SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Huntsville is moving forward with plans to demolish its former City Hall, with a price tag that’s coming in much lower than anticipated. The City Council has awarded a $1.2 million contract to Britt Demolition and Recycling Inc. to take down the old building at 308 Fountain Circle. The site, which sits next to the newly opened City Hall, will eventually become an expansion of Big Spring Park. Originally, the project was expected to cost $2.4 million.
The demolition will be carried out over a 240-day period, with initial efforts focused on environmental cleanup. The building will be dismantled mechanically rather than imploded, although a start date has not been set. Ricky Wilkinson, director of general services, added that several large trees surrounding the building would be transplanted to the new park area.
Councilor Bill Kling suggested preserving pieces of the building’s marble exterior as mementos for residents. Wilkinson responded that the contractor would collaborate with the city to make this possible, though caution would be exercised to handle it carefully.
Future of the Lewter Hardware Site
Plans were also announced for the former Lewter Hardware location on Washington Street. According to Shane Davis, director of Urban and Economic Development, the site will feature residential townhomes and a mixed-use office and retail building, while the original Lewter Hardware storefront will be converted into a restaurant. Known for nearly a century of personalized service, Lewter Hardware closed its doors in 2022.
Mill Creek Redevelopment Update
In another major project, the City Council took steps to revitalize the Butler Terrace and Johnson Towers area in West Huntsville. The Mill Creek redevelopment project, estimated to cost $350 million, aims to blend public and market-rate housing with parks and commercial spaces. This transformation is partly funded by a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which the council officially accepted.
The city also approved an agreement with developer McCormack Baron Salazar, who will oversee the project. Shane Davis emphasized that the redevelopment aims to create a sense of neighborhood pride for both new and existing residents. “If all we do is tear down and build new sticks and bricks, and we walk away and think that’s victory, we have failed,” he said, underlining the importance of fostering community connections in the process.
