along with retail and condo developers at the Las Vegas conference. McLain said Constellation will create a more attractive gateway from the Parkway to downtown. He also hopes that it will provide places that will help boost Huntsvilles appeal to young professionals. The hotel additions will bring to 1,000 the number of downtown rooms within easy walking distance of the Von Braun Center. Judy Ryals with the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau said the additional rooms will help Huntsville book bigger conventions and events.