r/HuntsvilleAlabama • u/mktimber • 2d ago

Full Courthouse article

https://archive.is/hNCJw

11 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

11

u/InsanoVolcano 2d ago

That empty sloping lot on Fountain Circle is weird, so I guess it's fine that a new building would be built there.

Also, I'd love the old site to be a city block park like Savannah.

6

u/mktimber 2d ago

The empty lot will stay empty. The proposal calls for the demo of the old library/engineering building on the corner.

There is one commissioner that is dead set on rebuilding something in the square. Maybe he can be turned, but for some reason he does not want an open lot there.

2

u/InsanoVolcano 2d ago

Thanks for the info. The weird sloping lot shall remain!

2

u/mktimber 2d ago

I suspect they will dress it up when they tear down the old city hall.

2

u/ofmice_and_manwhich 2d ago

Which commissioner are you referring to?

Edit: because I work with them and can have a conversation with them.

1

u/mktimber 2d ago

PR

2

u/ofmice_and_manwhich 2d ago

I also go to church with him. I’ll give him a holler.

3

u/These_Instance_8292 2d ago

I agree. Talk to that fella. A “second, smaller building” on the same site is just a waste of space. What an incredible opportunity to have another gathering space/park/steps/fountain area, centralized near all the activity around the square. Imagine looking out from the patio at Sam & Greg’s and seeing what’s going on at The Poppy. We don’t need two new courthouseseses

2

u/mktimber 2d ago

Please do. I think there are very legitimate options available for Commission space close to the square that would be great. There is no legal reason that requires the county to have space on the square.

1

u/Aumissunum 2d ago

Hopefully the AT&T building goes with it 🙏 (I know it’s a critical hub)

3

u/mktimber 2d ago

From what I understand that will be there until the end of time.

1

u/Aumissunum 2d ago

Such a shame, it ruins what otherwise is a perfect view from BSP.

The lot does seem a bit small for a courthouse unless they’re planning to build it pretty tall.

1

u/The_OtherDouche I arrived nekkid at Huntsville Hospital. 2d ago

The building is shockingly large inside

4

u/joeycuda 2d ago

I vote for a new building, on the same spot, that works as an optical illusion to look larger from a distance, like the castle at Disney.

2

u/mktimber 2d ago

The problem with the current site it access is terrible and they cannot build enough parking to accommodate the court system on site. I do like the thought of a castle.

2

u/The_OtherDouche I arrived nekkid at Huntsville Hospital. 2d ago

Will that parking deck behind the old public services building be enough to staff a courthouse? I guess it was capable of holding inspection, engineering, and EMA staff before but I don’t know how many personnel outfit a courthouse

2

u/mktimber 1d ago

Not sure. I think they would have to build some new parking in a new structure. The judges parking needs to be protected for obvious reasons.